Printer

Abstract

To improve workability of replacement of a print head in a printer.SOLUTION: A printer according to one embodiment of the invention includes: a head assembly including a print head; a head holding part which detachably holds the head assembly; a head cover which can swing relative to the head holding part and covers at least a part of the print head; and a guide part which is provided at the head assembly and the head cover and guides the head assembly in at least one of a situation where the head assembly is inserted into the printer body and a situation where the head assembly is removed from the printer body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Thermal heads are used as print heads in printers, and because thermal heads are consumables, they need to be replaced. For example, in the printer described in Patent Document 1, the print head attached to the print head unit is equipped with a head-side power supply connection terminal and a head-side signal connection terminal, and it is described that the print head can be replaced by manually connecting or disconnecting the print head to the bracket-side power supply connection terminal and bracket-side signal connection terminal on the printer, respectively. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-53159 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional printers, the print head is replaced without removing the print head unit from the printer, which makes the job less efficient.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to improve the ease of replacing a print head in a printer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a head assembly including a print head; a head holding portion that detachably holds the head assembly; a head cover that is pivotable relative to the head holding portion and covers at least a portion of the print head; a guide portion provided on the head assembly and the head cover, the guide portion guiding the head assembly at least when the head assembly is inserted into the printer body and when the head assembly is removed from the printer body; The printer is provided with: Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the workability of replacing a print head in a printer is improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment with the interior visible, along with the configuration of continuous paper. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a side view of a printer according to one embodiment with an internal view. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a printing section of a printer according to an embodiment when a print head unit is in an open state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the print head unit in an open state. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a head mechanism of a printer according to an embodiment, seen from above. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a head mechanism of a printer according to an embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 8] 1 includes an exploded perspective view of a head assembly to be assembled into a head mechanism and a cross-sectional view of a thermal head. [Figure 9] 2 is a plan view of a head accessory member and an enlarged view (side view) taken along arrow A. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the head mechanism shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 11] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a print position adjustment function in a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operation of inserting and removing a head assembly from a printer. [Figure 13] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operation of inserting and removing a head assembly from a printer. [Figure 14] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating modified examples of a guide portion provided in the printer of the embodiment. [Figure 15] 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the connector of the head assembly is connected in an embodiment different from the connecting mode of the connector shown in FIG. 13. FIG. [Figure 16] 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the connector of the head assembly is not connected in an embodiment different from the connection mode of the connector shown in FIG. 13. FIG. [Figure 17] 16A to 16C are diagrams illustrating the operation when the head assembly shown in FIG. 15 is removed from the printer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The embodiments described below are not limited to the drawings which are illustrated by the brief description of the drawings.

[0010] A first aspect of the present invention is a head assembly including a print head; a head holding portion that detachably holds the head assembly; a head cover that is pivotable relative to the head holding portion and covers at least a portion of the print head; a guide portion provided on the head assembly and the head cover, the guide portion guiding the head assembly at least when the head assembly is inserted into the printer body and when the head assembly is removed from the printer body; The printer is provided with: It should be noted that the term "printer body" refers collectively to the parts of the printer excluding the head assembly that is the subject of insertion and removal.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the head assembly is guided when it is inserted or removed from the printer body, allowing the printer user to smoothly insert or remove the head assembly.

[0012] In a second aspect of the present invention, the guide portion is a first engagement portion provided on the head assembly and having a guide surface; The printer according to the first aspect has a second engagement portion provided on the head cover and having a sliding surface formed thereon for sliding on the guide surface along the insertion / removal direction of the head assembly.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, smooth guiding can be achieved by surface contact between the guide surface and the sliding surface.

[0014] In a third aspect of the present invention, the first engagement portion includes a protrusion having two guide surfaces formed thereon and extending in the insertion / removal direction of the print head, In the printer according to the second aspect, the second engagement portion includes a U-shaped portion that is formed with two sliding surfaces for sliding on each of the two guide surfaces and that sandwiches the protrusion.

[0015] According to a third aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention, the two guide surfaces and the two sliding surfaces come into contact simultaneously, engaging the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion, thereby enabling more stable guiding of the head assembly.

[0016] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a printer described in any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the head cover has a regulating portion that abuts against the head holding portion and regulates the oscillation of the head cover.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention, the amount of swinging of the head cover is regulated, so that the amount of movement of the head assembly when the head assembly is removed from the head holding portion can be limited, making it even easier to insert and remove the head assembly.

[0018] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the print head has a first connector, A printer described in any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first connector is configured to be connected or disconnected to a second connector that pairs with the first connector in the insertion / removal direction of the head connector.

[0019] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the connector can be connected or disconnected together with the insertion and removal of the head connector, facilitating the insertion and removal of the head assembly.

[0020] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a printer described in the fifth aspect, wherein the guide portion is configured to begin guiding the head assembly before the first connector and the second connector begin contact when the head assembly is inserted into the printer body.

[0021] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the operation of connecting the connectors can be facilitated when inserting the head assembly into the printer body.

[0022] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a printer described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the head holding portion holds the head assembly so that the head assembly does not fall under its own weight, and releases its hold on the head assembly in response to a specified operation.

[0023] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the head assembly can be easily removed from the head holding portion by a predetermined operation performed by a printer user.

[0024] In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the inkjet printer further includes a position adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the head assembly in a forward or backward direction when a direction in which the print medium that has been printed by the print head advances is defined as a forward direction, The position adjustment mechanism includes: an adjustment shaft portion that is pivotally supported by the head holding portion and that moves the head assembly in a front-rear direction in response to a rotation operation; The printer according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising: a U-shaped fitting portion that is provided on the head assembly and fits into the adjustment shaft portion.

[0025] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to achieve both smooth insertion and removal of the head assembly and adjustment of the front-rear position of the print head.

[0026] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows the external appearance of a printer 1 according to an embodiment. For ease of explanation, XYZ coordinates are defined below as shown in Figure 1. That is, +X and -X respectively indicate the left-right direction of the printer 1, +Y and -Y respectively indicate the front-rear direction of the printer 1, and +Z and -Z respectively indicate the up-down direction of the printer 1. An outlet 5 for issuing (discharging) printed labels is provided on the front of the printer 1. An open cover 6 is attached to one side of the printer 1 by two hinges 7 so that it can be opened and closed freely in the vertical direction. In the following description, the "depth direction" as referred to is essentially the same direction as the insertion and removal direction of the head assembly described below, and the direction in which the head assembly is removed is sometimes referred to as the "front in the depth direction," and the direction in which the head assembly is inserted is sometimes referred to as the "rear in the depth direction." In the following description, the "width direction" as referred to is the width direction of the transported continuous paper CP, which is equal to the left-right direction of the printer 1.

[0027] 2 and 3 are respectively a perspective view and a side view of the main part of the printer 1 with the inside visible. Inside the printer 1, there are arranged a paper supply unit 10 located at the rear, a printing unit 11 located at the front, and an ink ribbon unit 12 located above.

[0028] The paper supply unit 10 is loaded with roll paper R. As shown in FIG. 2, the roll paper R is a continuous paper CP wound into a roll. The continuous paper CP includes a strip-shaped backing PM and a plurality of labels PL removably attached to the backing PM at intervals. The surface (front side) of the backing PM that comes into contact with the adhesive surface of the labels PL is coated with a release agent such as silicone, making it possible to easily peel off the labels PL. In addition, the surface (back side) of the backing PM to which the labels PL are not attached may be formed with position detection marks IM indicating the position of the labels at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The labels PL may be thermal paper or plain paper. In the case of thermal paper, a thermal coloring layer that turns a specific color (black, red, etc.) when a predetermined temperature range is reached is formed on the surface. Although not shown, the paper supply unit 10 may also be loaded with roll paper in which a backing-less label with an adhesive surface coated with an adhesive is wound into a roll.

[0029] The paper supply unit 10 includes a support shaft 10a and a roll guide 10b, and holds the roll paper R and supplies the continuous paper CP paid out from the roll paper R to the printing unit 11. The support shaft 10a supports the roll paper R in a freely rotatable state. The roll guide 10b fixes the roll paper R and is installed in a freely movable state along the axial direction of the support shaft 10a so that its position can be changed according to the width of the roll paper R.

[0030] There are two types of continuous paper CP: front-wound labels and back-wound labels. Front-wound labels are wound with the label PL of the continuous paper CP located on the outer periphery of the roll paper R, and as shown in FIG. 3, the continuous paper CPs (dashed line) is fed from around the center of the height of the paper supply unit 10 toward the bottom of the printing unit 11. In contrast, back-wound labels are wound with the label PL of the continuous paper CP located on the inner periphery of the roll paper R, and as shown in FIG. 3, the continuous paper CPb (solid line) is fed from around the inner bottom of the printer 1 toward the bottom of the printing unit 11. Note that the paper feed route of the continuous paper CP (CPs, CPb) in the printing unit 11 is the same whether it is front-wound or back-wound. Whether it is front-wound or back-wound, the continuous paper CP is transported with the label PL facing the printing side up.

[0031] The printing section 11 includes a print head unit 13, a support stand 14 arranged below the print head unit 13, and a damper 15, and performs printing on the labels PL of the continuous paper CP. The print head unit 13 is installed inside the printer 1 in a state in which it can be opened and closed freely, as described below. When the print head unit 13 is in a closed state, a paper passage route is formed between the print head unit 13 and the support base 14. The paper passage route is connected to the issue port 5 (see FIG. 1). A head lock lever 16 that maintains the closed state of the print head unit 13 is installed on the support base 14. When the head lock lever 16 is operated, the closed state of the print head unit 13 is released, the front part of the print head unit 13 is lifted, and the print head unit 13 opens (moves away from the platen roller 23). Damper 15 applies tension to the continuous paper CP. In this embodiment, damper 15 includes outer damper 15a and inner damper 15b, and moves up and down (opens and closes) in conjunction with the opening and closing of print head unit 13. However, when print head unit 13 is in the closed state, outer damper 15a and inner damper 15b are installed in a state in which they can freely swing so that they can apply tension to the continuous paper CP.

[0032] The ink ribbon unit 12 includes a ribbon supply unit 12a and a ribbon winding unit 12b, and supplies and winds up the ink ribbon RB coated with printing ink. The ribbon supply unit 12a supports the ink ribbon RB wound in a roll so that it can rotate freely. The ribbon winding unit 12b winds up and collects the ink ribbon RB after printing. When the ink ribbon RB is to be used, the ink ribbon RB pulled out from the ribbon supply unit 12a is passed under the print head unit 13 and wound up by the ribbon winding unit 12b.

[0033] In this printer 1, the continuous paper CP (CPs, CPb) fed from the roll paper R in the paper supply unit 10 is transported to the paper route between the print head unit 13 and the support table 14 via the damper 15, and a printing process is performed on the label PL of the continuous paper CP along the way. After the printing process, the continuous paper CP is discharged from the printer 1 through the issue port 5.

[0034] Next, the configuration of the above-mentioned printing unit 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the printing section 11 when the print head unit 13 is in an open state. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the head mechanism section 35 provided in the printing section 11 when viewed from a different perspective than that in Fig. 4.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the print head unit 13 is supported on a main frame (not shown) of the printer 1 so that the print head unit 13 can freely swing (i.e., open and close) around the X axis around a swing shaft S1 provided at the rear.

[0036] A thermal head 18 (an example of a print head) is installed on the underside (the surface facing the paper feed route) of the print head unit 13 with its heat generating portion 18L (see FIG. 5) facing the paper feed route. The heat generating portion 18L of the thermal head 18 is formed of a glaze layer that protrudes a predetermined amount (e.g., several tens of μm) from the substrate of the thermal head 18, includes a plurality of heat generating resistors (heat generating elements) that generate heat when energized, and performs printing on the label PL of the continuous paper CP. The plurality of heat generating resistors are aligned and arranged along the width direction of the continuous paper CP (the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the continuous paper CP).

[0037] A pair of engagement claws 19 (see FIG. 4) are provided on the underside of the front side of the print head unit 13 so as to sandwich the axis of the thermal head 18. Behind the engagement claws 19 on the print head unit 13, pins 20 are provided which protrude outward from both side surfaces of the print head unit 13.

[0038] The print head unit 13 is biased in the open direction by a torsion spring 21 (see Figure 5) attached to the pivot shaft S1, and is maintained in a closed state by a pair of locking claws 22 on the support base 14 that are respectively hooked onto a pair of pins 20 on the lower part of the print head unit 13. When the head lock lever 16 is operated rearward, the locking claws 22 move rearward in conjunction with this and disengage from the pin 20. When the locking claws 22 disengage from the pin 20, the print head unit 13 is designed to automatically open due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 21, as shown in Figure 4.

[0039] When the print head unit 13 is in the closed state, a pair of engagement claws 19 (see FIG. 4) of the print head unit 13 are adapted to be fitted onto both ends of the rotation shaft of the platen roller 23.

[0040] The platen roller 23 transports the continuous paper CP fed from the paper supply unit 10 along a paper passage route to the issue port 5 (see FIG. 1). The platen roller 23 is installed on top of the support base 14 in a state in which it can rotate in both forward and reverse directions, and during printing, it rotates while clamping the continuous paper CP together with the thermal head 18. A gear G1 is connected to one axial end of the rotation shaft of the platen roller 23. This gear G1 is engaged with the rotation shaft of a stepping motor (not shown). When the continuous paper CP is plain paper, the platen roller 23 rotates during printing while sandwiching the continuous paper CP and the ink ribbon RB together with the thermal head 18. In this case, the ink ribbon RB is transported from the ribbon supply unit 12a via ribbon rollers 121, 122 (see FIG. 4) provided in the print head unit 13, and is taken up by the ribbon take-up unit 12b.

[0041] 5, the head release part 30 is provided so as to be exposed when the print head unit 13 is in an open state. As will be described in detail later, by operating the head release part 30 in direction D1 (+X direction), the head cover 39 can be swung downward, allowing the thermal head 18 to be replaced.

[0042] Next, the head mechanism 35 provided in the print head unit 13 will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 10. The head mechanism 35 is a mechanism associated with the thermal head 18 in a state in which the support plate 17, ribbon rollers 121, 122, oscillation shaft S1, etc. have been removed from the print head unit 13. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the main part of the head mechanism 35 as viewed from above. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the main part of the head mechanism 35 as viewed from below. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the head mechanism 35 includes the thermal head 18, a head holder 36, a pin pressing portion 37, a head cover 39, a swing shaft 40, a rotation shaft 41, and the like.

[0043] 6 and 7, a head attachment member 38 is fixed to the thermal head 18. The head attachment member 38 is sometimes referred to as a "thermal head bracket." Fig. 8 includes an exploded perspective view showing a method of attaching the thermal head 18 and the head attachment member 38, and a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view cut at the center in the longitudinal direction) of the thermal head 18. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the head attachment member 38 and an enlarged view (side view) seen from arrow A. 8, the head accessory member 38 is a plate-like member and has a central plate 381 and a pair of end plates 382. The central plate 381 is attached to the thermal head 18 and extends in the depth and width directions. Each of the pair of end plates 382 is disposed on one end side and the other end side of the central plate 381 in the lateral direction and extends in the depth and height directions. The end plates 382 extend downward from an end 381L of the central plate 381. An upwardly protruding pin 38P is attached to the upper surface of the central plate 381. The pin 38P has a columnar portion 38Pc extending upward from the surface of the central plate 381 and a tapered portion 38Pt tapering at the top of the columnar portion 38Pc. A recess 38Pr recessed toward the +X side is formed in the columnar portion 38Pc. As will be described later, the pin 38P is necessary for holding the thermal head 18 in the head holding portion 36.

[0044] The thermal head 18 includes a heat sink 181, a substrate 183, and a connector 184 (an example of a first connector). The substrate 183 may have two or more substrates connected thereto, and is formed with the heat generating portion 18L described above. The heat sink 181 is provided to efficiently dissipate heat generated by the substrate 183. The heat sink 181 is formed with two screw holes 181a. 8, the substrate 183 includes a first substrate portion 183a on which the heat generating portion 18L is disposed, a second substrate portion 183b connected to a connector 184, and a flexible substrate portion 183c connecting the first substrate portion 183a and the second substrate portion 183b. The heat sink 181 is set to be thickest at the first substrate portion 183a of the substrate 183 so that heat from the first substrate portion 183a, which generates the most heat, can be efficiently dissipated. The connector 184 is operatively connected to the heat generating element of the heat generating portion 18L, and is configured to be detachably connected to a connector 501 (described later; see FIG. 13) in response to rearward movement of the head assembly 18A described later relative to the head cover 39. As shown in FIG. 13, the connector 501 protrudes forward in the depth direction. A protrusion 1811 that protrudes downward so as to cover the tip of the first substrate portion 183a is formed at the tip of the heat sink 181. This makes it possible to prevent jams from occurring when the continuous paper CP (especially in the case of thick paper) is back-fed (conveyed in the reverse direction).

[0045] As shown in Fig. 8, two holes 381a are formed in a central plate 381 of the head attachment member 38, and the head attachment member 38 is fixed to the thermal head 18 by fastening screws 383 through the holes 381a into the screw holes 181a of the thermal head 18. In the following description, the thermal head 18 and the head attachment member 38 integrated together will be referred to as the "head assembly 18A" where appropriate. The head assembly 18A is detachable from the head cover 39. Note that "head assembly" is synonymous with "thermal head assembly." Two holes 381a are formed in the central plate 381 of the head attachment member 38, and the head attachment member 38 is fixed to the thermal head 18 by fastening screws 383 through the holes 381a into the screw holes 181a of the thermal head 18. In the following description, the thermal head 18 and the head attachment member 38 integrated together will be referred to as the "head assembly 18A" where appropriate. The "head assembly" may also be referred to as the "thermal head assembly."

[0046] A pair of notches 382a are formed at the front ends of the end plates 382 on both sides of the head accessory 38. The notches 382a have a U-shape that opens upward. The notches 382a are disposed at the upper ends of the end plates 382 on the front side of the end plates 382, ​​and are configured to engage with the rotary shaft 41 (see FIG. 6). As can be clearly seen from the side view of FIG. 9 (enlarged view of arrow A), the notches 382a are formed in the end plates 382 in a portion that protrudes upward beyond the upper surface of the central plate 381. A cleft-shaped notch 385 is formed between this protruding portion and the end 381L of the central plate 381. As will be described later, the cutout portion 382a is provided for adjusting the front-rear position of the thermal head 18. The cutout portion 382b (an example of a first engagement portion) is an example of a U-shaped portion that holds the guide protrusion 393 of the head cover 39. The cutout portion 382b is also part of a guide portion that allows the head assembly 18A to be smoothly inserted and removed from the printer 1.

[0047] A cutout portion 382b is formed at the rear end of the end plate 382 on both sides of the head accessory member 38. The cutout portion 382b is configured to slidably engage with a guide protrusion 393 (described later; see FIG. 13) of the head cover 39 in response to rearward movement of the head assembly 18A relative to the head cover 39. As shown in FIG. 9, the cutout portion 382b of the end plate 382 is defined by an upper protrusion 382b1 and a lower protrusion 382b2 extending rearward at the rear end of the end plate 382. The end 381L of the central plate 381 extends linearly from the rear end of the upper protrusion 382b1 to the rear end of the cleft-shaped cutout portion 385.

[0048] The pair of end plates 382 do not need to have the same shape as long as they have the cutouts 382a, 382b. In one embodiment, the head accessory member 38 does not have a pair of end plates 382, ​​but has an end plate 382 on only one side. In that case, the head cover 39 does not need to have both of a pair of guide protrusions 393 described below, but only needs to have one of the guide protrusions 393. On one side, the cutout portion 382b engages with the guide protrusion 393.

[0049] Next, the configuration of the main parts of the head mechanism 35 will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the head mechanism 35 shown in Fig. 6. Note that the circuit board 50 shown in Fig. 6 is fixed to the head cover 39, but is not shown in Fig. 10 for the sake of visibility of the head cover 39. 10, the head mechanism section 35 is configured by assembling, in order from the top, a head holding section 36, a head assembly 18A, and a head cover 39. The head holding section 36 and the head cover 39 are supported by a swing shaft 40. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the swing shaft 40 is supported by the support plate 17, and is fixed to an internal frame (not shown) that is located inside the support plate 17 and is configured integrally with the support plate 17.

[0050] The head holding part 36 holds the head assembly 18A so that the head assembly 18A does not fall under its own weight, and releases the hold on the head assembly 18A in response to a predetermined operation on the head hold releasing part 30 (see FIG. 5). The head assembly 18A can be easily removed from the head holding part 36 by operating the head hold releasing part 30. The head holding portion 36 includes a plate-like member including a support plate 361 and side walls 362 provided on both left and right ends of the support plate 361, and a pin pressing portion 37, and detachably holds the head assembly 18A. A pair of engagement claws 19 that engage with both ends of the rotation shaft of the platen roller 23 are formed on the front ends of the side walls 362 on both sides of the head holding portion 36. Insertion holes 362a, 362b through which the swing shaft 40 is inserted are formed on the rear ends of the side walls 362 on both sides of the head holding portion 36.

[0051] The operation unit 42 is a rotation operation means for adjusting the position of the thermal head 18 in the front-rear direction by moving the head assembly 18A back and forth. Here, the front-rear direction refers to the front-rear direction when the direction in which the printed label PL advances by the thermal head 18 is defined as the forward direction. The adjustment of the position of the thermal head 18 in the front-rear direction is performed to obtain optimal print quality depending on the type of label (thickness, hardness, etc.). A rotating shaft 41 (an example of an adjustment shaft) that rotates in response to a rotation operation relative to the operation unit 42 is supported on side walls 362 on both sides of the support plate 361 of the head holding unit 36. U-shaped cutouts 382a (an example of a fitting portion) on both ends of the head assembly 18A fit into both ends of the rotating shaft 41 from below, thereby engaging the head assembly 18A with the rotating shaft 41. The cutouts 382a of the head assembly 18A that engage with the rotating shaft 41 constitute a position adjustment mechanism. The head assembly 18A moves back and forth in response to the rotation of the rotating shaft 41, thereby adjusting the position of the head assembly 18A (thermal head assembly), so the rotating shaft 41 can also be called a "head cover assembly adjustment shaft." The head position adjustment will be described in detail later.

[0052] The pin pressing section 37 has a pressing plate 37a and a coil spring 37b, and presses the pin 38P of the head assembly 18A when the head assembly 18A is held by the head holding section 36. The pressing plate 37a is installed on the support plate 361 by pins 37f and 37g in a state in which it can move slightly along its longitudinal direction (width direction of the web paper CP). The pins 37f and 37g are fixed by a retaining ring or the like so as not to come off the pressing plate 37a. The head release section 30 is formed as a portion bent downward from the pressing plate 37a. In other words, the pressing plate 37a and the head release section 30 are integrally formed. The head release section 30 penetrates a hole 36f formed in the support plate 361 and a hole 381b (see FIG. 8) formed in the head accessory member 38, and protrudes from the head mechanism section 35 (see FIG. 5). A hole 36g is formed in the support plate 361 of the head holding portion 36, and a hole 37d is formed in the pressing plate 37a of the pin pressing portion 37. A pin 38P of the head assembly 18A passes through the holes 36g and 37d, and protrudes upward from the hole 37d. The pressing plate 37a is formed with a protrusion 37j that protrudes upward between the hole 37d and the pin 37g. The pressing plate 37a is formed with a convex portion 37i that is convex toward the protrusion 37j on the edge of the hole 37d. The coil spring 37b of the pin pressing portion 37 is mounted between the pin 37g and the protrusion 37j. The pressing plate 37a is biased in the -X direction (opposite direction to the direction D1 in FIG. 5) by the coil spring 37b. When the pressing plate 37a is biased by the coil spring 37b, the protrusion 37i engages with the recess 38Pr of the pin 38P protruding upward from the hole 37d, as shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of "the state in which the pin 38P is engaged" in FIG. 10. As a result, the pin 38P is locked to the pressing plate 37a, and the head assembly 18A is held by the head holding portion 36.

[0053] 6 and 10, the pin pressing portion 37 has a pin abutment piece 37h. The pin abutment piece 37h is located slightly on the -X side from the tapered portion 38Pt of the pin 38P protruding upward from the hole 37d. In other words, the pin abutment piece 37h is located at a position where it abuts against the tapered portion 38Pt of the pin 38P when the head hold release portion 30 is operated in the D1 direction (+X direction).

[0054] To release the head assembly 18A from the head holding part 36, the head release part 30 is operated in the +X direction (direction D1 in FIG. 5) as described above. That is, the head release part 30 of the pressing plate 37a is moved in the opposite direction (+X direction) against the biasing force of the coil spring 37b. As the pressing plate 37a moves in the +X direction, the pin abutment piece 37h abuts against the tapered part 38Pt of the pin 38P to press down the pin 38P, and the engagement between the recess 38Pr of the pin 38P and the protrusion 37i of the pin pressing part 37 is released. As a result, the head assembly 18A falls under its own weight.

[0055] The head cover 39 is configured to be able to swing relative to the head holding portion 36 and to cover at least a portion of the thermal head 18 from below. The head cover 39 is formed with an insertion hole 395 through which the swing shaft 40 passes, and is able to swing around the swing shaft 40. A pair of guide protrusions 393 are formed on both side portions of the head cover 39. The pair of guide protrusions 393 are respectively disposed at one end side and the other end side of the head cover 39 in the lateral direction in the width direction. The pair of guide protrusions 393 engage with the cutout portions 382b of the head assembly 18A, thereby connecting the head assembly 18A and the head cover 39. The guide protrusions 393 (an example of a second engaging portion) are part of a guide portion that enables the head assembly 18A to be smoothly inserted and removed from the printer 1. Furthermore, if the guide protrusions 393 and the cutouts 382b were not engaged, the head assembly 18A and the head cover 39 would be connected only by the connectors (connector 184 and connector 501 (see FIG. 13)), which would increase the load on the connectors. In contrast, by engaging the guide protrusions 393 and the cutouts 382b, the mechanical load on the connectors can be reduced.

[0056] The head cover 39 includes a front thermal head mounting portion 391 and a rear circuit board fixing portion 392. The head cover 39 of the head assembly 18A is mounted on the thermal head mounting portion 391. A threaded portion 392a is formed on the circuit board fixing portion 392, and the circuit board 50 is fixed by screwing a screw into the threaded portion 392a via the circuit board 50 (see FIG. 6). Since the circuit board 50 having the connector 501 is fixed to the head cover 39, the head cover 39 having the connector 501 can also be regarded as the same as the "head cover".

[0057] Next, the operation of the head position adjustment mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view of the head holding portion 36 and the head assembly 18A in the vicinity of the rotation shaft 41, and shows different positions P1 to P3 of the thermal head 18 in the front-rear direction. In the rotating shaft 41, the fitting portion 41a into which the notch portion 382a is fitted is eccentric with respect to the central rotating shaft portion. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 41 is rotated by the operating portion 42, the fitting portion 41a draws a trajectory of displacement in the front-rear direction, and the notch portion 382a is displaced front-rear accordingly (i.e., the head assembly 18A is displaced front-rear). In Fig. 11, position P2 is a position where the fitting portion 41a has moved rearward by L1 from position P1. Position P3 is a position where the fitting portion 41a has moved rearward by L2 (>L1) from position P1.

[0058] The printer 1 may employ a mechanism for adjusting the pressing force of the thermal head 18 against the platen roller 23. For an example of a pressing force adjustment mechanism, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-123628 filed by the applicant of the present application.

[0059] Next, a method for replacing the thermal head 18 in the printer 1 will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Figures 12 and 13 are diagrams showing the operation of removing the head assembly 18A from the printer 1.

[0060] First, as shown in Fig. 5, when a user presses the head release portion 30 exposed in the open state of the print head unit 13 in the direction D1, the pressing plate 37a moves in the direction D1 (+X direction) against the biasing force of the coil spring 37b of the pin pressing portion 37 (see Fig. 10). Then, the pressing force against the pin 38P is released and the pin abutment piece 37h of the pressing plate 37a abuts against the tapered portion 38Pt of the pin 38P to press down the pin 38P, so that the head assembly 18A and the head cover 39 swing integrally about the swing shaft 40 due to the weight of the head assembly 18A, as shown in Fig. 12 (swing counterclockwise in Fig. 3). Here, the cutout portion 382a of the head assembly 18A is U-shaped and opens upward, so that it does not hinder the swing of the head assembly 18A.

[0061] At this point, the connector 184 of the head assembly 18A is connected to the connector 501 (see FIG. 13; an example of a second connector) of the circuit board 50 fixed to the head cover 39, and the cutout portion 382b of the head assembly 18A is engaged with the guide protrusion 393 of the head cover 39. Therefore, the head assembly 18A and the head cover 39 are integrated. The swing of the head assembly 18A and the head cover 39 is stopped when the pin 394 of the head cover 39 abuts against the pin abutment portion 362c of the head holding portion 36. In other words, the pin abutment portion 362c functions as a regulating portion that regulates the swing of the head assembly 18A and the head cover 39. Since the swing amount of the head cover 39 is regulated by this regulating portion, the amount of movement of the head assembly 18A when the head assembly 18A is removed from the head holding portion 36 can be limited, and the insertion and removal work of the head assembly 18A can be facilitated.

[0062] Next, referring to FIG. 13, there is shown an operation for extracting only the head assembly 18A from the head assembly 18A and head cover 39 which are integrated together. When removing the head assembly 18A, the user applies force to the head assembly 18A in the removal direction D2 in Fig. 13. This force is equal to the force that removes the connector 184 of the head assembly 18A from the connector 501 fixed to the head cover 39. When removing the head assembly 18A from the head cover 39, the cutout portion 382b of the head assembly 18A is U-shaped and opens on the side opposite to the removal direction D2, so that the engagement can be smoothly released. Furthermore, the cutout portion 382b and the guide protrusion 393 slide along the removal direction D2 when the head assembly 18A is removed, and therefore function as a guide portion when removing the head assembly 18A.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 4, in the printer 1 described above, the print head unit 13 swings significantly upward when it is opened. That is, the insertion and removal direction (direction D2 and direction D3) of the head assembly 18A shown in Fig. 2 faces diagonally upward when the printer 1 is placed on a horizontal surface, which has the advantage that it is easy for a user standing in front of the printer 1 to replace the head assembly 18A.

[0064] It is also possible to remove the thermal head 18 from the head assembly 18A. In that case, as shown in Fig. 8, the screws 383 are removed to separate the thermal head 18 from the head accessory 38, and a new thermal head 18 is attached to the head accessory 38. At this time, since the hole 381a is elongated in the front-rear direction, it is preferable to use a dedicated jig to accurately adjust the mounting position in the front-rear direction. When attaching the replaced head assembly 18A to the printer 1, the steps shown in Figures 12 and 13 are reversed. In this case, when the head assembly 18A is inserted (pushed in) along the insertion direction D3 in Figure 13, the connector 184 is connected to the connector 501, and the head assembly 18A is attached to the head cover 39. At this time, the notch 382b and the guide protrusion 393 engage with the head assembly 18A while sliding along the insertion direction D3, so they function as a guide when inserting the head assembly 18A. If this guide did not exist, the connection positions of the connector 184 and the connector 501 would have to be aligned without being visible, making it difficult to connect the connectors to each other. Next, when the user pushes the head assembly 18A towards the head cover 39, the connector 184 on the head assembly 18A side is connected to the connector 501 on the head cover 39 side, and the notch 382b engages with the guide protrusion 393.

[0065] In one embodiment, before the connector 184 on the head assembly 18A side starts to contact the connector 501 on the head cover 39 side, the notch portion 382b of the head assembly 18A starts to contact the guide protrusion 393 and starts guiding the head assembly 18A. In other words, the head assembly 18A is configured such that, in response to rearward movement of the head assembly 18A relative to the head cover 39, the notch portion 382b slidably engages with and at least partially engages with the guide protrusion 393 before the connector 184 connects with the connector 501. This allows the connectors to be smoothly coupled while the head assembly 18A is guided in the insertion direction D3. After the head assembly 18A and the head cover 39 are integrated, the user swings (pushes up) the head cover 39 in the direction opposite to the arrow in Fig. 12, thereby locking the head assembly 18A. That is, the pin 38P of the head assembly 18A is held by the head holding portion 36. That is, the pin 38P moves the pressing plate 37a in the direction opposite to the direction D1 (Fig. 5) against the biasing force of the coil spring 37b, protruding upward from the hole 37d, and is held in that state by the pressing force.

[0066] As described above, the printer 1 described above comprises the head assembly 18A including the thermal head 18, the head holding part 36 that detachably holds the head assembly 18A, and the head cover 39 that is pivotable relative to the head holding part 36 and covers at least a part of the thermal head 18. Furthermore, the guide part formed by the cutout part 382b of the head assembly 18A and the guide protrusion 393 of the head cover 39 guides the head assembly 18A when it is inserted into or removed from the printer body, thereby improving the workability of replacing the thermal head 18 in the printer 1. In addition, because the cutout portion 382a of the head assembly 18A is formed in a U-shape that opens upward, the head assembly 18A can be easily attached to and detached from the rotating shaft 41. In other words, it is possible to achieve both smooth insertion and removal of the head assembly 18A and adjustment of the front-rear position of the thermal head 18.

[0067] 13, the connector 184 on the head assembly 18A side and the connector 501 on the head cover 39 side are configured to be connected or disconnected in the insertion / removal directions (directions D2 and D3) of the head assembly 18A. This allows the connectors to be connected or disconnected together with the insertion and removal of the head assembly 18A, eliminating the need to perform the insertion and removal of the head assembly 18A and the connector connection operations separately.

[0068] 13 is configured to include the cutout portion 382b of the head assembly 18A and the guide protrusion 393 of the head cover 39, but is not limited to this. The guide portion can take various forms as long as it guides the head assembly 18A when inserting or removing the head assembly 18A from the printer 1.

[0069] FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of the guide portion. Fig. 14A shows a cross section of the cutout portion 382b and the guide protrusion 393 shown in Fig. 13. Two opposing guide surfaces 382bs1, 382bs2 are formed in the cutout portion 382b. The guide protrusion 393 is formed with sliding surfaces 393s1, 393s2 for sliding on the guide surfaces 382bs1, 382bs2 along the insertion / removal direction (directions D2 and D3 in Fig. 13). When guiding the head assembly 18A, the two guide surfaces and the two sliding surfaces come into contact with each other at the same time, and the head assembly 18A moves in the insertion / removal direction while being guided from two directions perpendicular to the sliding surfaces, which has the advantage of enabling stable guiding. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where two guide surfaces and two corresponding sliding surfaces are formed. The guide portion may include one guide surface and one corresponding sliding surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 14B, in one embodiment, the guide portion has a guide protrusion 393A on which one guide surface 393As is formed along the insertion / removal direction, and a guide protrusion 382bA on which one sliding surface 382bAs for sliding on the guide surface 393As is formed. In this case as well, the guide function can be exerted when inserting and removing the head assembly 18A.

[0070] In one embodiment, the two sliding surfaces are not parallel to each other, and the two guide surfaces corresponding to each sliding surface are not parallel to each other. For example, the two guide surfaces of the cutout portion 382bB shown in FIG. 14C are not parallel, and the two sliding surfaces of the guide protrusion 393B are not parallel. In this case, too, the cutout portion 382bB and the guide protrusion 393B can be engaged with each other to provide a guide function when inserting and removing the head assembly 18A.

[0071] In Fig. 13, the guide portion is configured by a cutout portion formed on the head assembly side and a guide protrusion formed on the head cover side, but this is not limited to this and may be reversed. That is, in one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 14D, the guide portion is configured by a guide protrusion 384 formed on the head assembly side and a cutout portion 396 formed on the head cover side. The number of the notches and the guide protrusions constituting the guide portion are not limited to 1, and can be set to any number. For example, in Fig. 14E, the guide portion is composed of notch portion 382bC in which two notches are formed, and guide protrusion 393C in which two corresponding protrusions are formed.

[0072] Next, a printer 1A equipped with a head assembly 18B different from the head assembly 18A described above will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16. Note that the configuration of the printer 1A can be the same as that of the printer 1, except for the head assembly 18B and a head cover 39A described later. 13, the connector 184 of the head assembly 18A is configured to be directly connected to or not connected to a connector 501 arranged on the head cover 39. In contrast, the head assembly 18B differs from the head assembly 18A in that it is connected to a connector provided at the end of a wire extending from a control unit (not shown).

[0073] The printer 1A shown in Fig. 15 includes a head assembly 18B and a head cover 39A. The head assembly 18B has connectors 184a and 184b that are connected to the substrate of the thermal head. The connectors 184a and 184b are respectively connected to connectors 501a and 501b that are provided at the ends of wires extending from a control unit (not shown). Fig. 16 shows a state in which the connectors 184a and 184b are disconnected from the connectors 501a and 501b.

[0074] Similar to the head assembly 18A, a pair of cutouts 382bD are formed on both sides of the head attachment member of the head assembly 18B. In one embodiment, the cutout length of the cutout 382bD is longer than the cutout 382b (see FIG. 10) of the head assembly 18A. On the other hand, unlike head cover 39 (see FIG. 13), head cover 39A does not have a circuit board or a connector mounted thereon. A pair of guide protrusions 393D are formed on both side portions of head cover 39A. In one embodiment, the protrusion length of guide protrusions 393D is longer than that of guide protrusion 393 (see FIG. 10). The insertion hole of head cover 39A for oscillation shaft 40 is circular (round hole) unlike insertion hole 362a of head cover 39 (see FIG. 10). The cutout portion 382bD of the head assembly 18B is configured to slidably engage with the guide projection 393D of the head cover 39A in response to rearward movement of the head assembly 18B relative to the head cover 39A.

[0075] As described above, in the printer 1 (see FIG. 13), the connectors are connected (or not connected) to each other depending on whether the head assembly 18A is connected (or not connected) to the head cover 39. In contrast, in the printer 1A (FIG. 15), the connectors 501a, 501b are not mounted on the head cover 39A, so the connection (or not connection) of the head assembly 18B to the head cover 39A is unrelated to the connection (or not connection) of the connectors to each other. Unlike the head cover 39, the head cover 39A is connected to the head assembly 18B only by the engagement between the guide protrusions 393D and the cutout portions 382bD. In other words, the head cover 39A is held by the cutout portions 382bD of the head assembly 18B. Therefore, to prevent the head cover 39A from rattling in the up-down direction, the protrusion length of the guide protrusions 393D and the cutout length of the cutout portions 382bD are made longer than the guide protrusions 393 and the cutout portions 382b, respectively.

[0076] A method for replacing the thermal head of the head assembly 18B in the printer 1A will be described below with reference to Figures 15 to 17. Figure 17 is a diagram showing the operation when the head assembly 18B is removed from the printer 1A. The method of replacing the head assembly 18B is basically the same as that of the head assembly 18A of the printer 1, so the following description will mainly focus on the differences from the head assembly 18A.

[0077] First, as shown in Figure 5, when the user opens the print head unit 13 and pushes the exposed head retention release portion 30 in the direction D1, the head assembly 18B and head cover 39A swing together around the swing axis 40. At this point, the notch 382bD of the head assembly 18B and the guide protrusion 393D of the head cover 39A are engaged. Therefore, the head assembly 18B and the head cover 39A are integrated. The swing of the head assembly 18B and the head cover 39A stops when the pin 394 of the head cover 39A abuts against the pin abutment portion 362c of the head holding portion 36. This stopped state is shown in Figure 17. In the state shown in Figure 17, head assembly 18B faces diagonally upward with respect to the horizontal plane (that is, guide protrusion 393D faces diagonally upward from the horizontal plane), so head assembly 18B does not fall off (drop).

[0078] In the state shown in FIG. 17, when the user pulls out the head assembly 18B in the removal direction D2 (see FIG. 15), the engagement between the notch 382bD of the head assembly 18B and the guide protrusion 393D of the head cover 39A is released, and the head assembly 18B can be removed. In the removed head assembly 18B, as shown in FIG. 15, the connectors 184a, 184b are connected to the mating connectors 501a, 501b. The user then performs the task of releasing the connection of the connectors, as shown in FIG. 16. This allows the head assembly 18B to be removed from the printer 1A.

[0079] The method for replacing the thermal head of the head assembly 18B is the same as that for the head assembly 18A.

[0080] When attaching the replaced head assembly 18B to the printer 1, the procedure is reversed from that described above. That is, the user connects the connectors 184a, 184b of the replaced head assembly 18B to the counterpart connectors 501a, 501b that have been pulled out, and inserts the head assembly 18B along the insertion direction D3 in FIG. 15. When the user pushes in the head assembly 18B, the notch portion 382bD of the head assembly 18B engages with the guide protrusion 393D of the head cover 39A, and the head assembly 18B and the head cover 39A are connected (integrated). At this time, the notch portion 382bD of the head assembly 18B and the guide protrusion 393D of the head cover 39A engage with the head assembly 18B while sliding along the insertion direction D3, so that they function as guides when the user inserts the head assembly 18B. Thereafter, the head assembly 18B is locked by the user swinging (pushing up) the head cover 39A, which is the same as in the case of the printer 1 (see FIG. 12).

[0081] Although the embodiment of the printer of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Furthermore, the above embodiment can be improved or modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0082] The following supplementary notes are disclosed regarding the above-described embodiment. [Appendix 1] a head cover assembly mounting bracket having a thermal head assembly adjustment shaft; a head cover assembly configured to rotate relative to the head cover assembly mounting bracket, The head cover assembly includes a head cover and a thermal head assembly, The head cover is a first connector protruding forward in a depth direction; a first guide protrusion disposed on a first side of the head cover in the width direction; the thermal head assembly is detachably attached to the head cover and includes a thermal head and a thermal head bracket; The thermal head includes: a heating element configured to print; a second connector operably connected to the heating element, the second connector configured to removably connect to the first connector of the head cover in response to rearward movement of the thermal head assembly relative to the head cover; The thermal head bracket is a central plate portion attached to the thermal head and extending in a depth direction and a width direction; a first end plate portion disposed on a first side of the central plate portion and extending in a depth direction and a height direction; The first end plate portion is a first notch disposed at an upper end of the first end plate portion on a front side of the first end plate portion and configured to engage with the thermal head assembly adjustment shaft; a second notch portion disposed at a rear end of the first end plate portion and configured to slidably engage with the first guide protrusion in response to rearward movement of the thermal head assembly relative to the head cover; Printer body assembly. [Appendix 2] The head cover further includes a second guide protrusion disposed on a second side of the head cover in the width direction, The thermal head bracket is a second end plate portion disposed on a second side of the central plate portion and extending in a depth direction and a height direction; The second end plate portion is a third notch disposed at an upper end of the second end plate portion on a front side of the second end plate portion and configured to engage with the thermal head assembly adjustment shaft; and a fourth notch portion disposed at a rear end of the second end plate portion and configured to slidably engage with the second guide protrusion in response to rearward movement of the thermal head assembly relative to the head cover. [Appendix 3] 2. The printer body assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end plate portion extends downward from a first end of the center plate portion. [Appendix 4] 4. The printer body assembly of claim 3, wherein the first cutout portion is formed in a portion of the first end plate portion that protrudes upward beyond an upper surface of the central plate portion. [Appendix 5] The printer body assembly described in Appendix 4, wherein the thermal head bracket has a first cleft-shaped cutout portion disposed between the first end of the center plate portion and the portion of the first end plate portion that protrudes upward beyond the upper surface of the center plate portion. [Appendix 6] the second cutout portion of the first end plate portion is defined by an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion extending rearward at a rear end of the first end plate portion, 6. The printer body assembly of claim 5, wherein the first end of the central plate portion extends in a straight line from the rear end of the upward protrusion to the rear end of the first crack-shaped cutout portion. [Appendix 7] The printer body assembly of Appendix 1, wherein the thermal head assembly is configured such that, in response to rearward movement of the thermal head assembly relative to the head cover, the second cutout portion slidably and at least partially engages with the first guide protrusion before the second connector connects with the first connector of the head cover. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1,1A…Printer 2. Front cover 3...Enter button 4. Display panel 5…Issue port 6…Open cover 7…Hinge 10...Paper supply section 10a...Support shaft, 10b...Roll guide 11...Printing section 12...Ink ribbon section 12a... ribbon supply section, 12b... ribbon take-up section, 121, 122... ribbon rollers 13...Print head unit 14...Support stand 15…Damper 15a...Outer damper, 15b...Inner damper 16...Head lock lever 17...Support plate 18A, 18B...Head assembly 18...thermal head, 18L...heat generating portion, 181...heat sink, 181a...screw hole, 183...substrate, 184, 184a, 184b...connectors 38...Head accessories 38P... pin, 38Pr... recess, 381... center plate, 381a, 381b... holes, 382... end plate, 382a... notch, 382b, 382bD... notch, 382b1... upper protrusion, 382b2... lower protrusion, 383... screw, 384... protrusion, 385... crack-shaped notch 19…Engagement claw 20…Pin 21...Torsion spring 22...Lock claw 23...Platen roller 35...Head mechanism 36…Head holder 36f, 36g...hole, 361...support plate, 362...side wall, 362a, 362b...through hole, 362c...pin abutment portion, 37...pin pressing portion, 37a...pressing plate, 37b...coil spring, 37d...hole, 37f, 37g...pin, 37h...pin abutment piece, 37i...projection, 37j...projection, 30...head retention release portion 39,39A…Head cover 39h... through hole, 391... thermal head mounting portion, 392... circuit board fixing portion, 392a... threaded portion, 393, 393D... guide projections, 394... pin, 395... insertion hole, 396... notch portion, 397... sensor housing portion, 398... screw hole, 399... through hole 40...Oscillating shaft 41...rotating shaft, 41a...fitting portion 42...Operation unit 50...circuit board, 501, 501a, 501b...connectors 51…Wiring CP...Continuous paper, PM...Backing paper, PL...Label, RB...Ink ribbon, R...Roll paper G1…Gear S1: Swing axis

Claims

1. The print head assembly, including the print head, A head holding portion that detachably holds the head assembly, A head cover that is pivotable relative to the head holding portion and covers at least a part of the print head, The head assembly and the head cover are provided with a guide portion that guides the head assembly when inserting the head assembly into the printer body and when removing it from the printer body, A printer equipped with [a specific feature / ability].

2. The aforementioned guide portion is A first engaging portion is provided on the head assembly and has a guide surface formed thereon, The head cover has a second engaging portion provided on it, which has a sliding surface formed thereon for sliding on the guide surface along the insertion and removal direction of the head assembly, The printer according to claim 1.

3. The first engaging portion has two guide surfaces and includes a projection extending in the insertion / removal direction of the print head. The second engaging portion has two sliding surfaces formed on each of the two guide surfaces, and includes a U-shaped portion that sandwiches the projection. The printer according to claim 2.

4. The head cover has a restricting portion that contacts the head holding portion and restricts the swinging of the head cover. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The print head has a first connector, The first connector is configured to be connected to or disconnected from the second connector, which is paired with the first connector, in the insertion / removal direction of the head assembly. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The guide portion is configured to begin guiding the head assembly before the first connector and the second connector begin to make contact when the head assembly is inserted into the printer body. The printer according to claim 5.

7. The head holding unit holds the head assembly to prevent it from falling due to its own weight, and releases its grip on the head assembly in accordance with a predetermined operation. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The head assembly is provided with a position adjustment mechanism that allows the position of the head assembly to be adjusted in the front-rear direction, assuming that the direction in which the printed medium is advanced by the print head is forward. The position adjustment mechanism is, An adjustment shaft portion is pivotally supported by the head holding portion and moves the head assembly in the front-rear direction in response to rotational operation, The head assembly is provided with a U-shaped fitting portion that fits into the adjustment shaft portion, A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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