Printer

Abstract

To provide a printer which achieves operability when a cover of an opening is attached to a housing and position accuracy between the cover and the housing.SOLUTION: A printer includes a print head, a housing 9, and a cover 3. The cover 3 may rotate around an axis K passing through a first engaged part and a second engaged part between an open position and a closed position. The cover 3 includes a plate body 29, a first extending part 31, a second extending part 32, and a contact part. The first extending part 31 extends from the plate body 29 in an extending direction E orthogonal to an axial direction J in which the axis K extends. The second extending part 32 is spaced apart from the first extending part 31 in the axial direction J and extends from the plate body 29 in the extending direction E. The contact part is spaced apart from the first extending part 31 and the second extending part 32 in the axial direction J, extends from the plate body 29 in the extending direction E, and has a first contact surface 37 which contacts with the housing 9 from one side in the axial direction J, and a second contact surface 38 which contacts with the housing 9 from the other side in the axial direction J.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer.

Background Art

[0002] The printer described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing formed with a supply port for supplying a printing medium, and a supply port cover detachably attached to the supply port. The supply port cover has a transport surface for transporting the printing medium, and in the open state, it is fixed so that the transport surface is exposed and positioned downward from the horizontal position.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The supply port cover of a conventional printer is formed of a flexible resin, and a configuration in which the supply port cover is bent and attached to the housing is often used. From the viewpoint of operability when attaching the supply port cover to the housing, it is preferable that the hinge portion is easily deformed under a light load. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the positioning accuracy between the supply port cover and the housing, it is preferable that the hinge portion is difficult to deform. For this reason, it is difficult to achieve both the operability when attaching the cover of an opening such as a supply port to the housing and the positioning accuracy between the cover and the housing.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that achieves both the operability when attaching the cover of an opening to the housing and the positioning accuracy between the cover and the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A printer according to one aspect of the present invention includes a print head, a housing that houses the print head, has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and in which an opening through which a print medium printed by the print head passes is formed, a first engaged portion that engages with the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portion that engages with the second engaging portion. A cover that is rotatable between an open position in which the opening is exposed to the outside of the housing and a closed position in which at least a part of the opening is blocked around an axis passing through the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion. When the cover is in the closed position, the cover includes a plate body that blocks at least a part of the opening, a first extending portion that extends from the plate body in an extending direction orthogonal to an axial direction that is the direction in which the axis extends and has the first engaged portion that extends in the axial direction, a second extending portion that is spaced apart from the first extending portion in the axial direction, extends from the plate body in the extending direction, and has the second engaged portion that extends in the axial direction, and a contact portion that is spaced apart from each of the first extending portion and the second extending portion in the axial direction, extends from the plate body in the extending direction, and has a first contact surface that contacts the housing from one side in the axial direction and a second contact surface that contacts the housing from the other side in the axial direction. The printer according to this aspect contributes to providing the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion, which are configurations for attaching the cover to the housing, and the first contact surface and the second contact surface for positioning the cover and the housing at different portions by providing the first extending portion, the second extending portion, and the contact portion separately. That is, the first extending portion, the second extending portion, and the contact portion of the printer contribute to achieving both the operability when attaching the cover of the opening to the housing and the positioning accuracy between the cover and the housing.

[0007] The contact portion of the printer according to this aspect may be located between the first extending portion and the second extending portion in the axial direction. The printer contributes to increasing the axial distance between the first extending portion and the second extending portion and making the plate body more flexible in the axial direction compared to the case where the contact portion is not provided between the first extending portion and the second extending portion.

[0008] The first extending portion of the printer according to this aspect is arranged on one side in the axial direction with respect to the second extending portion. The first engaged portion may be provided on the first engaging surface on one side in the axial direction of the first extending portion, and the second engaged portion may be provided on the second engaging surface on the other side in the axial direction of the second extending portion. Compared with the case where the first engaged portion is provided on the other surface in the axial direction of the first extending portion of the printer or the second engaged portion is provided on one surface in the axial direction of the second extending portion, it contributes to improving the operability when attaching the cover to the housing.

[0009] The axis of the printer according to this aspect may extend on the side opposite to the side where the print head is located with respect to the conveyance path of the print medium. When the axis of the printer is on the side where the print head is located with respect to the conveyance path, for the print medium passing through the opening, the surface that contacts the cover is the surface opposite to the printing surface. Therefore, it contributes to avoiding problems caused by the printing surface contacting the cover.

[0010] The contact portion of the printer according to this aspect may include a first contact portion having the first contact surface and a second contact portion that is axially spaced from the first contact portion and has the second contact surface. Compared with the case where the contact portion is not divided into a first contact portion and a second contact portion, it contributes to improving the degree of freedom in the design of the contact portion.

[0011] The opening of the printer according to this aspect may be a supply port for supplying the print medium to the print head. The first extending portion, the second extending portion, and the contact portion of the printer contribute to achieving both the operability when attaching the cover to the housing and the positioning accuracy between the cover and the housing in a cover that closes at least a part of the supply port for supplying the print medium to the print head.

[0012] The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion of the printer according to this aspect are each a hole formed on the axis, the first engaged portion is a shaft extending on the axis that fits into the first engaging portion, and the second engaged portion may be a shaft extending on the axis that fits into the second engaging portion. The first engaging portion, the second engaging portion, the first engaged portion, and the second engaged portion of the printer contribute to facilitating the operation of engaging the first engaging portion with the first engaged portion and the second engaging portion with the second engaged portion, as compared to the case where the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are shafts and the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are holes.

[0013] The printer according to this aspect further includes a roller that conveys the print medium in the conveyance direction, and the plate body may include a plurality of ribs extending in the conveyance direction and arranged in the axial direction that come into contact with the print medium conveyed by the roller when the cover is in the open position. The plurality of ribs of the printer contribute to making it easier for the print medium to be conveyed along the conveyance direction, as compared to the case where no plurality of ribs are provided.

[0014] The first axial interval between the first extending portion and the abutting portion of the printer according to this aspect is 2 mm or less, and the second axial interval between the second extending portion and the abutting portion may be 2 mm or less. The first extending portion, the second extending portion, and the abutting portion of the printer contribute to making it difficult for foreign matter such as dust to enter the housing from the gap between the first extending portion and the abutting portion and the gap between the second extending portion and the abutting portion, as compared to the case where the first interval is greater than 2 mm and the second interval is greater than 2 mm.

[0015] The housing of the printer according to this aspect may be formed with a first recess into which the first extending portion and the first abutting portion are inserted and the first engaging portion is provided, and a second recess into which the second extending portion and the second abutting portion are inserted and the second engaging portion is provided. The first recess and the second recess of the printer contribute to avoiding interference between the housing and the first extending portion, the second extending portion, the first abutting portion, and the second abutting portion, respectively, when the cover is in the closed position and when it is in the open position.

[0016] In the printer according to this aspect, each of the first concave portion and the second concave portion may have a longer axial length in a portion closer to the opening than in a portion farther from the opening. The first concave portion and the second concave portion of the printer contribute to improving the operability when attaching the cover to the housing by guiding the first engaged portion to the first engaging portion and guiding the second engaged portion to the second engaging portion when attaching the cover to the housing.

[0017] The printer according to this aspect further includes a connecting wall that extends in the thickness direction of the plate body at an end of the plate body in the extending direction, and connects the first extending portion, the second extending portion, the abutting portion, and the plate body. A pair of first extending slits recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the first extending portion, and a pair of second extending slits recessed in the thickness direction are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the second extending portion. The first extending slit and the second extending slit of the printer contribute to improving the operability when attaching the cover to the housing by making each of the first extending portion and the second extending portion more flexible in the axial direction compared to the case where the first extending slit and the second extending slit are not formed.

[0018] The housing of the printer according to this aspect further includes a third engaging portion, and the plate body further has a first side surface on one side in the axial direction, a second side surface on the other side in the axial direction, and a third engaged portion provided on the second side surface and engaging with the third engaging portion when the cover is in the closed position. The engaged portion that engages with the housing may not be provided on the first side surface. The third engaging portion and the third engaged portion of the printer contribute to maintaining the state where the cover is in the closed position when the third engaging portion and the third engaged portion engage with each other. The third engaging portion and the third engaged portion of the printer can release the engagement of the third engaging portion and the third engaged portion with a relatively small force compared to the case where engaging portions are provided on both axial end surfaces of the cover, and contribute to improving the operability when moving the cover from the closed position to the open position.

[0019] The axial length of the plate body of the printer according to this aspect may be 70 mm or less. The cover of the printer has an axial length of 70 mm or less and is less likely to bend axially than when the axial length is greater than 70 mm. However, compared with the case where engaging portions are provided at both axial end faces of the cover, it contributes to releasing the engagement between the third engaging portion and the third engaged portion.

[0020] The contact portion of the printer according to this aspect includes a first contact portion having the first contact surface, and a second contact portion spaced apart from the first contact portion in the axial direction and having the second contact surface. At the end of the plate body in the extending direction, a connecting wall extends in the thickness direction of the plate body and connects the first extending portion, the second extending portion, the first contact portion, the second contact portion, and the plate body. A pair of first contact slits recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the first contact portion, and a pair of second contact slits recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the second contact portion. The pair of first contact slits of the printer contribute to making the first contact portion easily bendable in the axial direction, and the pair of second contact slits contribute to making the second contact portion easily bendable in the axial direction. The printer contributes to reducing the load required to move the cover from the closed position to the open position compared with the case where the pair of first contact slits and the pair of second contact slits are not provided.

[0021] In the axial direction of the printer of this aspect, one of the pair of first abutting slits is adjacent to the first extending portion and is disposed between the first abutting portion and the first extending portion. One of the pair of second abutting slits is adjacent to the second extending portion and is disposed between the second abutting portion and the second extending portion. In the connecting wall, a first extending slit recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body is formed at an end of the connecting portion with the first extending portion on the side opposite to the first abutting portion side with respect to the first extending portion among both ends of the connecting portion with the first extending portion. A second extending slit recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body may be formed at an end of the connecting portion with the second extending portion on the side opposite to the second abutting portion side with respect to the second extending portion among both ends of the connecting portion with the second extending portion. One of the first abutting slits of the printer contributes to simplifying the slit configuration as compared with the case where slits are provided individually for each of the first extending portion and the first abutting portion. One of the second abutting slits of the printer contributes to simplifying the slit configuration as compared with the case where slits are provided individually for each of the second extending portion and the second abutting portion.

[0022] In the connecting wall of the printer of this aspect, a pair of first extending slits recessed in the thickness direction are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the first extending portion, separately from the pair of first abutting slits. A pair of second extending slits recessed in the thickness direction are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the second extending portion, separately from the pair of second abutting slits. The first extending slit and the second extending slit of the printer contribute to improving the degree of freedom in the design of the cover as compared with the case where a common slit is formed between the first extending portion and the first abutting portion and a common slit is formed between the second extending portion and the second abutting portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1(A) to 8, the configuration of the printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, the upper left, lower right, lower left, upper right, upper, and lower of FIG. 1(A) are defined as the front, rear, right, left, upper, and lower of the printer 1, respectively. In the present embodiment, for example, the vertical direction is used for convenience of explanation and is not limited to the vertical direction. The printer 1 is a portable printer that prints on a tape-shaped printing medium. The printing medium may be wound in a roll shape and housed in the housing 9. The printing medium may be folded fan-fold paper and may be placed outside the housing 9.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1(A) to 3, the printer 1 includes a housing 9, a print head 5, a roller 7, and a cover 3. The housing 9 is a long rectangular parallelepiped in the front-rear direction that houses the print head 5 and the roller 7 and has openings 23 and 26 through which a printing medium M to be printed by the print head 5 passes. The opening 23 is formed on the back surface of the housing 9. The opening 23 is rectangular in shape and long in the left-right direction when viewed from the back. The opening 23 is a supply port for supplying the printing medium M to the print head 5. The opening 26 is formed on the front surface of the housing 9. The opening 26 is rectangular in shape and long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The opening 26 is a discharge port for discharging the printing medium M from the housing 9. The length of the opening 23 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length of the opening 26 in the up-down direction. The printing medium M is, for example, fan-folded paper composed of a label L and a backing sheet P. The backing sheet P is in the form of a tape, and perforations extending in the width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the printing medium M are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium M. A plurality of labels L are attached to one surface of the backing sheet P along the longitudinal direction of the printing medium M. The backing sheet P of the printing medium M is folded multiple times along the perforations. The printing medium M is conveyed into the housing 9 through the opening 23 with the surface to which the label L is attached facing upward.

[0026] The housing 9 has a main body 22 and a lid 21. The main body 22 is the lower part of the housing 9, is open upward, and is in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the main body 22 includes a main body cover 6. The main body cover 6 is a plate provided on the main body 22 and having a recess 76 that is arcuately recessed downward when viewed from the side. The front end 91 of the main body cover 6 is located below the roller 7. The rear end 92 of the main body cover 6 is at substantially the same position as the upper rear end portion 27 of the main body 22. The rear end 92 of the main body cover 6 engages with the upper rear end portion 27 of the main body 22. The main body cover 6 has a left wall 77 extending upward from the left end of the recess 76 and a right wall 78 extending upward from the right end of the recess 76. The left wall 77 and the right wall 78 face each other with the recess 76 therebetween. The recess 76 can accommodate a roll around which a printing medium is wound and having an axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0027] The housing 9 is formed with a first recess 61 and a second recess 62 for mounting the cover 3. In the present embodiment, the first recess 61 and the second recess 62 are formed between the left wall 77 and the right wall 78 at the rear end of the main body cover 6. The first recess 61 and the second recess 62 each recess downward from the upper surface 60 of the rear end of the main body cover 6. The first recess 61 and the second recess 62 are each rectangular in shape when viewed from the front. The first recess 61 has a surface 65 inclined to the left such that it is closer to the left as it goes upward approaching the opening 23 compared to the downward portion farther from the opening 23. The second recess 62 has a surface 66 inclined to the right such that it is closer to the right as it goes upward approaching the opening 23 compared to the downward portion farther from the opening 23. The first recess 61 and the second recess 62 each have a longer length in the axial direction J along the axis K at the portion closer to the opening 23 compared to the portion farther from the opening 23. The axial direction J in the present embodiment is the left - right direction. The housing 9 has a first engaging portion 63 and a second engaging portion 64. The first engaging portion 63 is a hole recessed to the left, formed on the virtual axis K below the lower end of the first recess 61, more specifically, below the surface 65. The second engaging portion 64 is a hole recessed to the right, formed on the axis K below the lower end of the second recess 62, more specifically, below the surface 66.

[0028] The lid 21 is the upper part of the housing 9. The lid 21 is rotatable about an axis extending in the left - right direction at the upper rear end of the main body 22. FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) show the state where the lid 21 is closed with respect to the main body 22. When the lid 21 is opened with respect to the main body 22, the opening of the main body 22 is opened upward. The lid 21 includes a switch 25 and a lever 24. The switch 25 is provided at the front part of the upper surface of the lid 21. The switch 25 is operated when inputting instructions regarding printing. The lever 24 is provided on the right side surface of the housing 9. The lever 24 is operated when unlocking the lock between the lid 21 and the main body 22 and opening the lid 21 with respect to the main body 22. The lid 21 is provided with a third engaging portion 74. The third engaging portion 74 is a portion slightly protruding to the right, provided on the left wall of the opening 23.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the print head 5 is a thermal head provided on the lid 21. The print head 5 is plate-shaped and extends in the left-right direction, and includes a plurality of heating elements arranged in the left-right direction. The print head 5 faces the roller 7 with a slight vertical gap when the lid 21 is closed with respect to the main body 22. The print head 5 performs printing on the print medium M by selectively heating a plurality of heating elements. The roller 7 is provided above the front end 91 of the main body cover 6 in the front-rear direction. The roller 7 is a cylinder having an axis extending in the left-right direction, and is provided on the main body 22 so as to be rotatable around the axis. The roller 7 rotates by driving a motor (not shown) and conveys the print medium M in the conveyance direction Q. The conveyance direction Q in the present embodiment is generally forward.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover 3 is a flexible resin plate that is long in the left-right direction. The cover 3 has a first engaged portion 39 and a second engaged portion 40. The first engaged portion 39 engages with the first engaging portion 63, and the second engaged portion 40 engages with the second engaging portion 64. The cover 3 is rotatable around the axis K between an open position shown in FIG. 1(B) where the opening 23 is exposed to the outside of the housing 9 around the axis K passing through the first engaged portion 39 and the second engaged portion 40, and a closed position shown in FIG. 1(A) where at least a part of the opening 23 is blocked. As shown in FIG. 2, the axis K extends on the side opposite to the side where the print head 5 is located with respect to the conveyance path F of the print medium M. In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, since the print head 5 is above the conveyance path F, the axis K extends below the conveyance path F. Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 1(B) to 3, the configuration of the cover 3 will be described based on the case where the plate body 29 is in the open position.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover 3 includes a plate body 29, a first extending portion 31, a second extending portion 32, a first abutting portion 35, a second abutting portion 36, and a connecting wall 52. The plate body 29 is a rectangular plate that is long in the left-right direction in a rear view and closes at least a part of the opening 23 when the cover 3 is in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 1(A), the plate body 29 of the present embodiment is arranged on the same plane as the rear surface of the housing 9 and closes substantially the entire opening 23 when the cover 3 is in the closed position. The length of the plate body 29 in the axial direction J is 70 mm or less. The length of the plate body 29 of the present embodiment in the axial direction J is 66 mm.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the plate body 29 includes a left wall 41, a right wall 51, and ribs 42 to 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the left wall 41 has a first side surface 71 on one side in the axial direction J and extends from the left end of the plate body 29 in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29. A third engaged portion 73 that engages with a third engaging portion 74 provided on the housing 9 is provided on the first side surface 71 when the cover 3 is in the closed position. The third engaged portion 73 is a convex portion that protrudes leftward from the first side surface 71. The third engaged portion 73 is U-shaped with an open upper side when viewed from the left side. As shown in FIG. 7, the right wall 51 has a second side surface 72 on the other side in the axial direction J and extends from the right end of the plate body 29 in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29. No engaged portion that engages with the housing 9 is provided on the second side surface 72.

[0033] Ribs 42 to 50 extend in the conveying direction Q and are in contact with the printing medium M conveyed by the roller 7 when the cover 3 is in the open position. Ribs 42 to 50 are arranged in the axial direction J. The lengths of ribs 42 to 50 in the axial direction J are substantially the same as each other. As shown in FIGS. 1(B) to 3, when the cover 3 is in the open position, the upper ends of ribs 42 to 50 are parallel to the substantially horizontal direction and are located above the upper ends of the left wall 41 and the right wall 51. Rib 42 extends from the rear end of the plate body 29 to the front end of the first extension portion 31. Rib 44 extends from the rear end of the plate body 29 to the front end of the first contact portion 35. Rib 43 is located between rib 42 and rib 44 in the axial direction J. Rib 43 extends from a position slightly rearward of the center of the plate body 29 in the front-rear direction to the front end of the first contact portion 35. Ribs 45 to 47 each extend from the rear end to the front end of the plate body 29. Rib 46 is located at the center of the plate body 29 in the axial direction J. Rib 50 extends from the rear end of the plate body 29 to the front end of the second extension portion 32. Rib 48 extends from the rear end of the plate body 29 to the front end of the second contact portion 36. Rib 49 is located between rib 48 and rib 50 in the axial direction J. Rib 49 extends from a position slightly rearward of the center of the plate body 29 in the front-rear direction to the front end of the second contact portion 36.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the first extension portion 31, the second extension portion 32, the first contact portion 35, and the second contact portion 36 each extend from the plate body 29 in an extension direction E orthogonal to the axial direction J, which is the direction in which the axis K extends. The extension direction E when the cover 3 is in the open position is forward. The first extension portion 31, the second extension portion 32, the first contact portion 35, and the second contact portion 36 each extend forward from the connecting wall 52 provided at the front end of the plate body 29. The first extension portion 31, the second extension portion 32, the first contact portion 35, and the second contact portion 36 are each hook-shaped with an open bottom when viewed from the right side.

[0035] The first extending portion 31 is disposed on one side of the axial direction J with respect to the second extending portion 32. One side of the axial direction J in the present embodiment is the left side, and the other side of the axial direction J is the right side. The first extending portion 31 has a first engaged portion 39 extending in the axial direction J. The first engaged portion 39 is provided on the first engaging surface 33 on one side of the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J. The first engaged portion 39 is a shaft extending on the axis K that fits into the first engaging portion 63. The first engaging surface 33 in the present embodiment is the left surface of the first extending portion 31. The first engaged portion 39 is a columnar shaft protruding leftward from the front lower portion of the first engaging surface 33.

[0036] The second extending portion 32 extends from the plate body 29 in the extending direction E at a distance from the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J. The second extending portion 32 has a second engaged portion 40 extending in the axial direction J. The second engaged portion 40 is provided on the second engaging surface 34 on the other side of the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J. The second engaged portion 40 is a shaft extending on the axis K that fits into the second engaging portion 64. The second engaging surface 34 in the present embodiment is the right surface of the second extending portion 32. The second engaged portion 40 is a columnar shaft protruding rightward from the front lower portion of the second engaging surface 34.

[0037] The first abutting portion 35 and the second abutting portion 36 constitute the abutting portion 10. The abutting portion 10 extends from the plate body 29 in the extending direction E at a distance from each of the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J, and has a first abutting surface 37 that abuts against the housing 9 from one side of the axial direction J and a second abutting surface 38 that abuts against the housing 9 from the other side of the axial direction J. The abutting portion 10, that is, the first abutting portion 35 and the second abutting portion 36, is located between the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J. The first extending portion 31 is located to the left of the first abutting portion 35, and the second extending portion 32 is located to the left of the second abutting portion 36.

[0038] The first abutting portion 35 has a first abutting surface 37. The first abutting surface 37 is the right surface of the first abutting portion 35. The first abutting portion 35 faces the right surface of the first extending portion 31. The first interval D1 in the axial direction J between the first extending portion 31 and the abutting portion 10, more specifically, the first abutting portion 35, is 2 mm or less. The front end portion of the first abutting portion 35, together with the front end portion of the first extending portion 31, is disposed in the first recess 61. The first abutting surface 37 abuts against the right wall of the first recess 61 of the main body cover 6 from the left. The length of the first abutting portion 35 in the axial direction J is shorter than the length of the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J.

[0039] The second abutting portion 36 is axially spaced from the first abutting portion 35 and has a second abutting surface 38. The second abutting surface 38 is the left surface of the second abutting portion 36. The second abutting portion 36 faces the left surface of the second extending portion 32. The second interval D2 in the axial direction J between the second extending portion 32 and the abutting portion 10, more specifically, the second abutting portion 36, is 2 mm or less. The front end portion of the second abutting portion 36, together with the front end portion of the second extending portion 32, is disposed in the second recess 62. The second abutting surface 38 abuts against the left wall of the second recess 62 of the main body cover 6 from the right. The length of the second abutting portion 36 in the axial direction J is shorter than the length of the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J.

[0040] The connecting wall 52 extends in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 at the end of the plate body 29 in the extending direction E, that is, at the front end of the plate body 29, and connects the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, the second abutting portion 36, and the plate body 29. On the connecting wall 52, at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 81 with the first extending portion 31, first extending slits 53 and 54 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 are formed, and at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 82 with the second extending portion 32, second extending slits 56 and 57 recessed in the thickness direction T are formed. The lengths in the axial direction J and the lengths in the thickness direction T of the slits 53, 54, 56, and 57 are the same as each other. On the connecting wall 52, at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 84 between the second abutting portion 36 and the plate body 29, second abutting slits 57 and 58 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 are formed, and at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 83 between the first abutting portion 35 and the plate body 29, first abutting slits 54 and 55 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 are formed. In the present embodiment, the first abutting slit 54 and the first extending slit 54 are the same slit, and the second abutting slit 57 and the second extending slit 57 are the same slit.

[0041] In the printer 1 of the above embodiment, the operation of attaching the cover 3 to the housing 9 and the operation of opening and closing the cover 3 with respect to the housing 9 will be described. When the cover 3 is in the open position, that is, in a posture in which the longitudinal directions of the slits 53 to 58 face the front-rear direction, the user inserts the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, and the second abutting portion 36 of the cover 3 from the opening 23 into the inside of the housing 9. The user moves the cover 3 from above downward, inserts the first extending portion 31 and the first abutting portion 35 into the first recess 61, and inserts the second extending portion 32 and the second abutting portion 36 into the second recess 62. In the process of moving the cover 3 from above downward, the first extending portion 31 and the first abutting portion 35 are bent in the axial direction J while being guided by the first recess 61 and the second recess 62, and the second extending portion 32 and the second abutting portion 36 are bent in the axial direction J while being guided by the second recess 62.

[0042] Since the connecting wall 52 is formed with slits 53 to 58, the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, and the second abutting portion 36 are easily bent in the axial direction J. The first extending portion 31 and the first abutting portion 35 are spaced apart in the axial direction J and have a spatial margin for bending only in the direction of approaching each other. The second extending portion 32 and the second abutting portion 36 are spaced apart in the axial direction J and have a spatial margin for bending only in the direction of approaching each other. Since the length of the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J is shorter than the length of the first abutting portion 35 in the axial direction J, the first extending portion 31 is more easily bent in the axial direction J than the first abutting portion 35. Since the length of the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J is shorter than the length of the second abutting portion 36 in the axial direction J, the second extending portion 32 is more easily bent in the axial direction J than the second abutting portion 36. Since ribs provided on the plate body 29 are respectively extended on the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, and the second abutting portion 36, the strength is higher and it is less likely to be damaged compared to the case where no rib is extended. The first engaged portion 39 of the first extending portion 31 is guided by the surface 65 of the first concave portion 61 and engages with the first engaging portion 63. The second engaged portion 40 of the second extending portion 32 is guided by the surface 66 of the second concave portion 62 and engages with the second engaging portion 64. By engaging the first engaged portion 39 with the first engaging portion 63 and engaging the second engaged portion 40 with the second engaging portion 64, the cover 3 is rotatable around the axis K between the open position shown in FIG. 1(B) where the opening 23 is exposed to the outside of the housing 9 through the first engaged portion 39 and the second engaged portion 40 and the closed position shown in FIG. 1(A) where at least a part of the opening 23 is blocked. By the first abutting portion 35 abutting against the first concave portion 61 of the main body cover 6 from the left and the second abutting portion 36 abutting against the second concave portion 62 of the main body cover 6 from the right, the cover 3 is positioned in the axial direction J with respect to the main body cover 6 provided on the housing 9.

[0043] When in the closed position shown in FIG. 1(A), the third engaged portion 73 of the cover 3 engages with the third engaging portion 74 of the main body cover 6. Thereby, the cover 3 is locked with respect to the main body cover 6. When moving the cover 3 in the closed position to the open position, the user hooks a finger on the operation portion 30 of the cover 3 and moves the cover 3 backward. The left end in the axial direction J of the cover 3 bends toward the center in the axial direction J of the cover 3, and the engagement between the third engaging portion 74 and the third engaged portion 73 of the cover 3 is released. Thereby, the lock of the cover 3 with respect to the main body cover 6 is released, and it can move to the open position. When the cover 3 is in the open position, hook-shaped recesses that open downward in side view of the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, and the second abutting portion 36 engage with the rear upper end portion 27 of the main body 22, and the movement of the cover 3 is restricted. When the cover 3 is in the open position, the ribs 42 to 50 of the cover 3 extend in the front-rear direction respectively.

[0044] In the printer 1 of the above embodiment, the operation when printing is performed using the printing medium M disposed outside the housing 9 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1(B), the printing medium M is disposed behind the housing 9. The printing medium M is inserted with the opening 23 and is sandwiched between the roller 7 and the print head 5. The printing medium M is disposed on the ribs 42 to 50 of the cover 3 in the open position. By driving the roller 7, the printing medium M passes through the opening 23 from outside the housing 9 and is conveyed into the housing 9. The lower surface of the printing medium M abuts against each of the ribs 42 to 50 extending in the conveying direction Q and is guided in the conveying direction Q. The printing medium M that has passed through the opening 23 is conveyed through the inside of the housing 9 along the conveying path F. The printing medium M passes through the space between the left wall 77 and the right wall 78 in the axial direction J and reaches the roller 7. The roller 7 conveys the printing medium M in the conveying direction Q and presses the label L of the printing medium M upward toward the print head 5. The print head 5 selectively heats a plurality of heating elements to print on the label L. The printed label L is discharged from the inside of the housing 9 to the outside of the housing 9 through the opening 26 together with the backing paper P.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 9, the printer 101 of the first modification will be described. In FIG. 9, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The printer 101 includes a print head 5, a roller 7, a housing 109, and a cover 103. The housing 109 is a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the front-rear direction and houses the print head 5 and the roller 7, and openings 23 and 26 through which a printing medium M printed by the print head 5 passes are formed. The cover 103 has the same configuration as the cover 3, and is rotatable about an axis U between an open position shown in FIG. 9, in which the opening 23 is exposed to the outside of the housing 9 around the axis U, and a closed position (not shown) that closes at least a part of the opening 23. The axis U, which is the center of rotation of the cover 103, extends on the side opposite to the side where the print head 5 is located with respect to the conveyance path G of the printing medium M. As shown in FIG. 9, since the print head 5 of the printer 1 of the first modification is below the conveyance path G, the axis U extends above the conveyance path G.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 10, the cover 203 of the second modification will be described. In FIG. 10, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The cover 3 includes a plate body 29, a first extension portion 31, a second extension portion 32, a first contact portion 35, a second contact portion 36, and a connecting wall 152. The distance in the axial direction J between the first extension portion 31 and the first contact portion 35 is 2 mm greater and less than 10 mm. The distance in the axial direction J between the second extension portion 32 and the second contact portion 36 is 2 mm greater and less than 10 mm. In the connecting wall 152, first extension slits 53 and 54 that are recessed in the thickness direction T are formed separately from the first contact slits 154 and 155 at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 81 with the first extension portion 31. The first contact slits 154 and 155 are slits that are recessed in the thickness direction T and are formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 83 with the first contact portion 35, respectively. Second extension slits 56 and 57 that are recessed in the thickness direction T are formed separately from the second contact slits 157 and 158 at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 82 with the second extension portion 32. The second contact slits 157 and 158 are slits that are recessed in the thickness direction T and are formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 84 with the second contact portion 36, respectively.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, the printers 1 and 101 are examples of the printer of the present invention. The covers 3, 103, and 203 are examples of the cover of the present invention. The print heads 5 and the rollers 7 are examples of the print head and the roller of the present invention, respectively. The housings 9 and 109 are examples of the housing of the present invention. The contact portion 10 is an example of the contact portion of the present invention. The plate body 29, the first extension portion 31, the second extension portion 32, the first contact portion 35, the second contact portion 36, the first contact surface 37, the second contact surface 38, the first engaged portion 39, and the second engaged portion 40 are examples of the plate body, the first extension portion, the second extension portion, the first contact portion, the second contact portion, the first contact surface, the second contact surface, the first engaged portion, and the second engaged portion of the present invention, respectively. The connecting walls 52 and 152 are examples of the connecting wall of the present invention. The first extension slits 53 and 54 are examples of a pair of first extension slits of the present invention. The first contact slits 54 and 55 are examples of a pair of first contact slits of the present invention. The first contact slits 154 and 155 are examples of a pair of first contact slits of the present invention. The second extension slits 56 and 57 are examples of a pair of second extension slits of the present invention. The second contact slits 57 and 58 are examples of a pair of second contact slits of the present invention. The second contact slits 157 and 158 are examples of the second contact slits of the present invention. The first recess 61, the second recess 62, the first engaging portion 63, the second engaging portion 64, the first side surface 71, the second side surface 72, the third engaged portion 73, and the third engaging portion 74 are examples of the first recess, the second recess, the first engaging portion, the second engaging portion, the first side surface, the second side surface, the third engaged portion, and the third engaging portion of the present invention, respectively. The connecting portions 81 to 84 are examples of the connecting portion of the present invention, respectively. The extension direction E, the axial direction J, the axis K, and the conveyance path F are examples of the extension direction, the axial direction, the axis, and the conveyance path of the present invention, respectively.

[0048] The printer 1 of the above-described embodiment includes a print head 5, a housing 9, and a cover 3. The housing 9 houses the print head 5, has a first engaging portion 63 and a second engaging portion 64, and an opening 23 through which a printing medium M printed by the print head 5 passes is formed. The cover 3 has a first engaged portion 39 that engages with the first engaging portion 63 and a second engaged portion 40 that engages with the second engaging portion 64. The cover 3 is rotatable between an open position where the opening 23 is exposed to the outside of the housing 9 and a closed position where at least a part of the opening 23 is blocked around an axis K passing through the first engaged portion 39 and the second engaged portion 40. The cover 3 includes a plate body 29, a first extending portion 31, a second extending portion 32, and a contact portion 10. The plate body 29 blocks at least a part of the opening 23 when the cover 3 is in the closed position. The first extending portion 31 extends from the plate body 29 in an extending direction E orthogonal to an axial direction J which is the direction in which the axis K extends. The first extending portion 31 has the first engaged portion 39 extending in the axial direction J. The second extending portion 32 extends from the plate body 29 in the extending direction E at a distance from the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J. The second extending portion 32 has the first engaged portion 39 extending in the axial direction J. The contact portion 10 extends from the plate body 29 in the extending direction E at a distance from each of the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J, and has a first contact surface 37 that contacts the housing 9 from one side in the axial direction J and a second contact surface 38 that contacts the housing 9 from the other side in the axial direction J. The printer 1 of this aspect contributes to providing the first engaged portion 39 and the second engaged portion 40, which are configurations for attaching the cover 3 to the housing 9, and the first contact surface 37 and the second contact surface 38 for positioning the cover 3 and the housing 9 at different portions by separately providing the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, and the contact portion 10. That is, the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, and the contact portion 10 of the printer 1 contribute to achieving both the operability when attaching the cover 3 to the housing 9 and the positioning accuracy between the cover 3 and the housing 9.

[0049] The contact portion 10 is located between the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J. The printer 1 contributes to increasing the distance between the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J and making the plate body 29 more flexible as compared with the case where the contact portion 10 is not provided between the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32.

[0050] The first extending portion 31 is disposed on one side of the axial direction J with respect to the second extending portion 32. The first engaged portion 39 is provided on the first engaging surface 33 on one side of the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J. The second engaged portion 40 is provided on the second engaging surface 34 on the other side of the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J. The printer 1 contributes to improving the operability when attaching the cover 3 to the housing 9 as compared with the case where the first engaged portion 39 is provided on the other surface of the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J or the second engaged portion 40 is provided on one surface of the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J.

[0051] The axis K extends on the side opposite to the side where the print head 5 is located with respect to the conveyance path F of the print medium M. When the axis K is on the side where the print head 5 is located with respect to the conveyance path F, the printer 1 contributes to avoiding the problem caused by the print surface coming into contact with the cover because the surface of the print medium M passing through the opening 23 and contacting the cover 3 is the surface opposite to the print surface. The printer 1 contributes to printing the print medium M with the cover 3 not touching the print surface in a state where the print surface is on the upper side by performing printing with the side where the print head 5 is located as the upper side with respect to the conveyance path F.

[0052] The contact portion 10 has a first contact portion 35 having a first contact surface 37 and a second contact portion 36 that is axially spaced from the first contact portion 35 and has a second contact surface 38. The printer 1 contributes to improving the degree of freedom in the design of the contact portion 10 as compared with the case where the contact portion 10 is not divided into the first contact portion 35 and the second contact portion 36.

[0053] The opening 23 is a supply port for supplying the print medium M to the print head 5. The first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, and the contact portion 10 of the printer 1 contribute to achieving both the operability when attaching the cover 3 to the housing 9 and the positioning accuracy between the cover 3 and the housing 9 in the cover 3 that closes at least a part of the supply port for supplying the print medium M to the print head 5, as compared with the case where the contact portion 10 is not provided between the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32.

[0054] The first engaging portion 63 and the second engaging portion 64 are each holes formed on the axis K. The first engaged portion 39 is a shaft extending on the axis K that fits into the first engaging portion 63. The second engaged portion 40 is a shaft extending on the axis K that fits into the second engaging portion 64. The first engaging portion 63, the second engaging portion 64, the first engaged portion 39, and the second engaged portion 40 of the printer 1 contribute to facilitating the operation of engaging the first engaging portion 63 with the first engaged portion 39 and the second engaging portion 64 with the second engaged portion 40, as compared to the case where the first engaging portion 63 and the second engaging portion 64 are shafts and the first engaged portion 39 and the second engaged portion 40 are holes.

[0055] The roller 7 conveys the printing medium M in the conveyance direction Q. The plate body 29 includes ribs 42 to 50 that extend in the conveyance direction Q and are arranged in the axial direction J and contact the printing medium M conveyed by the roller 7 when the cover 3 is in the open position. The ribs 42 to 50 of the printer 1 contribute to facilitating the conveyance of the printing medium M along the conveyance direction Q as compared to the case where there are no plurality of ribs.

[0056] The first axial interval D1 in the axial direction J between the first extending portion 31 and the abutting portion 10 is 2 mm or less. The second axial interval D2 in the axial direction J between the second extending portion 32 and the abutting portion 10 is 2 mm or less. This contributes to making it difficult for foreign matters such as dust to enter the housing 9 from the gaps between the first extending portion 31 and the abutting portion 10 and between the second extending portion 32 and the abutting portion 10.

[0057] The housing 9 is formed with a first recess 61 through which the first extending portion 31 and the first abutting portion 35 are inserted and in which the first engaging portion 63 is provided, and a second recess 62 through which the second extending portion 32 and the second abutting portion 36 are inserted and in which the second engaging portion 64 is provided. The first recess 61 and the second recess 62 of the printer 1 contribute to avoiding interference between the housing 9 and the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, and the second abutting portion 36 respectively when the cover 3 is in the closed position and when it is in the open position.

[0058] The first concave portion 61 and the second concave portion 62 each have a longer length in the axial direction J in the portion closer to the opening 23 than in the portion farther from the opening 23. The first concave portion 61 and the second concave portion 62 of the printer 1 contribute to improving the operability when attaching the cover 3 to the housing 9 by guiding the first engaged portion 39 to the first engaging portion 63 and guiding the second engaged portion 40 to the second engaging portion 64.

[0059] The cover 3 has a connecting wall 52 that extends in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 at the end of the plate body 29 in the extending direction E, and connects the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, the second abutting portion 36, and the plate body 29. In the connecting wall 52, first extending slits 53, 54 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 are formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 81 with the first extending portion 31, and second extending slits 56, 57 recessed in the thickness direction T are formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 82 with the second extending portion 32. The first extending slits 53, 54 and the second extending slits 56, 57 of the printer 1 contribute to improving the operability when attaching the cover 3 to the housing 9 by making each of the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 more flexible in the axial direction J than when the first extending slit and the second extending slit are not formed.

[0060] The housing 9 includes a third engaging portion 74. The plate body 29 has a first side surface 71 on one side in the axial direction J, a second side surface 72 on the other side in the axial direction J, and a third engaged portion 73 provided on the first side surface 71 and engaging with the third engaging portion 74 when the cover 3 is in the closed position. No engaged portion for engaging with the housing 9 is provided on the second side surface 72. The third engaging portion 74 and the third engaged portion 73 of the printer 1 can release the engagement of the third engaging portion 74 and the third engaged portion 73 with a relatively small force compared to the case where engaging portions are provided on both end surfaces of the cover 3 in the axial direction J, and contribute to improving the operability when moving the cover 3 from the closed position to the open position.

[0061] The length of the plate body 29 in the axial direction J is 70 mm or less. The cover 3 of the printer 1 is less likely to bend in the axial direction J than when the length in the axial direction J is greater than 70 mm, but contributes to releasing the engagement between the third engaging portion 74 and the third engaged portion 73 with a smaller load than when engaging portions are provided at both end faces of the cover 3 in the axial direction J.

[0062] The contact portion 10 has a first contact portion 35 having a first contact surface 37 and a second contact portion 36 that is spaced apart from the first contact portion 35 in the axial direction J and has a second contact surface 38. The cover 3 has a connecting wall 52 that extends in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 at the end of the plate body 29 in the extending direction E, and connects the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 322, the first contact portion 35, the second contact portion 36, and the plate body 29. Second contact slits 57 and 58 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 are formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 84 between the second contact portion 36 and the plate body 29, and a pair of first contact slits 54 and 55 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 are formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion 83 between the first contact portion 35 and the plate body 29. The first contact slits 54 and 55 of the printer 1 contribute to making the first contact portion 35 easily bendable in the axial direction J, and the second contact slits 57 and 58 contribute to making the second contact portion 36 easily bendable in the axial direction J. The printer 1 contributes to reducing the load required to move the cover 3 from the closed position to the open position compared to the case where the first contact slits 54 and 55 and the second contact slits 57 and 58 are not provided.

[0063] In the axial direction J, one of the first contact slits 54 and 55 is adjacent to the first extension part 31 and is disposed between the first contact part 35 and the first extension part 31. One of the second contact slits 57 and 58 is adjacent to the second extension part 32 and is disposed between the second contact part 36 and the second extension part 32. At both ends of the connecting part 81 between the first extension part 31 and the plate body 29 in the connecting wall 52, on the end opposite to the first contact part 35 side with respect to the first extension part 31, a first extension slit 53 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 is formed. At both ends of the connecting part 82 between the second extension part 32 and the plate body 29 in the connecting wall 52, on the end opposite to the second contact part 36 side with respect to the second extension part 32, a second extension slit 56 recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 is formed. One of the first contact slits 54 and 55 of the printer 1 contributes to simplifying the slit configuration as compared with the case where slits are provided individually for each of the first extension part 31 and the first contact part 35. One of the second contact slits 57 and 58 of the printer 1 contributes to simplifying the slit configuration as compared with the case where slits are provided individually for each of the second extension part 32 and the second contact part 36.

[0064] In the connecting wall 152 of the cover 203 of the second modification example, at both axial ends J of the connecting part 81 with the first extension part 31, first extension slits 53 and 54 recessed in the thickness direction T are formed separately from the first contact slits 154 and 155, and at both axial ends J of the connecting part 82 with the second extension part 32, second extension slits 56 and 57 recessed in the thickness direction T are formed separately from the second contact slits 157 and 158. The first extension slits 53 and 54 and the second extension slits 56 and 57 of the cover 203 of the second modification example contribute to improving the degree of freedom in the design of the cover 3 as compared with the case where a common slit is formed between the first extension part 31 and the first contact part 35 and a common slit is formed between the second extension part 32 and the second contact part 36 as in the above embodiment.

[0065] The present invention can be variously modified from the above-described embodiments. Each of the various modification examples described below can be combined with each other as long as there is no contradiction. The abutting portion 10 may not have the first abutting portion 35 and the second abutting portion 36. The abutting portion 10 may not be located between the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J, and at least one of the first extending portion 31 and the second extending portion 32 may be disposed between the first abutting portion 35 and the second abutting portion 36 in the axial direction J. The first extending portion 31 may be disposed on the other side of the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J. The first engaged portion 39 may be provided on the first engaging surface on the other side of the first extending portion 31 in the axial direction J. Similarly, the second engaged portion 40 may be provided on the second engaging surface on one side of the second extending portion 32 in the axial direction J.

[0066] The opening 23 may be an opening formed in the housing 9 or may be an outlet for the printing medium M. At least one of the first engaging portion 63 and the second engaging portion 64 may be a shaft formed on the axis K. The first engaged portion 39 may be a hole extending on the axis K according to the first engaging portion 63. The second engaged portion 40 may be a hole extending on the axis K according to the second engaging portion 64. The axis K may be on the side where the print head 5 is located with respect to the conveyance path F of the printing medium M.

[0067] The printer 1 may omit the roller 7 that conveys the printing medium M in the conveyance direction Q. The plate body 29 may not include the ribs 42 to 50 that extend in the conveyance direction Q and are arranged in the axial direction J. The number, arrangement, length, and extending direction of the ribs 42 to 50 may be appropriately changed. The first interval D1 in the axial direction J between the first extending portion 31 and the abutting portion 10 may be greater than 2 mm. The second interval D2 in the axial direction J between the second extending portion 32 and the abutting portion 10 may be greater than 2 mm. Either the first extending portion 31 or the first abutting portion 35 may be inserted into the first recess 61. Either the second extending portion 32 or the second abutting portion 36 may be inserted into the second recess 62. The first recess 61 and the second recess 62 may be formed in the main body 22, and their shapes, sizes, and arrangements may be appropriately changed respectively.

[0068] At least any one of the first extending portion 31, the second extending portion 32, the first abutting portion 35, and the second abutting portion 36 may be directly connected to the end portion of the plate body 29 in the extending direction E of the plate body 29 without passing through the connecting wall 52. The size, length, number, and arrangement of the slits formed in the connecting wall 52 may each be appropriately changed. A slit recessed in the thickness direction T of the plate body 29 may be formed in either of both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion with the first extending portion 31 in the connecting wall 52, or a second extending slit recessed in the thickness direction T may be formed in either of both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion with the second extending portion 32. In the connecting wall 52, slits may not be formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion with the first extending portion 31, or slits may not be formed at both ends in the axial direction J of the connecting portion with the second extending portion 32.

[0069] The configuration for fixing the cover 3 to the housing 9 may be appropriately changed. The cover 3 may be provided with third engaged portions at both ends in the axial direction J, or may be provided with an engaged portion for fixing the cover 3 to the housing 9 at the end in the direction opposite to the extending direction E of the plate body 29. The length of the plate body 29 in the axial direction J may be greater than 70 mm. The posture when the cover 3 is in the open position and the posture when the cover 3 is in the closed position may each be appropriately changed, and when the cover 3 is in the open position, the ribs 42 to 50 may not face the front-rear direction.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0070] 1, 101: Printer, 3, 103, 203: Cover, 5: Print head, 7: Roller, 9, 109: Housing, 10 Abutting portion, 29: Plate body, 31: First extending portion, 32: Second extending portion, 35: First abutting portion, 36: Second abutting portion, 37: First abutting surface, 38: Second abutting surface, 39: First engaged portion, 40: Second engaged portion, 52, 152: Connecting wall, 53, 54: First extending slit, 54, 55, 154, 155: First abutting slit, 56, 57: Second extending slit, 57, 58, 157, 158: Second abutting slit, 61: First recess, 62: Second recess, 63: First engaging portion, 64: Second engaging portion, 71: First side surface, 72: Second side surface, 73: Third engaged portion, 74: Third engaging portion, 81 to 84: Connecting portion, J: Axial direction, K, U: Axis, F, G: Conveying path, Q: Conveying direction

Claims

1. A printing head, a housing that houses the printing head, has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and has an opening through which a printing medium printed by the printing head passes, a cover having a first engaged portion that engages with the first engaging portion and a second engaged portion that engages with the second engaging portion, and is rotatable between an open position where the opening is exposed to the outside of the housing and a closed position where at least a part of the opening is blocked around an axis passing through the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion, a plate body that blocks at least a part of the opening when the cover is in the closed position, a first extending portion that extends from the plate body in an extending direction orthogonal to an axial direction which is a direction in which the axis extends, and has the first engaged portion extending in the axial direction, a second extending portion that is spaced apart from the first extending portion in the axial direction, extends from the plate body in the extending direction, and has the second engaged portion extending in the axial direction, and a contact portion that is spaced apart from each of the first extending portion and the second extending portion in the axial direction, extends from the plate body in the extending direction, and has a first contact surface that contacts the housing from one side of the axial direction and a second contact surface that contacts the housing from the other side of the axial direction the cover having A printer characterized by comprising.

2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is located between the first extending portion and the second extending portion in the axial direction.

3. The first extending portion is arranged on one side of the axial direction with respect to the second extending portion, The first engaged portion is provided on a first engaging surface on one side of the axial direction of the first extending portion, The printer according to claim 1, wherein the second engaged portion is provided on a second engaging surface on the other side of the axial direction of the second extending portion.

4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the axis extends to the side opposite to the side where the printing head is located with respect to the conveyance path of the printing medium.

5. The contact portion, a first contact portion having the first contact surface, a second contact portion that is spaced apart from the first contact portion in the axial direction and has the second contact surface The printer according to claim 1, characterized by comprising.

6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the opening is a supply port for supplying the printing medium to the printing head.

7. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are each a hole formed on the axis, The first engaged portion is a shaft extending on the axis that fits into the first engaging portion. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second engaged portion is a shaft extending on the axis that fits into the second engaging portion. **Claim 8** The printer further includes a roller that conveys the printing medium in the conveyance direction. The printer according to claim 7, wherein the plate body includes a plurality of ribs extending in the conveyance direction and arranged in the axial direction, which come into contact with the printing medium conveyed by the roller when the cover is in the open position. **Claim 9** The first axial interval between the first extending portion and the contact portion is 2 mm or less. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the second axial interval between the second extending portion and the contact portion is 2 mm or less. **Claim 10** In the housing, a first recess into which the first extending portion and the first contact portion are inserted and in which the first engaging portion is provided; a second recess into which the second extending portion and the second contact portion are inserted and in which the second engaging portion is provided are formed. The printer according to claim 5. **Claim 11** The printer according to claim 10, wherein each of the first recess and the second recess has a longer axial length in a portion closer to the opening than in a portion farther from the opening. **Claim 12** A connecting wall that extends in the thickness direction of the plate body at an end of the plate body in the extending direction, and connects the first extending portion, the second extending portion, the contact portion, and the plate body. A pair of first extending slits recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the first extending portion. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the connecting wall in which a pair of second extending slits recessed in the thickness direction are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the second extending portion. **Claim 13** The housing further includes a third engaging portion. The plate body has a first side surface on one side in the axial direction, a second side surface on the other side in the axial direction, and a third engaged portion provided on the second side surface and engaging with the third engaging portion when the cover is in the closed position. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein no engaged portion engaging with the housing is provided on the first side surface. **Claim 14** The printer according to claim 12, wherein the axial length of the plate body is 70 mm or less. **Claim 15** The contact portion a first abutting portion having the first abutting surface; a second abutting portion spaced apart from the first abutting portion in the axial direction and having the second abutting surface; and having a connecting wall that extends in the thickness direction of the plate body at an end of the plate body in the extending direction, and connects the first extending portion, the second extending portion, the first abutting portion, and the second abutting portion to the plate body, a pair of first abutting slits recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the first abutting portion; The printer according to claim 13, further comprising the connecting wall, wherein a pair of second abutting slits recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the second abutting portion.

16. In the axial direction, one of the pair of first abutting slits is adjacent to the first extending portion and is disposed between the first abutting portion and the first extending portion; one of the pair of second abutting slits is adjacent to the second extending portion and is disposed between the second abutting portion and the second extending portion; on the connecting wall, a first extending slit recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body is formed at an end of both ends of the connecting portion with the first extending portion, which is opposite to the first abutting portion side with respect to the first extending portion; The printer according to claim 15, wherein a second extending slit recessed in the thickness direction of the plate body is formed at an end of both ends of the connecting portion with the second extending portion, which is opposite to the second abutting portion side with respect to the second extending portion.

17. on the connecting wall, a pair of first extending slits recessed in the thickness direction are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the first extending portion, separately from the pair of first abutting slits; The printer according to claim 15, wherein a pair of second extending slits recessed in the thickness direction are formed at both axial ends of the connecting portion with the second extending portion, separately from the pair of second abutting slits.

Images