Printer

Abstract

To provide a printer capable of confirming an adjustment amount of a position where an engaging part and an engaged part are engaged with each other.SOLUTION: The printer includes a first housing, a second housing, an engagement position adjustment mechanism, and an engagement position confirmation member. The engagement position adjustment mechanism is capable of adjusting a position at which an engaged portion provided on one of the first housing and the second housing is engaged with an engagement portion provided on the other of the first housing and the second housing and engaged with the engaged portion. The engaging position confirmation member indicates the position at which the engaged portion and the engaging portion are engaged with each other, which is adjusted by the engaging position adjustment mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are printers that use a thermal head to print on a print medium. The printing methods used in this type of printer include the thermal transfer method, in which the heat of the thermal head melts the ink on an ink ribbon and fixes it to the paper, and the thermal method, in which the thermal head applies heat to paper containing a color former to produce color. In both printing methods, printing is performed by pressing the thermal head against the print medium on a platen roller, so the pressure of the thermal head on the print medium affects print quality. Specifically, if the pressure applied to the print medium on the left and right sides of the thermal head in the longitudinal direction is not uniform, it can cause faint printing or wrinkles in the ink ribbon.

[0003] In printers with a thermal head on the top of the housing and a platen roller on the bottom, the pressure of the thermal head is determined by the position of the engaging portion and the engaged portion that secure the closed position of the top and bottom of the housing. For example, in a printer with a hook as the engaging portion on the top of the housing and a pin as the engaged portion on the bottom of the housing, if the hook and pin are positioned close to each other, the pressure of the thermal head will be weaker, and if the hook and pin are positioned farther apart, the pressure of the thermal head will be stronger. The position of the pin can be adjusted vertically, and the pressure of the thermal head can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the pin.

[0004] It is preferable to be able to confirm the position of the moved pin, but currently there is no means for confirming the position of the adjusted pin. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-30071 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a printer that allows confirmation of the adjustment amount of the position where an engaging portion and an engaged portion engage with each other. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the printer has a first housing, a second housing, an engagement position adjustment mechanism, and an engagement position confirmation member. The engagement position adjustment mechanism can adjust the engagement position between an engaged portion provided on one of the first housing or the second housing and an engaging portion provided on the other of the first housing or the second housing and engaging with the engaged portion. The engagement position confirmation member indicates the engagement position of the engaged portion and the engaging portion adjusted by the engagement position adjustment mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a thermal printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the thermal printer according to the embodiment in an open state with the cover removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the thermal printer according to the embodiment in a closed state with the cover removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the hook and the pin of the thermal printer according to the embodiment are engaged with each other. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the engagement position adjusting plate and the motor frame of the thermal printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the eccentric plate and the motor frame of the thermal printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the eccentric plate and the motor frame of the thermal printer according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the drawings may show simplified or omitted configurations in order to make the description easier to understand. A thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment in an open state with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment in a closed state with the cover removed.

[0011] 1 to 3, the thermal printer 1 has a lower housing 2 and an upper housing 3. The lower housing 2 has an ejection port 21, a paper attachment section 22, hinges 23, a platen roller 24, a motor frame 25, an engagement position adjustment mechanism 26, etc. The upper housing 3 has a power button 31, a release button 32, a hook 33, a ribbon cover 34, a roll attachment section 35, an operation / display panel 36, a thermal head 37, etc.

[0012] Each drawing has arrows indicating directions relative to the thermal printer 1, with arrow X indicating the front-to-rear direction, arrow Y indicating the left-to-right direction, and arrow Z indicating the up-to-down direction. For example, in FIG. 1, the direction in which the discharge port 21 is located is the front direction. The opposite direction to the front direction is the rear direction. For example, in FIG. 1, the direction in which the release button 32 is located, which intersects with the front-to-rear direction, is the right direction. The opposite direction to the right direction is the left direction. The direction in which the upper housing 3 is located, which intersects with the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions, is the up direction. The opposite direction to the up direction is the down direction.

[0013] The lower housing 2 is a rectangular box-like structure that is open at the top. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower housing 2 is connected to the upper housing 3 via a hinge 23 provided at the rear. The lower housing 2 is an example of a first housing.

[0014] 1, the power button 31 is provided on the front wall of the lower housing 2. The power button 31 is a button for switching the power of the thermal printer 1 on and off.

[0015] The discharge port 21 is provided between the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3. The discharge port 21 is a slit through which the label paper is fed after printing. The label paper is an example of a print-receiving medium.

[0016] The upper housing 3 is connected to the lower housing 2 via a hinge 23 of the lower housing 2. The upper housing 3 is rotatable between an open position shown in FIG. 2, which exposes the interior of the thermal printer 1, and a closed position shown in FIG. 3, which covers the interior of the thermal printer 1. The upper housing 3 is an example of a second housing.

[0017] 1, the opening button 32 is provided in the front direction of the upper housing 3. The opening button is a button that operates the hook 33 to put the upper housing 3 into the open state.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the hook 33 is provided so as to protrude downward from the upper housing 3. The hook 33 has a claw-like notch. When the thermal printer 1 is in the closed state, the notch of the hook 33 engages with a pin 262 (described later) provided on the engagement position adjustment mechanism 26 of the lower housing 2, thereby maintaining the closed state of the thermal printer 1. The hook 33 is activated when the release button 32 is pressed, and the hook 33 is released from the engagement with the pin 262. The hook 33 is an example of an engagement portion.

[0019] 1, the ribbon cover 34 is provided in the front direction of the upper housing 3. The ribbon cover 34 is rotatable around an axis in the rear direction of the ribbon cover 34, and by opening the ribbon cover 34, the ink ribbon can be attached to the roll attachment part 35 (described later) through the gap between the ribbon cover 34 and the cover of the upper housing 3.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, the roll attachment unit 35 is provided in the upper housing 3. The roll attachment unit 35 attaches a supply roll (not shown) on which a long ink ribbon is wound into a roll, and a recovery roll (not shown) that takes up the used ink ribbon that has passed through the thermal head 37. The supply roll is attached further back in the thermal printer 1 than the recovery roll. The ink ribbon, stretched between the supply roll and the recovery roll, is transported between the thermal head 37 and the platen roller 24, overlapping with label paper.

[0021] 1, the operation and display panel 36 is provided in front of the ribbon cover 34. The operation and display panel 33 displays information related to the thermal printer 1. The operation and display panel 36 accepts various operations related to the thermal printer 1.

[0022] The paper mounting unit 22 is a shaft for mounting a label paper roll, which is a long length of label paper wound into a roll. As shown in FIG. 2, both ends of the paper mounting unit 22 are supported by holders 221. The holders 221 hold the mounted label paper. The holder 221 can be removed from the lower housing 2 by pulling it upward together with the paper mounting unit 22. Once removed from the lower housing 2, the holder 221 can be removed from the paper mounting unit 22. One end of the label paper is inserted into the hole in the label paper roll, and after one end of the paper mounting unit 22 is fixed by the holder 221, the label paper is mounted to the lower housing 2 together with the holder 221. A spacer may be attached to the paper mounting unit 22 according to the width (left-right) size of the label paper. The spacer limits the left-right movement of the label paper.

[0023] The platen roller 24 is provided adjacent to the discharge port 21 toward the front of the lower housing 2. The platen roller 24 provides a conveying force that pulls out the label paper from the label paper roll. The platen roller 24 rotates in contact with the surface of the label paper opposite the surface to be printed. The platen roller 24 is an example of a platen roller.

[0024] The thermal head 37 prints on label paper by applying heat. As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal head 37 is provided in the upper housing 3. The thermal head 37 is positioned to face the platen roller 24 when the thermal printer 1 is closed, and is pressed against the platen roller 24. Because the platen roller 24 is pressed against the thermal head 37, when the platen roller 24 rotates, a conveying force is applied to the label paper sandwiched between the platen roller 24 and the thermal head 37. The upper housing 3 is provided with a pressure spring (not shown) that presses the thermal head 37 against the platen roller 24. The thermal head 37 is an example of a thermal head.

[0025] The thermal head 37 included in the thermal printer 1 of this embodiment is capable of printing by thermal transfer and thermal methods.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the motor frame 25 is arranged to sandwich the platen roller 24 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the motor frame 25 has a motor 251 and a pulley 252. The motor 251 is connected to the platen roller 24 via the pulley 252 and applies driving force to the platen roller 24. By rotating in the reverse direction, the motor 251 can rotate the platen roller 24 in the reverse direction, thereby backfeeding the label paper. The motor frame 25 is an example of a frame.

[0027] The engagement position adjustment mechanism 26 is a mechanism that can adjust the position of the pin 262 relative to the lower housing 2 in the vertical direction. The engagement position adjustment mechanism 26 is a mechanism that can adjust the position at which the hook 33 of the upper housing 3 engages with the pin 262 provided on the engagement position adjustment mechanism 26 of the lower housing 2 when the thermal printer 1 is in the closed state. Hereinafter, adjusting the position of the pin 262 is synonymous with adjusting the position at which the hook 33 engages with the pin 262. The engagement position is the position at which the hook 33 engages with the pin 262. The engagement position is usually adjusted by a service technician.

[0028] The engagement position adjustment mechanism 26 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 7. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the hook 33 and pin 262 of the thermal printer 1 according to this embodiment are engaged. The engagement position adjustment mechanism 26 has an engagement position adjustment plate 261, a pin 262, a fulcrum 263, a support member 264, and an eccentric plate 266.

[0029] The engagement position adjustment plate 261 is provided with a pin 262, a fulcrum 263, a sensor 265 via a support member 264, and an eccentric plate 266. The engagement position adjustment plate 261 is locked to the motor frame 25 by a locking member 2611 and a locking member 2612. The motor frame 25 and the engagement position adjustment plate 261 are provided with insertion holes (not shown) through which the locking members 2611 and 2612 pass, and the insertion holes of the engagement position adjustment plate 261 are provided with a margin in the vertical direction larger than the diameter of the insertion portions of the locking members 2611 and 2612. The engagement position adjustment plates 5 are installed on both sides of the thermal printer 1 in the left-right direction.

[0030] The pin 262 is engaged by the hook 33 when the thermal printer 1 is in the closed state. The pin 262 is positioned behind the fulcrum 263 and has a cylindrical shape that extends outward in the left-right direction of the thermal printer 1. The pin 262 is an example of an engaged portion.

[0031] The fulcrum 263 is provided on the engagement position adjustment plate 261 at a position below the platen roller 24. The engagement position adjustment plate 261 rotates around the fulcrum 263 in the α direction and the β direction between the vertical margins of the insertion hole of the engagement position adjustment plate 261 where the insertion portions of the locking members 2611 and 2612 interfere. As the engagement position adjustment plate 261 rotates, the pin 262, the support member 264, and the eccentric plate 266 rotate around the fulcrum 263.

[0032] 4, the position of the pin 262 moves downward relatively, and the engagement position is adjusted downward. By lowering the engagement position, the upper housing 3 to which the hook 33 is connected moves downward more than before the engagement position adjustment, and the pressure of the thermal head 37 becomes higher than before the engagement position adjustment.

[0033] 4, the position of the pin 262 moves upward relatively, and the engagement position is adjusted upward. By raising the engagement position, the upper housing 3 to which the hook 33 is connected moves upward more than before the engagement position adjustment, and the pressure of the thermal head 37 becomes lower than before the engagement position adjustment.

[0034] Since the engagement position adjustment plates 261 are provided on the left and right sides of the thermal printer 1, for example, when the engagement position on the left side is adjusted downward, the pressure on the left side in the longitudinal direction of the thermal head 37 increases. When the engagement position on the right side of the thermal printer 1 is adjusted downward, the pressure on the right side in the longitudinal direction of the thermal head 37 increases.

[0035] The support member 264 is locked to the engagement position adjustment plate 261 by a locking member 2641. The support member 264 is provided behind the pin 262 and in front of the eccentric plate 266. The support member 264 is a plate-like member shaped like a 90-degree twist near the middle, and a sensor 265 is provided at the lower end. The support member 264 has a ruled line 2642 near the eccentric plate 266. The ruled line 2642 is a pointer for reading a scale 2662, which will be described later.

[0036] The sensor 265 is an optical sensor that detects whether the thermal printer 1 is in the open state or the closed state. The sensor 265 is attached to the engagement position adjustment plate 261 via the support member 264. The sensor 265 has, for example, a concave shape, and infrared rays pass through it in the left-right direction. The sensor 265 is attached at a position where the hook 33 blocks the infrared rays when the thermal printer 1 is in the closed state, and where the hook 33 does not block the infrared rays when the thermal printer 1 is in the open state. The sensor 265 detects that the thermal printer 1 is in the closed state when the hook 33 blocks the infrared rays, and detects that the thermal printer 1 is in the open state when the hook 33 does not block the infrared rays.

[0037] The eccentric plate 266 is a member that enables confirmation of the adjustment amount of the engagement position. The eccentric plate 266 has an eccentric circular shape, and is locked to the engagement position adjustment plate 261 by a locking member 2661. The eccentric plate 266 is provided so as to be rotatable around the locking member 2661. The eccentric plate 266 is provided behind the support member 264. The eccentric plate 266 is provided so that a portion of its circumference protrudes from the upper edge of the engagement position adjustment plate 261. The eccentric plate 266 is rotated manually by, for example, a service technician. The eccentric plate 266 is an example of an engagement position confirmation member.

[0038] The locking member 2661 is a screw, and by tightening the locking member 2661, the eccentric plate 266 is sandwiched between the head of the locking member 2661 and the engagement position adjustment plate 261, and the eccentric plate 266 is fixed by the frictional force between the head of the locking member 2661 and the engagement position adjustment plate 261. Furthermore, by loosening the locking member 2661, the head of the locking member 2661 moves in a direction away from the engagement position adjustment plate 261, and the frictional force acting on the eccentric plate 266 between the head of the locking member 2661 and the engagement position adjustment plate 261 decreases, making it possible to rotate the eccentric plate 266.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the engagement position adjustment plate 261 and the motor frame 25. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper edge of the motor frame 25 extends in the left-right direction of the thermal printer 1, forming a so-called eaves shape. Hereinafter, the eaves-shaped edge of the motor frame 25 will be referred to as the eaves portion 253. The engagement position adjustment plate 261 is provided below the eaves portion 253, i.e., below the eaves portion 253. The reply plate 53 is provided below the eaves portion and does not protrude beyond the eaves portion in the left-right direction. An insertion hole 331, into which the hook 33 is inserted, is provided above the pin 262 in the eaves portion 253.

[0040] 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the positional relationship between the eccentric plate 266 and the motor frame 25. Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the engagement position adjusting plate 261 rotated in the direction of the arrow α shown in Figure 4.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the numbers "1," "2," "3," "4," and "5" are written near the periphery of the eccentric plate 266, separated by ruled lines. Hereinafter, the numbers separated by ruled lines will be referred to as a scale 2662. In this embodiment, the distance from the periphery of the eccentric plate 266 to the center of rotation, i.e., the distance from the periphery of the eccentric plate 266 to the locking member 2661, is designed to gradually increase from "1" to "5" on the scale 2662. Furthermore, a support member 264 with ruled lines 2642 is disposed near the eccentric plate 266. The ruled lines 2642 on the support member 264 and the scale 2662 on the eccentric plate 266 allow a service technician to quantitatively grasp the current engagement position of the thermal printer 1. The scale 2662 on the eccentric plate 266 shown in FIGS. 4 , 6 , and 7 is merely an example; for example, more ruled lines may be added to allow the engagement position to be more precisely read.

[0042] A method for checking the engagement position using the eccentric plate 266 will be described. First, the locking members 2611 and 2612 are loosened to allow the engagement position adjustment plate 261 to rotate. When the engagement position adjustment plate 261 rotates in the direction of arrow α, the eccentric plate 266 moves to a position away from the eaves portion 253 of the motor frame 25 as shown in FIG. 6. The locking members 2611 and 2612 are tightened to lock the engagement position adjustment plate 261. The locking member 2661 is loosened and the eccentric plate 266 is rotated until its circumference abuts against the eaves portion 253 of the motor frame 25 as shown in FIG. 7, and then the locking member 2661 is tightened again. Thereafter, the current engagement position is checked using the scale 2662 on the eccentric plate 266 and the ruled line 2642 on the support member 264. For example, in FIG. 7, the current engagement position is read as "4." By the above procedure, the current engagement position can be quantitatively confirmed. Note that the above procedure for confirming the engagement position using the eccentric plate 266 is one example, and the series of steps may be freely rearranged.

[0043] After the engagement position is adjusted, the eccentric plate 266 abuts against the eaves portion 253, so if the engagement position is adjusted downward even though adjustment is not necessary, it is possible to return the engagement position to the position before adjustment. Moreover, after the engagement position is adjusted, the eccentric plate 266 abuts against the eaves portion 253, so the engagement position will not be adjusted upward even though adjustment is not necessary.

[0044] As described above, the eccentric plate 266 is a component in which the position of the circumference of the eccentric plate 266 that comes into contact with the eaves portion 253 changes depending on the engagement position between the hook 33 and the pin 262. The eccentric plate 266 is a component that indicates the engagement position that indicates the position at which the pin 262, adjusted by the engagement position adjustment mechanism, engages with the hook 33.

[0045] The positions where the hook 33 and the pin 262 are provided are not limited to the upper housing 3 and the lower housing 2. When the hook 33 is provided on the lower housing 2, the pin 262 may be provided on the upper housing 3.

[0046] The position where the engagement position adjustment mechanism 26 is provided is not limited to the motor frame 25. For example, it may be provided in the upper housing 3.

[0047] In the embodiment, a thermal printer 1 in which the thermal head 37 and the platen roller 24 are in contact in the vertical direction has been described, but the present technology can also be applied to a thermal printer in which the thermal head 37 and the platen roller 24 are in contact in the front-to-back direction, for example.

[0048] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1...thermal printer, 2...lower housing (first housing), 3...upper housing (second housing), 24...platen roller, 25...motor frame (frame), 26...engagement position adjustment mechanism, 33...hook (engagement portion), 37...thermal head, 253...eaves portion (eaves shape), 261...engagement position adjustment plate, 262...pin (engaged portion), 266...eccentric plate (engagement position confirmation member).

Claims

1. a first housing; a second housing; an engagement position adjustment mechanism that adjusts an engagement position between an engaged portion provided on one of the first housing or the second housing and an engaging portion that is provided on the other of the first housing or the second housing and engages with the engaged portion; an engagement position confirmation member that indicates the position at which the engaged portion and the engaging portion are engaged, which is adjusted by the engagement position adjustment mechanism; A printer having

2. A frame having an eave shape, the engagement position adjustment mechanism is provided on the frame, The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement position confirmation member has a contact point between a periphery of the engagement position confirmation member and the eave shape of the frame that changes depending on the position at which the engaged portion and the engaging portion engage.

3. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement position confirmation member has a scale that indicates the position at which the engaged portion and the engaging portion engage with each other.

4. the first housing has a thermal head, the second housing has a platen roller; The printer according to claim 1 , wherein when the first housing and the second housing are closed, the thermal head and the platen roller come into contact with each other.

5. The printer according to claim 2 , wherein the engagement position confirmation member is provided at a position below the eaves of the eaves-shaped portion of the frame.

Images