Printing apparatus and

Abstract

To provide a printer capable of determining that ink leakage has occurred without providing a window in a housing.SOLUTION: The rear cover 6 forms a sidewall on the rear surface side of the housing 2 that accommodates a printing mechanism that uses ink, and the 6a of the lower end portion of the rear cover 6 is step-bent toward the inside of the housing 2. The ink detection sheet 3 is attached to the 6b of the outer surface of the side 6a of the lower end portion of the rear cover 6 so that a part of the ink detection sheet 3 protrudes downward from the lower end of the rear cover 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Ink leakage may occur inside a printing device such as an inkjet printing device.

[0003] In response to this, there is known a technique in which a window is provided in the housing of a printing device so that ink leakage inside can be checked from the outside (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-29988 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the above-mentioned technology, the window size is insufficient, so only a portion of the inside of the device can be seen. Furthermore, providing a window weakens the strength of the device's housing, which may cause damage to the device during transportation. Therefore, there has been a demand for technology that allows a printer to determine whether an ink leak has occurred without providing a window in the housing.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a printing device that can determine whether an ink leak has occurred without providing a window in the housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the printing device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a cover that forms at least a part of the side wall of a housing that houses a printing mechanism that uses ink, and whose lower end is bent in a stepped manner toward the inside of the housing, and an ink-absorbing sheet that is attached to the outer surface of the lower end of the cover so that a portion of the sheet extends below the lower end of the cover. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the printing device of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether an ink leak has occurred without providing a window in the housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printing device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of an ink detection sheet of the printing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an ink detection sheet of the printing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating ink leakage in a printing device when the ink detection sheet is not present. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the ink detecting sheet according to the first embodiment has absorbed ink. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of an ink detection sheet of a printing device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the ink detecting sheet according to the second embodiment has absorbed ink. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts and components are designated by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings.

[0011] The following embodiments are examples of devices that embody the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the technical idea of ​​the present invention does not limit the materials, shapes, structures, arrangements, etc. of each component to those described below. The technical idea of ​​the present invention can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims.

[0012] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a printing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of an ink detection sheet of the printing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the ink detection sheet of the printing device shown in FIG. 1. In the following description, the up, down, left, right, front, and rear indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 are defined as the up, down, left, right, front, and rear directions of the printing device. Note that FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the printing device from the rear side.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a housing 2 and an ink detection sheet (corresponding to a sheet) 3.

[0014] The housing 2 houses a printing mechanism that uses ink, such as an inkjet head, etc. The housing 2 has a rear cover (corresponding to a cover) 6.

[0015] The rear cover 6 forms a side wall on the back side (rear side) of the housing 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear cover 6 has a lower end 6a that is bent in a step toward the inside (front side) of the housing 2.

[0016] The ink detection sheet 3 absorbs ink. The ink detection sheet 3 is attached to the outer (rear) surface 6b of the lower end 6a of the rear cover 6 so that a portion of the ink detection sheet 3 extends downward below the lower end of the rear cover 6. The ink detection sheet 3 extends across the entire width of the rear cover 6 in the left-right direction. The ink detection sheet 3 does not contact the bottom plate 7 of the housing 2.

[0017] 3, the ink detecting sheet 3 has a white nonwoven fabric 11 that absorbs ink, and a transparent resin film 12 that supports the nonwoven fabric 11. The resin film 12 is attached to the outer (rear) surface of the nonwoven fabric 11.

[0018] The ink detection sheet 3 has the surface on the nonwoven fabric 11 side attached to the outer (rear) surface 6b of the lower end portion 6a of the rear cover 6 with a double-sided tape 13.

[0019] Next, the operation of the printing device 1 will be described.

[0020] If ink leaks inside the printing device 1, ink may adhere to the inner surface of the rear cover 6. Then, the ink adhering to the rear cover 6 may flow down the rear cover 6 and fall onto the bottom plate 7.

[0021] Unlike the present embodiment, if the ink detection sheet 3 is not present, even if ink that has adhered to the rear cover 6 due to ink leakage falls from the rear cover 6 and accumulates on the bottom plate 7, as shown in Figure 4, it is not possible to check for ink leakage from the outside.

[0022] In contrast, in the printing device 1, the ink detection sheet 3 is positioned so that a portion of it extends below the lower end of the rear cover 6, so that some of the ink attempting to fall from the rear cover 6 comes into contact with the lower end of the nonwoven fabric 11 of the ink detection sheet 3 and is absorbed by the nonwoven fabric 11.

[0023] As a result, as shown in Fig. 5, discolored areas 3a, which are areas that have changed color to the color of the ink due to the nonwoven fabric 11 absorbing the ink, are formed on the ink detection sheet 3. The discolored areas 3a are the areas painted black on the ink detection sheet 3 in Fig. 5.

[0024] The ink absorbed by the nonwoven fabric 11 is sucked upward from the lower end of the nonwoven fabric 11 due to capillary action. As a result, the discolored portion 3a extends to an area of ​​the nonwoven fabric 11 above the lower end of the rear cover 6. Furthermore, because the resin film 12 is transparent, a service person or the like can visually confirm the discolored portion 3a from the outside. This allows the service person or the like to determine that an ink leak has occurred inside the printing device 1.

[0025] As described above, the printing device 1 is provided with the ink detection sheet 3 attached to the outer (rear) surface 6b of the lower end 6a of the rear cover 6, which is bent in a stepped manner toward the inside of the housing 2 so that a portion of the sheet protrudes downward below the lower end of the rear cover 6. This ink detection sheet 3 absorbs ink that adheres to the rear cover 6 due to ink leakage and flows down the rear cover 6, thereby forming a discolored portion 3a on the ink detection sheet 3 that is visible from the outside to a service technician or the like. This makes it possible to determine that an ink leak has occurred in the printing device 1 without providing a window in the housing 2 for checking for ink leaks inside the printing device 1 from the outside.

[0026] Furthermore, ink leakage inside the device can be detected inexpensively without impairing the functionality of the rear cover 6.

[0027] Furthermore, when a service technician removes the rear cover 6 for maintenance of the printing device 1, the technician can determine in advance whether ink is leaking inside the device, thereby preventing ink from dripping onto the floor or the like at the location where the technician is visiting.

[0028] Furthermore, since the ink detection sheet 3 is attached to the stepped lower end 6a of the rear cover 6, the ink detection sheet 3 can be prevented from being touched by the user.

[0029] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described, which is a modification of the ink detecting sheet of the first embodiment described above. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the ink detecting sheet of a printing device in the second embodiment.

[0030] 6, like the ink detection sheet 3 of the first embodiment, the ink detection sheet 21 of the second embodiment is attached to the outer (rear) surface 6b of the lower end portion 6a of the rear cover 6 so that a portion of the ink detection sheet 21 extends downward below the lower end of the rear cover 6. The lower portion of the ink detection sheet 21 is disposed on the bottom plate 7 of the housing 2.

[0031] The ink detection sheet 21, like the ink detection sheet 3 of the first embodiment, has a nonwoven fabric 11 and a resin film 12, and the surface on the nonwoven fabric 11 side is attached to the outer (rear) surface 6b of the lower end portion 6a of the rear cover 6 with double-sided tape 13.

[0032] 7, the ink detection sheet 21 not only absorbs ink that has trickled down along the rear cover 6 like the ink detection sheet 3 of the first embodiment, but also absorbs ink that has accumulated on the bottom plate 7 of the housing 2 from the lower part where the sheet is disposed on the bottom plate 7. As a result, a discolored portion 21a that can be seen from the outside by a service person or the like is formed in the ink detection sheet 21.

[0033] In this second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, it is possible to determine whether an ink leak has occurred in the printing device 1 without providing a window in the housing 2 for checking for ink leaks inside the printing device 1 from the outside.

[0034] Furthermore, the ink detection sheet 21 can absorb ink that has accumulated on the bottom plate 7 of the housing 2, in addition to the ink that has fallen down the rear cover 6, and make it visible from the outside, so that it is possible to determine with higher accuracy whether ink leakage has occurred in the printing device 1.

[0035] [Other embodiments] As described above, the present invention has been described by the first and second embodiments, but the descriptions and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood to limit the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples, and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0036] In the first and second embodiments described above, the ink detection sheets 3, 21 are attached to the rear cover 6 that forms the side wall on the back side (rear side) of the housing 2. However, this is not limiting, and the cover to which the ink detection sheet is attached may be any cover that forms at least a part of the side wall of the housing that houses the printing mechanism that uses ink.

[0037] In the first and second embodiments described above, the ink detection sheets 3 and 21 are formed by bonding together the nonwoven fabric 11 and the resin film 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any sheet made of a material capable of absorbing ink can be used as the ink detection sheet.

[0038] As such, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention-specifying matters according to the scope of the claims that are appropriate from the above description.

[0039] [Note] The present application discloses the following inventions.

[0040] (Appendix 1) a cover that forms at least a part of a side wall of a housing that houses a printing mechanism that uses ink, and whose lower end is bent inward toward the housing; an ink-absorbing sheet attached to the outer surface of the lower end of the cover so that a portion of the sheet extends below the lower end of the cover; A printing device comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Printing device 2. Case 3,21 Ink detection sheet 3a, 21a Discolored area 6 Rear cover 6a Lower end 6b side 7 Bottom plate 11 Nonwoven fabric 12 Resin film 13 double-sided tape

Claims

[Claim 1] a cover that forms at least a part of a side wall of a housing that houses a printing mechanism that uses ink, and whose lower end is bent inward toward the housing; an ink-absorbing sheet attached to the outer surface of the lower end of the cover so that a portion of the sheet extends below the lower end of the cover; A printing device comprising:

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