Printer device

Abstract

This invention provides a printer device that reduces the likelihood of cut and ejected paper falling out, thanks to a structure that can be constructed using parts that are less prone to wear and tear. [Solution] The printer device comprises: a printing unit that prints while pulling out and transporting a strip of paper from a roll of paper in which the first surface is wound with the first surface facing outwards; a cutting unit provided downstream of the printing unit in the paper transport direction for cutting the paper; a support unit provided downstream of the cutting unit in the paper transport direction for supporting the paper in contact with the second surface, which is the back surface of the first surface, and having a pair of protrusions that are spaced apart in the paper width direction; and a pressing unit provided downstream of the cutting unit in the paper transport direction for pressing the first surface of the paper supported by the support unit between the pair of protrusions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a printer device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a printer device that pulls out paper from a roll paper and prints while transporting it. Such a printer device is used, for example, for printing and issuing receipts. The receipt is cut each time it is issued. The printer device includes a support portion that supports the cut receipt from below and a member for pressing the paper onto the support portion in order to make it difficult for the receipt to fall from the paper discharge port. The member is typically in the shape of a brush, and the tips of the hairs forming the brush slide on the upper surface of the paper being discharged.

[0003] Since the tips of the hairs of the brush-shaped member as described above wear out due to sliding against the paper, it is a consumable item and requires periodic replacement (maintenance).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a printer device that makes it difficult for the cut and discharged paper to fall by a structure that can be configured with parts that are difficult to consume.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The printer device according to the embodiment includes a printing unit that prints while pulling out and transporting the paper from a roll paper around which the belt-like paper is wound with the first surface facing outward, a cutting unit provided on the downstream side of the paper transport direction of the printing unit for cutting the paper, and a support unit provided on the downstream side of the paper transport direction of the cutting unit for supporting the paper in contact with the second surface which is the back surface of the first surface, the support unit having a pair of convex portions spaced apart in the paper width direction, and a pressing unit provided on the downstream side of the paper transport direction of the cutting unit for pressing the first surface of the paper supported by the support unit between the pair of convex portions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the printer device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the printer device with the casing open. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of a printer device. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the printer device with the casing open. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the area around the paper output slot. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the area around the paper output slot. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the function of the oscillating part. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the oscillating part and its surroundings, viewed from the rear side in a partial cross-section. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the area around the paper output slot. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the printer device 1 of the embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the printer device 1 with the housing 2 open. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the printer device 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the printer device 1 with the housing 2 open. Note that Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the printer device 1 in Figures 1 and 2, taken along the line AA.

[0008] The printer device 1 comprises a housing 2, a paper storage section 3, a printing section 4, a cutting section 5, a buffer section 7, a oscillating section 8, and the like. In the diagram, the X-axis direction represents the width (left-right direction) of the printer device 1, the Y-axis direction represents the depth (front-back direction) of the printer device 1, and the Z-axis direction represents the height (up-down direction) of the printer device 1. The positive direction of the Z-axis is upward from the bottom of the printer device 1. The positive direction of the Y-axis is from the front to the back of the printer device 1. The positive direction of the X-axis is from left to right when viewing the printer device 1 with the positive Y-axis direction.

[0009] The printer device 1 of this embodiment is a thermal printer and is used as a receipt printer for printing (printing, outputting, issuing) receipts, for example.

[0010] The housing 2 houses the other parts (paper storage section 3, printing section 4, cutting section 5, buffer section 7, swing section 8, etc.). The housing 2 is box-shaped and has a lid 21 on its front for opening and closing the main body section 20. As shown in Figure 3, the lid 21 in this embodiment is rotatably supported at its lower edge on the edge of the opening of the main body section 20, and opens and closes the opening of the main body section 20 as it rotates. When the lid 21 is closed over the main body section 20, as shown in Figure 1, a paper output port 22 is formed between the upper edge of the lid 21 and the edge of the opening of the main body section 20. The paper output port 22 is an opening for discharging paper 91 from the housing 2.

[0011] The lid 21 of the printer device 1 has a support portion 211 on its upper edge. The support portion 211 is provided on the downstream side of the cutting portion 5 in the paper transport direction and has a slope that contacts the back surface of the paper 91 and supports the paper 91. This slope displaces the leading edge of the paper 91 as it moves with transport, in the direction from the back surface to the print surface.

[0012] More specifically, the support portion 211 is located outside the paper output opening 22 and supports the underside of the paper 91 being discharged from the paper output opening 22. The support portion 211 is provided detachably to or integrally with the paper output opening 22. That is, the support portion 211 is formed detachably to or integrally with the lid 21. The support portion 211 may also be referred to as a table.

[0013] The paper storage section 3 stores the roll paper 90 so that the paper 91 can be pulled out from the roll paper 90. The roll paper 90 is made by winding a strip of paper 91 with the first surface facing outwards. In this embodiment, the first surface is the surface on which printing is applied (i.e., the printing surface). Therefore, the outer surface of the roll paper 90 is the printing surface of the paper 91. The back surface of the printing surface is an example of the second surface. Paper 91 is an example of a sheet-like printing medium. When the lid 21 is in the position that opens the main body 20, the paper storage section 3 is opened, and the roll paper 90 can be replaced or added.

[0014] The printer device 1 prints on the paper 91 while pulling it out from the roll paper 90 stored in the paper storage unit 3 and transporting it.

[0015] The buffer section 7 functions as a damper, absorbing the tension on the paper 91 until the roll paper 90 starts rotating stably following the start of paper transport. This stabilizes printing in the printing section 4.

[0016] Here, Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing the area around the paper output slot 22, with Figure 5 showing the state before cutting the paper 91 and Figure 6 showing the state after cutting the paper 91.

[0017] The printing unit 4 prints on the paper 91 while pulling it out from a roll of paper 90 on which a strip of paper 91 is wound, and includes a print head 41 and a platen 42. The print head 41 is provided on the main body 20, and the platen 42 is provided on the lid 21. In this embodiment, the platen 42 is a roller, and is driven to rotate, thereby transporting the paper 91 sandwiched between it and the print head 41.

[0018] The print head 41 is a thermal head having a structure in which multiple heating elements are aligned. The print head 41 prints on the paper 91 sandwiched between the platen 42 and the print head 41 by heating the heating elements corresponding to the printing pattern.

[0019] More specifically, the printing head 41 is attached to the support portion 45, and the printing head 41 is disposed at a position facing the platen 42. The support portion 45 is biased in a direction in which the printing head 41 presses against the platen 42 by the elastic force of the spring 46. As a result, the printing head 41 is biased in a direction of being pressed against the platen 42.

[0020] When replenishing or replacing the roll paper 90, the user opens the lid 21, replenishes or replaces the roll paper 90, sandwiches the leading end portion of the paper 91 drawn from the roll paper 90 between the platen 42 and the printing head 41, and closes the lid 21. As a result, the leading end portion of the paper 91 is held by the platen 42 and the printing head 41.

[0021] The cutting portion 5 is provided on the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction of the printing portion 4 and cuts the paper 91, and has a fixed blade 51 and a movable blade 52. The movable blade 52 is a blade movable in the thickness direction of the paper 91. The moving mechanism for moving the movable blade 52 moves the movable blade 52 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) in the drawing under the control of a control portion mounted on the printer device 1. The fixed blade 51 is provided at a position facing the movable blade 52 and is immovable within the main body portion 20.

[0022] When printing on the paper 91 is completed, the movable blade 52 moves from the back side of the paper 91 to the front side of the paper 91, and the paper 91 is cut by sandwiching the paper 91 between the moved movable blade 52 and the fixed blade 51. The front side of the paper 91 corresponds to, for example, the printing surface of the paper 91. Also, the back side of the paper 91 corresponds to the side opposite to the printing surface of the paper 91 (non-printing surface).

[0023] Note that the use of the cutting portion 5 is not limited to cutting the paper 91 (full cut). For example, the cutting portion 5 can also perform a partial cut that cuts a part of the paper 91. The full cut and the partial cut are preset via an operation portion (not shown) according to a user's instruction.

[0024] The oscillating part 8 is an example of a pressing part. The pressing part is located downstream of the cutting part 5 in the paper transport direction and upstream of the paper discharge opening 22, and presses down on the first surface (printing surface) of the paper 91 supported by the support part 211.

[0025] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the function of the oscillating part 8. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the oscillating part 8 and its surroundings from the rear side in a partial cross-section. The oscillating part 8 includes a shaft 81, a guide surface 82, a pressing part 89, and the like.

[0026] The shaft 81 is the center of oscillation of the oscillating part 8, and its longitudinal direction (axial direction) is oriented in the width direction of the paper 91. The oscillating part 8 is rotatable (oscillates) around the shaft 81. The oscillating part 8 may also be called a flapper.

[0027] The pressing portion 89 has a shape that is bent in a valley fold along a fold line parallel to the shaft 81. The pressing portion 89 is located downstream of the shaft 81 in the paper transport direction. Also, the pressing portion 89 is the lower end of the oscillating portion 8. In other words, the pressing portion 89 is the lowest part of the oscillating portion 8. The pressing portion 89 is located away from the shaft 81 (for example, near the opposite side if the shaft 81 is located on one side of the oscillating portion 8) and moves significantly with rotation around the shaft 81.

[0028] The guide surface 82 is at least a part of the side of the oscillating section 8 that faces the paper 91 (the lower surface), and is located on the upstream side of the pressing section 89 in the paper transport direction. The guide surface 82 is the part that the leading edge and printing surface of the transported paper 91 touch, and defines the direction of travel of the paper 91, guiding the paper 91 in a predetermined orientation. As the transport of the paper 91 progresses, the leading edge of the paper 91 moves downstream in the paper transport direction along the guide surface 82. In this embodiment, the guide surface 82 is inclined so that the paper 91 is directed downwards as it moves downstream in the transport direction. Note that the guide surface 82 does not have to be flat; for example, it may be a curved surface.

[0029] The oscillating part 8, due to the action of its own weight, presses down on (applies pressure to) the first surface of the paper 91. The force that pushes the oscillating part 8 up against this pressing force will be referred to as the upward force below. When the upward force exceeds the pressing force, the oscillating part 8 oscillates by rotating around the axis 81.

[0030] Here, the printer device 1 is equipped with a sensor 85 that detects when the oscillating part 8 oscillates beyond a predetermined extent. When paper 91 jams near the paper output tray 22, the oscillating part 8 oscillates greatly, and its movement (or rotation angle) exceeds a predetermined extent. When the sensor 85 of the printer device 1 detects that the oscillating part 8 has oscillated beyond a predetermined extent, the control unit of the printer device 1 determines that a jam has occurred. The control unit is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and the CPU loads programs stored in ROM etc. into RAM and executes them to realize predetermined functions.

[0031] Furthermore, the pressing force exerted by the oscillating part 8 should be sufficiently greater than the upward force exerted by the stiffness of a single sheet of paper 91, and should not exceed the upward force exerted when a jam occurs.

[0032] The oscillating part 8 also serves another function besides jam detection. This other function is to hold the cut paper 91 on the support part 211 (paper holding function).

[0033] Here, the printer device 1 includes a support section 221. The support section 221 is located inside the paper output slot 22 and supports the paper 91 from below in the section from the downstream side of the printing section 4 through the cutting section 5 to just before the paper output slot 22. After the support section 221, the support section 211 supports the lower surface of the paper 91 from the paper output slot 22 onward. In the example shown in Figure 7, the support sections 221 and 211 are substantially flat surfaces, and the angle between them is obtuse.

[0034] The position of the oscillating part 8 shown in Figure 7 is its initial position. A desirable position and movement are set to support the paper 91 between the oscillating part 8 and the support part 211. As the paper 91 is ejected, the paper 91 and the oscillating part 8 interfere with each other. When the upward force of the paper 91 exceeds the pressing force of the oscillating part 8, the oscillating part 8 moves (oscillates) from its initial position.

[0035] The oscillating part 8 holds the rear end of the cut paper 91 on the downstream side in the transport direction between itself and the upper surface (slope) of the support part 211, preventing it from falling out of the paper output opening 22. The oscillating part 8 does not need to press against the support part 211 to hold the paper 91, and faces the support part 211 with a predetermined gap g between it and its lower end (pressing part 89).

[0036] The paper 91 is curved according to the diameter of the roll paper 90 and has stiffness according to its thickness, etc., so when it is cut and placed on the support parts 221 and 211, the center in the longitudinal direction is separated from the upper surface of the support part 211 and maintains its curved state. The oscillating part 8 moves to press the paper 91 in a direction that weakens this curve and brings it closer to the upper surface of the support part 211, so that the paper 91 receives the pressing force of the oscillating part 8, and the oscillating part 8 receives an upward force due to the stiffness of about one sheet of paper 91. As a result the paper 91 is held between the oscillating part 8 and the support part 211.

[0037] Due to the shape and arrangement of the oscillating part 8, the leading edge of the paper 91 is guided by the guide surface 82 to the gap g between the pressing part 89 and the support part 221. The paper 91 then passes through the gap g between the pressing part 89 and the support part 221 and exits from the paper output opening 22 to the support part 211.

[0038] The support section 211 is inclined so that it is higher on the downstream side in the paper transport direction, in order to prevent paper 91 that hangs down beyond the tip of the support section 211 from falling. The upper surface of the support section 211 and the upper surface of the support section 221 form an obtuse angle.

[0039] As shown in Figure 8, the support portion 211 has a pair of protrusions 225 and a recess 229 on its upper surface. The recess 229 is a recessed shape between the pair of protrusions 225. The protrusions 225 are portions that project upward above the recess 229.

[0040] The height of the protrusion 225 from its surroundings gradually decreases (becomes lower) from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper transport direction. The recess 229 is located opposite the pressing portion 89 with a gap g in between.

[0041] The pair of protrusions 225 are positioned apart from each other in the paper width direction, with the recess 229 in between. The recess 229 is located between the pair of protrusions 225.

[0042] In this embodiment, the pair of protrusions 225 are located on both sides of the paper 91 in the width direction (paper width direction), and the pressing portion 89 is located in the center in the paper width direction. However, this embodiment is just one example and is not limited to this embodiment.

[0043] The dashed line 92 shown in Figure 8 represents the paper 91 before it is guided by the guide surface 82 of the oscillating part 8. In this embodiment, this dashed line 92 is used as a reference when setting the initial position of the oscillating part 8. The dashed line 92 is a line connecting the tips of the pair of protrusions 225.

[0044] The pressing portion 89, located in its initial position, interferes with (intersects with) the imaginary line 92. In other words, the pressing portion 89 in its initial position is located between the imaginary line 92 and the recess 229.

[0045] In the printer device 1 of this embodiment, the rear end of the cut paper 91 is curved in a valley shape (approximately U-shaped or V-shaped) with a lower central portion between the support portion 221 and the pressing portion 89. In this state, the cut paper 91 is held between the support portion 221 and the pressing portion 89. The curved rear end of the paper 91 is located upstream of the pressing portion 89 in the paper transport direction.

[0046] As a new sheet of paper is transported from the state shown in Figure 8, the front edge of the new sheet of paper is positioned approximately along the dashed line 92, and therefore interferes with two points on the rear edge of the curved sheet of paper 91. When another sheet of paper that interferes with the rear edge of the sheet of paper 91 is transported, the sheet of paper 91 is pushed downstream in the paper transport direction and released from the state of being held by the support part 221 and the pressing part 89.

[0047] Thus, according to this embodiment, a printer device 1 is provided that makes it less likely for the cut and ejected paper 91 to fall by utilizing the oscillating part 8, which is not a consumable part like a brush.

[0048] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, if a new sheet of paper 91 is ejected while the paper 91 held on the support parts 221 and 211 is not removed, the new sheet of paper 91 can push out the previous sheet of paper 91. Therefore, even if the structure is designed so that the paper 91 is held on the support part 211 and is less likely to fall, when a new sheet of paper 91 is ejected, only the most recent sheet of paper 91 remains on the support part 211, making it easier to identify the most recent sheet of paper 91.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the initial position of the pressing portion 89 is set below the dotted line 92, but this is not the only way to implement it. The discharged paper 91 retains a curve corresponding to the diameter of the roll paper 90, and the paper 91 has stiffness corresponding to its thickness, etc. Therefore, even if the initial position of the pressing portion 89 is slightly higher than the dotted line 92, it is acceptable as long as the pressing portion 89 can press the paper 91 which is curved upwards above the convex portion 225.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the oscillating part 8 is used as a retaining part, but in practice, the retaining part does not need to oscillate as long as it does not have a function for detecting jams.

[0051] The embodiments described above can also be modified and implemented as appropriate by changing some of the configurations or functions of each of the devices described above. Modifications are described below. When describing the modifications, we will mainly describe the parts that differ from the embodiments described above, and the same reference numerals will be used for parts that are common to the embodiments described above, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0052] (Variation 1) In implementation, it is acceptable for there to be steps or uneven surfaces between the shaft 81 and the guide surface 82. In other words, the space between the shaft 81 and the guide surface 82 does not need to be flat. For example, due to the manufacturing method or process of the oscillating part 8 (for example, the limitations of the mold), it may be difficult to make the connection between the shaft 81 and the guide surface 82 flat, and a step may be provided in that part to address this. Also, for example, in order to reduce the effect of friction with the paper 91, the surface of the oscillating part 8 (including the guide surface 82) may be provided with irregular shapes such as ribs to reduce the contact area with the paper 91. There is no intention to exclude these cases in the implementation.

[0053] Even with this configuration, it is possible to achieve substantially the same effects as the configuration of the above embodiment.

[0054] (Modification 2) Next, the upper surfaces of the support portion 211 and the support portion 221 do not have to be two surfaces forming an obtuse angle as shown in Figure 7; for example, they may form adjacent, smoothly continuous concave curved surfaces. In such a configuration, by setting the same imaginary line 92 and positioning the oscillating portion 8 at a location where the lower end (pressing portion 89) interferes with (intersects) the imaginary line 92, the same effect as the configuration in Figure 7 can be achieved.

[0055] (Variation 3) Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the area around the paper output slot 22. The oscillating part 8 of this modified example is equipped with a biasing member 86, such as a spring. The biasing member 86 biases the oscillating part 8 in a direction that presses the paper 91, and applies a load to the rotation of the oscillating part 8 around its axis 81. This load is to ensure that the oscillating part 8 operates normally when the paper output direction of the printer device 1 is changed from forward to upward. The oscillating part 8 is in its initial position when there is no interference with the paper 91, and as the paper is ejected (paper 91 is discharged), it receives a load from the paper 91 that resists the biasing of the biasing member 86.

[0056] If the intended installation orientation of the printer device 1 is fixed, then, as in the above embodiment, it is possible to design the oscillating part 8 to operate by its own weight. However, if the printer device 1 can be installed with the paper output slot 22 facing upwards to eject the paper 91 upwards, rather than being limited to the state shown in Figure 1 where the paper 91 is ejected forward, then a design is needed that does not affect the operation of the oscillating part 8 even if the orientation of the printer device 1 in the vertical direction changes.

[0057] As shown in this modified example, by providing a biasing member 86 that provides a biasing force to replace the pressing force in the above embodiment, the oscillating part 8 can be designed to allow a change in the orientation of the printer device 1 in the vertical direction.

[0058] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 ... Printer device, 2...casing, 20...main body, 21...lid, 22...paper output slot, 211...support part, 221...support part, 225...protrusion, 229...recess, 3. Paper storage section, 4...Printing section, 41...Print head, 42...Platen, 45...Support section, 46...Spring 5...cutting section, 51...fixed blade, 52...movable blade, 7...buffer section, 8...Oscillating part (an example of a pressing part), 81...shaft, 82...guide surface, 85...sensor, 86...biasing member, 89...pressing part, 90...Roll paper, 91...Paper, 92...Imaginary line. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0060] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-179860

Claims

1. A printing unit that prints while pulling out and transporting a strip of paper from a roll of paper that is wound with the first side facing outwards, A cutting unit is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit in the paper transport direction for cutting the paper, A support portion provided on the downstream side of the cutting section in the paper transport direction, which is in contact with the second surface, which is the back surface of the first surface, and which supports the paper, and which has a pair of protrusions that are spaced apart in the paper width direction, A pressing portion is provided on the downstream side of the cutting portion in the paper transport direction, and presses the first surface of the paper supported by the support portion between a pair of protrusions, A printer device equipped with the following features.

2. In the support portion, the height of the protrusion of the convex portion from its surroundings gradually decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper transport direction. The printer device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned pressing portion is positioned so as to interfere with the imaginary line connecting the protruding ends of the pair of aforementioned protrusions when the paper is not in contact with it. The printer device according to claim 1.

4. The pressing portion has an axis at its upstream end in the paper transport direction and is pivotable around that axis, and presses the paper with a pressing portion which is located downstream of the axis in the paper transport direction. The printer device according to claim 1.

5. The pressing portion is biased in a direction that causes the pressing portion to press against the paper. The printer device according to claim 4.

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