Printing device

Abstract

To provide a printer which can reduce a problem caused by a large-sized touch panel provided on the printer.SOLUTION: In a printer, a printing unit has a printing mechanism for executing a printing operation, a main circuit board having a processor controlling an operation of a panel unit and an operation of the printing mechanism and a relay substrate for relaying a signal transmitted between the main circuit board and the panel unit, a panel unit has a display panel, a touch sensor formed by laminating a position detection sensor and a cover glass and a panel circuit board electrically connected to the touch panel, and is rotatably mounted on the printing unit so as to take a first mounting state and a second mounting state, the relay substrate has a radio communication device mounting part mounted with a radio communication device capable of receiving a radio signal from the outside by radio communication, and a shortest distance between the panel unit and the relay substrate is smaller than a shortest distance between the panel unit and the main circuit board.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for printing devices equipped with large touch panels from the viewpoint of displaying information that is easy for users to understand and preventing malfunctions by users. Examples of printing devices equipped with such large touch panels include a printing device that is equipped with a large touch panel and a receiver for short-range wireless communication integrated together as described in Patent Document 1, and a printing device that is equipped with a large touch panel and a receiver for short-range wireless communication integrated together as described in Patent Document 2, in which the large touch panel can be tilted to improve operability for the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-077010 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-196747 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the printing devices described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the area occupied by the touch panel in the printing device is large because the touch panel is equipped with a large size, and as a result, the discharge tray into which the printed medium is discharged and a part of the touch panel overlap, which may impair the convenience for the user. In other words, in the printing devices equipped with a large touch panel as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the large touch panel may cause new problems.

[0005] In particular, in a printing device that is equipped with a large touch panel and additional functions such as near-field wireless communication as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, depending on the arrangement of the large touch panel and the additional functions, there is a risk that the large touch panel and the additional functions may interfere with each other, further impairing convenience for the user, and there is also a risk that the printing device may malfunction due to the influence of noise caused by signal interference, etc. In other words, in a printing device that is equipped with a large touch panel and additional functions such as near-field wireless communication as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there is a risk that problems caused by the printing device having a large touch panel may occur more significantly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the printing device according to the present invention is to The printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints on a medium, and a panel unit into which operation information for operating the printing unit is input, the printing unit includes a printing mechanism that executes a printing operation in response to the operation information, a main circuit board having a processor that controls the operation of the panel unit and also controls the operation of the printing mechanism based on the operation information, and a relay board that relays signals transmitted between the main circuit board and the panel unit, the panel unit includes a display panel, a touch sensor in which a position detection sensor and a cover glass are laminated, and a panel circuit board electrically connected to the touch sensor; The touch sensor has a first side, a second side facing the first side, and a third side intersecting both the first side and the second side, and a fourth side facing the third side; the panel unit is attached to the printing unit so as to be rotatable between a first attachment state and a second attachment state; In the first mounting state, an angle between a horizontal direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor is larger than an angle between a vertical direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor; In the second mounting state, an angle between a horizontal direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor is smaller than an angle between a vertical direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor; When the panel unit is in the second mounting state, the touch sensor is disposed such that the first side is lower than the second side in a vertical direction, the relay board has a wireless communication device mounting portion on which a wireless communication device capable of receiving an external wireless signal via wireless communication is mounted; The shortest distance between the panel unit and the relay board is smaller than the shortest distance between the panel unit and the main circuit board. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printing apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a panel unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a display panel. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a position detection sensor and a sensor drive circuit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the external structure of a printing apparatus. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining an example of an attachment state of a panel unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a panel unit. [Figure 8] This is a diagram of the touch sensor as seen from the -z side. [Figure 9] This is a diagram of the touch sensor as seen from the +z side. [Figure 10] This is a diagram of the panel unit as seen from the -z side. [Figure 11] This is a diagram of the panel unit as seen from the -x side. [Figure 12] This is a diagram of the panel unit as seen from the +y side. [Figure 13]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal structure of a housing. [Figure 14] 11 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between a panel unit, a medium ejection tray, and a wireless communication unit. FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a transport path of a medium transported by a printing mechanism 160 provided inside the housing. [Figure 16] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the external structure of a printing device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used for the convenience of explanation. Note that the embodiments described below do not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described below are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0009] In the following, an inkjet printer that prints images by ejecting liquid onto a medium will be used as an example of the printing device according to the present invention; however, the printing device is not limited to inkjet printers and may be a dot impact printer, thermal transfer printer, laser printer, etc.

[0010] 1. Functional configuration of the printing device 1 is a diagram for explaining the functional configuration of a printing device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 includes a print unit 10, a panel unit 20, and a wireless communication unit 30. The printing device 1 receives information input from the panel unit 20 and the wireless communication unit 30. Based on the information, the printing unit 10 prints a desired image on the medium by causing ink to land at a predetermined position on the medium. That is, the printing device 1 includes the printing unit 10 that prints on the medium, and a panel unit 20 into which operation information for operating the printing unit 10 is input.

[0011] Here, in this embodiment, the medium printed by the printing device 1 is described as being a sheet of paper, but the medium used in the printing device is not limited to being a sheet of paper, and may be rolled paper. Furthermore, the medium is not limited to paper, and may be a fiber material such as a cloth or a resin such as plastic.

[0012] The panel unit 20 receives operation information for operating the printing device 1 through the user's operation, and displays the operating state of the printing device 1. Specifically, the operation of the panel unit 20 is controlled by a panel control signal PNc input from the printing unit 10 via a cable 210, and displays the operating state of the printing device 1 propagated based on the panel control signal PNc. The panel unit 20 also outputs the operation information input by the user as a panel operation signal PNo to the printing unit 10 via the cable 210. Here, the panel control signal PNc input to the panel unit 20 and the panel operation signal PNo output by the panel unit 20 may be, for example, a signal conforming to I2C (I squared C) communication propagated by serial data and a serial clock, or may be a signal conforming to LVDS (Low Voltage Digital Signal Processing) communication propagated by LVDS (Low Voltage Digital Signal Processing). Alternatively, the signal may be a differential signal such as a differential voltage signaling (Voltage Differential Signaling) communication. The functional configuration and structure of the panel unit 20 will be described in detail later.

[0013] The wireless communication unit 30 is a wireless communication device capable of receiving wireless signals from the outside via wireless communication, and includes an NFC (Near Field Communication) module 31 that performs wireless communication over a short distance of a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters, and a WiFi module 32 that is capable of wireless communication over longer distances and at higher speeds than the NFC module 31.

[0014] The operation of the NFC module 31 is controlled based on an NFC control signal NCc input from the printing unit 10 via the connector CN1 and a cable 310 connected to the connector CN1, and information input to the NFC module 31 as a wireless signal is output as an NFC received signal NCo to the printing unit 10 via the connector CN1 and the cable 310. The NFC module 31, which performs wireless communication over a short distance of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters, is used for an authentication function or the like for correlating the user who performed a printing operation with the medium on which the printing operation is performed when the printing device 1 is shared by multiple users, for example.

[0015] The operation of the WiFi module 32, which is capable of long-distance, high-speed wireless communication, is controlled based on a WiFi control signal WFc input from the printing unit 10 via the connector CN2 and a cable 320 connected to the connector CN2, and outputs information input to the WiFi module 32 as a wireless signal as a WiFi received signal WFo to the printing unit 10 via the connector CN2 and the cable 320. The WiFi module 32, which is capable of such long-distance, high-speed wireless communication, also functions as an interface circuit that connects the printing device 1 with an external device, such as a personal computer that outputs image information to be printed on a medium by the printing device 1, via a wireless signal.

[0016] Here, the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 may be communicatively connected via, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) terminal or the like, and thus detachable from the printing device 1. That is, the printing device 1 includes connectors CN1 and CN2 to which the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 can be attached, and communication with the printing unit 10 is realized by connecting the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 to the connectors CN1 and CN2.

[0017] The printing unit 10 includes a relay circuit board 100 , a main circuit board 110 , a head circuit board 120 , a plurality of ejection heads 130 , a medium transport control unit 140 , and a transport motor 150 .

[0018] The main circuit board 110 has a main control circuit 111 that outputs control signals for controlling each part of the printing device 1. The main control circuit 111 is configured to include a SoC (System On a Chip) that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0019] The main control circuit 111 outputs a unit control signal UC that controls the operation of the panel unit 20 and the wireless communication unit 30. The unit control signal UC is input to the signal conversion circuit 101 of the relay circuit board 100 via the cable 191. The signal conversion circuit 101 generates a panel control signal PNc that controls the panel unit 20 based on the unit control signal UC input from the main control circuit 111. Then, the signal conversion circuit 101 outputs the panel control signal PNc to the panel unit 20 via the cable 210. Also, the signal conversion circuit 101 generates an NFC control signal NCc that controls the NFC module 31 based on the unit control signal UC input from the main control circuit 111. Then, the signal conversion circuit 101 outputs the NFC control signal NCc to the NFC module 31 via the connector CN1 provided on the relay circuit board 100 and the cable 310. Also, the signal conversion circuit 101 generates a WiFi control signal WFc that controls the WiFi module 32 based on the unit control signal UC input from the main control circuit 111. Then, the signal conversion circuit 101 outputs the WiFi control signal WFc to the WiFi module 32 via the connector CN2 provided on the relay circuit board 100 and the cable 320.

[0020] The signal conversion circuit 101 also receives as input a panel operation signal PNo output by the panel unit 20, an NFC reception signal NCo output by the NFC module 31, and a WiFi reception signal WFo output by the WiFi module 32. The signal conversion circuit 101 then generates a unit output signal UO based on the input panel operation signal PNo, NFC reception signal NCo, and WiFi reception signal WFo, and outputs the signal to the main control circuit 111.

[0021] Here, the signal conversion circuit 101 may be configured with one integrated circuit device, or may be configured with a plurality of integrated circuit devices corresponding to the panel unit 20, the NFC module 31, and the WiFi module 32, respectively. In addition, the unit control signal UC and the unit output signal UO propagated between the signal conversion circuit 101 and the main control circuit 111 may be a plurality of signals corresponding to the panel unit 20, the NFC module 31, and the WiFi module 32, respectively. That is, the main control circuit 111 may output a plurality of signals corresponding to the panel control signal PNc, the NFC control signal NCc, and the WiFi control signal WFc, respectively, as the unit control signal UC, to the signal conversion circuit 101, and the signal conversion circuit 101 may output a plurality of signals corresponding to the panel operation signal PNo, the NFC reception signal NCo, and the WiFi reception signal WFo, respectively, as the unit output signal UO, to the main control circuit 111. Such a relay circuit board 100 relays signals propagated between the main circuit board 110 and the panel unit 20, the NFC module 31, and the WiFi module 32.

[0022] Furthermore, the main control circuit 111 transports the medium on which the printing operation is performed, based on the unit output signal UO input from the signal conversion circuit 101. Specifically, the main control circuit 111 generates a transport control signal PT for transporting the medium on which the printing operation is performed, and outputs it to the medium transport control unit 140 via a cable 194. The medium transport control unit 140 generates a drive control signal for controlling the drive of the transport motor 150, based on the input transport control signal PT, and outputs it to the transport motor 150. As a result, the transport motor 15 0 is driven, and as the transport motor 150 is driven, the medium is transported in a predetermined transport direction.

[0023] Furthermore, the main control circuit 111 generates a print control signal PC for printing on a medium based on the unit output signal UO input from the signal conversion circuit 101 , and outputs the signal to the head circuit board 120 via a cable 192 .

[0024] The print control signal PC is input to a head control circuit 121 included in the head circuit board 120. The head control circuit 121 generates print data signals DATA corresponding to each of a plurality of ejection heads 130 having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink onto a medium based on the input print control signal PC, and supplies the print data signals DATA to the corresponding ejection heads 130. The head control circuit 121 also generates a basic drive signal dA that is the basis of the drive signal COM based on the print control signal PC input from the signal conversion circuit 101, and outputs the basic drive signal dA to the drive circuit 122. The drive circuit 122 then generates a drive signal COM having a waveform defined by the basic drive signal dA supplied from the head control circuit 121, and outputs the drive signal COM to the plurality of ejection heads 130.

[0025] Each of the ejection heads 130 includes a plurality of nozzles that eject ink onto the medium, and a plurality of drive elements that correspond to the plurality of nozzles and are driven to eject ink from the corresponding nozzles when a drive signal COM is supplied. Each of the ejection heads 130 is electrically connected to the head circuit board 120 via a cable 193. Based on a print data signal DATA supplied from the head control circuit 121, each of the ejection heads 130 switches whether or not to supply the drive signal COM supplied from the drive circuit 122 to each of the plurality of drive elements, thereby supplying the drive signal COM to the drive elements corresponding to the nozzles that eject ink onto the medium among the plurality of nozzles, and not supplying the drive signal COM to the drive elements corresponding to the nozzles that do not eject ink onto the medium among the plurality of nozzles. As a result, ink is ejected only from the nozzles corresponding to the drive elements to which the drive signal COM is supplied, and ink is not ejected from the nozzles corresponding to the drive elements to which the drive signal COM is not supplied. That is, the multiple ejection heads 130 eject ink from nozzles specified by the print data signal DATA at a timing specified by the print data signal DATA by switching whether or not to supply a drive signal COM to each of the multiple drive elements based on the print data signal DATA output by the head control circuit 121.

[0026] As described above, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the main control circuit 111 controls the transportation of the medium via the medium transportation control unit 140 based on the operation information input from the panel unit 20 and the wireless communication unit 30, and also controls the operation of the head control circuit 121 of the head circuit board 120. As a result, nozzles that eject ink onto the medium and nozzles that do not eject ink are selected. That is, the main control circuit 111 controls both the transportation of the medium and the timing of ejecting ink. As a result, the ejection head 130 can land ink at a desired position on the medium. That is, dots are formed at a desired position on the medium. As a result, the printing device 1 prints a desired image on the medium.

[0027] In the following description, the configuration including the head circuit board 120 that executes a printing operation on a medium under the control of the main circuit board 110, the multiple ejection heads 130, the medium transport control unit 140, and the transport motor 150 may be collectively referred to as a printing mechanism 160. That is, the printing unit 10 includes a printing mechanism 160 that executes a printing operation to print an image on a medium in response to operation information input by a user operating the panel unit 20 and the wireless communication unit 30, and a main control circuit 110 that outputs a unit control signal UC that controls the operation of the panel unit 20 and the wireless communication unit 30, and controls the operation of the printing mechanism 160 in response to a unit output signal UO that is based on a panel operation signal PNo, an NFC reception signal NCo, and a WiFi reception signal WFo output by the panel unit 20 and the wireless communication unit 30. The relay circuit board 100 has a main circuit board 110 having a path 111, and a relay circuit board 100 that relays signals transmitted between the main circuit board 110 and the panel unit 20, the NFC module 31, and the WiFi module 32. The relay circuit board 100 also has connectors CN1 and CN2 to which the detachable NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 are attached.

[0028] The printing device 1 may have a USB port or a LAN port for connecting the printing device 1 to an external device via a LAN (Local Area Network) cable or a USB cable, and the printing device 1 may be capable of reading image information stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory connected to the USB port or the LAN port by a user operating the panel unit 20, and of executing a printing operation based on the read information. The printing device 1 may also include a scanner unit that acquires image information formed on a medium. In other words, the printing device 1 may be a so-called multifunction device that is capable of forming an image on a medium and acquiring the image formed on the medium.

[0029] Here, the main control circuit 111 of the main circuit board 110 is an example of a processor, and the relay circuit board 100 is an example of a relay board. The NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 included in the wireless communication unit 30 are examples of wireless communication devices, the NFC module 31 of the wireless communication device is an example of a first wireless communication device, and the WiFi module 32 of the wireless communication device is an example of a second wireless communication device. The NFC module 31 of the relay circuit board 100 and the connectors CN1 and CN2 to which the WiFi module 32 are connected are an example of a wireless communication device attachment section, the connector CN1 of the wireless communication device attachment section is an example of a first wireless communication device attachment section, and the connector CN2 of the wireless communication device attachment section is an example of a second wireless communication device attachment section. The wireless communication unit 30 may include various wireless communication devices such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) instead of or in addition to the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32. That is, the wireless communication device includes various wireless communication devices other than the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32.

[0030] 2. Panel unit functional configuration Next, a description will be given of the functional configuration of the panel unit 20. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the panel unit 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the panel unit 20 has a panel circuit board 200, a display panel 220, a position detection sensor 230, a sensor drive circuit 240, a display circuit board 250, and a switch circuit board 260.

[0031] The panel circuit board 200 has a panel control circuit 201. The panel control circuit 201 includes a display control circuit 212 that controls the display panel 220 and a sensor control circuit 214 that controls the position detection sensor 230. The panel control circuit 201 controls the display panel 220, the position detection sensor 230, the sensor drive circuit 240, the display circuit board 250, and the switch circuit board 260 based on a panel control signal PNc input from the printing unit 10, and outputs signals output by the display panel 220, the position detection sensor 230, the sensor drive circuit 240, the display circuit board 250, and the switch circuit board 260 to the printing unit 10 as a panel operation signal PNo. Such a panel control circuit 201 is configured as one or more integrated circuit devices. The display circuit board 250 and the switch circuit board 260 may be electrically connected to the relay circuit board 100 without passing through the panel control circuit 201.

[0032] The display control circuit 212 transmits, via a cable 291, a control signal Ctr1 that defines the operation of the display panel 220 and an image signal Vid that indicates an image to be displayed on the display panel 220. The image signal Vid is output to the display panel 220. In this way, the display control circuit 212 controls the display panel 220 so that an image based on the image signal Vid is displayed on the display panel 220. Here, the image signal Vid may be an analog signal or a digital signal.

[0033] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of the display panel 220. As shown in Fig. 3, the display panel 220 includes a pixel section 221 in which a plurality of pixels Px are provided, and a pixel driving section 222 that drives the pixel section 221.

[0034] The pixel section 221 has M rows of scanning lines 225 extending in a first direction, which is the horizontal direction in Fig. 3, and N columns of data lines 226 extending in a second direction, which is the vertical direction in Fig. 3 perpendicular to the first direction. The pixel section 221 includes M x N pixels Px arranged in a matrix of N columns in the first direction and M rows in the second direction, corresponding to the intersections of the M rows of scanning lines 225 and the N columns of data lines 226.

[0035] The pixel driving unit 222 includes a scanning line driving circuit 223 and a data line driving circuit 224. The scanning line driving circuit 223 generates a selection signal Gw[m] for selecting the m-th scanning line 225 based on the control signal Ctr1. The scanning line driving circuit 223 outputs a selection signal Gw[m] (m is a natural number satisfying 1≦m≦M) in the m-th horizontal scanning period among M horizontal scanning periods included in the frame period defined by the control signal Ctr1. This allows the scanning line driving circuit 223 to select the 1st to M-th scanning lines 225 in sequence during the frame period.

[0036] The data line driving circuit 224 generates a grayscale designation signal Vd[n] (n is a natural number satisfying 1≦n≦N) that designates a grayscale to be displayed in the pixel Px based on the image signal Vid, and outputs the grayscale designation signal Vd[n] to the nth column data line 226 during the mth horizontal scanning period in which the scanning line driving circuit 223 selects the mth row scanning line 225. In this embodiment, the image signal Vid is a signal including the grayscale designation signals Vd[1] to Vd[N].

[0037] In this way, the pixel driving unit 222 outputs a selection signal Gw[m] for selecting the m-th row scanning line 225 during the m-th horizontal scanning period, and outputs a gradation designation signal Vd[n] to the n-th column data line 226, thereby allowing the pixel Px in the m-th row and n-th column to display the gradation designated by the gradation designation signal Vd[n]. As such a display panel 220, for example, a thin flat panel such as a liquid crystal panel (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display) or an EL (Electro Luminescence) panel can be used.

[0038] Returning to FIG. 2, the sensor control circuit 214 outputs a control signal Ctr2 that defines the operation of the sensor drive circuit 240 to the sensor drive circuit 240, which is an integrated circuit device mounted on the cable 292 by COF (Chip On Film). The sensor drive circuit 240 generates a control signal Ctr-S for controlling the drive of the position detection sensor 230 based on the input control signal Ctr2, and outputs the control signal Ctr-S to the position detection sensor 230. That is, the sensor control circuit 214 controls the drive of the position detection sensor 230 via the sensor drive circuit 240. When the position detection sensor 230 is driven by the control signal Ctr-S, the position detection sensor 230 detects the contact of an object such as a finger or a pen with the position detection sensor 230. Then, the position detection sensor 230 generates a detection signal VSS indicating the detection result, and outputs the detection signal VSS to the sensor drive circuit 240. The sensor drive circuit 240 calculates the contact position of the object with respect to the position detection sensor 230 based on the detection signal VSS, and generates a contact position signal ISS indicating the contact position. The sensor drive circuit 240 outputs the generated contact position signal ISS to the sensor control circuit 214.

[0039] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the position detection sensor 230 and the sensor driving circuit 240. As shown in Fig. 4, the position detection sensor 230 includes Q×R sensors Ts arranged in a matrix of Q columns in a third direction, which is the horizontal direction in Fig. 4, and R rows in a fourth direction, which is the vertical direction in Fig. 4 perpendicular to the third direction, and Q×R detection lines 231 in one-to-one correspondence with the Q×R sensors Ts.

[0040] Each sensor Ts has a capacitance element. When an object comes into contact with the sensor Ts, the potentials of the two electrodes of the capacitance element provided corresponding to the sensor Ts change.

[0041] The sensor driving circuit 240 generates a control signal Ctr-S based on the control signal Ctr2, and outputs the generated control signal Ctr-S to the position detection sensor 230. Here, the control signal Ctr-S is a signal that instructs the sensor Ts[q][r] in the qth row and rth column to output a detection signal Vs[q][r] indicating the potential of one of the two electrodes of each sensor Ts to the detection line 231 provided corresponding to the sensor Ts[q][r]. This allows the sensor driving circuit 240 to receive Q×R detection signals Vs from the Q×R sensors Ts. Note that the above-mentioned detection signal VSS is, for example, a signal including Q×R detection signals Vs. Then, the sensor driving circuit 240 generates a touch position signal ISS based on the Q×R detection signals Vs included in the detection signal VSS, and outputs the generated touch position signal ISS to the panel control circuit 201. That is, the position detection sensor 230 in this embodiment is a so-called capacitance type sensor that calculates the contact position of an object according to a change in the potential of a capacitance element of the sensor Ts.

[0042] Returning to FIG. 2, the display circuit board 250 has a light emitting element 251. The panel control circuit 201 outputs a light emission control signal LC for controlling the light emitting element 251 of the display circuit board 250. The light emitting element 251 turns on, off, or blinks depending on the operating state of the printing device 1. That is, the light emitting element 251 is electrically connected to the panel circuit board 200 and displays the operating state of the printing device 1 and the printing unit 10, and the display circuit board 250 has the light emitting element 251 that displays the operating state of the printing device 1 and the printing unit 10. Note that FIG. 2 illustrates only the case where the display circuit board 250 has one light emitting element 251, but the display circuit board 250 may have a plurality of light emitting elements 251. In addition, as such a light emitting element 251, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element can be used.

[0043] The switch circuit board 260 has a switch 261. When this switch 261 is pressed, a switch control signal SU is supplied to the panel control circuit 201. The panel control circuit 201 starts up the printing device 1 or stops the operation of the printing device 1 according to the logical level, time, etc. of the switch control signal SU. That is, the switch 261 is electrically connected to the panel circuit board 200 and starts up the printing device 1 and the printing unit 10, and the switch circuit board 260 has the switch 261 that starts up the printing device 1 and the printing unit 10.

[0044] As described above, the panel unit 20 comprises: a display panel 220 that displays various information; a position detection sensor 230 that detects the contact position of an object such as a finger or a pen; a panel circuit board 200 on which a panel control circuit 201 is mounted and which is electrically connected to the position detection sensor 230 and the display panel 220; a cable 292 that electrically connects the position detection sensor 230 and the panel circuit board 200; a display circuit board 250 having a light-emitting element 251 that is electrically connected to the panel control circuit 201 mounted on the panel circuit board 200 and displays the operating state of the printing device 1 including the printing unit 10; and a switch circuit board 260 having a switch 261 that is electrically connected to the panel control circuit 201 mounted on the panel circuit board 200 and which starts up the printing device 1 including the printing unit 10.

[0045] 3. Printing device structure Next, the structure of the printing device 1 will be described. Here, in describing the structure of the printing device 1, the front-rear direction of the printing device 1 may be referred to as the X direction, the left-right direction of the printing device 1 as the Y direction, and the up-down direction of the printing device 1, which is the vertical direction, as the Z direction. Furthermore, when specifying the orientation along the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, the tip side of the arrow indicating the illustrated X direction may be referred to as the +X side, and the starting point side as the -X side, the tip side of the arrow indicating the Y direction may be referred to as the +Y side and the starting point side as the -Y side, and the tip side of the arrow indicating the Z direction may be referred to as the +Z side, and the starting point side as the -Z side.

[0046] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the external structure of the printing device 1. As shown in Fig. 5, the printing device 1 includes a printing unit 10 and a panel unit 20. The panel unit 20 is attached to the -X side of the housing 170 of the printing device 1 so as to be rotatable toward the +Z side.

[0047] 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the mounting state of the panel unit 20 mounted on the housing 170. As shown in FIG. 6, the panel unit 20 is rotatably mounted to the housing 170 via the mounting part AR. Specifically, in this embodiment, the panel unit 20 is mounted to the housing 170 of the printing unit 10 rotatably about the mounting part AR within the movable range RM so as to take a mounting state α in which the display surface 227 of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 extend along a plane formed by the X direction, which is the front-rear direction of the printing device 1, and the Y direction, which is the left-right direction of the printing device 1, and a mounting state β in which the display surface 227 of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 extend along a plane formed by the Y direction, which is the left-right direction of the printing device 1, and the Z direction, which is the vertical direction and the up-down direction of the printing device 1.

[0048] In other words, the panel unit 20 is rotatably mounted so as to take an installation state α in which the contents of the display panel 220 are visible when the panel unit 20 is viewed in a direction from above to below the printing device 1, from the -Z side to the +Z side, within a range where the user can see the display contents of the display panel 220 of the panel unit 20, and an installation state β in which the contents of the display panel 220 are visible when the panel unit 20 is viewed in a direction from the front to the rear of the printing device 1, from the -X side to the +X side.

[0049] Here, in consideration of improving the convenience for the user operating the printing device 1, it is preferable that the panel unit 20 rotatably attached to the housing 170 has a wide movable range RM. Specifically, in the mounting state α, it is preferable that the normal direction of the display surface 227 of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 is upwardly aligned approximately vertically toward the +Z side of the printing device 1, and in the mounting state β, the normal direction of the display surface 227 of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 is horizontally aligned toward the -X side of the printing device 1, which corresponds to the user side on which the user is located on the printing device 1.

[0050] However, the movable range RM of the panel unit 20 rotatably attached to the housing 170 is not limited to the above-mentioned range, and it is sufficient that the panel unit 20 can be rotated within a range in which the user operating the printing device 1 can view the information displayed on the display panel 220 of the rotatably attached panel unit 20. Specifically, in the attachment state α, the angle between the horizontally extending plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction and the direction in which the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 of the panel unit 20 extend is 45 degrees or less, and in the attachment state β, the angle between the horizontally extending plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction and the direction in which the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 of the panel unit 20 extend is 45 degrees or more.

[0051] That is, in the panel unit 20, the angle between the horizontal direction and the normal direction of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 is 1 / 2 the angle between the vertical direction and the normal direction of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230. It is sufficient that the display panel 220 is rotatably attached to the housing 170 of the printing unit 10 so as to assume an attachment state α in which the angle between the horizontal direction and the normal direction to the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 is larger than the angle between the horizontal direction and the normal direction to the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230, and an attachment state β in which the angle between the horizontal direction and the normal direction to the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 is smaller than the angle between the vertical direction and the normal direction to the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230. Here, the attachment state α is an example of a first attachment state, and the attachment state β is an example of a second attachment state.

[0052] Next, an example of a specific structure of the panel unit 20 rotatably attached to the housing 170 as described above will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the panel unit 20. Here, in the following description of the structure of the panel unit 20, the x-direction, y-direction, and y-direction, which are independent of the above-mentioned X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction and are perpendicular to each other, are used. In addition, when specifying the directions along the x-direction, y-direction, and z-direction, the tip side of the arrow indicating the illustrated x-direction may be referred to as the +x side and the starting point side as the -x side, the tip side of the arrow indicating the y-direction may be referred to as the +y side and the starting point side as the -y side, and the tip side of the arrow indicating the z-direction may be referred to as the +z side and the starting point side as the -z side.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 7, the panel unit 20 has a cover glass 270 and a panel housing 280 in addition to the panel circuit board 200, the display panel 220, the position detection sensor 230, the display circuit board 250, and the switch circuit board 260 described above.

[0054] The position detection sensor 230 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member extending in a plane formed by the x-direction and the y-direction, and is a so-called capacitance type sensor that calculates the contact position of an object according to the change in the potential of a capacitance element, as described above. A cable 292 on which a sensor driving circuit 240 is mounted by COF is attached to the -x side of the position detection sensor 230.

[0055] A cover glass 270 is located on the -z side of the position detection sensor 230. The cover glass 270 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member that is the same size as the position detection sensor 230 and extends in a plane formed by the x direction and the y direction, and is fixed to the position detection sensor 230 by an adhesive (not shown) so as to be laminated thereon. This cover glass 270 functions as a protective member that protects the position detection sensor 230 from scratches and impacts. Here, in the following description, a configuration in which the position detection sensor 230 and the cover glass 270 are laminated and fixed by an adhesive or the like is referred to as a touch sensor 400. The touch sensor 400 in which the position detection sensor 230 and the cover glass 270 are laminated is an example of a touch sensor.

[0056] Here, an example of the structure of the touch sensor 400 will be described with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Fig. 8 is a diagram of the touch sensor 400 as viewed from the -z side, and Fig. 9 is a diagram of the touch sensor 400 as viewed from the +z side. That is, Fig. 8 corresponds to a diagram of the touch sensor 400 as viewed from the surface on the cover glass 270 side, and Fig. 9 corresponds to a diagram of the touch sensor 400 as viewed from the position detection sensor 230 side.

[0057] 8 and 9, touch sensor 400 has a substantially rectangular shape including side 401, side 402 located on the +x side of side 401 and facing side 401 along the x direction, side 403 intersecting both sides 401 and 402, and side 404 located on the +y side of side 403 and facing side 403 along the y direction. Here, side 401 is an example of a first side, side 402 is an example of a second side, side 403 is an example of a third side, and side 404 is an example of a fourth side.

[0058] 8 and 9, a cable 292 is electrically connected to a side 401 of a touch sensor 400. The sensor driving circuit 240 is mounted on the −z side of the cable 292 by COF mounting, and a metal plate is mounted on the +z side of the cable 292 in an area facing the COF-mounted sensor driving circuit 240 via the cable 292. 241 is located on the panel circuit board 200. The touch sensor 400 is electrically connected to the panel circuit board 200 via this cable 292.

[0059] Also, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the touch sensor 400 includes an operation area 410 that accepts input of operation information by the user, and a frame area 420 that is provided around the operation area 410 and does not accept input of operation information by the user.

[0060] In the operation area 410, transparent wiring (not shown) formed of, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is provided, and the above-mentioned Q×R number of sensors Ts are provided in a matrix shape with the x direction as a third direction and the y direction as a fourth direction. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 9, in the frame area 420 of the position detection sensor 230, detection lines 231 that electrically connect each of the Q×R number of sensors Ts provided in the operation area 410 to the sensor driving circuit 240 are provided. That is, in the frame area 420, wiring that propagates a signal detected in the operation area 410 by the user's operation is located. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the frame area 420 of the cover glass 270 is colored, for example, black. This makes it possible to clearly notify the user of the boundary between the operation area 410 and the frame area 420. Note that the frame area 420 of the cover glass 270 may not be colored, and may be colored in a color other than black.

[0061] Returning to FIG. 7, the display panel 220 is located on the +z side of the position detection sensor 230 so that the display surface 227 is on the -z side. Such a display panel 220 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member extending on a plane formed by the x direction and the y direction, and the size of the display surface 227 of the display panel 220 is at least larger than the operation area 410. The display panel 220 is fixed to the position detection sensor 230 by an adhesive or the like (not shown) so that the entire area of ​​the operation area 410 overlaps with the display surface 227 in the direction along the z direction. That is, the position detection sensor 230 and the display panel 220 are layered along the z direction. In addition, a cable 291 electrically connected to the panel circuit board 200 is electrically connected to the edge of the display panel 220 on the -x side.

[0062] In the following description, a configuration in which the touch sensor 400 including the position detection sensor 230 and the display panel 220 are stacked along the z direction is referred to as a touch panel 500. In this embodiment, as described above, the position detection sensor 230 is a capacitance type sensor. That is, the touch sensor 400 in this embodiment is a capacitance type touch sensor, and the touch panel 500 including the touch sensor 400, which is a capacitance type touch sensor, and the display panel 220 is a capacitance type touch panel. That is, the touch panel 500 of the panel unit 20 of this embodiment configures a capacitance type touch panel in which the position detection sensor 230, the cover glass 270, and the display panel 220 are stacked.

[0063] The panel circuit board 200 is located on the +z side of the display panel 220. A panel control circuit 201 included in the panel circuit board 200 controls the operation of the touch panel 500 including the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230. Specifically, the panel circuit board 200 is electrically connected to the display panel 220 via a cable 291, and is also electrically connected to the position detection sensor 230 via a cable 292. The panel control circuit 201 provided on the panel circuit board 200 controls the operation of the display panel 220 via the cable 291, and also controls the operation of the position detection sensor 230 via the cable 292.

[0064] The display circuit board 250 is located on the -x side of the panel circuit board 200. Three light emitting elements 251 are provided on the -z side surface of the display circuit board 250. In addition, a switch circuit The board 260 is located on the -x side of the panel circuit board 200 and on the -y side of the display circuit board 250. A switch 261 is provided on the -z side surface of the switch circuit board 260. The display circuit board 250 is electrically connected to the panel circuit board 200 via a cable 293, and the switch circuit board 260 is electrically connected to the panel circuit board 200 via a cable 294.

[0065] The panel housing 280 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a storage space 289 with one surface on the -z side being open, and is configured with a forming member molded from, for example, resin or the like. The storage space 289 of the panel housing 280 stores the above-mentioned touch panel 500, panel circuit board 200, display circuit board 250, and switch circuit board 260. In this case, the cover glass 270 of the touch panel 500 is provided so as to cover the open surface of the storage space 289.

[0066] In the panel unit 20 configured as above, the position detection sensor 230, the display panel 220, the panel circuit board 200, the display circuit board 250, and the switch circuit board 260 are stored in a panel housing 280. Fig. 10 is a diagram of the panel unit 20 in a state in which the position detection sensor 230, the display panel 220, the panel circuit board 200, the display circuit board 250, and the switch circuit board 260 are stored in the panel housing 280, as viewed from the -z side, Fig. 11 is a diagram of the panel unit 20 as viewed from the -x side, and Fig. 12 is a diagram of the panel unit 20 as viewed from the +y side.

[0067] 10, the touch sensor 400 is stored in the panel housing 280 such that the sides 401 and 402 are positioned opposite each other along the x direction, with the side 401 on the -x side and the side 402 on the +x side, and the sides 403 and 404 are positioned opposite each other along the y direction, with the side 403 on the -y side and the side 404 on the +y side. Specifically, the panel housing 280 has housing sides 281, 282, 283, and 284, and a storage space 289 including the housing sides 281, 282, 283, and 284. The touch sensor 400 is stored in the storage space 289 such that side 401 of the touch sensor 400 is located along the housing side 281, side 402 of the touch sensor 400 is located along the housing side 282, side 403 of the touch sensor 400 is located along the housing side 283, and side 404 of the touch sensor 400 is located along the housing side 284.

[0068] 11 and 12, in the panel unit 20, an attachment part AR is provided in the center of the bottom surface 285 of the panel housing 280 located opposite the cover glass 270. The attachment part AR is a protrusion that is located in the center of the panel housing 280 in the direction along the x direction from the side 401 toward the side 402 in the panel unit 20 having the panel housing 280 in which the touch sensor 400 is stored, and extends along the y direction. This attachment part AR is rotatably attached to the housing 170, so that the panel unit 20 is rotatably attached to the printing unit 10. That is, the panel unit 20 is rotatably attached to the printing unit 10 at the center of the panel housing 280 in the direction from the side 401 toward the side 402.

[0069] Here, the position of the mounting portion AR at the center of the panel housing 280 in the direction from side 401 to side 402 along the x direction preferably means that, when the panel unit 20 is viewed along the z direction, at least a part of the mounting portion AR is positioned so as to overlap with a point where the distance between the -x side side and the +x side side of the panel housing 280 is equal, but it is sufficient that the mounting portion AR is positioned at least in the area between a first virtual line where the distance between the -x side side and the +x side side of the panel housing 280 is equal and the distance between the -x side side of the panel housing 280 and the +x side side of the panel housing 280 is equal, and a second virtual line where the distance between the -x side side and the +x side side of the panel housing 280 is equal and the distance between the +x side side of the panel housing 280 and the +x side side of the panel housing 280 is equal.

[0070] In other words, the center of panel housing 280 in the direction from side 401 to side 402 along the x direction means the region between the above-mentioned first virtual straight line and the above-mentioned second virtual straight line.

[0071] The panel unit 20 and the printing unit 10 are electrically connected by inserting a cable 210 through the inside of the mounting part AR. That is, the panel circuit board 200 and the main circuit board 110 are electrically connected by the cable 210 that passes through the inside of the mounting part AR where the panel unit 20 is rotatably attached to the printing unit 10.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a display window 286 and an operation switch 287 are provided on a housing side portion 281 of the panel housing 280.

[0073] The display window 286 is a light-transmitting resin member, for example, transparent or milky white, and is located on the +y side of the housing side portion 281 so that at least a portion of it is visible when the panel unit 20 is viewed from the -z side along the z direction. A light-emitting element 251 of a display circuit board 250 stored in the panel housing 280 is located in a storage space 289 of the panel housing 280 in which the display window 286 is located. When the light-emitting element 251 turns on, off, or blinks in accordance with the operating state of the printing device 1, the light generated by the light-emitting element 251 is notified to the outside of the panel unit 20 via the display window 286.

[0074] Furthermore, when panel unit 20 is viewed from the -z side along the z direction and viewed from a direction along the normal direction of touch sensor 400, operation switch 287 is located at an end of panel housing 280 and on a side surface of panel housing 280 extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction of display surface 227 of display panel 220. When a user operates operation switch 287, switch 261 of switch circuit board 260 is operated, and thereby operation information of the user is input to panel unit 20.

[0075] Furthermore, the cable 292 is curved near the housing side part 281 which is an end part of the panel housing 280, between the display circuit board 250 and the switch circuit board 260, and electrically connects the touch sensor 400 and the panel circuit board 200. When a detection signal VSS generated by an object such as a finger or a pen touching the touch sensor 400 is input to the sensor driving circuit 240 mounted on the cable 292 by COF, the sensor driving circuit 240 generates a touch position signal ISS based on the detection signal VSS and outputs it to the sensor control circuit 214 included in the panel control circuit 201.

[0076] The panel unit 20 configured as above is attached to the printing unit 10 so that the side 401 of the touch sensor 400 is located on the -X side and the side 402 of the touch sensor 400 is located on the +X side in the attachment state α in which the display surface 227 of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 extend along a plane formed by the X direction, which is the front-rear direction of the printing device 1, and the Y direction, which is the left-right direction of the printing device 1. Also, in the attachment state β in which the display surface 227 of the display panel 220 and the position detection sensor 230 extend along a plane formed by the Y direction, which is the left-right direction of the printing device 1, and the Z direction, which is the up-down direction of the printing device 1 and the vertical direction, the panel unit 20 is attached to the printing unit 10 so that the side 401 of the touch sensor 400 is located on the +Z side and the side 402 of the touch sensor 400 is located on the -Z side. That is, when the panel unit 20 is in the attachment state β, the touch sensor 400 included in the touch panel 500 is arranged so that the side 401 is lower than the side 402 in the direction along the vertical direction.

[0077] Returning to FIG. 5, the printing unit 10 has a medium storage section 141, a medium discharge tray 149, and a housing 170. The medium storage section 141 is a storage section that stores media before a printing operation is performed. A storage space is formed. Specifically, the medium storage unit 141 is located on the +Z side of the housing 170, and at least a portion of the storage space is attached in a state where it can be pulled out into the housing 170. The medium ejection tray 149 is located on the -Z side of the housing 170, and ejects the medium after the printing process has been executed. That is, the printing device 1 includes the medium ejection tray 149 into which the medium is ejected. This medium ejection tray 149 is an example of an ejection tray.

[0078] In the printer 1 configured as described above, when a user operates the panel unit 20 to execute a printing operation, the medium stored in the medium storage unit 141 is transported inside the housing 170, and a printing operation is executed on the medium while the medium is being transported inside the housing 170. Then, after the printing operation has been executed, the medium is discharged to the medium discharge tray 149.

[0079] Here, a description will be given of the internal structure of the housing 170 of the printing unit 10. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the housing 170. As shown in Fig. 13, the housing 170 houses the relay circuit board 100, the main circuit board 110, the printing mechanism 160, and the wireless communication unit 30.

[0080] Specifically, the wireless communication unit 30 and the relay circuit board 100 are located along the -X side of the housing 170 to which the panel unit 20 is rotatably attached. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 30 is located on the +Z side of the relay circuit board 100 along the -X side of the housing 170, and the relay circuit board 100 is located on the +Z side of the wireless communication unit 30 along the -X side of the housing 170. That is, the wireless communication unit 30 and the relay circuit board 100 are located near the side of the housing 170 to which the panel unit 20 is attached. At least a part of the relay circuit board 100 and at least a part of the wireless communication unit 30 may be located to overlap in the Y direction.

[0081] Further, the main circuit board 110 is positioned along the +X side surface of the housing 170 which faces the -X side surface of the housing 170 to which the panel unit 20 is rotatably attached. That is, the relay circuit board 100 is provided inside the housing 170, closer to the panel unit 20 than the main circuit board 110. In other words, the relay circuit board 100 is provided at a position where the shortest distance between the panel unit 20 and the relay circuit board 100 is smaller than the shortest distance between the panel unit 20 and the main circuit board 110.

[0082] In this case, the relay circuit board 100 is located between the panel unit 20 and the main circuit board 110 when the printing device 1 is viewed along the Y direction. That is, the relay circuit board 100 is provided at a position where the shortest distance between the main circuit board 110 and the relay circuit board 100 is smaller than the shortest distance between the main circuit board 110 and the panel unit 20. That is, the relay circuit board 100 in this embodiment is located closer to the panel unit 20 than the main circuit board 110, and is located between the main circuit board 110 and the panel unit 20 when the printing device 1 is viewed along the Y direction in a direction from side 404 to side 403 of the touch sensor 400 of the panel unit 20 in a state where the panel unit 20 is attached to the printing device 1.

[0083] Furthermore, it is preferable that the shortest distance between the relay circuit board 100 and the panel unit 20 is positioned to be smaller than the shortest distance between the relay circuit board 100 and the main circuit board 110, and that the wiring length of the cable 210 electrically connecting the panel unit 20 and the relay circuit board 100 is shorter than the wiring length of the cable 191 electrically connecting the relay circuit board 100 and the main circuit board 110.

[0084] In the printing device 1 configured as above, the touch panel 5 through which the user inputs operation information is Unlike the panel unit 20 having a touch panel 500 through which the user inputs operation information, the panel unit 20 having the touch panel 500, the wireless communication unit 30 for wirelessly communicating with an external device, and the connectors CN1 and CN2 to which the wireless communication unit 30 is connected are provided inside the housing 170. As a result, even if the touch panel 500 is enlarged, the size of the panel unit 20 is less likely to be increased due to functions other than the touch panel. In other words, even if the printing device 1 is equipped with a large touch panel 500, the panel unit 20 is less likely to be enlarged. As a result, the panel unit 20 is less likely to hinder a user from operating an existing configuration equipped in the printing device 1.

[0085] Furthermore, because the connectors CN1, CN2 to which the wireless communication unit 30 for wireless communication with an external device is connected are provided on the relay circuit board 100 arranged in the vicinity of the panel unit 20, the wireless communication unit 30 can be arranged in the vicinity of the panel unit 20. As a result, even if the printing device 1 includes an NFC module 31 for wireless communication at a short distance of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters as the wireless communication unit 30, the NFC module 31 can be arranged in the vicinity of an operator who operates the panel unit 20 and at a position where the panel unit 20 does not interfere with wireless communication at the short distance of the NFC module 31, thereby reducing mutual interference between the signals of the panel unit 20 and the NFC module 31 and reducing the risk of the panel unit 20 and the NFC module 31 impeding operability.

[0086] Furthermore, by electrically connecting the wireless communication unit 30 to the main circuit board 110 via the relay circuit board 100, even if the main circuit board 110 is provided on the +X side of the printing device 1, away from the operator who operates the panel unit 20, the wireless signal received by the wireless communication unit 30 can be converted into an arbitrary signal that is less susceptible to noise in the relay circuit board 100. This improves the operational stability of the printing device 1.

[0087] That is, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the relay circuit board 100 having the connectors CN1, CN2 to which the wireless communication unit 30 is connected is disposed at a position where the shortest distance between the panel unit 20 and the relay circuit board 100 is shorter than the shortest distance between the panel unit 20 and the main circuit board 110, thereby simultaneously solving multiple problems caused by an increase in size of the panel unit 20. Therefore, even if the printing device 1 is equipped with a large touch panel 500 in which the diagonal size of the touch sensor 400 included in the touch panel 500 of the panel unit 20 is 10 inches or more, the operability and operational stability of the printing device 1 can be improved.

[0088] Next, an example of the positional relationship between the panel unit 20, the medium discharge tray 149, and the wireless communication unit 30 will be described. Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the panel unit 20, the medium discharge tray 149, and the wireless communication unit 30. In Fig. 14, in explaining the positional relationship between the panel unit 20, the medium discharge tray 149, and the wireless communication unit 30, the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 included in the wireless communication unit 30 stored inside the housing 170 are shown by solid lines, and the panel unit 20 located in front of the printing device 1 on the -X side relative to the wireless communication unit 30 is shown by dashed lines.

[0089] 14, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, even when the panel unit 20 is in the mounting state β, the medium discharge tray 149 and the panel unit 20 are positioned so as not to overlap in the direction along the X direction, which is the front-rear direction of the printing device 1. That is, when the panel unit 20 is in the mounting state α, in the direction from side 401 to side 402, In this case, the medium discharge tray 149 and the panel unit 20 do not overlap. This reduces the risk that the panel unit 20 will obstruct the user's action of removing media discharged to the medium discharge tray 149, regardless of the angle of the rotatable panel unit 20. In other words, even when a large touch panel 500 is provided, the operability of the printing device 1 can be further improved.

[0090] 14, when the NFC module 31 is attached to the connector CN1 of the relay circuit board 100, and when the WiFi module 32 is attached to the connector CN2 of the relay circuit board 100, even when the panel unit 20 is in the attached state β, the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 are positioned so as not to overlap with the panel unit 20 in the direction along the X direction, which is the front-to-rear direction of the printing device 1. In other words, when the panel unit 20 is in the attached state α, the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 do not overlap with the panel unit 20 in the direction from side 401 to side 402.

[0091] This reduces the risk that the large panel unit 20 will impede the operability of the NFC module 31, which performs wireless communication over a short distance of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters, and also reduces the risk that the panel unit 20 will block the wireless signals output from the WiFi module 32 and the wireless signals input to the WiFi module 32. In other words, it is possible to simultaneously improve the operability of the wireless communication unit 30 and the reliability of wireless communication.

[0092] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, when the NFC module 31 is attached to the connector CN1 of the relay circuit board 100, and when the WiFi module 32 is attached to the connector CN2 of the relay circuit board 100, the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 are positioned so as not to overlap in the direction along the X direction, which is the front-rear direction of the printing device 1. If a device that performs wireless communication, including the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32, is placed inside the housing 170, the strength of the wireless signal output by the device and the wireless signal input to the device decreases, and as a result, the quality of the wireless communication decreases. In other words, it is preferable that the device that performs wireless communication, including the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32, is provided along the side of the housing 170. By positioning the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 so as not to overlap in the direction along the X direction, which is the front-rear direction of the printing device 1, both the NFC module 31 and the WiFi module 32 can be positioned near the side of the housing 170, and as a result, the quality of the wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit 30 is improved.

[0093] Returning to FIG. 13, inside the housing 170, between the wireless communication unit 30 and the relay circuit board 100, and the main circuit board 110, there is stored a printing mechanism 160 which transports the medium contained in the medium storage section 141 and performs a printing operation on the transported medium.

[0094] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a transport path of a medium transported by a printing mechanism 160 provided inside a housing 170. As shown in Fig. 15, transport rollers 142, 143, and 144 are provided inside the housing 170. Each of the transport rollers 142 to 144 is a roller pair including a drive roller and a driven roller. The transport rollers 142 to 144 hold the medium between the drive roller and the driven roller, and transport the medium along a predetermined transport direction by the drive roller rotating by the drive of the transport motor 150 described above.

[0095] Specifically, the media contained in the medium container 141 are discharged one by one by the transport roller 142. The transport roller 142 discharges the media contained in the medium container 141 one by one. Since the medium is discharged one by one, for example, the rollers 143 may be arranged to apply pressure to the medium from the -Z side toward the +Z side along the Z direction. The medium discharged from the medium storage unit 141 is conveyed along the conveyance path to the printing area PA facing the ejection head 130 while being sandwiched between the conveyance rollers 143. When the medium reaches the printing area PA, the ejection head 130 ejects ink onto the medium at a timing based on the print data signal DATA. The medium on which the ink has landed is then conveyed along the conveyance path toward the medium ejection tray 149 while being sandwiched between the conveyance rollers 144, and is ejected from inside the housing 170 to the medium ejection tray 149.

[0096] 4. Effects As described above, in the printing device 1 of the present embodiment, the panel unit 20 having the touch panel 500 through which the user inputs operation information, the wireless communication unit 30 for wirelessly communicating with an external device, and the connectors CN1 and CN2 to which the wireless communication unit 30 is connected are provided inside the housing 170, unlike the panel unit 20 having the touch panel 500 through which the user inputs operation information. As a result, even if the touch panel 500 is enlarged, the risk of the size of the panel unit 20 increasing is reduced. That is, even if the printing device 1 is provided with a large touch panel 500, the risk of the panel unit 20 increasing in size is reduced. As a result, the risk of the panel unit 20 interfering with the operation of the existing configuration of the printing device 1 is reduced when the user operates the operation.

[0097] Furthermore, since the connectors CN1 and CN2 to which the wireless communication unit 30 for wireless communication with an external device is connected are provided on the relay circuit board 100 arranged near the panel unit 20, the wireless communication unit 30 can be arranged near the panel unit 20. As a result, even if the printing device 1 includes an NFC module 31 for wireless communication at a short distance of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters as the wireless communication unit 30, the NFC module 31 can be arranged near the operator who operates the panel unit 20 and at a position where the panel unit 20 does not interfere with wireless communication at the short distance of the NFC module 31. Therefore, mutual interference between the signals of the panel unit 20 and the NFC module 31 can be reduced, and the risk of impeding operability between the panel unit 20 and the NFC module 31 is reduced.

[0098] Furthermore, by electrically connecting the wireless communication unit 30 to the main circuit board 110 via the relay circuit board 100, even if the main circuit board 110 is located on the +X side of the printing device 1, away from the operator who operates the panel unit 20, the wireless signal received by the wireless communication unit 30 can be converted into an arbitrary signal that is less susceptible to noise in the relay circuit board 100, thereby improving the operational stability of the printing device 1.

[0099] In other words, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the relay circuit board 100 having the connectors CN1, CN2 to which the wireless communication unit 30 is connected is positioned so that the shortest distance between the panel unit 20 and the relay circuit board 100 is smaller than the shortest distance between the panel unit 20 and the main circuit board 110, thereby simultaneously solving several problems caused by the larger size of the panel unit 20.

[0100] Furthermore, in this case, by disposing the relay circuit board 100 between the panel unit 20 and the main circuit board 110 and by making the wiring length of the cable 210 electrically connecting the relay circuit board 100 and the panel unit 20 shorter than the wiring length of the cable 191 electrically connecting the relay circuit board 100 and the main circuit board 110, the risk of degradation of the signal propagating between the panel unit 20 and the relay circuit board 100 is reduced. In other words, the communication quality between the panel unit 20 and the relay circuit board 100 is improved, and as a result, the printing device The reliability of the device 1 is improved.

[0101] 5. Variations In the printing device 1 of the present embodiment described above, the NFC module 31 included in the wireless communication unit 30 has been described as being provided inside the housing 170 along the +X side surface to which the panel unit 20 is attached, but the NFC module 31 may also be provided on the +Y side surface adjacent to the +X side surface of the housing 170 so that the NFC module 31 faces vertically upward and can receive wireless signals.

[0102] Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the external structure of a printing device 1 in a modified example. As shown in Fig. 16, the printing device 1 in the modified example has a table 171 that protrudes along the Y direction from the +Y side surface of a housing 170 of the printing unit 10. In the printing device 1 in the modified example, the NFC module 31 is located inside the housing 170, inside the table 171, along the -Z side surface. In other words, the NFC module 31 is located on the +Y side of the panel unit 20 in a position that does not overlap with the panel unit 20 when the printing device 1 is viewed along the X direction.

[0103] As described above, the NFC module 31 is used for an authentication function to correlate a user who has performed a printing operation with a medium on which the printing operation is performed. Specifically, the authentication function is performed when the user holds a predetermined card or the like over the NFC module 31. In such a printing device 1, by arranging the NFC module 31 so that it can be contacted from the top surface of the housing 170, the risk of impairing user convenience is further reduced even when the panel unit 20 has a large touch panel 500.

[0104] That is, in addition to the above-mentioned advantageous effects, the printing device 1 in this modified example can further improve user convenience.

[0105] Although the embodiments and modifications have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the above embodiments can be appropriately combined.

[0106] The present invention includes configurations that are substantially the same as the configurations described in the embodiments (for example, configurations with the same functions, methods and results, or configurations with the same purpose and effect). The present invention also includes configurations in which non-essential parts of the configurations described in the embodiments are replaced. The present invention also includes configurations that achieve the same effects as the configurations described in the embodiments or that can achieve the same purpose. The present invention also includes configurations in which publicly known technology is added to the configurations described in the embodiments.

[0107] The following can be derived from the above-described embodiment.

[0108] One aspect of the printing device is The printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints on a medium, and a panel unit into which operation information for operating the printing unit is input, the printing unit includes a printing mechanism that executes a printing operation in response to the operation information, a main circuit board having a processor that controls the operation of the panel unit and also controls the operation of the printing mechanism based on the operation information, and a relay board that relays signals transmitted between the main circuit board and the panel unit, The panel unit includes a display panel, a touch sensor in which a position detection sensor and a cover glass are laminated, and a panel circuit board electrically connected to the touch sensor. , the touch sensor includes a first side, a second side facing the first side, a third side intersecting both the first side and the second side, and a fourth side facing the third side; the panel unit is attached to the printing unit so as to be rotatable between a first attachment state and a second attachment state; In the first mounting state, an angle between a horizontal direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor is larger than an angle between a vertical direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor; In the second mounting state, an angle between a horizontal direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor is smaller than an angle between a vertical direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor; When the panel unit is in the second mounting state, the touch sensor is disposed such that the first side is lower than the second side in a vertical direction, the relay board has a wireless communication device mounting portion on which a wireless communication device capable of receiving an external wireless signal via wireless communication is mounted; The shortest distance between the panel unit and the relay board is smaller than the shortest distance between the panel unit and the main circuit board.

[0109] According to this printing device, the panel unit to which operation information for operating the printing unit is input and the main circuit board having a processor that controls the operation of the panel unit and controls the operation of the printing mechanism based on the operation information are electrically connected via an intermediate board having a wireless communication device mounting portion to which a wireless communication device capable of receiving a wireless signal from the outside via wireless communication is attached, and the intermediate board is arranged so that the shortest distance between the panel unit and the intermediate board is shorter than the shortest distance between the panel unit and the main circuit board, so that the wireless communication device capable of receiving a wireless signal is provided near the panel unit and outside the panel unit. This allows for easy display of information to the user, prevents malfunctions by the user, and improves the operability of the printing device by the user, and in the case where the panel unit has a large touch panel, the wireless communication device can be arranged outside and near the panel unit so as not to impede the operability of the wireless communication device and the panel unit.

[0110] Furthermore, by electrically connecting the panel unit and the main circuit board via a relay board having a wireless communication device mounting portion on which a wireless communication device is mounted, even if the main circuit board and the panel unit are located apart, the signal can be converted into a signal that is less susceptible to the effects of noise, etc. in the relay board, allowing the signal to be transmitted between the main circuit board and the relay board with high reliability, thereby improving the operational stability of the printing device.

[0111] In other words, with this printing device, even if the printing device 1 has additional functions such as wireless communication and is equipped with a panel unit with a large touch panel, the stability of the operation of the printing device can be improved by reducing mutual interference between signals, and it is possible to achieve both excellent operability of the panel unit and high reliability of wireless communication.

[0112] In one aspect of the printing device, The shortest distance between the main circuit board and the relay board may be smaller than the shortest distance between the main circuit board and the panel unit.

[0113] According to this printing device, the relay board can be disposed between the panel unit and the main circuit board. Therefore, even if the printing device 1 has additional functions such as wireless communication and is equipped with a panel unit having a large touch panel, the operation stability of the printing device can be improved by reducing mutual interference between signals, and both excellent operability of the panel unit and high reliability of wireless communication can be achieved at the same time.

[0114] In one aspect of the printing device, a first wiring that electrically connects the panel circuit board and the relay board; a second wiring that electrically connects the relay board and the main circuit board; Equipped with The first wiring may have a length shorter than the second wiring.

[0115] According to this printing device, by making the length of the first wiring electrically connecting the relay board and the panel unit shorter than the length of the second wiring electrically connecting the relay board and the main circuit board, the risk of noise or the like interfering with the operation information input from the panel unit is reduced, thereby further improving the operational stability of the printing device.

[0116] In one aspect of the printing device, The touch sensor may have a diagonal size of 10 inches or more.

[0117] According to this printing device, Even if the printing device 1 has additional functions such as wireless communication and is equipped with a panel unit with a large touch panel, the stability of the operation of the printing device can be improved by reducing mutual interference between signals, and both excellent operability of the panel unit and high reliability of wireless communication can be achieved at the same time. Therefore, even if the diagonal size of the touch sensor of the panel unit is 10 inches or more, the printing device can achieve both excellent operability of the panel unit and high reliability of wireless communication.

[0118] In one aspect of the printing device, a discharge tray into which the medium is discharged; In the first attachment state, the discharge tray and the panel unit do not have to overlap in a direction from the first side toward the second side.

[0119] According to this printing device, when a user removes a medium that has been discharged onto the discharge tray, the panel unit does not impede the removal operation, thereby further improving convenience for the user.

[0120] In one aspect of the printing device, When the wireless communication device is attached to the wireless communication device attachment portion, the wireless communication device and the panel unit may not overlap in a direction from the first side toward the second side in the first attachment state.

[0121] This printing device reduces the risk that the panel unit will block wireless communication signals from the wireless communication device, thereby improving the reliability of wireless communication by the wireless communication device.

[0122] In one aspect of the printing device, the wireless communication device includes a first wireless communication device that performs short-range wireless communication; The relay board may include, as the wireless communication device mounting portion, a first wireless communication device mounting portion on which the first wireless communication device is mounted.

[0123] In one aspect of the printing device, the wireless communication device includes a second wireless communication device capable of wireless communication over a longer distance and at a higher speed than the first wireless communication device; The relay board may include, as the wireless communication device mounting portion, a second wireless communication device mounting portion on which the second wireless communication device is mounted.

[0124] In one aspect of the printing device, When the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are attached to the relay board, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may not overlap in a direction from the first side to the second side in the first attachment state.

[0125] According to this printing device, both the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device can be disposed near the side surface of the main housing, thereby improving the reliability of wireless communication between both the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device.

[0126] In one aspect of the printing device, The position detection sensor is a capacitance type sensor, The display panel and the touch sensor may form a capacitive touch panel. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 1...printing device, 2...cited literature, 10...printing unit, 20...panel unit, 30...wireless communication unit, 31...NFC module, 32...WiFi module, 100...relay circuit board, 101...signal conversion circuit, 110...main circuit board, 111...main control circuit, 120...head circuit board, 121...head control circuit, 122...drive circuit, 130...ejection head, 140...medium transport control unit, 141...medium storage section, 142, 143, 144...transport roller, 149...medium discharge tray, 150...transport motor, 160...printing mechanism, 170...housing, 171...table, 191, 192, 193, 194...cable, 200...panel circuit board, 201...panel control circuit, 210...cable, 212...display control circuit, 214...sensor control circuit, 220...display panel, 221...pixel section, 222...pixel drive section, 22 3...scanning line driving circuit, 224...data line driving circuit, 225...scanning line, 226...data line, 227...display surface, 230...position detection sensor, 231...detection line, 240...sensor driving circuit, 241...metal plate, 250...display circuit board, 251...light emitting element, 260...switch circuit board, 261...switch, 270...cover glass, 280...panel housing, 281, 282, 283, 284...housing side, 285...bottom , 286...display window, 287...operation switch, 289...storage space, 291, 292, 293, 294, 310, 320...cable, 400...touch sensor, 401, 402, 403, 404...side, 410...operation area, 420...frame area, 500...touch panel, AR...mounting section, CN1, CN2...connector, PA...printing area, Px...pixel, RM...movable range, Ts...sensor, α...mounting state, β...mounting state

Claims

1. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints on a medium, and a panel unit into which operation information for operating the printing unit is input, the printing unit includes a printing mechanism that executes a printing operation in response to the operation information, a main circuit board having a processor that controls the operation of the panel unit and also controls the operation of the printing mechanism based on the operation information, a relay board that relays signals transmitted between the main circuit board and the panel unit, and a housing that houses the printing mechanism, the main circuit board, and the relay board; the panel unit includes a display panel, a touch sensor having a position detection sensor and a cover glass laminated thereon, a panel circuit board electrically connected to the touch sensor, and a panel housing attached to the housing and housing the display panel, the touch sensor, and the panel circuit board; the touch sensor includes a first side, a second side facing the first side, a third side intersecting both the first side and the second side, and a fourth side facing the third side; the panel unit is attached to the printing unit so as to be rotatable between a first attachment state and a second attachment state; In the first mounting state, an angle between a horizontal direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor is larger than an angle between a vertical direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor; In the second mounting state, an angle between a horizontal direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor is smaller than an angle between a vertical direction and a normal direction of the touch sensor; When the panel unit is in the second mounting state, the touch sensor is disposed such that the first side is lower than the second side in a vertical direction, the relay board has a wireless communication device mounting portion on which a wireless communication device capable of receiving an external wireless signal via wireless communication is mounted; the shortest distance between the panel unit and the relay board is shorter than the shortest distance between the panel unit and the main circuit board; A printing device comprising:

2. the shortest distance between the main circuit board and the relay board is shorter than the shortest distance between the main circuit board and the panel unit; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. a first wiring that electrically connects the panel circuit board and the relay board; a second wiring that electrically connects the relay board and the main circuit board; Equipped with The wiring length of the first wiring is shorter than the wiring length of the second wiring.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

4. The diagonal size of the touch sensor is 10 inches or more.

4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device further comprises a first printing unit.

5. a discharge tray into which the medium is discharged; In the first mounting state, the discharge tray and the panel unit do not overlap in a direction from the first side toward the second side.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

6. when the wireless communication device is attached to the wireless communication device attachment portion, the wireless communication device and the panel unit do not overlap in a direction from the first side toward the second side in the first attachment state.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

7. The wireless communication device includes a first wireless communication device that performs short-range wireless communication; the relay board includes, as the wireless communication device mounting portion, a first wireless communication device mounting portion to which the first wireless communication device is mounted; 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

8. the wireless communication device includes a second wireless communication device capable of wireless communication over a longer distance and at a higher speed than the first wireless communication device; the relay board includes, as the wireless communication device mounting portion, a second wireless communication device mounting portion to which the second wireless communication device is mounted; 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7.

9. when the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are attached to the relay board, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device do not overlap with each other in a direction from the first side toward the second side in the first attachment state; 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8.

10. The position detection sensor is a capacitance type sensor, The display panel and the touch sensor constitute a capacitive touch panel.

10. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

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