printer

Abstract

To provide a printer which can inhibit variations in a medium discharge path.SOLUTION: In a printer, a device body extends in a lateral direction. A front surface of a case is formed with a discharge port 25. A printed medium is discharged from the discharge port 25. The discharge port 25 is formed at the inner side of an opening of an upper cover 22. An edge of the opening of the upper cover 22 serves as an enclosing part 222. The enclosing part 222 encloses an entire periphery of the discharge port 25 at the upper cover 22. An opening end 224 of the enclosing part 222 forms a lower part of the discharge port 25. In the case, a head unit 4 is provided. The head unit 4 is covered with the upper cover 22. The head unit 4 includes a lower plate 51. The lower plate 51 supports a thermal head 7. The upper cover 22 has a protruding part 28b. The lower plate 51 of the head unit 4 has an opening 54b. The protruding part 28b engages with the opening 54b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The portable printer of Patent Document 1 is configured by assembling a chassis assembly and a housing together. The chassis assembly supports a thermal line head. The thermal line head prints on a printing medium.

[0003] The housing covers the outside of the chassis assembly and forms the outer shell of the device. The housing as a whole is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped made of resin, with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction and the up-down and front-rear directions as the lateral directions. The housing is composed of a top cover, an under cover, and a cover member. The top cover is roughly U-shaped and opens to the front in a plan view. The cover member is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the top cover so as to be able to open and close. The under cover is roughly L-shaped in a right side view. The upper part of the outer shell of the device is composed of the top cover and the cover member. The right and left parts of the outer shell of the device are composed of the top cover. The front part of the outer shell of the device is composed of the cover member and the under cover. The lower part of the outer shell of the device is composed of the under cover. An outlet is formed between the cover member and the under cover at the front part of the outer shell of the device. Printed paper is discharged from the outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-251515 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Because the printer is long and extends left and right, the top cover, under cover, and cover members that make up the housing can warp during molding. If the cover members and under cover that form the discharge port at the front of the device's outer shell warp, the discharge path of the printed paper that is discharged after printing can vary, and the printed paper can become wrinkled.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can suppress variations in the ejection path of a medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A printer according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a print head that prints on a medium, a support section that extends in a longitudinal direction and supports the print head, an outlet that also extends in the longitudinal direction and through which the medium printed on the print head is ejected, and a cover section that extends in the longitudinal direction and covers the print head and the support section, wherein the cover section comprises an enclosing section that extends in the longitudinal direction and surrounds the entire periphery of the outlet, a long edge section of the enclosing section that extends in the longitudinal direction forms at least a part of the outlet, and the cover section comprises an engaged section that engages with an engaging section provided on the support section.

[0008] According to this aspect, in the printer, the long edge portion of the surrounding portion that surrounds the outlet through which the media is ejected restricts the position of the ejected media. Furthermore, the cover portion has high rigidity because the engaging portion engages with the engaging portion of the support portion. Therefore, the printer can suppress variations in the ejection path of the media.

[0009] The printer of this aspect may include a second cover portion that covers the support portion together with the cover portion, and the cover portion may include a second engaged portion that engages with a second engaging portion provided on the second cover portion. In the printer, the cover portion engages with the second cover portion to further increase its rigidity. Therefore, the printer can suppress variation in the ejection path of the media.

[0010] In the printer of this aspect, the engaged portion and the second engaged portion may be located at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion. Therefore, the printer can suppress variations in the ejection path of the media with a simple configuration.

[0011] In the printer of this aspect, the engaging portion may be located at a position where it is sandwiched between a plurality of fixing portions that fix the support portion to the second cover portion. When an impact is applied to the printer, stress is concentrated at the engaging portion of the support portion that engages with the cover portion. Because the engaging portion is located at a position where it is sandwiched between the plurality of fixing portions, the printer can increase the rigidity of the support portion.

[0012] In the printer of this aspect, the engaging portion may engage with the engaged portion at a center portion of the cover portion in the longitudinal direction. In the longitudinal direction, the center portion of the cover portion is more likely to bend than the other portions of the cover portion. Because the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion at the center portion of the cover portion in the longitudinal direction, the printer can suppress variation in the ejection path of the medium.

[0013] In the printer of this aspect, the engaging portion may engage with the engaged portion at a position sandwiching the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion. When an impact is applied to the printer, stress is concentrated at the engaging portion of the support portion that engages with the cover portion. The support portion engages with the engaged portion not only at the engaged portion at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion, but also at positions sandwiching the central portion. This distributes the stress applied to the support portion. Therefore, the printer can increase the rigidity of the support portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the printer 1 as seen from the upper left. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the printer 1 as seen from the lower right. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a head unit 4. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1, as viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line CC shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] <Printer 1 Overview> A printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the lower left, upper right, upper left, lower right, upper, and lower in Fig. 1 will be referred to as the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower of the printer 1, respectively.

[0016] 1 can print an image on a medium D based on print data. The medium D is not limited to a specific medium, but may be, for example, a sheet or tape, and in this embodiment is heat-sensitive cut paper.

[0017] The printer 1 includes a case 2. The case 2 is rectangular and is longer left-to-right than it is front-to-back and up-to-down. A battery 10 shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the lower rear of the case 2. The battery 10 supplies power to the printer 1. An input unit 96 is provided near the left end of the top surface of the case 2. The input unit 96 includes a plurality of push buttons.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the case 2 includes a lower cover 21, an upper cover 22, and an opening / closing cover 23. The lower cover 21 is plate-shaped and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The lower cover 21 forms the lower part of the case 2. The detailed shape of the lower cover 21 will be described later. The upper cover 22 opens downward and is attached to the upper side of the lower cover 21. An opening 221 is formed in the upper cover 22. The opening 221 extends from the center in the up-down direction to the upper end on the front surface of the upper cover 22. The opening 221 extends from the front end to the center in the front-rear direction on the top surface of the upper cover 22. The opening 221 extends from near the left end to near the right end of the upper cover 22. Hereinafter, the edge of the upper cover 22 that completely surrounds the opening 221 will be referred to as the surrounding portion 222. The end of the surrounding portion 222 that forms the rear of the opening 221 is referred to as an "opening end 223," and the end of the surrounding portion 222 that forms the lower part of the opening 221 is referred to as an "opening end 224." The detailed shape of the upper cover 22 will be described later.

[0019] The opening / closing cover 23 is plate-shaped and includes a first portion 231 and a second portion 232. The first portion 231 extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The second portion 232 extends downward from the front end of the first portion 231 and also extends in the left-right direction. The opening / closing cover 23 fits into the opening 221. A rear end 233 of the first portion 231 is rotatably supported by the surrounding portion 222 of the upper cover 22. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 23 can open and close the opening 221 by swinging about the rear end 233 of the first portion 231 as an axis.

[0020] The following description will be based on the state in which the opening 221 is closed by the opening cover 23, as shown in Fig. 1. In this case, the rear end 233 of the first part 231 faces the opening edge 223 of the surrounding part 222 with a gap in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, the lower end 234 of the second part 232 faces the opening edge 224 of the surrounding part 222 with a gap in the up-down direction.

[0021] An insertion slot 24 is formed on the top surface of the case 2. The insertion slot 24 is an opening. The rear end 233 of the opening / closing cover 23 forms the front part of the insertion slot 24. The open end 223 of the surrounding part 222 forms the rear part of the insertion slot 24. In other words, the insertion slot 24 is formed inside the opening 221. The surrounding part 222 surrounds the entire periphery of the insertion slot 24. The medium D is supplied into the case 2 from the insertion slot 24.

[0022] An outlet 25 is formed on the front surface of the case 2. The outlet 25 is an opening. The lower end 234 of the opening / closing cover 23 forms the upper portion of the outlet 25. The open end 224 of the surrounding portion 222 forms the lower portion of the outlet 25. In other words, the outlet 25 is formed inside the opening 221. The surrounding portion 222 surrounds the entire periphery of the outlet 25. After printing on the medium D inside the case 2, it is discharged to the outside of the case 2 through the outlet 25.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the printer 1 has a head unit 4. The head unit 4 is housed in the case 2 and includes a support plate 5, a platen roller 6, a thermal head 7, and a heat sink 8. The support plate 5 includes a lower plate 51, a left plate 52, and a right plate 53. The lower plate 51 is rectangular in plan view and is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-to-back direction. The detailed structure of the lower plate 51 will be described later. The left plate 52 extends upward from the left end of the lower plate 51 and also extends in the front-to-back direction. The right plate 53 extends upward from the right end of the lower plate 51 and also extends in the front-to-back direction. The left plate 52 and right plate 53 face each other in the left-to-right direction.

[0024] The platen roller 6 is located diagonally above the front inside the case 2 (see Figure 3) and extends in the left-right direction. The platen roller 6 has a cylindrical portion 61 and a shaft 62. The cylindrical portion 61 is an elastic body made of rubber or the like. The shaft 62 passes through the cylindrical portion 61 and is fixed to the cylindrical portion 61. A left end 621 of the shaft 62 is supported by the left plate 52. A right end 622 of the shaft 62 is supported by the right plate 53. The platen roller 6 can rotate around the shaft 62.

[0025] The platen roller 6 is connected to a motor 69 via a gear 691 and the like. The motor 69 is fixed to the rear lower part on the right surface of the left plate 52. The gear 691 is supported by the left plate 52 on the left side of the left plate 52. When the motor 69 is driven, it rotates the platen roller 6 via the gear 691.

[0026] 2 and 3, the center of rotation C of the platen roller 6 passes through the center of the shaft 62 and extends in the left-right direction. The platen roller 6 transports the medium D in the transport direction by rotating around the center of rotation C. The transport direction is the direction in which the medium D is transported by the platen roller 6, and is perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0027] The thermal head 7 is provided below the platen roller 6. When the medium D is transported in the transport direction by the rotation of the platen roller 6, the thermal head 7 moves relative to the medium D in the transport direction. In this embodiment, the transport direction extends diagonally upward and diagonally downward toward the rear. Hereinafter, the diagonally upward toward the rear in the transport direction will be referred to as the upstream side, and the diagonally downward toward the front will be referred to as the downstream side. The thermal head 7 includes multiple heating elements 73. Each of the multiple heating elements 73 generates heat when power is applied. The multiple heating elements 73 come into contact with the medium D and generate heat to print on the medium D. The heat sink 8 comes into contact with the thermal head 7 and supports the thermal head 7. The heat sink 8 is plate-shaped and dissipates heat generated by the heat generated by the multiple heating elements 73.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4 , a battery cover 11 is provided on the rear side of the head unit 4. The battery cover 11 is box-shaped with openings on the bottom and rear. The battery cover 11 detachably holds the battery 10 inside. The left surface of the battery cover 11 is fixed to a left plate 52 of the head unit 4. The right surface of the battery cover 11 is fixed to a right plate 53 of the head unit 4.

[0029] 3, the regulating member 3 is provided upstream in the transport direction from the multiple heat generating elements 73 of the thermal head 7, and is located below the insertion opening 24 inside the case 2. The regulating member 3 is plate-shaped and extends in the left-right direction, and also extends diagonally downward and forward from the opening edge 223 of the upper cover 22. The regulating member 3 regulates the transport path R (see FIG. 3) of the medium D.

[0030] <Lower board 51> The lower plate 51 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. The lower plate 51 is a metal member. The lower plate 51 supports a control unit (not shown) that controls the printer 1 from below. The lower plate 51 includes a first plate portion 511, a second plate portion 512, and a third plate portion 513. The first plate portion 511 is a rectangular plate that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from above.

[0031] The first plate portion 511 has teeth 57a and 57b at its rear end. The teeth 57a are provided slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the first plate portion 511. The teeth 57b are provided slightly to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the first plate portion 511. These teeth 57a and 57b are formed so that both the left and right sides of each are recessed forward, with their center portions protruding rearward.

[0032] Two protrusions 591 are provided at the left end of the first plate portion 511. The two protrusions 591 are formed so as to protrude rightward from the right end of the first plate portion 511, respectively. The two protrusions 591 engage with two corresponding holes (not shown) in the right plate 53. Two protrusions 592 are provided at the right end of the first plate portion 511. The two protrusions 592 are formed so as to protrude leftward from the left end of the first plate portion 511, respectively. The two protrusions 592 engage with two corresponding holes (not shown) in the left plate 52. Holes 56 are provided at the right front corner and the left front corner of the first plate portion 511, respectively. Fastening members 81 (see FIG. 4) are inserted through the holes 56.

[0033] The second plate portion 512 is a rectangular plate that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front and extends upward from the front end of the first plate portion 511. The left-right length of the second plate portion 512 is the same as the left-right length of the first plate portion 511. Openings 54a, 54b, and 54c are provided in the first plate portion 511 and the second plate portion 512. The opening 54a is provided in the center of the first plate portion 511 and the second plate portion 512 in the left-right direction. The opening 54b is provided at the right end of the first plate portion 511 and the second plate portion 512 in the left-right direction. The opening 54c is provided at the left end of the first plate portion 511 and the second plate portion 512 in the left-right direction. In other words, the opening 54a is located between the openings 54b and 54c in the left-right direction. The openings 54a, 54b, and 54c have the same shape. The openings 54a, 54b, 54c extend from the front end to the front end of the first plate portion 511. The openings 54a, 54b, 54c extend from the center of the second plate portion 512 in the up-down direction to the bottom end.

[0034] Opening 54a is located between teeth 57a and 57b in the left-right direction. Opening 54b is located between teeth 57a and hole 56 at the right front end of first plate portion 511 in the left-right direction. Opening 54c is located between teeth 57b and hole 56 at the left front end of first plate portion 511 in the left-right direction.

[0035] The third plate portion 513 is a rectangular plate that is long in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view and extends rearward from the left end of the first plate portion 511. The length from the front end of the first plate portion 511 to the rear end of the third plate portion 513 is approximately equal to the length of the left plate 52 and the right plate 53 in the front-to-rear direction. A hole 58 is formed in the rear end of the third plate portion 513. A fastening member 82 (see FIG. 4) is inserted through the hole 58.

[0036] <Lower cover 21> The lower cover 21 is a resin member and is formed by injection molding. As shown in FIG. 7 , the lower cover 21 includes a plate portion 31 and a front edge portion 33. The plate portion 31 is a rectangular plate that is long in the left-right direction in a plan view. The plate portion 31 has a recess 32, protrusions 35a, 35b, and holes 37, 38, and 39. The recess 32 is formed by recessing forward from the rear end of the plate portion 31. The left-right size of the recess 32 is approximately equal to the left-right size of the battery cover 11. The front-rear and left-right size of the recess 32 is approximately equal to the front-rear size of the battery cover 11.

[0037] The protrusions 35a and 35b are provided on the front side of the recess 32. The protrusion 35a is provided slightly to the right of the center of the plate portion 31 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 35b is provided slightly to the left of the center of the plate portion 31 in the left-right direction. In the printer 1, the protrusion 35a is located at a position corresponding to the tooth portion 57a. In the printer 1, the protrusion 35b is located at a position corresponding to the tooth portion 57b. The protrusions 35a and 35b are rectangular parallelepipeds that protrude upward from the top surface of the plate portion 31. The protrusion 35a has a recessed hole 36a. The recessed hole 36a is formed by being recessed rearward from the front surface of the protrusion 35a. The protrusion 35b has a recessed hole 36b. The recessed hole 36b is formed by being recessed rearward from the front surface of the protrusion 35b. In the printer 1, the recessed holes 36a and 36b engage with the teeth 57a and 57b, respectively.

[0038] Holes 37 are provided at the right front end and left front end of plate portion 31. A fastening member 81 is inserted through hole 56. Hole 38 is provided at the right rear end of plate portion 31. In printer 1, hole 38 is located at a position corresponding to hole 58. A fastening member 82 is inserted through hole 38. Hole 39 is provided at the left rear end of plate portion 31. In printer 1, hole 39 is located at a position corresponding to hole 521 (see Figure 4). Hole 521 is provided at the rear end of left plate 52. A fastening member 83 (see Figure 4) is inserted through hole 39.

[0039] The front edge portion 33 is a rectangular plate that is elongated in the left-right direction when viewed from the front and extends upward from the front end of the plate portion 31. The left-right length of the front edge portion 33 is the same as the left-right length of the plate portion 31. The front edge portion 33 has protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c. The protrusion 34a is provided in the center of the front edge portion 33 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 34b is provided at the right end of the front edge portion 33 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 34c is provided at the left end of the front edge portion 33. In the printer 1, the protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c are located at positions corresponding to the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c, respectively. The protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c are formed to protrude upward from the upper end 331 of the front edge portion 33. The protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c have the same shape.

[0040] <Upper cover 22> The upper cover 22 is a resin member and is formed by injection molding. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8, the upper cover 22 includes a front member 26 and an upper member 27. The front member 26 is a plate that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The front surface of the front member 26 forms the front surface of the upper cover 22. The front member 26 is recessed downward from its upper end to form the lower and front portions of the surrounding portion 222.

[0041] The front member 26 has an outer plate 261, an inner plate 262, protrusions 28a, 28b, 28c, and recessed holes 29a, 29b, 29c. The outer plate 261 is provided in front of the inner plate 262. The outer plate 261 and the inner plate 262 are U-shaped plates that are long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The length of the outer plate 261 in the up-down direction is longer than the length of the inner plate 262 in the up-down direction. The position of the upper end of the outer plate 261 is approximately equal to the position of the upper end of the inner plate 262 in the up-down direction. In other words, the position of the lower end of the outer plate 261 is lower than the position of the lower end of the inner plate 262 in the up-down direction (see FIG. 8).

[0042] The protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c are provided on the rear side of the lower end of the inner plate 262. The protrusion 28a is provided in the center of the front member 26 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 28b is provided at the right end of the front member 26 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 28c is provided at the left end of the front member 26. In the printer 1, the protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c are located at positions corresponding to the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c, respectively. The protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c are formed to protrude rearward from the lower end of the rear surface of the inner plate 262. The lower ends of the protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c are positioned at the same level as the lower end of the inner plate 262 in the up-down direction. The protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c have the same shape as one another.

[0043] The recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c are provided on the lower surface of the inner plate 262 and on the lower surfaces of the protruding portions 28a, 28b, and 28c. That is, the recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c are located at the same positions as the protruding portions 28a, 28b, and 28c in the left-right direction. The recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c are located in positions on the printer 1 that correspond to the protruding portions 34a, 34b, and 34c, respectively. The recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c are recessed upward from the lower surface of the inner plate 262 and the lower surfaces of the protruding portions 28a, 28b, and 28c. The recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c open from the front end of the inner plate 262 to the center in the front-rear direction at the lower ends of the protruding portions 28a, 28b, and 28c. The recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c have the same shape.

[0044] The upper member 27 is a U-shaped plate that is long in the left-right direction in a plan view and extends rearward from the upper end of the front member 26. The upper surface of the upper member 27 forms the upper surface of the upper cover 22. The upper member 27 is recessed rearward from the front end to form the upper and rear portions of the surrounding portion 222.

[0045] The upper member 27 has tubes 271 and 272. The tube 271 extends downward from the right rear end of the lower surface of the upper member 27. The tube 272 extends downward from the left rear end of the lower surface of the upper member 27. The tubes 271 and 272 are cylindrical with axes extending in the vertical direction. The vertical lengths of the tubes 271 and 272 are approximately equal to the vertical length of the front member 26. The tubes 271 and 272 have screw holes formed from the lower surface to the upper side. Fastening members 82 and 83 (see FIG. 4) are fastened to the tubes 271 and 272, respectively.

[0046] <Engagement of the Lower Plate 51, the Lower Cover 21, and the Upper Cover 22> 2 to 4, 9, and 10, the engagement between the lower plate 51, lower cover 21, and upper cover 22 in the printer 1 will be described. The lower plate 51 is fixed in advance to the head unit 4. The lower plate 51 is placed above the upper surface of the plate portion 31, with the recessed holes 36a and 36b engaged with the toothed portions 57a and 57b, respectively (see FIG. 3).

[0047] The upper cover 22 covers the lower cover 21 and the head unit 4 from above. As shown in FIG. 9, the protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c engage with the recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c, respectively. This restricts deformation of the front member 26 of the upper cover 22 in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. In the printer 1, the positions of the upper ends of the protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c are approximately equal to the positions of the upper ends of the recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c in the vertical direction. In the printer 1, the position of the upper end of the front edge portion 33 of the lower cover 21 is approximately equal to the position of the lower end of the outer panel 261 of the upper cover 22 in the vertical direction.

[0048] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the protrusion 28b engages with the opening 54b. Although not shown, the protrusions 28a and 28c engage with the openings 54a and 54c, respectively. This restricts deformation of the front member 26 of the upper cover 22 in the up-down direction. In the printer 1, the positions of the upper ends of the protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c are approximately equal to the positions of the upper ends of the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c in the up-down direction. In the printer 1, the position of the rear end of the inner plate 262 of the upper cover 22 is approximately equal to the position of the front end of the second plate portion 512 in the front-rear direction.

[0049] 2 and 4, fastening members 81 are inserted from below to above through holes 37 and 56. After being inserted through holes 37 and 56, fastening members 81 are fastened to fastening holes provided on the upper side of lower plate 51 of head unit 4. In this way, lower cover 21 and head unit 4 are fixed together via lower plate 51.

[0050] A fastening member 82 is inserted from below upward through the holes 38 and 58. After passing through the holes 38 and 58, the fastening member 82 is fastened to the threaded hole of the tube 271 of the upper cover 22. A fastening member 83 is inserted from below upward through the holes 39 and 521. After passing through the holes 39 and 521, the fastening member 83 is fastened to the threaded hole of the tube 272 of the upper cover 22. In this way, the lower cover 21, the head unit 4, and the upper cover 22 are fixed together.

[0051] <Actions and Effects of This Embodiment> In the printer 1, the case 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the left-right direction. An outlet 25 is formed on the front of the case 2. The printed medium D is discharged from the outlet 25. The outlet 25 is formed inside an opening 221 in the upper cover 22. The opening 221 extends from near the left end to near the right end of the upper cover 22. The edge of the opening 221 in the upper cover 22 is an enclosing portion 222. The enclosing portion 222 surrounds the entire periphery of the outlet 25 in the upper cover 22. An opening end 224 of the enclosing portion 222 forms the lower part of the outlet 25. The upper cover 22 has protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c. The lower plate 51 of the head unit 4 has openings 54a, 54b, and 54c. The lower plate 51 is rectangular in plan view and is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-to-rear direction. The lower plate 51 supports the thermal head 7 via the left plate 52 and the right plate 53. In the printer 1, the protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c engage with the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c, respectively. In the printer 1, the opening edge 224 of the surrounding portion 222, which forms the lower portion of the discharge port 25, regulates the position of the printed medium D. Furthermore, because the printer 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the left-right direction, the case 2 is prone to warping in a direction intersecting the left-right direction. The upper cover 22 is fitted to the lower plate 51 by the protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c provided on the front member 26 engaging with the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c, respectively. Because the resin upper cover 22 engages with the metal lower plate 51, the rigidity of the front member 26 is particularly high. This makes the front member 26, which has the opening edge 224, less likely to warp. Therefore, the printer 1 can suppress variations in the transport path R of the medium D discharged from the discharge port 25.

[0052] In printer 1, upper cover 22 integrally forms the lower part of discharge outlet 25, so there is no mating surface between upper cover 22 and lower cover 21 around discharge outlet 25. Therefore, printer 1 can improve the appearance around discharge outlet 25.

[0053] The lower cover 21 has protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c. The upper cover 22 has recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c. In the printer 1, the protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c engage with the recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c, respectively. In the printer 1, the upper cover 22 engages with the lower cover 21, thereby further increasing its rigidity. Therefore, the printer 1 can suppress variations in the transport path R of the medium D discharged from the discharge port 25. Furthermore, the upper cover 22 and the lower cover 21 engage with each other at the front side of the case 2. Therefore, variations in the mating surfaces between the upper cover 22 and the lower cover 21 at the front side of the case 2 are suppressed, reducing the possibility of the printer 1's appearance being poor.

[0054] The positions of the protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c in the upper cover 22 are the same as the positions of the recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c in the left-right direction. This allows the printer 1 to suppress variations in the transport path R of the medium D discharged from the discharge port 25 with a simple configuration.

[0055] The lower cover 21 and the head unit 4 are fixed together by fastening the fastening member 81 and engaging it with the teeth 57a and 57b of the recessed holes 36a and 36b. The fastening member 81 is inserted through the holes 37 and 56 and fastened to the fastening hole of the head unit 4. The opening 54a is located between the teeth 57a and 57b in the left-right direction. The opening 54b is located between the tooth 57a and the hole 56 at the right front end of the first plate portion 511 in the left-right direction. The opening 54c is located between the tooth 57b and the hole 56 at the left front end of the first plate portion 511 in the left-right direction. When an impact is applied to the printer 1, stress is concentrated in the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c of the lower plate 51 that engage with the upper cover 22. In the printer 1, the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c are sandwiched in the left-right direction at multiple positions where the lower cover 21 and the head unit 4 are fixed. The printer 1 can increase the rigidity of the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c in the lower plate 51 of the head unit 4. This makes it possible to prevent the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c from deforming even when an impact is applied to the printer 1.

[0056] The protrusion 28a is provided in the left-right center of the front member 26. That is, the opening 54a and the protrusion 28a engage in the left-right center of the printer 1. The printer 1 is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear and up-down directions. In the left-right direction, the center of the top cover 22 is more likely to bend than the rest of the top cover 22. Because the opening 54a and the protrusion 28a engage in the left-right center of the printer 1, the printer 1 can suppress variation in the transport path R of the medium D discharged from the discharge opening 25.

[0057] The protrusions 28b and 28c engage with the openings 54b and 54c, respectively. The opening 54b is provided at the right end of the first plate portion 511 and the second plate portion 512 in the left-right direction. The opening 54c is provided at the left end of the first plate portion 511 and the second plate portion 512 in the left-right direction. That is, the openings 54b and 54c engage with the protrusions 28b and 28c at positions sandwiching the left-right center of the printer 1. When an impact is applied to the printer 1, stress is concentrated in the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c of the lower plate 51 that engage with the upper cover 22. If the lower plate 51 only has the opening 54a in the left-right center, stress concentration may cause deformation of the opening 54a when an impact is applied to the printer 1. The lower plate 51 not only engages with the opening 54a and the protrusion 28a at the center of the printer 1 in the left-right direction, but also with the openings 54b and 54c and the protrusions 28b and 28c at positions sandwiching the center of the printer 1 in the left-right direction. This prevents stress applied to the lower plate 51 from concentrating on the opening 54a, but is distributed to the openings 54b and 54c. This prevents the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c from deforming even when an impact is applied to the printer 1.

[0058] The rear ends of the upper cover 22 and the lower cover 21 are fixed to each other by fastening the fastening members 82 and 83 into the threaded holes of the tubes 271 and 272. This reduces variations in the mating surfaces between the upper cover 22 and the lower cover 21 at the rear of the case 2, reducing the possibility of poor appearance of the printer 1. Of the upper cover 22, head unit 4, and lower cover 21, the head unit 4, which has a metal lower plate 51, has the highest rigidity, followed by the upper cover 22, which engages with the lower plate 51 and the lower cover 21. Even if warping occurs, the lower cover 21, which has relatively low rigidity, is fitted to the lower plate 51 by fastening the fastening members 81 and engaging with the teeth 57a and 57b of the recessed holes 36a and 36b, thereby reducing the amount of warping. This reduces the stress generated in the lower cover 21 when the lower cover 21 is fitted to the lower plate 51. Furthermore, since the lower cover 21 is a member that forms the lower surface of the case 2, even if the lower cover 21 warps, the impact on the appearance of the printer 1 is reduced.

[0059] <Modification> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. The shape of the engagement between the upper cover 22 and the lower plate 51 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the upper cover 22 may have recesses instead of the protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c, and the lower plate 51 may have protrusions that engage with the recesses of the upper cover 22 instead of the openings 54a, 54b, and 54c. The shape of the engagement between the upper cover 22 and the lower cover 21 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the upper cover 22 may have protrusions instead of the recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c, and the lower cover 21 may have recesses that engage with the protrusions of the upper cover 22 instead of the protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c. The shape of the engagement between the lower cover 21 and the lower plate 51 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the lower cover 21 may have protrusions instead of the recessed holes 36a and 36b, and the lower plate 51 may have cutouts that engage with the protrusions of the lower cover 21 instead of the toothed portions 57a and 57b.

[0060] The position at which the upper cover 22 engages with the lower plate 51 need only be on the front member 26 of the upper cover 22, and is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the protrusions 28b and 28c may be provided in the same central portion of the front member 26 in the left-right direction as the protrusion 28a. The protrusion 28a may be provided in a portion other than the central portion of the front member 26 in the left-right direction. The protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c do not have to be provided in the same positions as the recessed holes 29a, 29b, and 29c in the left-right direction. The upper cover 22 may engage with the left plate 52 or the right plate 53 of the head unit 4.

[0061] The position at which the lower cover 21 engages with the upper cover 22 does not have to be sandwiched between a plurality of structures that secure the lower cover 21 and the head unit 4 in the left-right direction.

[0062] The position at which the lower plate 51 engages with the lower cover 21 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the front end of the lower plate 51 and the front edge 33 of the lower cover 21 may engage with each other.

[0063] The number of positions at which the upper cover 22 engages with the lower plate 51 is not limited to three, and may be one, or any number of positions equal to or greater than two. The number of positions at which the upper cover 22 engages with the lower plate 51 does not have to match the number of positions at which the upper cover 22 engages with the lower cover 21. For example, the upper cover 22 and the lower plate 51 may engage with each other at three positions, and the upper cover 22 and the lower cover 21 may engage with each other at two positions.

[0064] <Other> In the above embodiment, the thermal head 7 is an example of a "print head" of the present invention. The left-right direction is an example of a "longitudinal direction" of the present invention. The lower plate 51 is an example of a "support portion" of the present invention. The discharge port 25 is an example of an "discharge port" of the present invention. The upper cover 22 is an example of a "cover portion" of the present invention. The surrounding portion 222 is an example of a "surrounding portion" of the present invention. The opening edge 224 is an example of a "long edge portion" of the present invention. The openings 54a, 54b, and 54c are an example of an "engaging portion" of the present invention. The protrusions 28a, 28b, and 28c are an example of an "engaged portion" of the present invention. The lower cover 21 is an example of a "second cover portion" of the present invention. The protrusions 34a, 34b, and 34c are an example of a "second engaging portion" of the present invention. The recesses 29a, 29b, and 29c are an example of a "second engaged portion" of the present invention. The hole 56 and the tooth portions 57a and 57b are an example of a "fixing portion" of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1. Printer 2. Case 4 Head Unit 4 21 Lower cover 22 Upper cover 25 Outlet 28a, 28b, 28c convex parts 29a, 29b, 29c recessed hole 34a, 34b, 34c convex parts 36a, 36b recessed hole 51 Lower plate 54a, 54b, 54c opening 56 holes 57a, 57b Teeth 221 Opening 222 Surrounding part 224 Open End

Claims

1. a print head for printing on a medium; a support portion extending in the longitudinal direction and supporting the print head; an outlet extending in the longitudinal direction and through which the medium printed by the print head is discharged; a cover portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and covers the print head and the support portion, the cover portion includes a surrounding portion extending in the longitudinal direction and surrounding the entire periphery of the outlet, a long edge portion of the surrounding portion extending in the long direction forms at least a part of the discharge port; The printer is characterized in that the cover portion has an engaged portion that engages with an engaging portion provided on the support portion.

2. a second cover portion that covers the support portion together with the cover portion; The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion includes a second engaged portion that engages with a second engaging portion provided on the second cover portion.

3. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the engaged portion and the second engaged portion are located at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion.

4. 4. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is located at a position where the supporting portion is sandwiched between a plurality of fixing portions that fix the supporting portion to the second cover portion.

5. 5. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion at a central portion of the cover portion in the longitudinal direction.

6. The printer according to claim 5 , wherein the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion at a position sandwiching the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion.

Images