printer

Abstract

To provide a printer capable of achieving both good operability and reliable roll sheet guidance while simplifying a holder configuration.SOLUTION: Provided is a printer having a holder rotatably supporting a roll-shaped printing medium, and a printing part which performs printing on the roll-shaped medium delivered from the holder, and the holder comprises: a shaft member to be inserted into a support hole formed in an axial direction of the roll-shaped printing medium; a movement member slidably disposed in the axial direction with respect to the shaft member, and having a guide member that can be raised and lowered with respect to the shaft member; an energizing member that presses and connects the shaft member and the movement member and regulates slide movement of the movement member to the shaft member; and an adjustment member which makes larger contact pressure between the shaft member and the movement member by the energizing member in a raised state of the guide member than in a lowered state thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0005] ,

[0004] , , , ,

[0003]

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to printers.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, printers that print on a printing medium wound in a roll (hereinafter also referred to as "roll paper") are known. For example, in a label printer that prints on a backing sheet with a plurality of labels attached at predetermined intervals, printing is performed on the surface of the label by feeding the wound backing sheet to the printing unit. Roll paper has a backing sheet to which labels are attached and a roll support, also called a paper tube, around which the backing sheet is wound.

[0003] In this type of printer, a printer provided with a holder that rotatably supports roll paper and guides it so that the roll paper does not move in the width direction has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). The holder has a support shaft through which the paper tube of the roll paper is inserted and a guide provided on the support shaft so as to be able to be tilted. The guide is in a lying state when the support shaft is inserted through the paper tube to allow the insertion of the support shaft into the paper tube, and becomes upright after the support shaft has been inserted through the paper tube to guide the width direction of the roll paper. Further, the guide is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction (the width direction of the roll paper) with respect to the support shaft so that it can be guided according to the width of the roll paper used.

[0004] It is desirable that the guide has a small braking force with respect to the shaft member so that the user can easily align it in the lying state. Further, it is desirable that the guide has a large braking force with respect to the shaft member so that the roll paper can be reliably guided in the upright state. ​​Conventional printer holders sometimes employ a simple structure where a spring presses a support shaft against a guide, applying braking force to the guide to restrict its movement. However, in this case, the braking force applied to the guide is the same whether the printer is in a reclined or upright position, resulting in a trade-off between improved user operability in the reclined position and reliable roll paper guiding in the upright position. Therefore, there is a need to simplify the structure of the roll paper holder while simultaneously achieving both good operability and reliable roll paper guiding. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a printer that can simplify the holder configuration while simultaneously achieving good operability and reliable roll paper guiding. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The printer of the embodiment comprises a holder that rotatably supports a roll of printing medium, and a printing unit that prints on the roll of printing medium unwound from the holder, wherein the holder comprises a shaft member inserted into a support hole formed in the axial direction of the roll of printing medium, a movable member provided slidably in the axial direction relative to the shaft member and having a guide member that can be raised and lowered relative to the shaft member, a biasing member that presses the shaft member and the movable member together to restrict the sliding movement of the movable member relative to the shaft member, and an adjustment member that increases the pressure force between the shaft member and the movable member by the biasing member when the guide member is raised compared to when it is lowered. The adjustment member has a biasing member support portion that supports the biasing member, a pressure contact portion that is biased by the biasing member and presses against the shaft member, and a guide member support portion that supports the guide member so that it can be raised and lowered, and the guide member has a pressing portion that presses the adjustment member in a direction that compresses the biasing member in response to the upright movement relative to the shaft member, , The guide member support portion has a pressing portion that holds down a connecting shaft portion that connects the guide member so that it can be raised and lowered, and the pressing portion moves between the connecting shaft portion and the pressing portion in response to the raising movement of the shaft member and presses the adjustment member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a label printer according to this embodiment. [Figure 2]Figure 2 shows the first state when setting roll paper in the label printer according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the second state when setting roll paper in the label printer according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the third state in the label printer according to this embodiment, when a roll of paper is set. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows the main parts of the label printer holder according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the external appearance of the holder in the label printer according to the embodiment when the guide member is in a folded-down state. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the external appearance of the holder in the label printer according to this embodiment when the guide member is in an upright position. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the label printer holder according to the embodiment, showing the guide member in a reclined state. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the label printer holder according to the embodiment, showing the state in which the guide member is in the process of transitioning from a reclined state to an upright state. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the label printer holder according to the embodiment, showing the guide member in an upright position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The printer of the embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. For example, in this embodiment, a label printer that prints on labels will be described, but it is not limited to this. Any printer that prints on a roll-shaped printing medium will suffice.

[0010] First, let's describe the general configuration of the label printer. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the label printer according to this embodiment.

[0011] The label printer 1 houses a roll of label paper LP wound into a roll inside the housing 2. The roll of label paper RP is rotatably supported by a holder 30 (see Figure 2, etc.), which will be described later. The roll of label paper RP is an example of a roll-type printing medium. Multiple labels are attached to a long backing sheet at predetermined intervals on the label paper LP. The label printer 1 prints on the labels while pulling the label paper LP from the roll of label paper RP.

[0012] The label printer 1 includes, inside the housing 2, a transport roller 11, a platen roller 12, a print head 13, a label-to-label detection sensor 14, a peel guide 15, a winding roller 16, and a peel detection sensor 17. The label printer 1 also includes, inside the housing 2, a ribbon holding shaft 21, a ribbon winding shaft 22, and a guide shaft 23.

[0013] The transport roller 11 has a capstan roller 111 and two auxiliary rollers 112. The label paper LP drawn from the roll paper RP is inserted between the capstan roller 111 and the auxiliary rollers 112. The platen roller 12 is positioned opposite the print head 13. The label paper LP is inserted between the platen roller 12 and the print head 13.

[0014] The capstan roller 111 and platen roller 12 are rotationally driven by a first drive motor (not shown). For example, when printing on label paper LP, the first drive motor rotates the capstan roller 111 and platen roller 12 counterclockwise in the figure, transporting the label paper LP toward the discharge port 3. After printing on the label is complete, the first drive motor rotates the capstan roller 111 and platen roller 12 clockwise in the figure, transporting the label paper LP in the reverse direction to return it to the printing start position for the next label.

[0015] The printing head 13 is an example of a printing unit that prints on a roll-shaped printing medium fed out from the holder 30. The printing head 13 of the present embodiment is a thermal head having a structure in which a plurality of heating elements are aligned. The printing head 13 performs printing on the label of the label paper LP sandwiched between the platen roller 12 and the printing head 13 by causing the heating element corresponding to the printing pattern to generate heat.

[0016] Specifically, an ink ribbon IR is inserted between the platen roller 12 and the printing head 13. The ink applied to the ink ribbon IR is transferred to the label of the label paper LP by the heated printing head 13.

[0017] The ink ribbon IR is suspended between the ribbon holding shaft 21 and the ribbon take-up shaft 22. The ribbon holding shaft 21 winds the unused ink ribbon IR in a roll shape. The ribbon take-up shaft 22 is a shaft for taking up the ink ribbon IR. Further, the guide shaft 23 is a guide member for guiding the ink ribbon IR suspended between the ribbon holding shaft 21 and the ribbon take-up shaft 22 to a predetermined position. The ribbon take-up shaft 22 is rotationally driven clockwise in the figure by a second drive motor (not shown) when printing the label paper LP, and takes up the ink ribbon IR.

[0018] Note that the printing head 13 moves up and down by a moving mechanism such as a solenoid (not shown). As a result, in the label printer 1, it is possible to switch between a state in which the printing head 13 is pressed against the platen roller 12 via the ink ribbon IR and the label paper LP, and a non-pressed state in which the printing head 13 is separated from the platen roller 12. The printing head 13 is pressed against the platen roller 12 via the ink ribbon IR when printing the label paper LP. Further, the ribbon take-up shaft 22 takes up the ink ribbon IR at a speed corresponding to the conveyance speed of the label paper LP while printing is being performed, and stops taking up when the printing head 13 is in the non-pressed state.

[0019] The inter-label detection sensor 14 is provided in the conveyance path of the label paper LP between the conveyance roller 11 and the platen roller 12. The inter-label detection sensor 14 detects the gap between labels (hereinafter, also referred to as "label gap") from the label paper LP. For example, the inter-label detection sensor 14 can be realized by a transmissive sensor composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The inter-label detection sensor 14 detects the label gap based on the light-receiving level of the light-receiving element when the label paper LP is being conveyed.

[0020] The label printer 1 determines the position of the label from the position of the label gap detected by the inter-label detection sensor 14, and performs position adjustment such as positioning the label at the printing start position of the print head 13, adjustment of the printing timing, and the like.

[0021] The label paper LP after printing is separated into a backing sheet and a label at the peeling guide 15. The peeling guide 15 is formed in a V shape having two surfaces that intersect at an acute angle with each other. The peeling guide 15 bends the label paper LP conveyed toward the discharge port 3 to peel the backing sheet and the label. The backing sheet from which the label has been peeled is wound up by the take-up roller 16, while the label peeled from the backing sheet is discharged (issued) from the discharge port 3 provided in the housing 2.

[0022] The take-up roller 16 winds up the backing sheet from which the label has been peeled. The take-up roller 16 is rotationally driven by a third drive motor (not shown). For example, when printing the label paper LP, the third drive motor rotates the take-up roller 16 counterclockwise in the figure to wind up the backing sheet (label paper LP) from which the label has been peeled onto the take-up roller 16.

[0023] The peeling detection sensor 17 is installed near the discharge port 3 and detects the presence or absence of a label peeled from the backing sheet. The peeling detection sensor 17 can be realized, for example, by a transmissive sensor composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element.

[0024] When the peel detection sensor 17 detects a label, the label printer 1 temporarily stops transporting and printing the label paper LP. Then, when the user removes the label from the output port 3, the peel detection sensor 17 detects that the label is no longer present. If the peel detection sensor 17 detects that the label is no longer present, the label printer 1 resumes transporting and printing the label paper LP.

[0025] Specifically, when the label printer 1 resumes printing, it transports a predetermined amount of label paper LP in the opposite direction to the transport direction during printing in order to return the label following the peeled label to the print head 13's print start position. Once the transport in the reverse direction is complete, the label printer 1 prints the next label and issues the completed label from the output port 3.

[0026] Next, the method for setting the roll paper RP into the label printer 1 will be described. Figure 2 shows the first state when setting the roll paper RP. The first state is the state before the roll paper RP is supported by the holder 30. The housing 2 of the label printer 1 is provided with the holder 30 and the damper roller 40.

[0027] The holder 30 comprises a shaft member 31 and a movable member 32 slidably mounted relative to the shaft member 31. The shaft member 31 is attached to the housing 2 by a cantilever support structure, with one end of the shaft member 31 attached to the housing 2 in the axial direction. The movable member 32 is slidably mounted relative to the shaft member 31 in the axial direction. The movable member 32 also includes a guide member 33 that can be raised and lowered relative to the shaft member 31. Further details of the structure of the holder 30 will be described later.

[0028] The damper roller 40 is attached to the housing 2 by a cantilever support structure, similar to the shaft member 31, with one end in the axial direction attached to the housing 2. The damper roller 40 reduces the impact applied to the roll paper RP at the moment the label paper LP is no longer slack during printing by gripping the label paper LP that has been pulled out from the roll paper RP. Specifically, when the first drive motor is driven and the label paper LP is transported while the label paper LP is slack, the damper roller 40 reduces the impact applied to the roll paper RP at the moment the slack in the label paper LP is eliminated.

[0029] To support the roll paper RP in the holder 30, as shown in Figure 2, the user places the guide member 33 in a tilted position relative to the shaft member 31 (hereinafter also referred to as the "tilted state"). That is, the user places the guide member 33 in a state where it extends axially along the upper surface of the shaft member 31.

[0030] Next, in Figure 2, the user moves the roll of paper RP in the direction of the arrow, inserting the shaft member 31 and the guide member 33 through the support hole H (hole in the paper core) formed in the axial direction of the roll of paper RP. This supports the roll of paper RP in the holder 30. More specifically, the inner surface of the paper core of the roll of paper RP rests on the shaft member 31. At this point, the user pulls the label paper LP from the roll of paper RP and places it over the damper roller 40.

[0031] Figure 3 shows the second state when setting the roll paper RP. In the second state, the roll paper RP is supported by the holder 30 as described above. In the second state, the roll paper RP is not positioned in the axial direction of the shaft member 31 (the width direction of the roll paper RP). In Figure 3, the user slides the guide member 33 in the direction of the arrow until one end of the guide member 33 contacts the roll paper RP. This positions the guide member 33 in the axial direction of the shaft member 31 at a position corresponding to the width of the roll paper RP.

[0032] Figure 4 shows the third state when setting the roll paper RP. The third state is when the roll paper RP is set in the holder 30. After the guide member 33 is positioned, the user can set the roll paper RP in the holder 30 by raising the guide member 33 to an upright position relative to the shaft member 31 (hereinafter also referred to as the "upright state"). The user can raise the guide member 33 to an upright position relative to the shaft member 31 by rotating the other end (tip) of the guide member 33 in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 4.

[0033] In the third state shown in Figure 4, the holder 30 can rotatably support the roll of paper RP by having the shaft member 31 support the paper core of the roll of paper RP. Furthermore, the holder 30 can guide the roll of paper RP to not move in the axial direction by having the guide member 33 abut against the end face of the roll of paper RP in the width direction. In other words, the holder 30 can rotatably support the roll of paper RP and restrict its axial movement.

[0034] Next, the structure of the holder 30 will be described in detail. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the main parts of the holder 30. Note that Figure 5 shows the holder 30 with some parts omitted to make the structure of the holder 30 easier to understand. The holder 30 has a shaft member 31, a moving member 32 equipped with a guide member 33 and an adjustment member 34, and a coil spring 35. The coil spring 35 is an example of a biasing member.

[0035] As described above, one end of the shaft member 31 is cantilevered to the housing 2 in the axial direction. The shaft member 31 has a guide hole 311 of a predetermined length formed along the axial direction. The guide hole 311 penetrates the shaft member 31 in the vertical direction in Figure 5. A movable member 32 is inserted through the guide hole 311. The movable member 32 is guided by the guide hole 311 and is able to slide in the axial direction of the shaft member 31.

[0036] The movable member 32 comprises a guide member 33 and an adjustment member 34. The movable member 32 also includes a connecting shaft portion 321 that pivotally supports the guide member 33 relative to the adjustment member 34.

[0037] The guide member 33 is formed in a flat plate shape. When the roll paper RP is set, the guide member 33 is in an upright position relative to the shaft member 31. In the upright position, the guide member 33 has a plurality of recesses 331 on the inner surface facing the roll paper RP. The guide member 33 also has a flat surface on the outer surface that does not face the roll paper RP in the upright position. The plurality of recesses 331 are formed between a plurality of ribs 332. As a result, the guide member 33 has sufficient strength and reduces the contact area with the rotating roll paper RP, allowing the roll paper RP to rotate smoothly.

[0038] The guide member 33 is provided so as to be able to be raised and lowered relative to the shaft member 31. Specifically, the guide member 33 is rotatably supported on the connecting shaft portion 321, thereby enabling it to be raised and lowered relative to the shaft member 31.

[0039] The guide member 33 includes a pivot support portion 333 that slides against approximately half of the outer circumferential surface of the connecting shaft portion 321. The guide member 33 is rotatably supported on the connecting shaft portion 321 by the sliding of the pivot support portion 333 along the outer circumferential surface of the connecting shaft portion 321. The pivot support portion 333 has a pressing portion 3331 that, when the guide member 33 is in an upright position, fits between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the pressing portion 3441 formed on the adjustment member 34 and presses the pressing portion 3441 upward. Details of the pressing portion 3441 will be described later.

[0040] The pressing portion 3331 does not enter between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the pressing portion 3441 when the guide member 33 is in a reclined state, but enters between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the pressing portion 3441 as the guide member 33 moves upright. The tip portion 3332 of the pressing portion 3331 is tapered to facilitate entry between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the pressing portion 3441 as the guide member 33 moves upright.

[0041] The adjustment member 34 comprises a spring receiving portion 341, a columnar portion 342, a washer 343, and a connecting portion 344.

[0042] The spring receiving portion 341 is formed in a flat plate shape at the lower end of the adjustment member 34. The spring receiving portion 341 abuts against the lower end of the coil spring 35. The columnar portion 342 is provided projecting upward from the spring receiving portion 341. The columnar portion 342 passes through the center of the coil spring 35. The spring receiving portion 341 and the columnar portion 342 constitute the biasing member support portion.

[0043] The washer 343 is formed in a disc shape, with a central hole formed in its center through which the columnar portion 342 is inserted. The diameter of the central hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the coil spring 35, and the lower surface of the washer 343 is in contact with the coil spring 35. In other words, the coil spring 35 is held in a compressed state by the spring receiving portion 341 and the washer 343.

[0044] The upper surface of the washer 343 is in contact with the shaft member 31. That is, the washer 343 is biased by the coil spring 35 and presses against the shaft member 31. The washer 343 is an example of a pressure contact portion that is biased by a biasing member and presses against the shaft member 31.

[0045] The connecting portion 344 is provided projecting upward from the columnar portion 342 and passes through the guide hole 311. The connecting portion 344 has a flat plate-shaped pressing portion 3441 at its upper end. The pressing portion 3441 presses against the upper part of the connecting shaft portion 321 when the guide member 33 is in a fallen position. Also, when the guide member 33 is in an upright position, the pressing portion 3441 is pressed upward by the pressing portion 3331.

[0046] The guide member 33 is rotatably supported relative to the adjustment member 34 by the connecting portion 344 and the connecting shaft portion 321. As a result, the guide member 33 is tiltably supported relative to the shaft member 31 by the connecting portion 344 and the connecting shaft portion 321. The connecting portion 344 and the connecting shaft portion 321 constitute a guide member support portion that supports the guide member 33 in a tiltable manner.

[0047] Figure 6 shows the external appearance of the holder 30 when the guide member 33 is in a tilted position. A portion of the planar outer surface of the guide member 33 rests on the upper surface of the shaft member 31. The guide member 33 is maintained in a horizontal position together with the shaft member 31. The bottom surface 334 of the guide member 33 is perpendicular to the upper surface of the shaft member 31.

[0048] The width of the guide member 33 (length in the direction perpendicular to the axial and horizontal directions of the shaft member 31) is approximately the same as the width of the shaft member 31. The width of the guide member 33 and the width of the shaft member 31 are smaller than the diameter of the support hole H formed in the axial direction of the roll paper RP. In addition, the sum of the thickness of the guide member 33 (length in the direction perpendicular to the axial and vertical directions of the shaft member 31) and the thickness of the guide member 33 is also smaller than the diameter of the support hole H formed in the axial direction of the roll paper RP. Therefore, when the guide member 33 is in a collapsed state, the guide member 33 and the shaft member 31 can be inserted into the support hole H of the roll paper RP.

[0049] Figure 7 shows the external appearance of the holder 30 when the guide member 33 is in an upright position. The bottom surface 334 of the guide member 33 is in surface contact with the top surface of the shaft member 31, maintaining the upright position of the guide member 33.

[0050] Next, the upright movement of the guide member 33 relative to the shaft member 31 will be described. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the holder 30, showing the guide member 33 in a reclined state. In this state, the lower part of the connecting shaft portion 321 is in contact with the arc-shaped surface of the shaft support portion 333 of the guide member 33. The upper part of the connecting shaft portion 321 is in contact with the pressing portion 3441 of the adjustment member 34.

[0051] In this state, the pressing portion 3331 of the guide member 33 is not inserted between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the retaining portion 3441 of the adjustment member 34. Therefore, the pressing portion 3331 does not push the retaining portion 3441 upward, and the spring receiving portion 341 does not move upward either. In this state, the spring length of the coil spring 35 is La.

[0052] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the holder 30, showing the guide member 33 in the process of transitioning from a reclined state to an upright state. When the user raises the guide member 33, they rotate the guide member 33 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. As a result, the arc-shaped surface formed on the outer circumference of the pivot portion 333 of the guide member 33 slides against the upper surface of the shaft member 31. This allows the user to raise the guide member 33 smoothly.

[0053] As the guide member 33 rises from a fallen position, the tip 3332 of the pressing portion 3331 in the direction of rotation fits between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the retaining portion 3441 of the adjustment member 34. At this time, the lower surface of the retaining portion 3441 is flat, and a gap is formed between it and the outer surface of the cylindrical connecting shaft portion 321. In addition, the tip 3332 of the pressing portion 3331 in the direction of rotation is tapered. For this reason, the pressing portion 3331 can smoothly fit between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the retaining portion 3441 in accordance with the rising movement of the guide member 33.

[0054] The pressing portion 3331 moves the pressing portion 3441 upward against the biasing force of the coil spring 35 by fitting between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the retaining portion 3441. The user rotates the guide member 33 in the direction of the arrow until the flat bottom surface 334 of the guide member 33 makes surface contact with the upper surface of the shaft member 31.

[0055] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the holder 30, showing the guide member 33 in an upright position. In this state, the bottom surface 334 of the guide member 33 and the top surface of the shaft member 31, which are both planar, are in surface contact. This allows the guide member 33 to maintain a stable upright position.

[0056] In this state, the pressing portion 3331 of the guide member 33 is positioned between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the retaining portion 3441 of the adjustment member 34. As a result, the pressing portion 3331 pushes the retaining portion 3441 upward against the biasing force of the coil spring 35. When the retaining portion 3441 is pushed upward, the spring receiving portion 341, which is integrally formed with the retaining portion 3441, is also pushed upward. As a result, the coil spring 35 is compressed and its spring length becomes Lb.

[0057] The spring length Lb of the coil spring 35 when the guide member 33 shown in Figure 10 is in the upright position is shorter than the spring length La when the guide member 33 is in the downed position shown in Figure 8. In other words, the amount of compression of the coil spring 35 is greater when the guide member 33 is in the upright position than when the guide member 33 is in the downed position.

[0058] Therefore, the holder 30 can increase the pressure force between the washer 343 and the shaft member 31 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 35 when the guide member 33 is upright compared to when it is down. In other words, the holder 30 can increase the braking force of the sliding movement of the moving member 32, which is composed of the guide member 33 and the adjustment member 34, relative to the shaft member 31 when the guide member 33 is upright compared to when it is down.

[0059] Therefore, when a user sets a roll of paper RP into the holder 30, the operating force required to adjust the guide member 33 to the width of the roll of paper RP can be reduced, thus improving the user's operability of the holder 30. In addition, when the roll of paper RP is set, the braking force against the sliding movement of the upright guide member 33 can be increased, so that the holder 30 can reliably guide the roll of paper RP.

[0060] In other words, the holder 30 of this embodiment has a simple structure in which a single coil spring 35 applies a braking force to the sliding movement of the guide member 33, yet it can reduce the braking force when the guide member 33 is in a down position and increase it when it is in an upright position. As a result, the holder 30 can achieve both improved user operability and reliable guidance of the roll paper RP.

[0061] As described above, the label printer 1 of this embodiment is a printer having a holder 30 that rotatably supports a roll of paper RP, and a print head 13 that prints on the roll of paper RP when it is unfurled from the holder 30, wherein the holder 30 includes a shaft member 31 that is inserted into a support hole H formed in the axial direction of the roll of paper RP, a movable member 32 that is slidably provided with respect to the shaft member 31 in the axial direction and has a guide member 33 that can be raised and lowered relative to the shaft member, a coil spring 35 that presses the shaft member 31 and the movable member 32 together to restrict the sliding movement of the movable member 32 relative to the shaft member 31, and an adjustment member 34 that increases the pressure force between the shaft member 31 and the movable member 32 by the coil spring 35 when the guide member 33 is raised compared to when it is lowered.

[0062] As a result, by adopting a structure in which a coil spring 35 provides braking force to the sliding movement of the guide member 33, the label printer 1 can simplify the structure of the holder 30. Furthermore, the label printer 1 can reduce the braking force provided by the coil spring 35 when the guide member 33 is in a reclined state and increase it when it is in an upright state, thereby achieving both improved user operability and reliable guidance of the roll paper RP.

[0063] Furthermore, in the label printer 1 of this embodiment, the adjustment member 34 includes a biasing member support portion (spring receiving portion 341 and columnar portion 342) that supports the coil spring 35, a washer 343 that is biased by the coil spring 35 and presses against the shaft member 31, and a guide member support portion (connecting portion 344 and connecting shaft portion 321) that supports the guide member 33 so that it can be raised and lowered.

[0064] As a result, the label printer 1 can reduce the braking force of the coil spring 35 when the guide member 33 is in the down position and increase it when it is in the upright position, without complicating the structure that supports the guide member 33 so that it can be tilted up or down, or the structure that supports the coil spring 35.

[0065] Furthermore, in the label printer 1 of this embodiment, the guide member 33 is equipped with a pressing portion 3331 that presses the adjustment member 34 in a direction that compresses the coil spring 35 in response to the upright movement relative to the shaft member 31.

[0066] In addition, in the label printer 1 of this embodiment, the guide member support portion (connecting portion 344 and connecting shaft portion 321) includes a pressing portion 3441 that presses down on the connecting shaft portion 321 which connects the guide member 33 so that it can be raised and lowered, and the pressing portion 3331 moves between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the pressing portion 3441 in response to the raising movement of the shaft member 31 and presses down on the adjustment member 34.

[0067] This allows the label printer 1 to change the braking force of the coil spring 35 in conjunction with the upright movement of the guide member 33.

[0068] Furthermore, in the label printer 1 of this embodiment, the pressing portion 3331 has a tapered tip portion 3332 that can be inserted between the connecting shaft portion 321 and the pressing portion 3441.

[0069] This allows the label printer 1 to smoothly perform the upright movement of the guide member 33 for changing the braking force by the coil spring 35.

[0070] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments and their variations can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1. Label printer (printer) 13. Print head (printing section) 30 holders 31 Shaft member 32 Moving member 33 Guide member 34 Adjustment Member 35. Coil spring (biasing member) 321 Connecting shaft section (guide member support section) 341 Spring support section (biasing member support section) 342 Columnar section (support section for biasing member) 344 Connecting section (guide member support section) 3331 Pressing part 3332 Tip 3441 Retaining part [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0072] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-126229

Claims

1. A holder that rotatably supports a roll of printing media, A printing unit that prints on the roll-shaped printing medium unwound from the holder, A printer having, The aforementioned holder is, A shaft member inserted into a support hole formed in the axial direction of the roll-shaped printing medium, A movable member having a guide member that is slidably mounted in the axial direction relative to the shaft member and is foldable relative to the shaft member, A biasing member that presses the shaft member and the moving member together to restrict the sliding movement of the moving member relative to the shaft member, An adjustment member that increases the pressure force between the shaft member and the moving member by the biasing member when the guide member is upright compared to when it is in a downed state, Equipped with, The adjustment member has a biasing member support portion that supports the biasing member, a pressure contact portion that is biased by the biasing member and presses against the shaft member, and a guide member support portion that supports the guide member so that it can be raised and lowered. The guide member has a pressing portion that presses the adjustment member in a direction that compresses the biasing member in response to the upright movement relative to the shaft member, The guide member support portion has a pressing portion that holds down the connecting shaft portion that connects the guide member so that it can be raised and lowered, The pressing portion is a printer that, in response to the upright movement of the shaft member, moves between the connecting shaft portion and the pressing portion to press the adjustment member.

2. The pressing portion has a tapered tip that can be inserted between the connecting shaft portion and the pressing portion. The printer according to claim 1.

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