printer

Abstract

To enhance mounting strength of a connector mounted on a substrate.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a substrate unit having a substrate to which a connector to which an external device is connected is attached to an edge portion and a holder attached to a mounting surface to which the connector of the substrate is attached; and a printer housing to which the substrate unit is attached. The printer housing has a first contact portion and a second contact portion that are in contact with the substrate unit. The first contact portion is in contact with at least a part of a region corresponding to a region of the substrate to which the connector is attached, on one surface of the substrate unit. The second contact portion is in contact with at least a part of a region corresponding to the region of the substrate to which the connector is attached, on the other surface of the substrate unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device including a substrate unit having a first substrate, a second substrate, and a substrate holder to which the first substrate and the second substrate are attached.

[0003] In the electronic device described in Patent Document 1, the first substrate and the second substrate are attached to the substrate holder with the mounting surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate facing each other. Windows for interface connection ports such as USB and windows for battery connection ports are formed in the substrate holder.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the electronic device described in Patent Document 1, when a USB terminal or a battery terminal is inserted into or removed from a connector such as an interface connection port or a battery connection port mounted on a substrate, a force in a direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction of the terminal may be applied to the connector.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to increase the attachment strength of connectors mounted on a substrate in a printer.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a printer is provided comprising: a substrate unit having a substrate on which a connector for connecting an external device is attached to its edge; a holder attached to the mounting surface of the substrate on which the connector is attached; and a printer housing to which the substrate unit is attached, wherein the printer housing has a first contact portion and a second contact portion provided on the printer housing and in contact with the substrate unit, the first contact portion in contact with at least a portion of the area on one surface of the substrate unit corresponding to the area on the substrate on which the connector is attached; and the second contact portion in contact with at least a portion of the area on the other surface of the substrate unit corresponding to the area on the substrate on which the connector is attached. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this embodiment, on one surface of the substrate unit, a first contact portion provided on the printer housing contacts at least a portion of the area corresponding to the area on the substrate where the connector is attached, and on the other surface of the substrate unit, a second contact portion contacts at least a portion of the area corresponding to the area on the substrate where the connector is attached, thereby restricting the movement of the substrate unit in the thickness direction.

[0009] Therefore, when terminals are inserted into or removed from the connector, vibration of the circuit board unit in the direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction of the terminals, i.e., in the thickness direction of the circuit board unit, can be suppressed. This also prevents vibration of the connector attached to the circuit board relative to the circuit board.

[0010] Therefore, in printers, the mounting strength of connectors mounted on the circuit board can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the printer housing and the circuit board unit attached to the printer housing. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the circuit board unit. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the first substrate that constitutes the substrate unit. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating the inside of the printer enclosure. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of the printer casing. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating the circuit board unit mounted on the printer casing. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the main parts of the circuit board unit attached to the printer casing. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The forms described below are not limited to those shown in the brief description of the drawings.

[0013] A first aspect of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a substrate unit having a substrate on which a connector for connecting an external device is attached to its edge, and a holder attached to the mounting surface of the substrate on which the connector is attached, and a printer housing on which the substrate unit is attached, wherein the printer housing has a first contact portion and a second contact portion provided on the printer housing and in contact with the substrate unit, the first contact portion in contact with at least a portion of the area on one surface of the substrate unit corresponding to the area on the substrate to which the connector is attached, and the second contact portion in contact with at least a portion of the area on the other surface of the substrate unit corresponding to the area on the substrate to which the connector is attached.

[0014] According to a first aspect of an aspect of the present invention, on one surface of a substrate unit, a first abutting portion provided on a printer housing abuts at least a part of a region corresponding to a region where a connector of the substrate is attached, and a second abutting portion abuts at least a part of a region corresponding to a region where the connector of the substrate is attached on the other surface of the substrate unit.

[0015] In the region where the connector is attached, the substrate unit is restricted in its movement in the thickness direction by the first abutting portion abutting on one surface and the second abutting portion abutting on the other surface. Therefore, when the terminal is inserted into and removed from the connector, the deviation of the substrate unit in a direction intersecting the insertion and removal direction of the terminal can be suppressed. Thereby, the deviation of the connector attached to the substrate with respect to the substrate can also be prevented.

[0016] Therefore, according to a first aspect of an aspect of the present invention, in a printer, the attachment strength of a connector mounted on a substrate can be increased.

[0017] A second aspect of an aspect of the present invention is the printer according to the first aspect, wherein the one surface is a surface opposite to the surface on which the connector is attached on the substrate, and the other surface is a surface opposite to the surface on which the mounting surface of the substrate is attached in the holder.

[0018] According to a second aspect of an aspect of the present invention, the first abutting portion abuts on a surface opposite to the surface on which the connector is attached on the substrate, and the second abutting portion abuts on a surface opposite to the surface on which the mounting surface is attached in the holder to which the mounting surface of the substrate is attached.

[0019] Thereby, since the movement of the substrate unit having the substrate and the holder in the thickness direction is restricted, when the terminal is inserted into and removed from the connector, the deviation of the substrate unit in a direction intersecting the insertion and removal direction of the terminal can be suppressed. Thereby, the deviation of the connector attached to the substrate with respect to the substrate can also be prevented.

[0020] Therefore, according to a second aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the mounting strength of a connector mounted on a circuit board can be increased in a printer.

[0021] A third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printer according to the first or second embodiment, wherein the first contact portion comprises a wall portion extending inward from the side surface of the printer housing parallel to the substrate, and a contact end portion extending from the wall portion in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the contact end portion contacting the substrate unit.

[0022] According to a third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the contact end of the first contact portion that contacts the substrate is connected to a wall portion that extends inward from the side of the printer housing parallel to the substrate, thereby increasing the strength when restricting the movement of the substrate unit in the thickness direction of the substrate unit.

[0023] Therefore, according to a third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the mounting strength of a connector mounted on a circuit board can be increased in a printer.

[0024] A fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is the printer according to the third embodiment, wherein the contact end has a tapered shape at the connection portion with the printer housing.

[0025] According to a fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the connection portion to the printer housing is tapered, thereby ensuring the bonding strength between the contact end and the printer housing at the connection portion.

[0026] Therefore, according to a fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the mounting strength of a connector mounted on a circuit board can be increased in a printer.

[0027] A fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printer according to any one of the first to fourth embodiments, further comprising a positioning unit for positioning the substrate unit on the printer housing at the edge opposite to the edge to which the connector is attached.

[0028] According to a fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the substrate unit is positioned on the printer housing at the edge opposite to the edge to which the connector is attached, with the movement of the substrate unit in the thickness direction restricted by the first contact portion and the second contact portion on the edge to which the connector is attached.

[0029] Therefore, according to a fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the mounting strength of a connector mounted on a circuit board can be increased in a printer.

[0030] A sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is the printer according to the fifth embodiment, wherein the positioning portion is composed of a pair of support walls that support one side and the other side of the substrate unit.

[0031] According to a sixth aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, the substrate unit is positioned by being sandwiched between a pair of support walls.

[0032] Therefore, according to a sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the mounting strength of a connector mounted on a circuit board can be increased in a printer.

[0033] A seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printer according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein the connector comprises a connecting portion for electrically connecting the connector to a circuit formed on the substrate, and a plurality of legs for fixing the connector to the substrate separately from the connecting portion.

[0034] According to a seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the connector is fixed to the substrate by a plurality of legs separate from the connecting portion.

[0035] Therefore, according to a seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the mounting strength of a connector mounted on a circuit board can be increased in a printer.

[0036] An eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printer according to the seventh embodiment, wherein the connector conforms to USB Type-C.

[0037] According to an eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, since the connector conforms to USB Type-C, a single connector is equipped with both power supply lines and signal lines, eliminating the need to provide terminals for electrically connecting to external devices and terminals for supplying electrodes.

[0038] [Printer] Hereinafter, a printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0039] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of a printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the printer housing 2 and the circuit board unit 4 attached to the printer housing 2 in the printer 1.

[0040] Printer 1 is a thermal printer that prints by pressing and clamping the printing medium between a thermal head and a platen roller and using heat. It is a portable printer that can be carried and used by the user.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1, the printer 1 has a printer housing 2 and a housing cover 3 that covers the printer housing 2. A circuit board unit 4 is mounted on the printer housing 2. Also, as shown in Figure 2, the circuit board unit 4 has a circuit board 11 and a holder 12 to which the circuit board 11 is mounted.

[0042] Furthermore, the printer 1 includes a printing unit that prints on a printing medium and a media supply unit that supplies the printing medium to the printing unit, although these are not shown in Figure 2. The printing unit and the media supply unit are located in the printer housing 2.

[0043] In this embodiment, the printing medium is a continuous label assembly in which labels of a predetermined length are attached at predetermined intervals to a long backing sheet. The continuous label assembly is housed in the printer housing 2 in a wound state. After printing, the labels are discharged from an outlet 3a formed in the housing cover 3.

[0044] <Circuit board unit> Next, the substrate unit 4 in this embodiment will be described. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the substrate unit 4.

[0045] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the substrate 11 has a first substrate 13 and a second substrate 14. That is, in this embodiment, the substrate unit 4 has a first substrate 13, a second substrate 14, and a holder 12 to which the first substrate 13 and the second substrate 14 are attached.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, a connector 15 is attached to the edge 13a of one side 13s of the first substrate 13, to which an external device (not shown) is connected. In this embodiment, the external device is an electronic device such as a PC (personal computer) that can be connected to the printer 1, or a charger or power supply that supplies power to the printer 1.

[0047] The edge 13a of one side 13s of the first substrate 13 corresponds to the side edge 41 of the substrate unit 4 (see Figure 1). Hereafter, one side 13s of the first substrate 13 will be referred to as the mounting surface 13s.

[0048] The first substrate 13 is attached to the holder 12 on the mounting surface 13s where the connector 15 is attached.

[0049] The holder 12 is a support member that supports the first circuit board 13 and the second circuit board 14 in the printer housing 2. The mounting surface 13s of the first circuit board 13 is attached to one side 12s of the holder 12. The mounting surface 14s of the second circuit board 14 is attached to the other side 12t of the holder 12.

[0050] The holder 12 has a thickness that allows for the formation of a space where the circuit formed on the mounting surface 13s of the first substrate 13 and the circuit formed on the mounting surface 14s of the second substrate 14 can be housed without interfering with each other.

[0051] In the holder 12, a notch 12u is formed at a position corresponding to the connector 15 that is attached to the edge 13a of the first substrate 13, so as to match the outer circumference shape of the connector 15. When the first substrate 13 is attached to the holder 12, the connector 15 fits into the notch 12u.

[0052] Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the first substrate 13 that constitutes the substrate unit 4.

[0053] As shown in Figure 4, the connector 15 includes a connection portion 16 for electrically connecting the connector 15 to a circuit formed on the first substrate 13, and a plurality of legs 17 for fixing the connector 15 to the first substrate 13 separately from the connection portion 16.

[0054] Multiple legs 17 are connected to ground to the first substrate 13, but are not electrically connected to the circuit formed on the first substrate 13.

[0055] In this embodiment, the connector 15 is attached to the first substrate 13 by four legs 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d. In this embodiment, the connector 15 is a USB Type-C compliant connector equipped with power supply lines and signal lines.

[0056] <Support structure for circuit board unit> Next, we will explain the support structure for the circuit board unit 4 to the printer housing 2.

[0057] Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating the inside of the printer housing 2, and Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of the printer housing 2. Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating the circuit board unit 4 attached to the printer housing 2, and Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the main parts of the circuit board unit 4 attached to the printer housing 2.

[0058] The printer housing 2 has a first contact portion 21 and a second contact portion 22 on its inner side that contact the circuit board unit 4. The first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 are provided in the printer housing 2 at positions corresponding to the side edge portion 41 on the circuit board unit 4 to which the connector 15 is attached (see Figure 7).

[0059] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first contact portion 21 comprises a wall portion 23 extending inward from the side surface 2a of the printer housing 2 parallel to the first substrate 13, and a contact end portion 24 extending from the wall portion 23 in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate 13. The contact end portion 24 has a tapered shape at the connection portion 25 with the bottom surface 2b of the printer housing 2.

[0060] As shown in Figure 7, the first contact portion 21 contacts the first substrate 13 that constitutes the substrate unit 4 at the contact end portion 24.

[0061] The printer housing 2 includes a positioning portion 31 on the side edge 42 opposite to the side edge 41 to which the connector 15 is attached, for positioning the circuit board unit 4 on the printer housing 2.

[0062] The positioning section 31 consists of a pair of support walls 32 and 33 that support one side and the other side of the substrate unit 4.

[0063] In this embodiment, the support wall portion 32 supports the surface 12s of the holder 12 in the substrate unit 4. The support wall portion 33 also supports the surface 12t of the holder 12 in the substrate unit 4.

[0064] The first contact portion 21 is formed in a position that contacts a part of the area corresponding to the area on the first substrate 13 to which the connector 15 is attached, when the substrate unit 4 is housed in the printer housing 2.

[0065] The second contact portion 22 is formed in a position that contacts a part of the holder 12, which corresponds to the area on the other side of the substrate unit 4 where the connector 15 of the first substrate 13 is attached.

[0066] In this embodiment, the one surface of the substrate unit 4 that the first contact portion 21 contacts is the surface 13t of the first substrate 13 opposite to the mounting surface 13s on which the connector 15 is attached.

[0067] Furthermore, the other surface of the substrate unit 4 that the second contact portion 22 contacts is the surface 12t of the holder 12 opposite to the surface 12s on which the mounting surface 13s of the first substrate 13 is attached. In other words, the first contact portion 21 contacts the first substrate 13, and the second contact portion 22 contacts the holder 12.

[0068] <Effects and Effects> According to the printer 1 of this embodiment, on one side of the substrate unit 4, a first contact portion 21 provided on the printer housing 2 contacts at least a portion of the area corresponding to the area on the first substrate 13 to which the connector 15 is attached, and on the other side of the substrate unit 4, a second contact portion 22 contacts at least a portion of the area corresponding to the area on which the connector 15 is attached, thereby restricting the movement of the substrate unit 4 in the thickness direction.

[0069] Therefore, when the connection terminals for external devices are inserted into and removed from the connector 15, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the circuit board unit 4 in a direction intersecting the insertion / removal direction of the connection terminals, that is, in the thickness direction of the circuit board unit 4. This also prevents vibration of the connector 15 attached to the first circuit board 13 relative to the first circuit board 13.

[0070] Therefore, according to printer 1, the mounting strength of the connector 15 mounted on the first circuit board 13 can be increased.

[0071] In printer 1, the first contact portion 21 contacts the surface 13t of the first substrate 13 opposite to the mounting surface 13s on which the connector 15 is attached, and the second contact portion 22 contacts the surface 12t of the holder 12 opposite to the surface on which the mounting surface 13s of the first substrate 13 is attached.

[0072] Furthermore, in the holder 12, a notch 12u is formed at a position corresponding to the connector 15 attached to the edge 13a of the first substrate 13, so as to match the outer circumference shape of the connector 15. Therefore, when the first substrate 13 is attached to the holder 12, the connector 15 fits into the notch 12u.

[0073] As a result, when the second contact portion 22 contacts the holder 12, the notch portion 12u can press against the outer circumference of the connector 15.

[0074] Therefore, since the movement of the board unit 4 in the thickness direction is restricted, the wobble of the board unit 4 in the thickness direction can be suppressed when the connection terminals are inserted into and removed from the connector 15. This also prevents the connector 15 attached to the first board 13 from wobbling relative to the first board 13.

[0075] In the printer 1, the contact end portion 24 of the first contact portion 21 that contacts the first substrate 13 is formed by being continuous with a wall portion 23 that extends inward from the side surface 2a of the printer housing 2 parallel to the first substrate 13, thereby increasing the strength when restricting the movement of the substrate unit 4 in the thickness direction.

[0076] In printer 1, the contact end 24 has a tapered shape at the connection portion 25 with the printer housing 2, thereby ensuring the joint strength between the contact end 24 and the printer housing 2 at the connection portion 25.

[0077] Furthermore, the printer 1 includes a positioning unit 31 that positions the circuit board unit 4 on the printer housing 2 at the edge 42 opposite to the edge 41 to which the connector 15 is attached.

[0078] As a result, the board unit 4's movement in the thickness direction is restricted by the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22 on the edge 41 side to which the connector 15 is attached, and it is positioned on the printer housing 2 at the edge 42 opposite to the edge 41 to which the connector 15 is attached, thereby increasing the mounting strength of the connector 15 mounted on the first board 13.

[0079] In this embodiment, the substrate unit 4 is positioned by being sandwiched between positioning portions 31 (support walls 32, 33) that support one side of the substrate unit 4 and the other side of the substrate unit 4. The substrate unit 4 is restricted in the thickness direction by the first contact portion 21 and the second contact portion 22, but is not strictly restricted in the direction of inserting and removing the connection terminals.

[0080] Therefore, during the insertion and removal of the connection terminals, the entire circuit board unit 4 moves slightly in the insertion / removal direction, thereby absorbing the stress on the circuit board unit 4 during the insertion and removal operation.

[0081] Therefore, the stress applied to the connection between the first substrate 13 and the connector 15 during insertion and removal operations can be reduced.

[0082] In printer 1, the connector 15 includes, in addition to a connection portion 16 for electrically connecting the connector 15 to a circuit formed on the first substrate 13, a plurality of legs 17 (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) for fixing the connector 15 to the first substrate 13.

[0083] Therefore, in printer 1, the mounting strength of the connector 15 mounted on the first circuit board 13 can be increased.

[0084] Furthermore, in printer 1, connector 15 conforms to USB Type-C. Since USB Type-C has both power supply lines and signal lines in a single connector 15, the interface connector and the power supply connector can be combined into one connector 15. Therefore, there is no need to provide terminals for electrically connecting to external devices and terminals for supplying electrodes.

[0085] [Other embodiments] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments only represent a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

[0086] In this embodiment, a printer 1 and a circuit board unit 4 applied to the printer 1 have been described, but other electronic devices may also be used.

[0087] In this embodiment, the case in which the connector 15 is attached to the first substrate 13 is described, but the connector 15 may be attached to either the first substrate 13 or the second substrate 14. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0088] 1. Printer 2 Printer enclosure 2a side 2b Bottom 3. Case cover 3a Outlet 4. Circuit board unit 11 circuit boards 12 holders 12s One side 12t The other side 12u notch 13 First board 13s Mounting side (one side of the first circuit board) 13t The opposite side of the mounting surface 14 Second board 14s Implementation side 14t The opposite side of the mounting surface 15 connectors 16 Connection part 17(17a,17b,17c,17d) Legs 21 First contact part 22 Second contact part 23 Wall 24 Contact end 25 Connection part 31 Positioning section 32,33 Support wall part 41,42 Side edge

Claims

1. A circuit board unit having a circuit board with a connector for connecting external devices attached to its edge, and a holder attached to the mounting surface of the circuit board to which the connector is attached, The printer housing to which the aforementioned circuit board unit is attached comprises The printer housing has a first contact portion and a second contact portion provided on the printer housing that contact the circuit board unit, The first contact portion contacts at least a portion of the area on one surface of the substrate unit that corresponds to the area of ​​the substrate to which the connector is attached, The second contact portion contacts at least a portion of the area on the other surface of the substrate unit that corresponds to the area on the substrate to which the connector is attached. Printer.

2. A printer according to claim 1, The one side of the substrate unit is the side of the substrate opposite to the side on which the connector is attached. The other side of the substrate unit is the side opposite to the side on which the mounting surface of the substrate is attached in the holder. Printer.

3. A printer according to claim 1, The first contact portion comprises a wall portion extending inward from the side surface of the printer housing parallel to the substrate, and a contact end portion extending from the wall portion in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The contact end contacts the substrate unit, Printer.

4. The printer according to claim 3, The aforementioned contact end has a tapered shape at the connection point with the bottom surface of the printer housing. Printer.

5. A printer according to claim 1, The system further includes a positioning portion for positioning the substrate unit on the printer housing at the edge opposite to the edge to which the connector is attached. Printer.

6. The printer according to claim 5, The positioning portion is composed of a pair of support wall portions that support one surface and the other surface of the substrate unit. Printer.

7. A printer according to claim 1, The connector includes a connection portion for electrically connecting the connector to the circuit formed on the substrate, In addition to the aforementioned connection portion, there are a number of legs for fixing the connector to the circuit board, Equipped with, Printer.

8. A printer according to claim 7, The aforementioned connector conforms to USB Type-C. Printer.

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