Printer device

Abstract

This printer device comprises: a body section; a lid having one end part rotatably connected to the body section; a storage part for storing a roll sheet; a printing part for performing printing while drawing out a sheet from the roll sheet; a button for receiving pressing of a prescribed stroke; an actuator which is capable of rotation in which the rotation center serves as the axis, has one end part positioned at a position pressed by the button pressed down in the stroke range, and has another end part that moves upward as the button is pressed down; a lock lever which has a locking part for holding a portion of the lid part in a hooked state, and a pushed-up part positioned at a position pushed up by the other end part, the lock lever being capable of rotation in which the rotation center serves as the axis; and a pressing part which is provided at a tip part of the button, and has a curved shape bent in a direction away from the rotation center of the actuator and approaching an end of the one end part as the pressing part moves toward the tip.

Description

Printer device

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a printer device.

[0002] Conventionally, a printer device that stores roll paper, prints on the paper pulled out from the roll paper, and discharges it has been used. In such a printer device, a lid that opens and closes a storage portion for storing roll paper is provided so as to be rotatable between a position where it closes an opening of the housing and a position where it opens.

[0003] In the printer device as described above, there is a demand to open the lid by pressing a button. However, when trying to transmit the pressing of the button to rotate the lid, there are problems such as the force required to press the button being too large and the operability deteriorating.

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the operability in a printer device that prints while pulling out paper from stored roll paper when the structure is such that the lid is opened by pressing a button.

[0005] The printer device of the embodiment includes a main body portion having an opening on one surface, a lid whose one end portion is rotatably connected to the main body portion by a hinge portion and opens and closes the opening as it rotates, a storage portion that is a space between the inner surface of the main body portion and the inner surface of the lid and stores roll paper, a printing portion that prints while pulling out paper from the roll paper, a button that receives a pressing with a predetermined stroke as an operation for rotating the lid to open the opening, an actuator that is rotatable about a rotation center between one end portion and the other end portion, and the one end portion is located at a position pressed by the button that is pushed down within the stroke range, and the other end portion moves upward as the button is pushed down, a locking portion that holds a part of the lid portion in a hooked state, and a pressed portion that is located at a position pushed up by the other end portion, and a lock lever that is rotatable about a rotation center, and a pressing portion provided at the tip of the button and having a curved shape that curves in a direction away from the rotation center of the actuator and closer to the end of the one end portion as it goes toward the tip.

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the printer device of the embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the printer device with the housing open. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the printer device. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the lid, open button, actuator, and link part. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the frame, open button, actuator, and link part. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the link part. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the interlocking of the open button, actuator, and link part. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the interlocking of the open button, actuator, and link part. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the pressing part. Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between the platen roller and the print head and the support state of the print head.

[0007] (First Embodiment) The embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the X-axis direction represents the width direction (left-right direction) of the printer device 1, the Y-axis direction represents the depth direction (front-back direction) of the printer device 1, and the Z-axis direction represents the height direction (up-down direction) of the printer device 1. The positive direction of the Z-axis is upward from the bottom of the printer device 1. The positive direction of the Y-axis is from the front to the back of the printer device 1. The positive direction of the X-axis is from left to right when viewing the printer device 1 in the positive direction of the Y-axis.

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the printer device 1 of the embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the printer device 1 with the housing 2 open. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the printer device 1, and is a longitudinal left side view showing the printer device 1 cut in the center in the width direction (X-axis direction).

[0009] The printer device 1 of this embodiment is a thermal printer and is used as a receipt printer for printing (printing, outputting, issuing) receipts, for example. The printer device 1 comprises a housing 2, a paper storage unit 3, a printing unit 4, and the like.

[0010] The housing 2 houses the other components (paper storage section 3, printing section 4, etc.). The housing 2 has a box-shaped main body 20 with an opening on one side (the top side in the illustrated state) and a lid 21 that opens and closes the opening. As shown in Figure 3, one end of the lid 21 is rotatably connected to the edge of the opening of the main body 20 by a hinge section 23, and the opening is opened and closed as the lid rotates.

[0011] With the lid 21 closed over the main body 20, as shown in Figure 1, a paper discharge opening 22 is formed between the other end of the lid 21 and the edge of the opening in the main body 20. The paper discharge opening 22 is an opening for discharging the paper 91 from the housing 2.

[0012] The lid 21 of the printer device 1 has a support portion 211 that protrudes to the outside of the paper output opening 22. The support portion 211 is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 4 in the paper transport direction and has a slanted surface that contacts the back surface of the printing surface of the paper 91 and supports the paper 91. The support portion 211 is located on the outside of the paper output opening 22 and supports the lower side of the paper 91 discharged from the paper output opening 22. The support portion 211 is provided detachably to the paper output opening 22 or integrally with the paper output opening 22. That is, the support portion 211 is formed detachably to the lid 21 or integrally with the lid 21. The support portion 211 may also be called a table.

[0013] The printer unit 1 supports two orientations. One orientation is such that the paper output slot 22 of the printer unit 1 ejects the paper 91 upwards (i.e., in the positive direction of the Z axis). Hereafter, this orientation will be referred to as "top output orientation". The printer unit 1 in Figures 1 to 3 is in the top output orientation. The other orientation is such that the paper output slot 22 ejects the paper 91 forward (i.e., in the negative direction of the Y axis). Hereafter, this orientation will be referred to as "front output orientation". The printer unit 1 in the front output orientation is the printer unit 1 rotated 90° counterclockwise in Figure 3, with the width direction (X axis direction) as the axis.

[0014] The paper storage section 3 is the space between the recessed inner surface of the main body 20 and the inner surface of the lid 21, and stores the roll paper 90 so that the paper 91 can be pulled out from the roll paper 90. The roll paper 90 is made of a strip of paper 91 wound with the first surface facing outwards. In this embodiment, the first surface is the surface on which printing is applied (i.e., the printing surface). Therefore, the outer surface of the roll paper 90 is the printing surface of the paper 91. The back surface of the printing surface is an example of a second surface. The paper 91 is an example of a sheet-like printing medium. When the lid 21 is in the position that opens the main body 20, the paper storage section 3 is open, and the roll paper 90 can be replaced or added.

[0015] The printer device 1 prints on the paper 91 while pulling it out from the roll paper 90 stored in the paper storage unit 3 and transporting it.

[0016] The printing unit 4 prints on the paper 91 while pulling it out from a roll of paper 90 on which a strip of paper 91 is wound, and includes a print head 41 and a platen roller 42. The print head 41 is provided on the main body 20, and the platen roller 42 is provided on the lid 21. In this embodiment, the platen roller 42 is driven to rotate, thereby transporting the paper 91 sandwiched between it and the print head 41.

[0017] The platen roller 42 is attached to the lid 21 and, when the lid 21 is closed, engages with a gear provided on the main body 20. The gear is rotationally driven by a drive source such as a motor built into the main body 20. The platen roller 42 rotates as the driving force from the drive source is transmitted via the gear.

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

[0019] More specifically, the print head 41 is attached to a support and positioned opposite the platen roller 42. The support is biased by the elastic force of a spring to press the print head 41 against the platen roller 42. As a result, the print head 41 is biased to press against the platen roller 42.

[0020] When replenishing or replacing the roll of paper 90, the user opens the lid 21, replenishes or replaces the roll of paper 90, inserts the leading edge of the paper 91 pulled from the roll of paper 90 between the platen roller 42 and the print head 41, and closes the lid 21. In this way, the leading edge of the paper 91 is held by the platen roller 42 and the print head 41.

[0021] The printer device 1 is further equipped with an open button 29. The open button 29 is an example of a button that accepts a predetermined stroke of pressure as an operation to rotate the lid 21 and open the opening, and when pressed, it releases the locked state of the housing 2. When the locked state is released, the lid 21 becomes movable from the position that closes the opening of the main body 20 to the position that opens it.

[0022] The open button 29 is located near the edge of the opening of the main body 20 and is positioned in substantially the same plane as the lid 21. The open button 29 is also located adjacent to the end of the lid 21 that forms the paper output slot 22.

[0023] Figure 4 shows the positional relationship between the lid 21, the open button 29, the actuator 7, and the link section 8.

[0024] The actuator 7 is rotatable about a pivot center 70 between one end and the other end, with one end positioned to be pressed by the tip of the open button 29, which is pushed down within a predetermined stroke range, and the other end moves upward as the open button 29 is pushed down. In this way, the actuator 7 rotates about the pivot center 70 along the width direction (X-axis direction) in conjunction with the movement of the opened button 29 that has been operated.

[0025] The link section 8 rotates in conjunction with the movement of the actuator 7, around a pivot center 80 along the width direction (X-axis direction), to switch between the locked and unlocked states of the lid 21.

[0026] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the frame 25, the open button 29, the actuator 7, and the link section 8. The lid 21 has a frame 25 inside the outer casing, which serves as the framework. The frame 25 is equipped with a pair of lock bosses 26 on the side farther from the hinge section 23 and closer to the paper output slot 22. The pair of lock bosses 26 protrude inward from both sides of the frame 25.

[0027] When the lid 21 closes the opening of the main body 20, the link portion 8 holds the lock boss 26, thereby locking the housing 2. In other words, the lid 21 is fixed in place with the opening of the main body 20 closed.

[0028] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the link section 8. The link section 8 includes a pair of locking levers 81 and 82, a connecting section 83, a locking section 84, a protruding section 85, a guide section 86, a protruding section 87, and an unlocking stud 88, etc.

[0029] The pair of lock levers 81 and 82 are plate-shaped members positioned on the inside of both sides of the main body 20, and are rotatable within the main body 20 about a pivot center 80. The connecting portion 83 is located below the paper output opening 22 inside the main body 20 and connects one end of the lock levers 81 and 82.

[0030] The locking portion 84, the protruding portion 85, and the guide portion 86 are provided at the other end of each lock lever 81, 82 and are located on the opposite side of the connecting portion 83, with the pivot center 80 in between.

[0031] The locking portion 84 is a hook-shaped part that holds the lock boss 26 in a hooked state. The protruding portion 85 is a part that protrudes from the edge of the other end of the lock levers 81 and 82 in a direction away from the pivot center 80, and in the initial stage of unlocking, it pushes up the lock boss 26 and moves it in the direction of opening the lid 21.

[0032] The guide portion 86 is the part of the edge of the lock levers 81 and 82 between the locking portion 84 and the protruding portion 85, and guides the lock boss 26 along the edge of the protruding portion 85 toward the locking portion 84 and in the opposite direction.

[0033] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the interlocking of the open button 29, the actuator 7, and the link section 8. Figure 7 shows the open button 29 before it is pressed, and Figure 8 shows the open button 29 being pressed.

[0034] The projection 87 and the unlocking stud 88 are provided on one of the locking levers 81. The projection 87 is located between the projection 85 and the connecting portion 83 and is a portion that protrudes from the edge of the other end of the locking lever 81 in a direction away from the pivot center 80.

[0035] The unlocking stud 88 is provided on the protruding portion 87 and is a part that protrudes in the width direction (X-axis direction), receiving the movement of the actuator 7. The stud 88 is an example of the pressed upper part.

[0036] The open button 29 is operated by a user attempting to open the lid 21. The open button 29 is biased in the positive direction of the Z axis by a biasing member 295 and accepts an operation to push it in the negative direction of the Z axis.

[0037] The actuator 7 has a pressed portion 71 at one end and a pressing portion 78 at the other end, which is located on the opposite side of the pivot center 70 from the pressed portion 71. The pressed portion 71 is the part that is pressed down by the pressing portion 291 provided at the tip of the open button 29.

[0038] The pushing portion 78 has a mountain-like shape formed by the first slope 781 and the second slope 782. The first slope 781 is responsible for the initial part of the process of pushing up the protruding portion 87 (see Figure 7). The second slope 782 is responsible for the latter half of the process of pushing up the protruding portion 87 (see Figure 8).

[0039] In this configuration, when the open button 29 is pressed in response to user input, the pressing portion 291 pushes down the pressed portion 71 of the actuator 7. This causes the actuator 7 to rotate around the pivot center 70, and the pressing portion 78 moves upward. As the pressing portion 78 pushes up the stud 88, a force is applied to the lock lever 81 that causes it to rotate around the pivot center 80. This force is also transmitted to the lock lever 82 via the connecting portion 83, causing the lock lever 82 to rotate as well.

[0040] When the lock levers 81 and 82 rotate, the locking portion 84 releases the holding of the lock boss 26 that was held in the hooked state. Further, when the lock levers 81 and 82 rotate, the lock boss 26 is pushed up along the guide portion 86 to the protruding portion 85. Along with this, the lid 21 rotates in a direction to open the opening of the main body portion 20.

[0041] Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the pressing portion 291. The open button 29 is long along the Z-axis direction and has a pressing portion 291 with a curved shape at the tip. Due to the curvature, the angle between the pressing portion 291 and the Z-axis direction gradually increases towards the tip. The direction of the curvature of the pressing portion 291 is such that it moves away from the rotation center 70 of the actuator 7 and approaches the end of the pressed portion 71 towards the tip.

[0042] The pressing portion 291 has straight portions La, Lb, and Lc in order from the tip. The straight portions La, Lb, and Lc each have surfaces inclined at different angles. The straight portion Lc is along the substantially vertical direction, and the straight portion La has an inclination closer to horizontal than vertical. The straight portion Lb is inclined at an angle between the straight portion La and the straight portion Lc.

[0043] Further, the pressing portion 291 has a curved portion Ra between the straight portion La and the straight portion Lb, and a curved portion Rb between the straight portion Lb and the straight portion Lc. The curved portions Ra and Rb may be arcs or curves other than arcs.

[0044] With the shape as described above, when the pressing portion 291 presses the pressed portion 71 of the actuator 7, the point of action gradually approaches the rotation center 70 as the degree of depression progresses. As a result, the angle by which the actuator 7 rotates with respect to the depth of depression is small at the beginning of the depression and increases as the depression progresses. In the present embodiment, by forming the pressing portion 291 in such a shape, the force required to press the open button is adjusted.

[0045] Further, here, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between the platen roller 42 and the printing head 41 and the support state of the printing head 41. Referring to this FIG. 10, an example of the change in the force required to open the lid 21 will be described.

[0046] The rotation support portion 45 rotatably supports the printing head 41 and the guide portion 46, and the spring 48 biases the rotation support portion 45 in a direction in which the printing head 41 presses against the platen roller 42. The guide portion 46 has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the ZX plane such that the position with a larger Z-axis value is located more in the negative Y-axis direction.

[0047] The dotted line p indicates the extension line of the upper end of the printing head 41. The two-dot chain line indicates the position of the platen roller 42 when the rotation center overlaps the dotted line p. When the lid 21 is closed, that is, when the locking portion 84 holds the lock boss 26 in a hooked state, the platen roller 42 is located at the position indicated by the solid line. As the lid 21 rotates in the opening direction, the platen roller 42 moves upward accordingly.

[0048] When the platen roller 42 moves upward, the gear on the main body portion 20 side and the platen roller 42 separate from each other, and the meshing state between the two is released. This is the first stage of the rotation of the lid 21. The platen roller 42 that moves upward as the lid 21 rotates moves while rotating the meshing gear and the drive source such as a motor connected to the gear until it separates from the gear. Therefore, the force required for rotation in the first stage is larger than that in the subsequent stages.

[0049] The second stage of rotation is until the platen roller 42 reaches the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The force required for the rotation of the lid 21 in the second stage is smaller than that in the first stage.

[0050] When the platen roller 42 exceeds the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, the rotation support portion 45 rotates due to the biasing force of the spring 48, and the guide portion 46 approaches the platen roller 42. Then, the guide portion 46 contacts and pushes up the platen roller 42 from below. The stage where the platen roller 42 and the guide portion 46 are in contact is the third stage. The force required for the rotation of the lid 21 in the third stage is even smaller than that in the second stage because the biasing force of the spring 48 is effective.

[0051] The fourth stage of rotation occurs when the platen roller 42 separates from the guide section 46 and the lid 21 opens completely. In the fourth stage, only the weight of the lid 21 itself acts as the rotational load. The force required to rotate the lid 21 in the fourth stage is greater than in the third stage, but less than in the second stage.

[0052] The above is an example of the change in force required to open the lid 21. Depending on the structure of the printer device 1, it may not always be divided into four stages as described above, but regardless of the structure of the printer device, the change in force required for rotation can generally be divided into several stages.

[0053] The force required to rotate the lid 21 changes with each of the stages described above. An example of a shape corresponding to this change is the shape of the pressing portion 291 shown in Figure 9. In other words, in the first stage, the straight portion La of the pressing portion 291 and the area before and after it press the actuator 7. In the second stage, the straight portion Lb of the pressing portion 291 and the area before and after it press the actuator 7. In the third stage, the curved portion Rb of the pressing portion 291 and the area before and after it press the actuator 7. This changes the rotation angle of the lid 21 with respect to the depth to which the open button 29 is pressed down.

[0054] In this embodiment, the pressing portion 291 cancels out or mitigates the changes in the force required to rotate the lid 21, which change in multiple stages as described above, by changing the angle of its tip shape. In other words, in the printer device 1, the force required to rotate the actuator 7 is not constant, being large in the beginning and small in the latter half. To address this, the shape of the pressing portion 291 is set so that the distance from the pivot center 70 to the position where the pressing portion 291 presses the pressed portion 71 of the actuator 7 is farther in the beginning and closer in the latter half. As a result, in stages where a large force is required for rotation, the force required to push down is reduced because it presses at a position far from the pivot point. Also, in stages where the force required for rotation is small, it presses at a position close to the pivot point, allowing it to operate efficiently (rotate the lid 21).

[0055] According to this embodiment, when opening the lid 21 by pressing down the open button 29, the force required to press down the open button 29 can be kept from becoming too large. Furthermore, the force required to press down the open button 29 can be kept close to a constant value. In addition, by configuring the lid 21 to rotate a large amount relative to the depth of the open button 29's press down when the force required to rotate the lid 21 is small, the lid 21 can be rotated efficiently.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the rotation is set to four stages, but in implementation, it may be set to two or three stages, for example, as long as the pressing part 291 changes the position in which it presses the actuator 7 in stages by adjusting its curved shape.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the pressing portion 291 was formed by connecting multiple straight sections with different inclination angles using curved sections. However, the implementation is not limited to this, and for example, the straight sections may be directly connected to each other, with obtuse angles between the straight sections. Also, the pressing portion 291 may be formed entirely of curved sections without any straight sections.

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

[0059] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-114129

Claims

1. A printer device comprising: a main body having an opening on one side; a lid whose one end is rotatably connected to the main body by a hinge and which opens and closes the opening as it rotates; a storage section which is the space between the inner surface of the main body and the inner surface of the lid and stores a roll of paper; a printing section which prints while pulling paper from the roll of paper; a button which receives a press of a predetermined stroke as an operation to rotate the lid and open the opening; an actuator which is rotatable about a pivot center between one end and the other end, the one end being positioned to be pressed by the button which is pressed down within the range of the stroke, and the other end moving upward as the button is pressed down; a lock lever which is rotatable about a pivot center and has a locking part which holds a part of the lid in a hooked state, and a pressed part which is positioned to be pushed up by the other end; and a pressing part which is provided at the tip of the button and has a curved shape which moves away from the pivot center of the actuator as it approaches the tip and approaches the end of the one end.

2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the curved shape of the pressing portion is formed by connecting a plurality of straight portions having different angles of inclination with curved portions.

3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the curved shape of the pressing portion is formed by connecting a plurality of straight portions having different angles of inclination.

4. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the curved shape of the pressing portion is formed by connecting a plurality of curved portions.

5. The printer device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the curved shape of the pressing portion includes at least two straight portions, when the rotation range of the lid is divided into at least two stages: a first stage until the platen roller constituting the printing portion separates from the gear that transmits the driving force of the drive source, and a subsequent stage, the straight portion that contacts the actuator in the first stage and the straight portion that contacts the actuator in the stage after the first stage.

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