JP2001253607A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: To provide a printer in which a mechanism of guide means is simplified. A portable printer (10) according to the present invention includes guide means (82) below a thermal head (78). The guide means 82 includes a guide piece 88 integrally formed of resin or the like, and is slidably supported by a groove 86 formed in the width direction of the label paper 76. The guide piece 88 has a guide portion 88B protruding from the groove 86, and the end surface of the label paper 76 abuts on the guide portion 88B. An engagement protrusion 88C is provided on the upper end of the guide portion 88B.
Is formed, and the end of the label paper 76 is engaged with the engagement projection 88C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a portable printer which needs to be reduced in size and weight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printer is provided with a pair of guide means on both sides of a printing sheet fed to a printing section. The guide section positions the printing sheet in its width direction and sends it to the printing section. Is used to print accurately at a predetermined position on the printing paper. Usually, the pair of guide means are provided so as to be slidable in the width direction of the printing paper, and are brought into contact with the end of the printing paper by sliding, and then fixed by fixing means such as screws. Thus, the guide means is positioned in accordance with the width of the printing paper, and can reliably guide the printing paper.

[0003]

However, the conventional printer has the disadvantage that the mechanism of the guide means is complicated, the number of parts is large, and the operation is troublesome. Therefore, simplification of the mechanism of the guide means has been desired especially in a portable printer which needs to be reduced in size and weight.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a printer in which the mechanism of the guide means is simplified.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printer having guide means for positioning and guiding a print sheet supplied from a loading section to a print section in the width direction of the print sheet. , The guide means is provided on the guide body so as to be slidable along a groove formed in the width direction of the printing paper, and provided on the guide body so as to protrude from the groove; A guide portion abutting on a widthwise end of the printing paper by sliding of the portion, and an engagement protrusion provided at a leading end portion of the guide portion and engaging with an end portion of the printing paper abutting on the guide portion Are formed integrally, and the guide means is elastically deformed so that the engagement protrusion is engaged with an end of the printing paper.

According to the present invention, the guide means is elastically deformed so that the engagement protrusion is engaged with the end of the printing paper supplied to the printing section. It does not deviate from. Therefore, according to the present invention, the printing paper can be reliably guided even if the guide means is provided on only one side without being provided on both sides of the printing paper. Further, according to the present invention, since the guide means is formed integrally, the guide means can be constituted by one part.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, using a portable printer as an example.

First, a schematic structure of a portable printer 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a portable printer 10 in a mounting posture.
And a side view.

As shown in these figures, an opening / closing cover 18 bulging in an arc shape is supported by the apparatus main body 12 at the lower portion of the apparatus main body 12 so as to be openable and closable. The opening / closing cover 18
When the opening / closing lever 16 is pushed upward, the engagement between the opening / closing cover 18 and the apparatus main body 12 is released, and the opening is opened to the side. When the opening / closing cover 18 is opened, the loading section 14 is exposed, and the roll-shaped label paper wound around the loading section 14 is loaded.

A data transmitting / receiving unit 20 is provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 12, and a receiving device (not shown) is provided inside the cover 22. When a print data signal is transmitted from a transmitting unit (for example, a handy terminal) (not shown) by infrared rays or the like, the receiving device receives the signal and transmits the data to the printing unit. The receiving device rotates by operating a direction switching lever 24 disposed on the side surface of the device main body 12, and the receiving direction is adjusted.
A connector 26 is provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body 12, and print data can be transmitted and received by directly connecting a transmission unit to the connector 26 via a signal cable or the like.

An operation unit 30 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12, and a feed button 32, a print button 34, and a status lamp 36 are arranged side by side on the operation unit 30. The status lamp 36 is connected to the data
Is turned on when data is received, whereby the operator can confirm that the print data has been received. The print button 34 is configured as a push button type. By pressing the print button 34, the label paper 76 is supplied to the printing unit, and the printing unit prints the label. Further, the feed button 32 is also configured as a push button type, and when the feed button 32 is pressed, the label paper 76 is sent out without being printed.

A label paper outlet 40 is provided on the front of the apparatus main body 12, and a printing unit (not shown) is provided inside the label paper outlet 40. The printing unit includes a thermal head (not shown) and a platen roller 78 (FIG. 3).
The thermal head and the platen roller 7
When the label paper 76 is supplied between the printer 1 and the printer 8, a price, a barcode, and the like are printed (printed). The printed label paper 76 is discharged from the label paper outlet 40.

At the top of the label paper outlet 40, a backing stripper 42 is provided.
Slides up and down by reducing the distance between the pair of holding knobs 44. A label take-out port 46 is formed in the backing sheet peeling device 42. When the backing sheet peeling device 42 is slid downward to match the position of the label take-out port 46 and the label paper take-out port 40, the label paper take-out port 40 is The fed label paper 76 is peeled from the backing sheet and protrudes from the label outlet 40, and the peeled backing sheet is discharged from a gap between the lower part of the backing sheet peeling device 42 and the apparatus main body 12.

A holding section 50 for mounting the printer 10 on the body is provided on the back of the apparatus main body 12. The holding plate 52 constituting the holding portion 50 is swingably supported on the back surface of the device main body 12, and the holding portion 52 </ b> A below the supporting portion is supported by a spring (not shown).
It is biased in two directions. Therefore, the pressing portion 52B on the upper side of the supporting portion is pressed against the urging force so that
The gap between the holding section 52A and the apparatus main body 12 can be opened by pressing the holding section 52A to the side, and when the operator's belt or the like is inserted into the gap, the biased holding section 52A and the apparatus body 12 A belt or the like can be sandwiched between them.

The battery cover 54 shown in FIG.
Is slidable toward the rear of the device main body 12 by sliding in the rear direction of the device main body 12, and an internal battery case (not shown) can be exposed. In this battery case, a battery serving as a power supply of the thermal printer 10 is stored. The power of the thermal printer 10 is switched by a power switch 56.

Next, a method of using the printer 10 configured as described above will be described.

First, the opening / closing cover 18 is opened by sliding the opening / closing lever 16 upward, and the loading portion 14 inside thereof is
The rolled label paper is set, and the opening / closing cover 18 is closed.

Next, while pressing the pressing portion 52B of the holding portion 50 toward the device main body 12 to widen the gap between the holding portion 52A and the device main body 12, the holding plate 52 is inserted into the inside of the belt of the operator, and the pressing portion 52B is pressed. Release. Thus, the biased holding portion 52A and the apparatus main body 12 hold the belt, and the printer 10 is mounted on the operator.

Next, the power switch 5 on the upper surface of the
After the power is turned on by 6, the direction switching lever 24 on the side surface of the apparatus main body 12 is turned to turn the receiving direction of the receiving device (not shown) inside the cover 22 toward the transmitting means (not shown). Then, the reception of the print data is confirmed by turning on the status lamp 36.

Next, the print button 34 is pressed and operated.
Print the label. Printing of the label is performed based on the received print data, and the print is performed based on the same data unless new print data is received. When the printed label is to be automatically peeled from the backing paper, the label peeled off from the backing paper is discharged from the label outlet 46 by sliding the backing paper peeling device 42 downward. Then, the printed label is taken and attached to a product or the like.

Note that the printer 10 can be installed and used on a desk or the like. In this case, the device body 12
Is installed with its front side up, and the same operation as described above is performed to print on a label.

FIG. 3 shows the loading section 1 with the opening / closing cover 18 opened.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the printer 10 with the guide 4 and guide means 82 exposed.

As shown in the drawing, inside the opening / closing cover 18, the loading section 14 for the label paper 76, the guide means 82,
And a platen roller 78.

In the loading section 14, a column 60 is provided in parallel with the platen roller 78. A label guide 62 is externally fitted to the support 60, and the rotating body 6 is attached to the label guide 62.
4 is rotatably supported. The label paper 76 is mounted on the rotating body 64 in a wound state, and is rotatably supported.

The label guide 62 has a reference surface 70 perpendicular to the support column 60.
The end of the rolled label paper 76 is abutted. The label guide 62 has a structure in which the label guide 62 is slidable in the axial direction of the column 60 by rotating counterclockwise, and is fixed to the column 60 by rotating clockwise. Thereby, the label guide 6
2 can be positioned in the axial direction of the support 60, and the position of the reference surface 70 can be adjusted according to the width of the label paper 76.

A guide plate 80 is vertically supported on the reference surface 70, and the wound label paper 76 is prevented from falling outside the reference surface 70 by being guided by the guide plate 80. Is done. The label paper 76 guided by the guide plate 80 is hung on a platen roller 78.

The platen roller 78 is rotatably supported above the opening / closing cover 18 and is rotated by a motor (not shown) provided above the opening / closing cover 18.
When the cover 18 is closed, the platen roller 78 presses a thermal head (not shown) of the apparatus main body 12, whereby the label paper 76 is sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller 78. The printer is ready for printing.

Below the platen roller 78, a detection sensor 84 for detecting the printing position of the label paper 76 is provided. The detection sensor 84 detects the loaded label paper 76
In a width direction (that is, parallel to the platen roller 78). The groove 86
The cross section is formed in a pentagonal shape, specifically, a shape obtained by cutting one corner of a square by an inclined surface (see FIG. 5). Also, groove 8
In 6, the inclined surface portion is elongated and opened in the width direction of the label paper 76.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the guide means 82, and a two-dot chain line indicates a platen roller. 5 and 6 are a perspective view and a side view of the guide piece 88. FIG.

As shown in these figures, the guide means 82
Is formed of a guide piece 88 integrally formed of resin, metal, or the like, and the guide piece 88 is inserted into the groove 86. The guide piece 88 includes a guide body 88A, a guide 88B, and an engagement protrusion 88C.

The guide body 88A is formed in a hollow shape, and has a cross-sectional shape substantially the same as that of the groove 86. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide main body 88A is formed in a pentagonal cross-sectional shape, specifically, a shape obtained by cutting the upper left corner of a square with the inclined surface 88D. The guide body 88A has a pair of elongated cutouts 88E on the upper surface and side surfaces adjacent to the inclined surface 88D from the near side, respectively.
88E is formed. Thereby, the inclined surface 88D
The front side elastically deforms inward with the back side as a fulcrum.

The guide portion 88B is provided so as to protrude outward from the front end of the inclined surface 88D. The guide portion 88B
When the guide piece 88 is inserted into the groove 86, it protrudes from the groove 86, and the end of the label paper 76 can be brought into contact.

The engaging projection 88C is provided at the tip of the guide portion 88B and projects to the rear. Thus, the end portion of the label paper 76 abutting on the guide portion 88B can be engaged.

When the guide piece 88 thus formed presses the guide portion 88B from the outside, the near side of the inclined surface 88D is elastically deformed inward with the back side of the inclined surface 88D as a fulcrum. Then, when the inclined surface 88D is elastically returned, both edges of the inclined surface 88D press the edges of the groove 86, and the guide piece 8
8 is fixed to the groove 86. Therefore, the guide portion 88D
Is pressed from the outside, the guide piece 88 can be slid with respect to the groove 86. When the guide piece 88 is elastically restored, the guide piece 88 is fixed to the groove 86 at that position.

Next, the guide means 82 constructed as described above.
The operation of will be described.

First, as shown in FIG.
Is pushed up to rotate the opening / closing cover 18 to the side. Then, the position of the reference surface 70 is adjusted by sliding the label guide 62 with respect to the column 60. Next, the rolled label paper 76 is mounted on the rotating body 64, and the edge of the label paper 76 in the width direction is brought into contact with the reference surface 70 to position the label paper 76. Next, the leading end of the label paper 76 is applied to the platen roller 78 while the label paper 76 is applied to the guide plate 80. At this time, the guide piece 88 is disposed outside (ie, on the right side in FIG. 3).

Next, the guide portion 88B of the guide piece 88 is pressed inward, and the guide piece 88 is elastically deformed and slid along the groove 86. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, the guide portion 88B is brought into contact with the end of the label paper 76. Next, the guide piece 88 is elastically restored, and the guide piece 8 is returned.
8 is fixed to the groove 86.

Next, the cover 18 is closed, and the cover 18 is engaged with the apparatus main body 12. At this time, FIG.
As shown in (b), the guide portion 88 protruding from the groove 86
B is pressed inward by the apparatus main body 12 and the inclined surface 8
8D is elastically deformed. Thereby, the end of the label paper 76 is engaged with the engagement projection 88C, and the label paper 76 does not shift in the width direction. Further, since the inclined surface 88D is elastically deformed, the device main body 12 is pressed against the guide portion 88B by elastic force, and the guide piece 88 is fixed to the device main body 12. This prevents the position of the guide piece 88 from shifting. Therefore, in this state, the platen roller 7
When the rotation of the label sheet 8 is performed, the label sheet 76 is accurately positioned in the width direction and sent to the printing section, so that the label sheet 76 can be accurately printed (printed) at a predetermined position on the label sheet 76.

As described above, the portable printer 1 of the present embodiment
According to 0, since the end of the label paper 76 is engaged with the engaging projection 88C, the displacement of the label paper 76 can be prevented. Therefore, the guide means 82 is connected to the label paper 7
Even if it is provided only on one side without being provided on both sides of the label 6, the label paper 76 can be reliably guided. Further, the guide means 82 of the portable printer 10 serves as a guide piece 88
Guide body portion 88A, guide portion 88B, engagement protrusion 88C
Are integrally formed. Therefore, the guide means 8
Reference numeral 2 has one component and has a simple structure. Thus, the entire portable printer 10 can be reduced in weight and size.

Further, in the portable printer 10, since the guide portion 86B protruding from the groove 86 is pushed into the guide main body 88A, no space for the guide portion 88B is required on the apparatus main body 12 side. Further, in the present embodiment, since the guide piece 88 is attached to the groove 86 for attaching the sensor 84, it is not necessary to provide a space for the guide means 82 in the openable cover 18. Thereby, the device body 1
2 and the opening / closing cover 18 can be made smaller, so that the entire portable printer 10 can be made smaller.

Further, according to the portable printer 10, the guide piece 88 is pressed to press the guide piece 88 into the groove 86.
The guide piece 88 can be fixed to the groove 86 by the elastic return. Therefore, the operation of determining the position of the guide piece 88 is easy, and the guide piece 88 can be easily positioned according to the width of the label paper 76.

Although the above-described embodiment is an example of a portable printer, the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide means 82 of the present invention can be applied to a general printer which is installed and used on a desk or the like. The same effect can be obtained by providing.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which printing is performed on the label paper 76 has been described. However, printing may be performed on paper having no adhesive layer.

The shape of the guide piece 88 is not limited to the above embodiment. In particular, the guide main body 88A may have any shape as long as it can slide along the groove 86.

[0045]

As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, the engaging projections of the guide means are engaged with the ends of the printing paper, and the printing paper does not shift. And the number of guide means can be reduced. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the guide means is formed integrally, the guide means can be constituted by one part.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer in a state where an opening / closing cover shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a guide unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a guide piece shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the guide piece shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a guide unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 printer, 12 device main body, 18 cover, 76
... label paper, 82 ... guide means, 86 ... groove, 88 ...
Guide piece, 88A: guide body, 88B: guide,
88C: engagement projection

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer comprising guide means for positioning and guiding a print sheet supplied from a loading section to a print section in the width direction of the print sheet, wherein the guide section is formed in the width direction of the print sheet. A guide body portion slidably provided along the groove formed, provided on the guide body portion so as to protrude from the groove, and by sliding the guide body portion, the end portion in the width direction of the printing paper, A guide portion that abuts, and an engagement protrusion that is provided at a distal end portion of the guide portion and that engages with an end portion of the printing paper that abuts the guide portion, are integrally formed, and Wherein the engaging projection is engaged with an end of the printing paper by elastically deforming the printing paper. The guide means is provided on an opening / closing cover which is supported on the apparatus body of the printer so as to be openable and closable. When the opening / closing cover is closed, the guide means is pressed by the apparatus body and elastically deforms. The printer according to claim 1, wherein: