PRINTING APPARATUS

A printing apparatus includes a housing, a platen disposed in the housing at a position where a medium is supported and recording is performed, an output port provided in the housing so that the medium is outputted through the output port, and a guiding section provided between the platen and the output port to guide the medium, wherein the guiding section includes a first guiding section facing one surface of the medium transported and a second guiding section facing the other surface of the medium, and the first guiding section and the second guiding section each include a bent portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to printing apparatuses.

2. Related Art

Previously known printers include a platen roller that transports a receipt paper, a thermal printer head that performs printing on the transported receipt paper, a receipt cutter mechanism for cutting the printed receipt paper, and a receipt output port that outputs the cut receipt paper. JP-A-2005-67124 is an example of related art.

However, the above printers have a problem that the finger may easily touch the components inside the receipt cutter mechanism if it is inserted inside the printer through the receipt output port.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention can be implemented as the following aspects or application examples.

Application Example 1

A printing apparatus according to the present application example includes a housing, a platen disposed in the housing at a position where a medium is supported and recording is performed, an output port provided in the housing so that the medium is outputted through the output port, and a guiding section provided between the platen and the output port to guide the medium, wherein the guiding section includes a first guiding section facing one surface of the medium transported and a second guiding section facing the other surface of the medium, and the first guiding section and the second guiding section each include a bent portion.

With this configuration, if the finger is inserted into inside the housing through the output port, the tip of the finger abuts the bent portion of the first guiding section and the second guiding section so that advancement of the finger into inside the housing is restricted. Accordingly, this configuration prevents the finger from touching the members such as a platen inside the housing, thereby improving the safety. Further, since the medium is transported along the bent portion from the platen to the output port, the medium can be reliably transported.

Application Example 2

In the printing apparatus according to the above application example, wherein the first guiding section and the second guiding section each include a first bent portion and a second bent portion, and the first bent portion and the second bent portion are different in a bending direction.

With this configuration, since the first bent portion and the second bent portion are different in the bending direction, the first bent portion and the second bent portion can reliably prevent advancement of the finger inserted through the output port into inside the housing. Accordingly, the finger or the like can be prevented from touching the platen or the like.

Application Example 3

In the printing apparatus according to the application example, either the first guiding section or the second guiding section is located on a line extended from a support surface of the platen.

With this configuration, since the first guiding section or the second guiding section is located on a line extended from a guiding surface of the platen, that is, a path from the output port to the platen is not straight, thereby preventing advancement of the finger inserted through the output port into inside the housing.

Application Example 4

In the printing apparatus according to the above application example, the first guiding section is disposed under the second guiding section, the first bent portion is located at a position closest to the output port, and a radius of the first bent portion of the first guiding section is larger than a radius of the first bent portion of the second guiding section.

With this configuration, the finger inserted through the output port into inside the housing abuts the first bent portion of the first guiding section. However, since the radius of the first bent portion if relatively large, advancement of the finger into inside the housing is reliably restricted.

Application Example 5

In the printing apparatus according to the above application example, a distance from the output port to the first bent portion is 30 mm or less.

With this configuration, when the first articulation of a V1probe (safety standard IEC 62368-1) is inserted into the output port, the V1probe abuts the first bent portion. Further, since the distance from the tip to the first articulation of the V1probe is 30 mm, the first articulation cannot be bent in the housing when the tip of the V1probe abuts the first bent portion. This prevents the V1probe from being further inserted. That is, the safety standard can be met sufficiently, and advancement of the finger can be more reliably prevented. Further, the distance from the platen and the output port can be reduced, thereby reducing the size of the printing apparatus.

Application Example 6

The printing apparatus according to the above application example further includes a movable member, wherein the movable member is disposed between the platen and the guiding section in a transport path of the medium.

With this configuration, the finger can be prevented from touching the movable member (for example, a cutter or a roller) even if the finger is inserted from the output port into inside the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Throughout the drawings, components are shown at a scale different from the actual one in order to illustrate them at a recognizable size.

First, a configuration of a printing apparatus will be described.FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view which illustrates a configuration of a printing apparatus, andFIG. 2is a schematic side cross-sectional view which illustrates a configuration of the printing apparatus. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus1is a large printer that can perform printing on a medium M (roll paper) of a relatively large size such as A0and B0of JIS standard. The printing apparatus1includes a main body2and an output sheet receiving section3. The main body2is disposed on the top of posts8that stand on a base9. A stacker4is disposed under the main body2so that the medium M outputted from the main body2is received in the stacker4.

The main body2of the printing apparatus1includes a housing12of a cuboid shape, and the housing12houses a feeding section13for feeding out the medium M, a support section14that supports the medium M, a transport unit15for transporting the medium M, a printing section16for performing printing on the medium M, a cutting section (an example of a movable member) for cutting the medium M after printing (printed medium M), and a control unit18for controlling these components. Further, the housing12is provided with a guiding section100that guides the medium M.

In the description herein, the width direction of the printing apparatus1in which the medium M is cut is referred to as a “scan direction X,” a depth direction of the printing apparatus1is referred to as a “front-back direction Y,” a height direction of the printing apparatus1is referred to as a “vertical direction Z,” and a depth direction in which the medium M is transported is referred to as a “transport direction F.” The scan direction X, the front-back direction Y and the vertical direction Z are directions intersecting with (perpendicular to) each other, and the transport direction F is a direction intersecting with (perpendicular to) the scan direction X.

The feeding section13includes a holding shaft20that rotatably holds a roll R which is the rolled medium M, and a first rotation mechanism21that rotates the holding shaft20. The holding shaft20extending in the scan direction X can hold various rolls R formed of different types of media M and the media M with different dimensions in the scan direction X (sizes in the width). The first rotation mechanism21is composed of, for example, a motor and a speed reducer. Further, the feeding section13is configured to rotate the roll R in one direction (inFIG. 2, counterclockwise direction) to thereby allow the medium M payed out from the roll R to be fed to the support section14.

The support section14includes a first support section22that constitutes a transport path for the medium M from upstream to downstream in the transport direction, and a second support section23which serves as a platen. The first support section22guides the medium M fed out from the feeding section13toward the second support section23. The second support section23is disposed at a position where printing (recording) of the medium M is performed, and serves to support the medium M to be printed and guide the medium M toward the cutting section17after printing.

The transport unit15includes a transport roller24that imparts a transportation force to the medium M, a driven roller25that presses the medium M against the transport roller24, and a second rotation mechanism26that rotates the transport roller24. The transport roller24and the driven roller25are rollers having an axis direction in the scan direction X.

The transport roller24is disposed vertically under the transport path for the medium M, and the driven roller25is disposed vertically above the transport path for the medium M. The second rotation mechanism26is composed of, for example, a motor and a speed reducer. Further, the transport unit15is configured to transport the medium M in the transport direction F by rotating the transport roller24while the medium M is nipped between the transport roller24and the driven roller25.

The printing section16includes a guide shaft27extending in the scan direction X, a carriage28supported by the guide shaft27in a manner movable in the scan direction X, an ejection head29supported by the carriage28and having a plurality of nozzles (not shown in the figure) for ejecting ink onto the medium M, and a first movement mechanism30for moving the carriage28in the scan direction X.

The ejection head29is a so-called ink jet head having an actuator (not shown in the figure) such as a piezoelectric element for each of the nozzles (not shown in the figure) which is driven for ejecting ink from the nozzles. When the ejection head29is supported by the carriage28, the openings of the nozzles face the second support section23. Further, in the present embodiment, water-based ink is used as an ink.

The first movement mechanism30includes a motor and a speed reducer, and is configured to convert a rotation force of the motor into a force for moving the carriage28in the scan direction X. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the first movement mechanism30is driven to cause the carriage28to reciprocate in the scan direction X while supporting the ejection head29.

The cutting section17includes a guide member31extending in the scan direction X, a pair of rotary blades32that constitutes a cutter as an example of a movable body supported by the guide member31in a manner movable in the scan direction X, and a second movement mechanism33for moving the pair of rotary blades32in the scan direction X while rotating the rotary blades32. The cutting section17is disposed between the second support section23of the transport path for the medium M and the guiding section100, which will be described later.

The second movement mechanism33includes a motor and a speed reducer, and is configured to convert a rotation force of the motor into a force for rotating the pair of rotary blades32and a force for moving the pair of rotary blades32in the scan direction X. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the second movement mechanism33is driven to cause the pair of rotary blades32to move in the scan direction X on both surfaces of the medium M to thereby cut the medium M by a predetermined length. Further, in the present embodiment, the moving direction of the pair of rotary blades32is consistent with the scan direction X.

An output port40is formed on a front wall of the housing12to penetrate the front wall in the front-back direction Y so that the medium M which has been printed by the printing section16and cut by the cutting section17in the housing12is outputted to the outside of the housing12through the output port40. The output port40has a slit-shape extending in the scan direction X. Further, in the present embodiment, the second support section23is disposed at a position higher than the output port40.

Further, the guiding section100is disposed between the second support section23and the output port40to guide the medium M. The guiding section100of the present embodiment is disposed between the cutting section17and the output port40. The medium M which has been printed by printing section16is guided by the guiding section100to the output port40. The detailed configuration of the guiding section100will be described later.

As shown inFIG. 2, a first openable cover35which is rotatable about a first shaft36is provided on the back side on the top of the housing12so that it can be opened when the roll R is set in the housing12. Further, a second openable cover37which is rotatable about a second shaft38is provided on the front side on the top of the housing12so that it can be opened when a maintenance operation of the printing section16or the cutting section17in the housing12is performed. Moreover, an operation section39for performing various operations for the printing apparatus1is provided on the top of the housing12at a position adjacent to the second openable cover37in the scan direction X.

Next, the detailed configuration of the guiding section will be described.FIG. 3is a partial schematic side cross-sectional view which illustrates the configuration of the printing apparatus. Specifically,FIG. 3is a diagram which illustrates the configuration of the guiding section100and the peripherals. Further,FIG. 4Ais a schematic perspective view which illustrates the configuration of a second guiding section, andFIG. 4Bis a schematic perspective view which illustrates another configuration of a second guiding section.

As shown inFIG. 3, the guiding section100includes a first guiding section101which faces one of the surfaces of the medium M transported and a second guiding section201which faces the other of the surfaces of the medium M. In the present embodiment, the first guiding section101is disposed under the second guiding section201.

Further, either the first guiding section101or the second guiding section201is located on a line extended from the support surface23athat supports the medium M in the second support section23. In the present embodiment, the second guiding section201is located on a line extended from the support surface23a(in the Y direction) of the second support section23. That is, a space does not extend in a straight line between the second support section23and the output port40and is regulated by either of the first guiding section101and the second guiding section201.

The first guiding section101and the second guiding section201have bent portions110and210, respectively. In other words, the first guiding section101and the second guiding section201each have a curved portion.

Further, the second guiding section201may be a single plate material extending in the X axis direction as shown inFIG. 4A, or second guiding sections201amay be separate individual pieces as shown inFIG. 4B. Either of these can contribute to transportation of the medium M.

The bent portion110of the first guiding section101has a first bent portion111and a second bent portion112. The first bent portion111is disposed at a position closest to the output port40, and the second bent portion112is disposed at a position more spaced from the output port40than the first bent portion111is. In other words, the first bent portion111is disposed at a position closer to the second support section23than to the output port40, and the second bent portion112is disposed at a position closer to the output port40than to the first bent portion111. Further, the bent portion210of the second guiding section201has a first bent portion211and a second bent portion212. The first bent portion211is disposed at a position closest to the output port40, and the second bent portion212is disposed at a position more spaced from the output port40than the first bent portion211is. In other words, the first bent portion211is disposed at a position closer to the second support section23than to the output port40, and the second bent portion212is disposed at a position closer to the output port40than to the first bent portion211.

The first bent portion111and the second bent portion112of the first guiding section101are different in bending direction. That is, the first bent portion111has a curved surface having a radius of curvature R1, and the second bent portion112has a curved surface having a radius of curvature R2. A center point of the radius of curvature R1is disposed at a position higher than the first bent portion111, and a center point of the radius of curvature R2is disposed at a position lower than the second bent portion112. Similarly, the first bent portion211and the second bent portion212of the second guiding section201are different in bending direction. That is, the first bent portion211has a curved surface having a radius of curvature R1′, and the second bent portion212has a curved surface having a radius of curvature R2′. A center point of the radius of curvature R1′ is disposed at a position higher than the first bent portion211, and a center point of the radius of curvature R2′ is disposed at a position higher than the second bent portion212.

In the present embodiment, the curvature of the first bent portion111in the first guiding section101is larger than the curvature of the second bent portion112. That is, the first bent portion111has a curve narrower than the second bent portion112. Further, the curvature of the first bent portion111of the first guiding section101is larger than the first bent portion211of the second guiding section201.

A distance L from the output port40(outer surface of the housing12) to the first bent portion111is 30 mm or less. Further an opening width D (the dimension in the Z direction) of the output port40can be, for example, 5.8 mm or less.

Next, the safety of the printing apparatus will be described.FIG. 5is a schematic view which illustrates the safety of the printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus1, a technical measure is taken against the insertion of a finger or the like from the output port40to the inside of the housing12. In the case where the finger is inserted inside the housing12through the output port40, the finger may touch the rotary blade32of the cutting section17, which is a movable member, the ejection head29, or the second support section23, and the finger may be injured. Therefore, for example, for the device that cannot be restricted from being touched by children, it is required to conduct a test in compliance with the safety standard IEC 62368-1 using a V1probe (a test probe imitating the human fingers) to ensure the safety.

FIG. 5shows that a V1probe P is inserted inside the housing12through the output port40of the printing apparatus1of the present embodiment. The V1probe P includes a first articulation P1, and the length from a tip Pa of the V1probe P to the first articulation P1is 30 mm. In this case, as shown inFIG. 5, the tip Pa of the V1probe P abuts the first bent portion111of the first guiding section101, which is disposed at the distance L of 30 mm or less from the output port40(the outer surface of the housing12), and is prohibited from being further advanced into the inside of the housing12.

Further, since the first bent portion111and the second bent portion112are different in the bending direction, that is, since the bending directions of the first bent portion111and the second bent portion112are combined into the direction in which the finger articulation cannot be bent, advancement of the finger into inside the housing is restricted even if a thinner finger is inserted inside the housing12through the output port40.

Further, since the second guiding section201is located on a line extended from the support surface23aof the second support section23in the printing apparatus1, the finger in a straight position cannot be advanced toward the second support section23from the output port40. That is, advancement of the finger into inside the housing is restricted.

Further, since the radius of the first bent portion111of the first guiding section101is relatively large, the articulation of the finger inserted into the housing12through the output port40is prevented from being easily bent so that advancement of the finger into inside the housing is reliably restricted. Further, since the distance between the second support section23and the output port40can be reduced by increasing the radius of the first bent portion111of the first guiding section101, the configuration of the printing apparatus1can be small-sized. Specifically, the dimension of the housing12in the Y direction can be reduced.

Next, a printing method will be described. In the present embodiment, a printing method by the above printing apparatus1will be described. In the printing method according to the present embodiment, the medium M is outputted from the second support section23via the guiding section100having the bent portion210to the outside through the output port40. The detailed description follows.

FIGS. 6A and 6Bare schematic views which illustrate a printing method. As shown inFIG. 6A, the medium M printed by the printing section16is transported in the transport direction F. Accordingly, the leading end of the medium M on the downstream side in the transport direction F is downwardly transported along the second bent portion212of the second guiding section201.

Then, as shown inFIG. 6B, the leading end of the medium M on the downstream side in the transport direction F is downwardly transported along the first bent portion211of the second guiding section201, and the medium M is eventually outputted through the output port40. Further, the medium M is cut by the cutting section17at a predetermined position, and the cut medium M is stored in the stacker4(seeFIG. 1).

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

In the printing apparatus1, if the finger is inserted into inside the housing12through the output port40, the tip of the finger abuts the bent portion110of the guiding section100(specifically, the first bent portion111) so that advancement of the finger into inside the housing is restricted. Accordingly, this configuration prevents the finger from touching the rotary blade32of the cutting section17, the second support section23, the ejection head29, and the like, thereby improving the safety. Further, according to the configuration of the printing apparatus1, a foreign substance as well as the finger can be prevented from being easily inserted into inside the housing12through the output port40. Moreover, since the medium M is transported along the bent portion210(specifically, the first bent portion211and the second bent portion212of the second guiding section201) from the second support section23to the output port40, the medium M can be reliably transported.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, and various modification and alteration can be made to the above embodiment. Modified examples will be described below.

Modified Example 1

Although the guiding section100of the above embodiment is simply a surface for guiding the medium M, it is not limited to this configuration. For example, a rotary member can be added to the guiding section100.FIG. 7is a partial schematic side cross-sectional view which illustrates a configuration of a printing apparatus according to Modified example 1. As shown inFIG. 7, the guiding section100aof the printing apparatus la includes rollers231and232as rotary members in the second guiding section201a.Specifically, the roller231is disposed at a position corresponding to the first bent portion211of the second guiding section201aand the roller232is disposed at a position corresponding to the second bent portion212. Accordingly, the medium M can be more smoothly transported by the rollers231and232. Further, in addition to the rollers231and232, a rib can also be provided on the surface of the second guiding section201awhich faces the medium M. Specifically, a plurality of ribs extending from the cutting section17to the output port40are formed. In this configuration as well, the medium M can be more reliably transported. Further, the configuration other than the rollers231and232is the same as the configuration of the above printing apparatus1, and the description thereof is omitted.

Modified Example 2

Although the second support section23of the present embodiment is disposed at a position higher than the output port40, it is not limited thereto.FIG. 8is a partial schematic side cross-sectional view which illustrates a configuration of a printing apparatus according to Modified example 2. As shown inFIG. 8, the printing apparatus1bis configured such that the second support section23is located under the output port40. A guiding section100bis disposed between the second support section23and the output port40to guide the medium M. The guiding section100bincludes a first guiding section101aand a second guiding section201adisposed above the first guiding section101a.The guiding section100bhas a shape of the guiding section100of the above embodiment which is turned upside down by 180 degrees.

The first guiding section101aincludes a first bent portion111aand a second bent portion112a.The first bent portion111ais disposed at a position closest to the output port40, and the second bent portion112ais disposed at a position more spaced from the output port40than the first bent portion111is. The first bent portion111aand the second bent portion112aare different in the bending direction. Further, the second guiding section201aincludes a first bent portion211aand a second bent portion212a.The first bent portion211ais disposed at a position closest to the output port40, and the second bent portion212ais disposed at a position more spaced from the output port40than the first bent portion211ais. The first bent portion211aand the second bent portion212aare different in the bending direction. The first guiding section101ais located on a line extended from the support surface23a(in the Y direction) of the second support section23. Further, the configuration other than the guiding section100bis the same as the configuration of the above printing apparatus1, and the description thereof is omitted. In this configuration as well, the advantageous effects similar to the above can be obtained.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-050915, filed Mar. 16, 2017. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-050915 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.