Portable printer

A portable printer and a member having a two-layer configuration formed from members having different mold shrinkage ratios and having a superior shock resistance without distortion may be achieved. The member (50) including an inner layer (52) formed from a first material and an outer layer (54) formed from a second material. The second material has a higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material. A protrusion (52A) included on at least at one end of the inner layer (52), such that an end surface (54a) of the outer layer (54) is covered by the protrusion (52A).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Phase conversion of PCT/JP2014/069949, filed Jul. 29, 2014, which claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2013-223250, filed Oct. 28, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The PCT International Application was published in the Japanese language.

TECHNICAL FIELD

A present disclosure relates to a member and a portable printer. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a member that has a two-layered configuration including an inner layer of a first material and an outer layer of a second material; and the portable printer that includes the member.

BACKGROUND ART

The portable printer includes a printer that is configured to print on a printing paper. As the portable printer, a label printer is known, e.g., that includes a function for ejecting a label by separating the label from a strip-shaped mount (e.g., Patent Literature 1).

The portable printer is configured to print a value or a barcode on the label at a store or a place of sales. The label is attached to merchandise. In such a case, the portable printer is operated while being held by the hands of an operator, or operated while being attached to a body of the operator via clothing or a belt (e.g., Patent Literature 2).

RELATED ART

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

With regard to a portable printer, in particular, a part other than a printing part including a printing head may be damaged or broken-down as a result of an impact such as falling or collision, such that a printing function and an ejection function may be impaired. Accordingly, a portable printer with improved shock resistance is in demand. Further, a member that has superior shock resistance is sought for a printer, i.e., such a member need not be limited to a portable printer. In addition, portable printers are typically produced by a resin formation process. A shape or deformation of a resin casing has influence on assembly position accuracy such as a printing unit that is attached above the casing. Accordingly, the shape or deformation of the resin casing plays an important role in print quality. Accordingly, a resin casing that does not deform is sought.

A present disclosure has been conceived of in view of various conventional problems. As a result, a member and a printer that are superior in shock resistance without deformation are proposed.

Means for Solving the Problems

A member according to a present disclosure, includes: an inner layer formed of a first material; and an outer layer formed of a second material, in which the outer layer covers the inner layer, the outer layer has a higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material, a protruding part is formed on at least one end of the inner layer, and the protruding part covers an end surface of the outer layer, in order to achieve an objective.

According to the present disclosure, the second material having the higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material is used as the outer layer disposed on the inner layer formed of the first material in order to achieve superior shock resistance in the member formed of the first material. Further, the protruding part included on the inner layer having the first material covers the end surface of the outer layer having the second material, such that shrinkage of the second material is structurally prevented by the protruding part having the first material.

According to the present disclosure, a member is proposed that has superior shock resistance without deformation. Moreover, according to the member of an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is desirable that the inner layer and the outer layer are formed by double molding.

Injection molding the inner layer and the outer layer may be possible by overlapping two types of materials during a single molding, by molding using double molding. Accordingly, it is possible to produce a high-strength or low-cost member.

According to an embodiment of the member of the present disclosure, it is desirable that the first material is a plastic and the second material is an elastomer.

According to an embodiment of the member of the present disclosure, it is desirable that the member is a housing.

The portable printer according to the present disclosure includes: the member; and a printer configured to attach to the member, such that the printer prints on a printing paper, in order to achieve an objective.

Effects of the Invention

According to a present disclosure, a member and a printer may be achieved that are superior in shock resistance without deformation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of a present disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

The present disclosure describes a housing of a portable printer, including: a member composed of an inner layer formed of a first material and an outer layer formed of a second material, in which the outer layer covers the inner layer, the second material has a higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material, and a protruding part included on at least one end of the inner layer covers an end surface of the outer layer. However, the member according to the present disclosure is not limited to the housing of the portable printer. Accordingly, any member may be implemented as appropriate.

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of an external configuration of an embodiment of a portable printer; andFIG. 2shows an exploded perspective view of the portable printer ofFIG. 1.

A portable printer1is configured as a thermal printer. The portable printer1includes: a housing2; an opening and closing cover3; a printing unit5(not shown inFIG. 1) including a printing part4; a platen roller6; a rechargeable battery7; a supplying part9for a continuous label body (printing paper)8(not shown inFIG. 1); an inputter10; a display11; a power switch12; a press-release button13; and a control circuit board14.

A first housing2A and a second housing2B are combined to form the housing2of the portable printer1. The housing2has an operator-portable size. InFIG. 1, a belt-hanging part15is included on an upper side, and the entire portable printer1is configured to be hangable from a shoulder of an operator by a shoulder-hanging belt (not shown). Of course, a present configuration may also be modified so as to attach to a waist of the operator.

Further, the opening and closing cover3that surrounds a cover shaft16positioned at a lower corner part inFIG. 2is openably and closably mounted to the housing2. As a result, it is possible for storage of the continuous label body8to the supplying part9and for loading into the portable printer1.

FIG. 3shows a planar view of the opening and closing cover3of the portable printer ofFIG. 1in an opened configuration; andFIG. 4shows a perspective view of the opening and closing cover3of the portable printer ofFIG. 1in an opened configuration.FIG. 4illustrates a configuration that has the press-release button13omitted therefrom.

The continuous label body8is a structure having a plurality of label pieces temporarily attached onto a strip-shaped mount. The label piece is a so-called “thermal label.” It is possible to print by coating a thermosensitive color developing layer onto a surface of the label piece.

The printing part4includes: a thermal head17(printing head) configured to attach to the housing2(printing unit5); the platen roller6configured to rotatably attach to a side end opposing the cover shaft16that is positioned on a first end of the opening and closing cover3; and a drive motor18configured to rotatably drive the platen roller6.

The thermal head17is configured to print on the continuous label body8by receiving printing data from the control circuit board14.

The platen roller6is configured to rotatably attach around the platen roller shaft19. In a case where the opening and closing cover3is in a closed configuration with respect to the housing2, as shown inFIG. 1, the continuous label body8is sandwiched between the platen roller6and the thermal head17that opposes the platen roller6, and the platen roller6feeds the continuous label body8.

The printing unit5is disposed on a unit body20, and includes: the thermal head17of the printing part4; a cover lock21; and a drive gear22from the drive motor18(a final gear in a gear train of a connecting gear is described inFIG. 2).

The platen roller6includes a platen roller gear23at one end of a platen roller shaft19. The platen roller gear23is configured to rotatably drive the platen roller6.

The drive gear22is included in the housing2. The platen roller gear23may be rotatably driven by being engaged with the drive gear22opposed by the platen roller6. In other words, the platen roller gear23and the drive gear22are engaged by closure of the opening and closing cover3towards the housing2, and the platen roller6may be rotatably driven by the drive motor18.

In a case where the continuous label body8is sandwiched between the thermal head17and the platen roller6, the platen roller6is rotatably driven by the drive motor18, a heating element17A (see,FIG. 4) of the thermal head17is heated in response to printing data supplied to the thermal head17from the control circuit board14, and thermal printing is applied to the continuous label body (label piece)8.

Further, a left and right lockpin24are disposed on both ends of the platen roller shaft19, in order to engageably lock the opening and closing cover3such that the platen roller6is pressed with respect to the thermal head17. In other words, a left and right platen roller lock engagement part25of the cover lock21in the housing2opposed by the platen roller6is configured to disengage with the left and right lockpin24.

The engagement between the cover lock21(platen roller lock engagement part25) and the lockpin24is released against a biasing force of the head-biasing spring39by operating the press-release button13so as to be pressed into the housing2. The cover lock21(thermal head17) is then rotated so as to separate from the platen roller6in the unit body20, the opening and closing cover3is disengaged with respect to the housing2, and the continuous label body8is loadably inserted between the thermal head17and the platen roller6.

The rechargeable battery7is attachably and detachably stored inside the housing2(first housing2A) by opening a battery cover26. The rechargeable battery7is configured to supply electric power to an entire system of the portable printer1, which includes the printing part4(thermal head17) and the drive motor18.

The inputter10is configured to input required data or command to the portable printer1.

The display11is configured to display information input via the inputter10or other required information.

The control circuit board14is configured to send and receive the data and command to and from the printing part4, the rechargeable battery7, the inputter10, the display11, and the power switch12; and to control the printing part4, the rechargeable battery7, the inputter10, the display11, and the power switch12, where appropriate.

In the portable printer1configured as described above, an outer layer28is formed as the second material composed of a flexible resin, next to a printing part arrangement area surface27in the housing2, which has the printing part4positioned therein. Accordingly, resistance to an impact from falling may be ensured. A hard and rigid inner layer40(see,FIGS. 5 to 8) is formed as the first material composed of a hard resin. Accordingly, easy assembly of the printing unit5, the control circuit board14, or the like, may be on the first housing2A may be allowed. Further, in a case of using the double molding to mold two different materials such as those mentioned above, an instance may arise where a mold shrinkage ratio of each material may be different. A deformation resulting from a difference in a mold shrinkage may be prevented by forming a protruding part such that a material having a low mold shrinkage ratio faces a material having a high mold shrinkage ratio. Hereinafter, the above will be described in detail.

A point is added to a description in each figure to illustrate the outer layer28composed of the second material that has a higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material. However, a region or member including the outer layer28is not limited to an example in the figure. For example, the outer layer28may also be included in the opening and closing cover3inFIGS. 1 to 4.

It is preferable that the material of the inner layer40(see,FIGS. 5 to 8) is a plastic and the material of the outer layer28is an elastomer. A wide variety of plastics may be used as the above plastic. However, it is preferable that the plastic is a resin selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate-based resin, a polypropylene-based resin, and a polyacetal-based resin. Further, a wide variety of elastomers may be used as the above elastomer. However, it is preferable that the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of an olefin-based elastomer, a polyether-based elastomer, and a polyester-based elastomer is preferable.

FIG. 5shows a perspective view of the first housing2A; andFIG. 6shows a cross-sectional view along line6-6ofFIG. 5.

The housing2(first housing2A) has a two-layered configuration including: the inner layer40; and the outer layer28disposed on an outer side of the inner layer40. The inner layer40is composed of a first material, and the outer layer28is composed of a second material. The second material has a higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material. As indicated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the second material has a higher shrinkage ratio than the first material, and thus a shrinkage (or expansion) difference may occur due to temperature. As a result, the member may be distorted (or deformed) towards an outer side of the member, and the outer layer28may be separated from the inner layer40in a severe case.

FIG. 7shows a perspective view of the first housing2A according to a present disclosure; andFIG. 8shows a cross-sectional view along line8-8ofFIG. 7.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, a protruding part40A is formed on the inner layer40, which is comprised of the first material. The protruding part40A covers an end surface28aof the outer layer28, which is composed of the second material. The deformation resulting from the shrinkage of the second material or the like is structurally prevented by the protruding part40A. In other words, distortion of the outer layer28towards an outer side resulting from shrinking the outer layer28more than the inner layer40is prevented by the protruding part40A that suppresses the end surface28aof the outer layer28. As a result, deformation or the like resulting from shrinkage of the outer layer28is suppressed.

As previously described, a superior member that does not distort may be achieved by applying a two-layered configuration including: an inner layer comprised of the first material; and an outer layer comprised of the second material having a higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material. Further, the protruding part that covers an end surface of the outer layer is formed on at least one end of the inner layer,

In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the inner layer and the outer layer are formed by double molding. Injection molding the inner layer40and the outer layer28may be possible by overlapping two types of materials during a single molding, by molding using double molding. Accordingly, it is possible to produce a low-cost housing2A and a high-strength member.

On the other hand, as shown inFIGS. 1, 3 and 4, or the like, a plurality of reinforcing ribs32are formed to protrude in a direction orthogonal to the cover shaft16on a top surface of the opening and closing cover3, so as to increase a mechanical strength of the opening and closing cover3.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a stress concentration in each corner part resulting from an external force, falling, or the like, is avoided by formation of a curved surface shape for each corner part (eight locations total) of the housing2that is substantially rectangular shaped, so as to ensure a mechanical strength or resistance to shock.

Accordingly, the cover shaft16of the opening and closing cover3is disposed on the inner side of a left and right corner part on a lower side (inner side of the housing2more than a case of a square-shaped corner part) of the housing2, as shown inFIG. 3. In other words, while a length L1of the cover shaft16of the opening and closing cover3is shorter than a case where the cover shaft16is disposed on the square-shaped corner part, a length L2of the platen roller shaft19of the platen roller6is formed so as to be longer than the length L1(L1<L2) of the cover shaft16.

As shown inFIGS. 2 to 4, a connecting space33is formed by cutting out a left and right end in a left and right direction of the press-release button13on a top surface side of the housing2(first housing2A) that includes the power switch12and the press-release button13, such that the platen roller lock engagement part25of the cover lock21and the drive gear22are configured to face the connecting space33.

Further, a pressable piece34is formed on an upper left and right end of the opening and closing cover3. In a case where the opening and closing cover3is closed with respect to the housing2, the pressable piece34is configured to close the connecting space33, the lockpin24of the platen roller6is configured to engage the platen roller lock engagement part25that faces the connecting space33, and the platen roller gear23of the platen roller6is configured to engage with the drive gear22.

Accordingly, a mechanism for an opening and closing lock of the opening and closing cover3(lockpin24of the platen roller6and the platen roller lock engagement part25of the cover lock21) and a mechanism for a driving force transmission of the platen roller6(platen roller gear23of the platen roller6and the drive gear22from the drive motor18) may be arranged in the connecting space33, such that a configuration of the portable printer1is simplified, and miniaturization of the portable printer1is achieved.

A plurality of ribs28A are arranged at a predetermined height on a bottom surface of the printer housing2. In addition, a printing part shock absorbing protrusion30and an inputter/display shock absorbing protrusion31are disposed on a top surface side of the printer housing2arranged with the opening and closing cover3. The inputter/display shock absorbing protrusion31extends from a boundary between the inputter/display arrangement area surface29towards an upper space direction.

As previously mentioned, an example of the housing of the portable printer has been described in the present disclosure. However, the present invention is not limited to the portable printer, and may be also applied to a housing or member of various additional devices. In other words, as shown inFIG. 9, a member50includes: an inner layer52formed of a first material; and an outer layer54formed of a second material having a higher mold shrinkage ratio than the first material, in which the outer layer54covers the inner layer52. A protruding part52A that covers an end surface54aof the outer layer54is formed on an end of the inner layer52, such that the member (housing)50may be achieved without deformation.

While the protruding part52A attached to an end of the inner layer52mechanically prevents expansion of the second material, so long as the protruding part52A is attached to at least one end of the inner layer52, it is more preferable that the protruding part52A is attached to both ends of the inner layer52, as shown inFIG. 9. Expansion of the second material may be further prevented by having the protruding part52A attached to both ends of the inner layer52, such that a member (housing)50may be further achieved without deformation.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS