Patent Publication Number: US-2022234364-A1

Title: Mobile printer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-009787, filed Jan. 25, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a mobile printer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, a type of mobile printer is known that can print an image while being moved by a user relative to a printing medium, such as a sheet of paper or other printable surface. For example, when performing printing on the printing medium with such a mobile printer, the printing medium is placed on a flat surface, and then the mobile printer is pressed against the printing medium and moved across the surface of the printing medium. 
     However, if there is no flat surface readily available, or if the printing medium is attached to something (or is something) that cannot be placed on a flat surface, then printing with such a mobile printer may not be possible. Likewise, if the printing medium is hard and does not bend to conform to an underlying flat surface, then it may not be possible to press the mobile printer against the printing medium in the manner necessary to permit printing. Similarly, if the printing medium comprises a material, such as some types of paper, that will be noticeably deformed when force is applied, it can be difficult to perform the printing because the printing medium can be deformed into a non-flat shape at the point of contact with the mobile printer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically illustrating aspects of a mobile printer according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view schematically illustrating additional aspects of a mobile printer according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile printer according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating an example of operation of a mobile printer according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view schematically illustrating aspects of a mobile printer according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view schematically illustrating additional aspects of a mobile printer according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, according to one embodiment, a mobile printer includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge, and a print head. The first housing has a first surface. The second housing is configured to face the first surface of the first housing. The hinge connects the first housing and the second housing and is configured to permit the first housing and the second housing to rotate relative to each other. The print head in the second housing is configured to print an image on to a print medium on the first surface by discharging ink. 
     Hereinafter, certain example embodiments of a mobile printer will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and various changes, alterations, and modifications may be made to the depicted examples without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views schematically illustrating a configuration of the mobile printer  1  according to a first embodiment.  FIG. 1  illustrates a closed state; and  FIG. 2  illustrates an open state.  FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating aspects related to a hardware configuration of the mobile printer  1 . 
     As illustrated, the mobile printer  1  includes a first housing  11 , a second housing  12 , a hinge  13 , a turning member  14 , a head  15 , a position detection sensor  16 , a printing medium confirmation sensor  17  (confirmation sensor  17 ), an input unit  18 , and a control device  20 . In the mobile printer  1 , a printing medium is held between the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 . The printing medium and the mobile printer  1  move relative to each other, and accordingly, images such as text or symbols can be printed on the printing medium by the head  15 . It may be preferable that the sizes of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  be set such that the mobile printer  1  can be operated by the user holding the mobile printer  1  in one hand while gripping the printing medium with the other hand. 
     The first housing  11  has a surface that supports the printing medium. As a specific example, the first housing  11  includes a printing medium holding unit  111  (holding unit  111 ) and a first hinge unit  112  that forms the hinge  13 . The holding unit  111  has a flat surface that supports the printing medium. The holding unit  111  has, for example, a rectangular square shape that is longer in one direction than the other. The surface of the holding unit  111  facing the second housing  12  provides a surface that supports the printing medium for printing purposes. 
     The second housing  12  has a surface on which at least a part of the head  15  is disposed. The second housing  12  rotates relative to the first housing  11 . As one example, the second housing  12  includes a head holding unit  121  and a second hinge unit  122 . The second hinge unit forms part of the hinge  13 . The head holding unit  121  is formed, for example, in a rectangular square shape that is longer in one direction than the other. In the head holding unit  121 , a part of the head  15  is disposed on the surface facing the holding unit  111  of the first housing  11 . The second housing  12  is configured, together with the holding unit  111 , to sandwich and hold the printing medium therebetween. 
     The hinge  13  is formed such that the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are turnable within a predetermined angle range around a single shaft. Here, the predetermined angle range goes from a closed position to an open position. The closed position is a position where the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  face each other and are in a sufficiently close state to permit printing to be performed on the printing medium. At the open position, the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are separated from each other at least sufficiently to permit insertion of the print medium or the like. 
     The hinge  13  in this example includes a first hinge unit  112 , a second hinge unit  122 , and a shaft  131 . The first hinge unit  112  is formed at one end portion of the first housing  11 . The second hinge unit  122  is formed at one end portion of the second housing  12  The shaft  131  extends through the first hinge unit  112  and the second hinge unit  122  and is thus supported in a manner permitting at least one of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  to pivot thereabout. In some examples, shaft  131  may be integrated with one of the first hinge unit  112  and the second hinge unit  122 . 
     The turning member  14  operates to swing at least one of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  in a turning direction about the shaft  131 . For example, the turning member  14  is a motor. In the present embodiment, the turning member  14  is a motor  141 . In other examples, the turning member  14  may be a lever, a system of gears, or the like. In the present example, the motor  141  is driven such that the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  open and close by rotating about the shaft  131 . For example, the motor  141  has a rotation shaft and a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the rotation shaft to cause relative movement of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 . 
     The head  15  includes, for example, an ink tank, an actuator such as a piezoelectric element, a flow path for supplying ink from the ink tank to the actuator, and a nozzle for discharging ink. The head  15  is, for example, an ink jet head. The head  15  is controlled by the control device  20  to discharge ink from the nozzle based on arbitrary image information (print data) provided in any manner. 
     The head  15  is, for example, a cartridge in which the ink tank, the actuator, the flow path, and the nozzle are integrated. The head  15  is formed to be attachable to and detachable from the head holding unit  121 . When the head  15  is attached to the head holding unit  121 , the nozzle will be disposed on the surface of the head holding unit  121  facing the first housing  11 . 
     As the ink, in general, any ink type may be utilized. In some examples, the ink may be a deteriorating ink becomes less visible upon exposure to heat, UV light, or the like. In the present embodiment, the deteriorating ink is a decolorable ink that is decolored by heat. Therefore, the head  15  in the present embodiment prints visual information (e.g., text or symbols) with the decolorable ink that can be considered temporary since the printed information can be subsequently decolored/deteriorated by heat to become substantially invisible to the unaided human eye. The print medium can be reusable (printed with other visual information) after the previous visual information is decolored/deteriorated by heat. The temporary visual information may include, for example, the price or other information written on the price tag of a product to be sold at a retail store. 
     Decoloring in this context includes a case where a printed ink color changes from a specific color to transparent or to another distinct color. In other examples, the ink need not be a decoloring or visually deteriorating ink. 
     The position detection sensor  16  detects at least one of the closed position and the open position for the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , and outputs the detected information as a signal to the control device  20 . As a specific example, the position detection sensor  16  is provided in the first housing  11 , detects when the second housing  12  is in the closed position, outputs a signal to the control device  20  indicating the closed position, but outputs no signal if the second housing  12  is not in the closed position. As another specific example, the position detection sensor  16  detects when the second housing  12  is in the closed position and when the second housing  12  is in the open position, and outputs different signals to the control device  20  corresponding to detection of the closed position and the open position. The control device  20  determines whether the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are in the closed position or in the open position based on the signal(s) output from the position detection sensor  16 . For example, the position detection sensor  16  is provided on the surface of the holding unit  111  of the first housing  11  facing the second housing  12  and at the end portion opposite from the first hinge unit  112 . 
     The confirmation sensor  17  detects whether or not the printing medium has been set in the holding unit  111 , and outputs the detected information as a signal to the control device  20 . As a specific example, the confirmation sensor  17  detects the presence of the printing medium between the holding unit  111  and the head  15 , outputs a signal to the control device  20 , but outputs no signal if the printing medium is not in the holding unit  111 . The control device  20  determines a setting state of the printing medium in the holding unit  111  based on the signal output from the confirmation sensor  17 . For example, the confirmation sensor  17  is disposed on a surface of the holding unit  111  facing the second housing  12  and is capable of detecting the printing medium in the holding unit  111  at a position where the printing medium will be disposed at the start of the printing. 
     The input unit  18  outputs a signal to the control device  20  based on a command or commands input by the user of the mobile printer  1 . The input unit  18  is, for example, a button, a sensor, a touch panel, or the like. The input unit  18  receives the input of the user for making selections or performing various functions. For example, the user input pertains to various user-selectable settings and various user commands. The input unit  18  outputs a signal to the control device  20  based on the received user input. 
     In the present example, the input unit  18  includes a power input unit  181  for inputting a command for turning the power of the mobile printer  1  on and off, an opening and closing input unit  182  for inputting a command for opening or closing the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , and a print input unit  183  for inputting a command for starting printing. The power input unit  181 , the opening and closing input unit  182 , and the print input unit  183 , which are each examples of the input unit  18 , may be a button, a sensor, or a touch panel. 
     The input unit  18  can be positioned such that it can be accessed and/or manipulated by a user that is holding at least one of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  with one hand. For example, each of the input units  181 ,  182 , and  183  is arranged at suitable positions on the second housing  12  such that a user can perform input with the same hand that is holding the second housing  12 . For example, the power input unit  181  and the print input unit  183  are arranged on the main surface of the second housing  12  facing away from the first housing  11 . For example, the opening and closing input unit  182  is disposed on a side surface of the second housing  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the control device  20  includes, for example, an interface (I/F)  21 , a battery  22 , a control circuit  23 , a head driving circuit  24 , a first memory  25 , and a second memory  26 , and a processor  27 . 
     The interface  21  is a connection terminal or a communication circuit to which an external apparatus can be communicatively connected. The interface  21  is a communication unit permitting communicating with the external apparatus. Therefore, the interface  21  may be any type of communication interface that can be connected to the external apparatus by wire or by using wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi communication. The interface  21  receives various information, such as image data, from the external terminal or an operation signal for the head  15  corresponding to image data. 
     The battery  22  is a power supply device. The battery  22  is, for example, a secondary battery. The battery  22  may include a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery. 
     The control circuit  23  is a processing circuit. The control circuit  23  is connected to the motor  141 , the position detection sensor  16 , the confirmation sensor  17 , and the input unit  18 . For example, the control circuit  23  drives the motor  141  based on a control program or the like. The control circuit  23  receives a signal including the position information output from the position detection sensor  16  and a signal including the printing medium confirmation information output from the confirmation sensor  17 , and transmits the signals to the processor  27 . 
     The head driving circuit  24  is a processing circuit. The head driving circuit  24  outputs various signals for driving and controlling the head  15  under the control of the processor (CPU)  27 . 
     The first memory  25  stores a program and data used by the program. The first memory  25  also stores image data used for printing. The first memory  25  is, for example, a non-volatile memory. For example, the first memory  25  is a read only memory (ROM). 
     The second memory  26  stores temporary data. The second memory  26  stores various information such as image data received from the external terminal or the like via the interface  21  or an operation signal of the head  15  corresponding to the image data. The second memory  26  is, for example, a non-volatile memory. For example, the second memory  26  is a random access memory (RAM). 
     The first memory  25  and the second memory  26  are not limited to the above-described examples. For example, as the first memory  25  and the second memory  26 , Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) (EEPROM®), NAND flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD) equipped with flash memory, or the like can be appropriately selected. The total number and size of memories can also be set as appropriate. 
     The processor  27  executes arithmetic processing. The processor  27  includes, for example, a processing circuit and a memory. The processor  27  performs various processing based on, for example, a program stored in the first memory  25  or data used in the program, or data such as image data or operation signal stored in the second memory  26 . The processor  27  may be configured to acquire a program from the first memory  25  upon the power being turned on (initialization), store the acquired program in the memory, and execute the program stored in the memory. 
     The processor  27  comprises, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The processor  27  controls the control circuit  23  and the head driving circuit  24  of the mobile printer  1  in order to realize various functions of the mobile printer  1  according to an operating system and/or an application program. 
     For example, the processor  27  determines that the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are in the closed position based on the signal output from the position detection sensor  16 . The processor  27  determines that the printing medium has been set in the holding unit  111  based on the signal output from the confirmation sensor  17 . 
     The processor  27  controls the head driving circuit  24  based on the detected positions of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , the setting status of the printing medium, the input of the user to the input unit  18 , the programs stored in the first memory  25  and the second memory  26 , the set parameter values, the image data, and the like. 
     Next, an example of printing operations using the mobile printer  1  of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     First, the processor  27  detects the operating state of the power input unit  181  (ACT  1 ). The processor  27  determines whether or not a command for turning on the power has been input from the power input unit  181  by the user based on the signal output from the power input unit  181 . If there is no signal output from the power input unit  181  (NO in ACT  1 ), the processor  27  waits until the command for turning on the power is input from the power input unit  181  (ACT  1 ). Then, once the power input unit  181  is operated and a signal output from the power input unit  181  is received (YES in ACT  1 ), the processor  27  supplies the electric power of the battery  22  to the control circuit  23  and the head driving circuit  24  (ACT  2 ). 
     Next, the processor  27  determines whether or not the setting of the printing medium is completed (ACT  3 ). In this context, the setting of print medium means that the printing medium is disposed in the holding unit  111 , and the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are in the closed position. 
     The processor  27  determines the positions of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  based on a signal output from the position detection sensor  16 , and also determines the setting status of the printing medium based on a signal from the confirmation sensor  17 . 
     For example, if the positions of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are still in the open position or the printing medium is not yet disposed in the holding unit  111 , the processor  27  determines that the setting of the printing medium is not completed based on the corresponding signals from the position detection sensor  16  and the confirmation sensor  17  (NO in ACT  3 ). Then, the processor  27  continues to check whether or not the setting of the printing medium has been completed until finally the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are closed and the printing medium is in the holding unit  111  (ACT  3 ). For example, if the setting of the printing medium is not completed, the user operates the opening and closing input unit  182  such that the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are in the open position, and sets the printing medium in the holding unit  111 . After this, if the user operates the opening and closing input unit  182  again, the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are in a closed state. 
     If the positions of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are in the closed position and the printing medium is disposed in the holding unit  111 , the processor  27  determines that the setting of the printing medium is completed based on the signals of the position detection sensor  16  and the confirmation sensor  17  (YES in ACT  3 ). 
     Accordingly, the processor  27  determines that printing is in a print standby state from which the printing can be started. Next, the processor  27  determines whether or not a command for printing has been sent from the print input unit  183  (ACT  4 ). In this example, processor  27  determines whether or not a print start signal is output from the print input unit  183 . If no signal is output from the print input unit  183  (NO in ACT  4 ), the processor  27  continues to check for the printing command (ACT  4 ). 
     Once a signal is output from the print input unit  183  (YES in ACT  4 ), the processor  27  controls the head driving circuit  24  and starts a print operation (ACT  5 ). At this time, the user moves the printing medium in a predetermined direction to print the image data on the printing medium as it moves in the predetermined direction. 
     After the printing operation is ended, the processor  27  detects the state of the power input unit  181  (ACT  6 ). In this example, the user turns off the power using the power input unit  181  and this functions as a print end command. The processor  27  determines whether or not a command for turning off the power is received from the power input unit  181  based on the signal output from the power input unit  181 . When the command for turning off the power is input via the power input unit  181 , the corresponding signal will be output from the power input unit  181  and received (YES in ACT  6 ), the processor  27  stops supply of the electric power to the control circuit  23  and the head driving circuit  24  at the end of the printing. 
     If the power input unit  181  does not signal a power off state, the processor  27  returns to ACT  2  and maintains the supply of the electric power to the control circuit  23  and the head driving circuit  24 , and then repeats ACT  3  (and subsequent processes as appropriate) in the manner described above. 
     According to the mobile printer  1  configured in this manner, when the printing medium is held by the holding unit  111 , printing can be performed by discharging ink from the head  15 . In other words, since the printing medium can be held by the holding unit  111 , the mobile printer  1  does not require placing of the printing medium on a flat surface for printing. Accordingly, the mobile printer  1  can perform printing on the printing medium with high printing quality even in a case of a printing medium being a material that would be deformed when force is applied. 
     In the mobile printer  1 , the shapes of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are shapes that can be operated with one hand, and the input unit  18  is disposed at a position where the input unit  18  can be operated by the hand that grips the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 . With this configuration, in the mobile printer  1 , by the operation with one hand, the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  can be gripped and the input unit  18  can be operated. Accordingly, a user of the mobile printer  1  can turn the power on and off, open and close the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , and input a printing command with one hand. 
     The mobile printer  1  discharges ink from the head  15  based on the signal of the print input unit  183  after confirming the setting state of the printing medium by the position detection sensor  16  and the confirmation sensor  17 . Accordingly, the mobile printer  1  can prevent ink from being discharged in a state where the printing medium is not set. 
     The mobile printer  1  can print temporary visual information on the printing medium by using decolorable ink. When the temporary visual information is printed on a price tag or the like using the mobile printer  1 , the information printed on the price tag, such as the price, can be rewritten. If temporary visual information is printed, the mobile printer  1  can repeatedly use the same printing medium over and over. Furthermore, a mobile printer  1  of the present example can be used to print information on a price tag that is already attached to merchandise. For example, the price tag can be held by the holding unit  111 , and thus, the temporary visual information such as price on the price tag can be easily rewritten. 
     According to the mobile printer  1  of the above-described embodiment, the printing medium can be held by the holding unit  111 . 
     The configuration of the mobile printer  1  is not limited to the above-described configuration. In some examples, the mobile printer  1  may have just one of the position detection sensor  16  or the confirmation sensor  17 . In such a configuration, when the processor  27  determines in the ACT  3  whether or not the setting of the print medium is completed, this can be based on either whether the printing medium is detected as disposed in the holding unit  111  or the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  being detected in the closed position. 
     In the above-described example, the mobile printer  1  includes the motor  141  as the turning member  14 , but the turning member  14  is not limited to the motor  141 . For example, the turning member  14  may be or incorporate a spring  142  ( FIG. 5 ) that urges at least one of the first housing or the second housing  12  in a direction toward the open position in which the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are separated from each other, or, alternatively, in a direction toward the closed position. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the configuration of the mobile printer  1  including a spring  142  as the turning member  14  or a portion thereof. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the mobile printer  1  of this embodiment includes the spring  142 . The spring  143  may be referred to as an urging member. As the spring  142 , various spring types can be used as long as the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  can be urged to move relative to each other. For example, the spring  142  can be a torsion spring, a coil spring, or the like. The spring  142  urges at least one of the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  such that the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are in the open position in the relaxed state, for example. Then, when the user grips the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  can be turned to the closed position against the urging action of the spring  142 . Since the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are configured to be selectively turned to the closed position by the user, for example, the mobile printer  1  of this example may be configured to have only the confirmation sensor  17  without the position detection sensor  16  being incorporated. Since the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are constantly urged in one of the turning directions by the spring  142 , the mobile printer  1  does not need to have an opening and closing input unit  182 . 
     The mobile printer  1  of the above embodiments has a configuration in which the printing medium is held by the holding unit  111 , and the printing medium is manually moved at the time of printing. The mobile printer  1  may have a configuration in which the printing medium is sandwiched between the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , or may have a configuration in which a spacer is provided in the second housing  12  in order to keep the distance between the printing medium and the nozzle of the head  15  constant. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the holding unit  111  may be provided with a guide  113  for guiding the printing medium along the appropriate moving direction. 
     The mobile printer  1  was described with an example in which the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are rotate with respect to one another between the open position and the closed position, but the possible embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be employed in which the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are entirely separable from one another and printing can be performed on the printing medium using just with the second housing  12  portion of the mobile printer  1 . With such a configuration, the position detection sensor  16  and the confirmation sensor  17  may be provided in the second housing  12 . This is because, when the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are separated, it is better to put the electrical components all together in the second housing  12  such that the wirings and the like are not required to be attached and detached between the two separable housing portions. By making the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  separable in this manner, the mobile printer  1  can also perform printing on the printing medium having a size (thickness) that cannot fit between the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 . 
     In other examples, the mobile printer  1  may be configured to permit a large rotation degree between the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , for example 180 degrees or more, without making the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  completely separable. For example, when needing to perform printing on a printing medium that cannot be sandwiched between the first housing  11  and the second housing  12 , the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  can be opened to such a degree that the first housing  11  does not interfere with the printing medium. Accordingly, printing can be performed on the printing medium by making only the second housing  12  face the printing medium. 
     The mobile printer  1  may incorporate a heater for decoloring temporary visual information printed with decolorable ink or the like. 
     In an above-described example, the processor  27  starts the printing operation if the print input unit  183  is operated, but embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the processor  27  may initiate the printing operation upon the receipt of print data or the like or automatically upon detection of the appropriate device state. 
     In an above-described example, the processor  27  determines the setting state of the printing medium based on the signals of the position detection sensor  16  and the confirmation sensor  17 , but embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the processor  27  may be configured to determine the setting state of the printing medium based on a signal from just one of the position detection sensor  16  or the confirmation sensor  17 . 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.