Patent Publication Number: US-8974052-B2

Title: Printer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-187867, which was filed on Aug. 30, 2011, and 2011-187864, which was filed on Aug. 30, 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACK GROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a printer that performs desired printing on a print-receiving medium. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There is disclosed a first prior art of a printer that provides a medium storage chamber that stores a print-receiving medium in the interior of a housing. In this printer, the medium storage chamber can be opened to the outside using an opening/closing lid (printer cover) provided to the housing (printer case). With this arrangement, the operator can easily insert the print-receiving medium (rolled paper) into the medium storage chamber and replace the print-receiving medium with a new print-receiving medium by setting the opening/closing lid into an open position and exposing the medium storage chamber to the outside. Note that the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing lid is detected by a sensor (cover open detector). 
     Further, for example, a second prior art is disclosed, comprising a printer that is battery powered and configured to perform a printing operation using the electromotive force of a battery. This printer comprises a medium storage chamber (paper supply cassette) that stores a sheet-shaped print-receiving medium laid flat, a print processing mechanism comprising a platen roller and a thermal head, and a control substrate, in the interior of the housing (main body cover). Further, a battery storage part (battery) is provided in a detachable manner behind the housing. The print processing mechanism uses the power supplied from the battery stored in the battery storage part, and performs desired printing on the print-receiving medium based on the control executed by the control substrate. 
     According to the first prior art, the sensor that detects the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing lid is provided to the side where the opening/closing lid is opened to the outside. In this case, when the opening/closing lid changes to an open state and the housing interior is open to the outside, the possibility exists that spray from the outside, such as rain water, will adversely affect the control substrate of the housing interior. Nevertheless, according to the first prior art, such effects of spray in the housing interior in particular has not been specially considered. 
     In a printer such as that of the second prior art, a roll-shaped print-receiving medium is sometimes used, for example. When such a roll-shaped print-receiving medium is stored with the axial direction thereof horizontally set, the vertical dimension of the medium storage chamber becomes relatively large. On the other hand, the control substrate, in general, is often extended in the horizontal direction as in the prior art for the convenience of handling and assembly. As a result, the control substrate has a small vertical dimension but a relatively large horizontal dimension. Further, from the viewpoints of stability and the placement of the center of gravity, the battery is often stored horizontally. In such a case, as in the second prior art, the battery storage part has a small vertical dimension and a relatively large horizontal dimension. 
     It is possible to reduce the size of the housing by devising a layout of such a roll-shaped print-receiving medium, control substrate, and battery storage part within the apparatus while considering the respective dimensional characteristics of the same. Nevertheless, according to the second prior art, consideration to such a point has not been made. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore a first object of the present disclosure to provide a printer capable of ensuring the waterproof characteristics of the housing interior. 
     It is a second object of the present disclosure to provide a printer capable of reducing the size of the overall housing. 
     To achieve the first and second objects, according to the present aspect, there is provided a printer configured to perform desired printing on a print-receiving medium wound around a predetermined axis into a roll shape, comprising a substantially box-shaped housing that constitutes a printer contour, a partition wall that partitions an internal structure of the housing into a first area positioned on a first side along a first direction orthogonal to the axis, and a second area positioned on a second side opposite to the first side along the first direction, a control substrate provided to the first area, a medium storage chamber configured to store the print-receiving medium and provided to the second area, an opening/closing lid configured to expose the medium storage chamber to the outside and provided to the housing and configured to open and close between an open position and a closed position, and a print processing mechanism configured to perform desired printing while feeding the print-receiving medium supplied from the medium storage chamber based on control by the control substrate. 
     According to the printer of the present disclosure, a medium storage chamber configured to store a print-receiving medium is provided to the interior of the housing, and this medium storage chamber is opened to the outside using an opening/closing lid provided to the housing. With this arrangement, the operator can easily insert the print-receiving medium into the medium storage chamber and replace the print-receiving medium with a new print-receiving medium by setting the opening/closing lid into an open position and exposing the medium storage chamber to the outside. 
     At that time, because the housing interior is open to the outside, there is a need to consider the waterproof characteristics of the control substrate in the housing interior. According to the present disclosure, a partition wall is provided to the housing interior, partitioning the interior into a first area on a first side and a second area on a second side, with the medium storage chamber that is configured to open and close by the opening/closing lid provided in the second area and the control substrate provided in the first area. With this arrangement, it is possible to ensure the waterproof characteristics of the control substrate. 
     Further, according to the printer of the present disclosure, the housing is divided into a first area of a first side and a second area of a second side along a first direction, as previously described. Then, the control substrate is disposed in the first area, and the medium storage chamber is disposed in the second area. With this arrangement, it is possible to dispose the battery storage part vertically with the control substrate in the first area, and thus provide the medium storage chamber alone in the second area. In this case, it is possible to suppress an increase in the vertical dimension of the housing compared to a case where the control substrate and battery storage part are provided above and below the medium storage chamber. Further, the battery storage part and control substrate are vertically layered and disposed in the first area on a side opposite to the medium storage chamber, making it possible to suppress an increase in the horizontal dimension of the housing compared to a case where these are disposed side by side in the horizontal direction. As a result, the size of the overall housing can be reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the outer appearance configuration of a printer which is an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a state in which the top cover of the housing is removed, as viewed from a front oblique angle from above. 
         FIG. 3  shows cross-sectional views along line F-F and along line G-G in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the detailed structure of the mechanical unit. 
         FIG. 5  shows perspective and planar views showing a state in which the fixing part of the top cover of the housing is removed, as viewed from a front oblique angle from above. 
         FIG. 6  shows perspective views showing a state in which the entire top cover of the housing is removed, as viewed from a front oblique angle from above and a rear oblique angle from above. 
         FIG. 7  shows perspective and planar views showing a state in which the entire top cover of the housing and the mechanical unit are removed, as viewed from a front oblique angle from above. 
         FIG. 8  is a planar view showing a state in which the entire top cover of the housing is removed. 
         FIG. 9  shows perspective and planar views showing a state in which the entire top cover of the housing, the mechanical unit, and the control substrate are removed, as viewed from a front oblique angle from above. 
         FIG. 10  shows perspective and planar views showing a state in which the fixing part of the top cover of the housing and the mechanical unit are removed, as viewed from a front oblique angle from above. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of the mechanical unit shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory view showing a state of the motion transmission mechanism and motion detection sensor when the opening/closing lid is in an open position. 
         FIG. 13  is an explanatory view showing a state of the motion transmission mechanism and motion detection sensor when the opening/closing lid is in a closed position. 
         FIG. 14  is an explanatory view showing an example of the state of the printer when used by a user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following describes one embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     General Configuration of Printer 
     The following describes the overall configuration of a printer  1  of one embodiment of the present disclosure, using  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . In the description, the lower right direction, upper left direction, upper right direction, lower left direction, upper direction, and lower direction in  FIG. 1  are defined as the right, left, rear, front, up, and down directions, respectively (refer to the arrows of each figure). 
     The printer  1  prints print data received from an external device (not shown) such as a PC terminal, cellular telephone, or the like onto a rolled paper S, for example. This printer  1  can be driven using a battery (not shown) as a power source. 
     The printer  1  comprises a substantially box-shaped housing  100  which constitutes the contour of the printer and is made of a resin material, for example. This housing  100  comprises a top cover  101  that constitutes the upper part of the printer contour, and an undercover  102  that constitutes the lower part of the printer contour. The top cover  101  comprises a fixing part  101 A and an opening/closing lid  101 B. 
     The end part of the undercover  102  is equipped with a pair of left and right insertion parts  102   a . A strap SP (refer to  FIG. 14  described later), etc., is inserted through these insertion parts  102   a  and suspended around a shoulder, neck, waist belt, or the like, for example, making it possible for the operator to readily carry and use the printer  1 , which is driven by a battery as described above, in various locations (including outdoors; refer to  FIG. 14  described later). 
     A roll storage part  161  is provided below the opening/closing lid  101 B of the top cover  101  (in the interior of the housing  100 ; refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ). The rolled paper S wound around a predetermined axis k is rotatably axially supported by a support member  162  at both ends and stored in this roll storage part  161 , resulting in a configuration that is capable of continually supplying the rolled paper S from the roll storage part  161 . At this time, the opening/closing lid  101 B is rotatably connected to a rear end part of the undercover  102  via a hinge H, making it possible to switch between an open state in which the roll storage part  161  is exposed to the outside, and a closed state in which the roll storage part  161  is stored internally. With the opening/closing lid  101 B set to an open state, the roll storage part  161  is exposed to the outside of the printer, making easy insertion and replacement of the rolled paper S possible. 
     Further, a discharging exit  107  for discharging the rolled paper S after printing is provided to the substantial center of the top cover  101  in the front-rear direction (the section where the fixing part  101 A and the opening/closing lid  101 B meet according to this example; refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 ). At this time, the discharging exit  107  is provided so that it opens toward one side along the vertical direction (upward according to this example). 
     A platen roller  111  is rotatably supported by a front end part  101 C of the opening/closing lid  101 B (refer to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  described later). The platen roller  111  feeds the rolled paper S by transmitting the rotation of the rotator (not shown) of a drive motor within a motor casing  21  when the opening/closing lid  101 B is in the above described closed state. 
     Mechanical Unit and Periphery 
     On the other hand, a mechanical unit MU comprising a main chassis member  150  is provided near the center of the interior of the housing  100  in the front-rear direction.  FIG. 4  shows the detailed configuration of the mechanical unit MU. As shown in  FIG. 4  and the above described  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a head unit HU is rockably disposed in the front-rear direction in the interior of the main chassis member  150  of the mechanical unit MU. Then, the head unit HU is integrally equipped with a thermal line head  112  and a heat sink  114  for cooling the generated heat in this thermal line head  112 . Then, the front end part of the heat sink  114  is energized toward the above described platen roller  111  side (that is, the rear side) by a plurality of (two according to this example) coil springs  115  supported by the main chassis member  150 . With this arrangement, when the opening/closing lid  101 B is in the above described closed state, the thermal line head  112  contacts the platen roller  111  using a predetermined contact pressure. 
     Further, the substantially cylindrical motor casing  21  that forms the contour of the drive motor that generates driving power for rotationally driving the platen roller  111 , and a gear mechanism  132  comprising a plurality of gears and configured to transmit the driving power of the above described drive motor to the platen roller  111  by being operatively connected to the platen roller  111  with the opening/closing lid  101 B in a closed state, are provided to the mechanical unit MU, as shown in  FIG. 4 , on the left side of the main chassis member  150 . The motor casing  21  is provided below the above described discharging exit  107 , in the interior of the housing  100  (refer to  FIG. 3B  previously described). The drive of the above described drive motor is controlled by a control substrate  170  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) disposed from below the mechanical unit MU to the rear of the housing  100  interior. Note that the control substrate  170  extends horizontally according to this example in order to improve the ease of handling and assembly. The control substrate  170  controls the thermal line head  112  of the mechanical unit MU, the above described drive motor, and the like, while using the power supplied from the above described battery. 
     Further, the above described motor casing  21  is provided below the above described discharging exit  107 , in the interior of the housing  100  (refer to  FIG. 3B  previously described). As a result, in a case where the printer  1  is used in an environment where there is potential for exposure to rain and other water, such as an outdoor environment or a wet environment within a building, the spray may enter the interior of the housing  100  form the discharging exit  107  and adversely affect the motor, for example. Here, according to this embodiment, a motor cover  31  that covers the motor casing  21  that forms the contour of the above described drive motor is provided. Further, the left-right direction of the motor casing  21  is established as the axial direction thereof, and a motor axis MA of the drive motor is provided protruding from the motor casing  21  toward the left. 
     Further, the area below the control substrate  170  within the housing  100  is equipped with a battery storage part  163  (see  FIG. 3 ) wherein the above described battery is inserted and disposed from the lower surface side of the undercover  102 . Note that, according to the battery storage part  163 , the above described battery is stored horizontally from the viewpoints of stability and the placement of the center of gravity, although not shown. Then, the above described control substrate  170  controls the thermal line head  112 , the above described drive motor, etc., while using the power supplied from the battery stored in the above described battery storage part  163 . 
     General Operation of Printer 
     With the above described configuration, the print data is sent to the printer  1  via wireless communication (or wired or infrared communication) from an external device such as a PC terminal or cellular telephone at the time of printing. Further, the rolled paper S is fed out from the roll storage part  161  by the rotation of the platen roller  111  based on the driving power of the motor. The fed out rolled paper S is guided to a pressing part of the platen roller  111  and the thermal line head  112  by a guide member  120  provided below the discharging exit  107 . Then, the thermal line head  112  performs printing in a desired form based on the print data onto the rolled paper S inserted between the thermal line head  112  and the platen roller  111 . The rolled paper S after printing is discharged from the discharging exit  107  to outside the housing  100 . At this time, a fixed tooth  160  is installed to the main chassis member  150 , along and inside the discharging exit  107 . Upon completion of the printing above, the operator can manually cut the end part of the rolled paper S discharged from the discharging exit  107  using this fixed tooth  160 . 
     Note that when the operator opens the opening/closing lid  101 B and stores the rolled paper S in the roll storage part  161  as described above, the operator inserts the end excess part of the rolled paper S extracted from the roll storage part  161  between the thermal line head  112  of the mechanical unit MU and the platen roller  111  provided to the opening/closing lid  101 B side, and further inserts the end excess part through the discharging exit  107 , exposing it to the outside of the housing  100 , to smoothly achieve the feeding and printing operation during the subsequent printing operation as described above, and then needs to close the opening/closing lid  101 B. Here, in this embodiment, a front end part  101 C of the above described opening/closing lid  101 B also serves as the edge part on the rear side (in other words, the roll storage part  161  side) of the discharging exit  107 . 
     Further, in a case where a paper jam or the like occurs during printing, the platen roller  111  is released from the thermal line head  112  by opening the above described opening/closing lid  101 B of the top cover  101 , making it possible to easily pull out the rolled paper S. 
     First Special Characteristic of this Embodiment 
     In the above configuration, first, the first special characteristic of this embodiment lies in the configuration for detecting the opening and closing of the above described opening/closing lid  101 B while improving the waterproof characteristics against spray. The following describes the details on the functions in order using  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 13 . 
     As previously described, according to the printer  1  of this embodiment, the roll storage part  161  can be opened to the outside using the opening/closing lid  101 B. With this arrangement, it is possible for the operator to easily insert the rolled paper S into the roll storage part  161  and replace the rolled paper S with a new rolled paper S by setting the opening/closing lid  101 B into an open position and exposing the roll storage part  161  to the outside. At this time, because the interior of the housing  100  is open to the outside, it is necessary to consider the waterproof characteristics of the control substrate  170  inside the housing  100 . 
     Here, according to the printer  1  of this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , in order to partition the inner structure of the housing  100  into a first area P of one side (front side) in the horizontal direction and a second area Q of the other side (rear side) in the horizontal direction, a partition wall R is erected from an inner bottom part of the undercover  102  at a boundary part between the first area P and the second area Q. Further, the above described roll storage part  161  that is opened and closed by the opening/closing lid  101 B is provided to the second area Q, and each of the electrical components, including the control substrate  170 , (not shown; hereinafter simply referred to as the “control substrate  170 , etc.”) is provided to the first area P. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the mechanical unit MU is provided so that it covers the upper part of the partition wall R that partitions the first area P and the second area Q. At this time, the mechanical unit MU, as previously described, includes the drive motor that forms the contour of the motor casing  21  and the head unit HU, and is fixed by a screw onto the partition wall R. With this arrangement, the area between the second area Q, which can be opened to the outside as described above, and the first area P, which has the control substrate  170 , etc., is sealed by the partition wall R and the main chassis member  150 . As a result, it is possible to ensure the waterproof characteristics of the control substrate  170 , etc. 
     Second Special Characteristic of this Embodiment 
     Further, the second special characteristic of this embodiment lies in that the control substrate  170 , the battery storage part  163 , and the roll storage part  161  are disposed within the housing  100  as previously described. The following describes the details on the functions in order using the above described  FIGS. 5 to 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 10 . 
     As previously described, according to the printer  1  of this embodiment, the roll storage part  161 , the mechanical unit MU comprising the thermal line head  112 , the drive motor, the main chassis member  150 , and the like, the battery storage part  163 , and the control substrate  170  are provided within the housing  100 . 
     At this time, when the rolled paper S is stored in the roll storage part  161  with the axis thereof horizontally set as in this embodiment, the vertical dimension of the roll storage part  161  becomes relatively large (see  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ). Further, when the control substrate  170  is extended substantially horizontally as in this embodiment, the vertical dimension of the control substrate  170  is small but the horizontal dimension thereof becomes relatively large. Furthermore, when the battery is horizontally stored as in this embodiment, the vertical dimension of the battery storage part  163  is small, but the horizontal dimension thereof becomes relatively large (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Here, according to the printer  1  of this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the interior of the housing  100  is divided into the first area P on one side (the front side according to this example) in the front-rear direction, and the second area Q on the other side (the rear side according to this example) of the front-rear direction. Then, the battery storage part  163  is provided to the lower part of the first area P, and the control substrate  170  is provided to the upper part of the first area P. That is, the battery storage part  163  (see  FIG. 3A ) and the control substrate  170 , both having large horizontal dimensions, are disposed vertically in the first area P. Further, the roll storage part  161  having a large vertical dimension is disposed in the second area Q. Note that the above described mechanical unit MU is disposed near the border of the first area P in which the above described battery storage part  163  and control substrate  170  are disposed and the second area Q where the roll storage part  161  is disposed. 
     With the roll storage part  161  provided alone in the second area Q as described above, an increase in the vertical dimension of the housing  100  is suppressed compared to a case where the control substrate  170  and the battery storage part  163  are provided above and below the roll storage part  161 . Further, the battery storage part  163  and the control substrate  170  are vertically layered and disposed in the first area P on the opposite side, suppressing an increase in the horizontal dimension of the housing  100  compared to a case where these are disposed side by side in the horizontal direction. 
     Protruding Shape of Control Substrate 
     In relation to the above described first special characteristic, as shown in  FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the control substrate  170  comprises a protruding substrate part  170   a  that protrudes, entering below the main chassis member  151  of the mechanical unit MU. Conversely, the first area P inside the housing  100  comprises a first base area part P 1 , which is a normal section, and a first protruding area part P 2 , which protrudes from the first base area part P 1  to the roll storage part  161  side, disposing the above described protruding substrate part  170   a  in this first protruding area part P 2 . 
     At this time, the above described discharging exit  107  is positioned above the protruding substrate part  170   a  (see  FIG. 10 ). The discharging exit  107  opens to the housing  100 , regardless of the open/closed state of the opening/closing lid  101 B, requiring consideration of the waterproof characteristics of the protruding substrate part  170   a  against the spray that can enter from the discharging exit  107 . Here, in this embodiment, as previously described, the protruding substrate part  170   a  is disposed so that it enters below the main chassis member  150 . In other words, the main chassis member  150  is disposed so that it covers the protruding substrate part  170   a.    
     On the other hand, the second area Q inside the housing  100  comprises a second protruding area part Q 2  neighboring the above described first protruding area part P 2  in the left-right direction so as to correspond to the protruding shape of the first protruding area part P 2 . At this time, the second area Q comprises a second base area part Q 1  disposed further rearward toward the roll storage part  161  side than the second protruding area part Q 2 , and this second base area part Q 1  is disposed opposing the roll storage part  161  side (in other words, the rear side) of the above described first protruding area part P 2 . Note that both the left and right end sections of the above described mechanical unit MU are inserted and disposed in these two left and right second protruding area parts Q 2 . That is, the above described motor casing  21  and the gear mechanism  132  (refer to  FIG. 4 ), which constitute the left end section of the mechanical unit MU, are inserted and disposed in the second protruding area part Q 2  on the left side. On the other hand, a release mechanism (details not shown), which constitutes the right end section of the mechanical unit MU, is inserted and disposed in the second protruding area part Q 2  on the right side. 
     Specific Configuration of Partition Wall 
     According to this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 ,  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 10 , the partition wall R comprises a first partition part R 1 , a second partition part R 2 , and a third partition part R 3  corresponding to the boundary part between the above described first protruding area part P 2  of the first area P and the second protruding area part Q 2  of the second area Q. The first partition part R 1  extends along the left-right direction, partitioning the first protruding area part P 2  and the second base area part Q 1 , and is disposed so that it is positioned at the protruding end of the protruding substrate part  170   a , sliding under the main chassis member  150  of the mechanical unit MU. The second partition part R 2  is positioned further toward the front than the first partition part R 1  and extends along the left-right direction, partitioning the second protruding area part Q 2  and the first base area part P 1 . The third partition part R 3  connects the first partition part R 1  and the second partition part R 2 , and extends along the front-rear direction, partitioning the first protruding area part P 2  and the second protruding area part Q 2 . As a result, the partition wall R comprising the above described first partition part R 1 , the second partition part R 2 , and the third partition part R 3  forms a substantially crank shape that turns at right angles in the planar view, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 . 
     At this time, the thermal line head  112  of the mechanical unit MU and the platen roller  111  disposed in an opposing manner thereto are disposed above the third partition part R 3  (refer to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6 A, and  6 B). Then, the above described drive motor is disposed in the second protruding area part Q 2  on the left side of the second area Q, below the end part on one side in the left-right direction (the left side according to this example) of the thermal line head  112  and the platen roller  111 . That is, while the thermal line head  112  and the platen roller  111  are provided above the partition wall R, the drive motor is disposed in the second protruding area part Q 2  lateral to the second partition part R 2  and the third partition part R 3  and not above the partition wall R. 
     Sensor for Opening/Closing Detection 
     Here, according to the printer  1  of this embodiment, a sensor (motion detection sensor LS) for detecting the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing lid  101 B is provided in the same manner as a regular printer having an opening/closing lid of this type. However, in a case where this sensor is provided to the second area Q, which is on the same side as the above described opening/closing lid  101 B, concern arises regarding the waterproof characteristics of the sensor, as described above. 
     Here, in this embodiment, the motion detection sensor LS of a limit switch, etc., is provided to the first area P on a side opposite to the opening/closing lid  101 B, for example (refer to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6 A, and  6 B). Then, the operation of the opening/closing lid  101 B is not directly detected but rather indirectly detected by the motion detection sensor LS by mechanically transmitting the operation of the opening/closing lid  101 B on the second area Q side to the first area P side via a motion transmission mechanism  200  (refer to  FIG. 11  described later) of a see-saw type, lever type, or the like, for example. In the following, details on the functions will be described in order. 
     Detailed Configuration and Operation of the Motion Detection Sensor 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the above described motion detection sensor LS is disposed in a section on the first area P side of the mechanical unit MU, which is disposed at the boundary position between the first area P and the second area Q as described above, astride the first area P and the second area Q. Then, the motion transmission mechanism  200  for transmitting the operation of the opening/closing lid  101 B to the motion detection sensor LS is provided astride the above described first area P and the second area Q in a rotatably supported state via a rocking shaft  201  with respect to a lateral surface of the main chassis member  150 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 . This motion transmission mechanism  200  comprises a motion input part  202  positioned on the rear side (that is, the second area Q side) of the mechanical unit MU and the partition wall R, and a wide, rectangular shaped motion output part  203  positioned on the front side (that is, the first area P side) of the mechanical unit MU and the partition wall R. 
     Here, the above described opening/closing lid  101 B freely rotates with respect to the undercover  102  via the hinge H provided to a base end, as previously described. Then, on the end lower surface side of the opening/closing lid  101 B, both end shafts of the platen roller  111  are supported by a cylindrical bearing  111 A provided in an extending manner toward the opening/closing lid  101 B. When this opening/closing lid  101 B is rotated in the closing direction from the above described open position (refer to  FIG. 12 ), which opens the roll storage part  161 , to the above described closed position (refer to  FIG. 13 ), the above described bearing  111 A interlocks with an interlocking concave part  111 B provided to the left and right lateral upper parts of the main chassis member  150  (refer to  FIG. 13 ). At this time, the above described motion input part  202  of the motion transmission mechanism  200  is disposed adjacent to the interlocking concave part  111 B. Then, when the bearing  111 A interlocks with the above described interlocking concave part  111 B, the motion input part  202  is pressed downward by the bearing  111 A, causing the motion transmission mechanism  200  to rock in the counterclockwise direction about the rocking shaft  201 . 
     On the other hand, at this time, the above described motion detection sensor LS is disposed further above the above described motion transmission mechanism  200  than the motion output part  203 , on the left lateral surface of the main chassis member  150 . Specifically, the motion detection sensor LS is equipped with a switch lever LS  1  that slants and protrudes downward toward the first area P side, and the above described motion output part  203  is disposed in an opposing manner below that switch lever LS  1 . 
     That is, when the opening/closing lid  101 B is closed as described above on the second area Q side, the above described motion input part  202  contacts the opening/closing lid  101 B that lowers toward the closed position. With this arrangement, the motion input part  202  lowers, causing the motion transmission mechanism  200  to rock in the counterclockwise direction about the rocking shaft  201 . With this rocking, the lowering motion of the motion input part  202  is mechanically transmitted to the motion output part  203  positioned in the first area P, causing the motion output part  203  to rise and press upward the switch lever LS 1 . That is, the lowering motion of the motion input part  202  is converted to and outputted as the rising motion of the motion output part  203 . With this arrangement, the motion detection sensor LS turns ON, detecting the closed state of the opening/closing lid  101 B. 
     As described above, in the printer  1  of this embodiment, the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing lid  101 B of the second area Q that is to open to the outside is transmitted to the first area P side via the motion transmission mechanism  200  and detected by the motion detection sensor LS. With this arrangement, it is possible to detect the opening/closing while ensuring the waterproof characteristics of the motion detection sensor LS. As a result, the opening/closing detection performance of the opening/closing lid  101 B can be favorably maintained. 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the mechanical unit MU is provided to the upper part of the partition wall R, thereby sufficiently shielding the spattering of the spray from the second area Q side to the first area P by the mechanical unit MU in coordination with the partition wall R, making it possible to ensure the waterproof characteristics of the motion detection sensor LS. 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the motion output part  203  in the motion transmission mechanism  200  converts the lowering motion of the motion input part  202  associated with the lowering of the opening/closing lid  101 B to a rising motion, outputting the motion as a rising motion. Then, the motion detection sensor LS is positioned further upward than the motion output part  203 , detecting the rising motion of the motion output part  203 . With this arrangement, presuming the unlikely event that the spray from the motion input part  202  of the second area Q enters and travels to the surface of the motion transmission mechanism  200 , manifesting in the first area P from the motion output part  203 , the motion detection sensor LS is positioned further upward than the motion output part  203 , keeping the manifested spray from ever reaching the motion detection sensor LS. As a result, it is possible to prevent the motion detection sensor LS from being exposed to spray. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 14 , when an operator U uses the printer  1  hung over his or her shoulder or from his or her waist via the strap SP inserted through the above described insertion part  102   a  so that the control substrate side  170  is on the top and the roll storage part  161  is on the bottom, the positional relationship in which the motion detection sensor LS is above and the motion output part  203  is below does not significantly change (as long as the printer  1  is not upside down), even if the printer  1  is generally somewhat slanted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the motion detection sensor LS from being exposed to spray, even when used in the form described above by the operator U. 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the end part  101 C of the opening/closing lid  101 B conforms with the edge part of the discharging exit  107 . With this arrangement, once the opening/closing lid  101 B is set to an open state and the end excess part of the rolled paper S is exposed, insertion of the rolled paper S into the above described discharging exit  107  can be achieved by simply closing the opening/closing lid  101 B. As a result, it is possible to simplify the preparation operation performed by the operator prior to printing, improving user-friendliness. 
     Further, as described above, in the printer  1  of this embodiment, the control substrate  170  and the battery storage part  163  having large horizontal dimensions are layered and disposed vertically in the first area P, and the roll storage part  161  having a large vertical dimension is disposed alone in the second area Q. With this arrangement, the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the housing  100  are kept at the necessary minimum, making it possible to reliably reduce the overall size of the housing  100 . 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the area between the second area Q, which can be opened to the outside, and the first area P, which has the control substrate  170 , is sealed by the partition wall R and the mechanical unit MU. As a result, it is possible to improve the waterproof characteristics of the first area P wherein the control substrate  170  is disposed. 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the section of the second area Q that opposes the first protruding area part P 2  of the first area P that protrudes rearward is established as the second base area part Q 1  that recedes frontward. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the front-rear dimension of the housing  100  that is required when the first area P and the second area Q are disposed side by side in the front-rear direction. With this arrangement, it is possible to further reliably reduce the size of the housing  100 . 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the thermal line head  112  and the platen roller  111  are provided above the partition wall R while the drive motor is disposed in the second protruding area part Q 2  located to the side of the partition wall R, rather than above the partition wall R. With this arrangement, through coordination with the partition wall R, it is possible to fulfill the sealing function between the first area P and the second area Q while suppressing an increase in the vertical dimension of the housing  100  by the provision of the mechanical unit MU. 
     Further, in particular, according to this embodiment, the protruding substrate part  170   a  is disposed so that it enters below the main chassis member  150 . With this arrangement, the protruding substrate part  170   a  is reliably isolated from the spray that can enter from the discharging exit  107 , making it possible to improve waterproof characteristics. 
     Note that various modifications may be made according to the present embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, in addition to the above-described embodiment. 
     Although other examples are not individually described herein, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.