Patent Publication Number: US-2022227151-A1

Title: Printing device

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2021-006188, filed Jan. 19, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a printing device. 
     2. Related Art 
     JP-A-2015-028435 discloses a display device with multiple indicators, multiple light sources provided so as to correspond to the multiple indicators, and light-shielding members. The light-shielding members are provided so as to extend from portions between the multiple light sources to portions between the multiple indicators to prevent leakage of exit light coming from the light sources into adjoining indicators. The indicators, the light sources, and the light-shielding members are formed as a single component. 
     In a structure in which the light sources are provided on a device body, and the indicators are provided on an opening/closing cover, unlike the structure as in this display device, in which the indicators, the light sources, and the light-shielding members are formed as a single component, it is difficult to provide the light-shielding members extending from the portions between the multiple light sources to the portions between the multiple indicators. Hence, depending on the arrangement and structure of the light-shielding members, the exit light coming from the light sources may leak out into adjoining indicators. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing device including: a device body; an opening/closing cover pivotably provided on the device body; a plurality of light sources provided on the device body; a plurality of icon indicators provided in the opening/closing cover at positions corresponding to the plurality of light sources when the opening/closing cover is closed; first light-shielding portions provided on the opening/closing cover at positions between the plurality of icon indicators; and second light-shielding portions provided on the device body at positions between the plurality of light sources. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a printing device with an opening/closing cover closed. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printing device with the opening/closing cover open. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the printing device. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the printing device. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a panel portion with the opening/closing cover closed. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cover exterior portion. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a substrate cover. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial enlarged view of an opening exterior portion with the substrate cover attached. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially enlarged sectional view of the panel portion with the opening/closing cover closed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the attached drawings, an embodiment of a printing device will be described. A printing device  1  according to this embodiment is used as, for example, a receipt printer in a point-of-sales (POS) system. Although directions according to the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system, indicated in each drawing, will be used in the description below, such directions are only for ease of explanation and will not limit the embodiment below. In  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the vertical direction is the Z direction, and in  FIGS. 5 to 9 , the direction perpendicular to a substrate  61  shown in  FIG. 5  is the Z direction. The numbers of components are merely an example and will not limit the embodiment below. 
     Exterior Structure of Printing Device 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the exterior structure of the printing device  1  will be described. The printing device  1  includes a device body  3  and an opening/closing cover  5 . The device body  3  has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having an opening  6  in the +Z-side face. The device body  3  has a roll-paper storage portion  7  inside. The roll-paper storage portion  7  accommodates roll paper R, which is recording paper P, serving as a printing medium, wound in a roll shape (see  FIG. 3 ). The opening/closing cover  5  is pivotably attached to the +Y-side end of the device body  3  and opens or closes the opening  6 . 
     The exterior of the printing device  1  includes a body exterior portion  9 , a cutter cover  11 , an opening exterior portion  12 , and a cover exterior portion  13 . 
     The body exterior portion  9 , the cutter cover  11 , and the opening exterior portion  12  constitute the exterior of the device body  3 . The body exterior portion  9  has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape with the +Z-side face open. The cutter cover  11  is provided to the −Y side of the opening/closing cover  5 . Opening the cutter cover  11  exposes an auto cutter  37  (see  FIG. 3 , described below). An output port  15  is provided at the boundary between the cutter cover  11  and the opening/closing cover  5 . The recording paper P fed from the roll paper R accommodated in the roll-paper storage portion  7  is output from the output port  15 . The opening exterior portion  12  is provided at an edge of the opening  6 . The cover exterior portion  13  constitutes the exterior of the opening/closing cover  5 . 
     The printing device  1  also includes a cover opening button  17 , a feed button  19 , and a panel portion  21 . The cover opening button  17 , the feed button  19 , and the panel portion  21  are provided at the +X-side end of the +Z-side face of the printing device  1 . 
     Pressing the cover opening button  17  opens the opening/closing cover  5 . Pressing the feed button  19  rotates a platen roller  35  (described below) to feed the recording paper P toward the output port  15 . The panel portion  21  displays various information, including error information, to a user. 
     Internal Structure of Printing Device 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the internal structure of the printing device  1  will be described. The printing device  1  includes a base frame  23 , a body frame  25 , a cover frame  27 , a thermal head  29 , a feed motor  31 , a gear train  33 , a platen roller  35 , the auto cutter  37 , and a lock mechanism  39 . 
     The base frame  23  and the body frame  25  are provided inside the body exterior portion  9 . The base frame  23  supports the body frame  25 . The body frame  25  includes a first body frame  41  and a second body frame  43 . Both the first body frame  41  and the second body frame  43  have a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the Y direction. The second body frame  43  is provided to the +X side of the first body frame  41 . A cover support shaft  45  extending in the X direction is provided at the +Y-side ends of the first body frame  41  and the second body frame  43 . 
     The cover frame  27  is provided inside the cover exterior portion  13 . The cover frame  27  has a substantially rectangular frame shape and is pivotably supported by the body frame  25  via the cover support shaft  45 . The cover frame  27  has, at the +Y-side end thereof, a cover-support-shaft hole (not shown) that receives the cover support shaft  45 . 
     The thermal head  29  is supported by the body frame  25 . The thermal head  29  has multiple heat-generating elements (not shown) and performs printing on the recording paper P fed out from the roll paper R. 
     The feed motor  31  is fixed to the −Y-side end of the first body frame  41 . The feed motor  31  is a driving source for the platen roller  35 . An example of the feed motor  31  is a direct-current (DC) motor. 
     The gear train  33  is provided on the first body frame  41 . The gear train  33  includes multiple gears and transmits the power of the feed motor  31  to the platen roller  35 . 
     The platen roller  35  is rotatably supported at the −Y-side end of the cover frame  27 . The platen roller  35  makes contact with the thermal head  29  when the opening/closing cover  5  is closed. The platen roller  35  is urged toward the thermal head  29  by a roller spring (not shown). Hence, the platen roller  35  nips the recording paper P between itself and the thermal head  29 . The platen roller  35  feeds the recording paper P nipped between itself and the thermal head  29  toward the output port  15 . More specifically, when the platen roller  35  rotates, the recording paper P is fed out from the roll paper R toward the output port  15 . 
     A roller gear  47  is provided to the −X side of the platen roller  35  so as to be coaxial with the platen roller  35 . The roller gear  47  is in mesh with a transmission gear  49  of the gear train  33  and rotates with the platen roller  35 . 
     The auto cutter  37  is provided between the platen roller  35  and the output port  15  and cuts the recording paper P, fed to the output port  15 , in the X direction, i.e., the width direction of the recording paper P, at a position behind the printed portion. The auto cutter  37  cuts the recording paper P so as to leave an uncut portion at the −X-side end, so that the recording paper P after being cut remains at the output port  15 . 
     Panel Portion 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 9 , the panel portion  21  will be described. The panel portion  21  has five light sources  51 , five icon indicators  53 , a substrate cover  55 , four first light-shielding portions  57 , and four second light-shielding portions  59 . The panel portion  21  displays various information to a user by selectively lighting the five icon indicators  53 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the five light sources  51  are mounted side-by-side in the Y direction on the +Z-side face of the substrate  61 . The optical axis direction of the exit light L (see  FIG. 9 ) emitted from the light sources  51  is the +Z direction, i.e., a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate  61 . Reference signs La, Lb, Lc and Ld shown in  FIG. 9  all represent the exit light L, and among them, the reference sign Ld represents the optical axis of the exit light L. Examples of the light sources  51  include light emitting diode (LED) lamps. 
     The substrate  61 , on which the five light sources  51  are mounted, is located to the +X side of the opening  6  (see  FIG. 2 ) and is attached to the inside of the opening exterior portion  12 . The opening exterior portion  12  is formed of a non-transmissive material. Unlike the structure in this embodiment, in a structure in which the substrate  61  is provided on the opening/closing cover  5 , a wire coupling the substrate  61  and the device body  3  is required. In this embodiment, because the substrate  61  is provided on the device body  3 , such a wire is not required, thus achieving a simple structure. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the five icon indicators  53  are provided side-by-side in the Y direction, at the +X-side end of the cover exterior portion  13 . The five icon indicators  53  are located at positions corresponding to the five light sources  51  when the opening/closing cover  5  is closed. More specifically, the icon indicators  53  are located to the +Z side, i.e., in the optical axis direction of the light sources  51 , with respect to the light sources  51 . 
     Unlike the structure in this embodiment, in a structure in which the icon indicators  53  are provided on the device body  3 , a gap is formed between the cover exterior portion  13  and the exterior portion having the icon indicators  53 . The gap is likely to collect dust, such as grease, paper powder, etc. In contrast, in this embodiment, because the icon indicators  53  are provided on the cover exterior portion  13 , such a gap is not formed, and hence, accumulation of dust on the exterior portion of the printing device  1  is suppressed. In other words, because the cover exterior portion  13  including the icon indicators  53  can be formed as a single surface, ease of cleaning and cleanliness are improved. 
     The five icon indicators  53  indicate, for example, ON/OFF of the power of the printing device  1 , an error status of the printing device  1 , the roll-end of the roll paper R accommodated in the roll-paper storage portion  7 , and the status of communication between the printing device  1  and an external device. 
     The cover exterior portion  13  having the five icon indicators  53  has a non-transmissive portion  63  and a transmissive portion  65 . The non-transmissive portion  63  is formed of a non-transmissive material and constitutes a large part of the cover exterior portion  13 . The transmissive portion  65  is formed of a transmissive material and is provided at the +X-side end of the cover exterior portion  13 . The transmissive portion  65  allows the exit light L emitted from the light sources  51  to pass therethrough and diffuse. The five icon indicators  53  are provided in the transmissive portion  65 . In other words, the portions of the transmissive portion  65  that are not covered by the non-transmissive portion  63  are the icon indicators  53 . 
     The non-transmissive portion  63  and the transmissive portion  65  are formed as a single component by means of, for example, double molding. Hence, there is no gap between the non-transmissive portion  63  and the transmissive portion  65 , and thus, accumulation of dust on the cover exterior portion  13  does not occur. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5, 7, and 8 , the substrate cover  55  is provided between the opening exterior portion  12  and the substrate  61 . The substrate cover  55  is formed of a transmissive material. The substrate cover  55  includes five cover portions  67  and a coupling portion  69 . 
     The five cover portions  67  are provided side-by-side in the Y direction and cover the five light sources  51 . The cover portions  67  each have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having an opening in the −Z-side face, i.e., the face facing the substrate  61 , and are provided so as to be fitted on the light sources  51  provided on the substrate  61 . Because the light sources  51  are covered by the cover portions  67 , the entry of foreign matter into the light sources  51  is suppressed. 
     The opening exterior portion  12  has five cover openings  71  arranged side-by-side in the Y direction. The five cover portions  67  are fitted into the five cover openings  71 . The +Z-side face of the opening exterior portion  12  and the +Z-side faces of the cover portions  67  are substantially in flush (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The cover portions  67  each have a first wall  73  and a second wall  75 . The first wall  73  is a +Z-side wall of the cover portion  67  and is provided between the light source  51  and the icon indicator  53  so as to cover the cover opening  71 . More specifically, the first wall  73  covers the +Z side of the light source  51 . The first wall  73  has a substantially uniform thickness. The second wall  75  includes the +X-side wall, the −X-side wall, the +Y-side wall, and the −Y-side wall of the cover portion  67 . The second wall  75  projects in the −Z direction toward the substrate  61  from the periphery of the first wall  73  so as to surround the light source  51 . In other words, the second wall  75  surrounds the light source  51 . Note that, among the five cover portions  67 , the cover portion  67  located on the extreme+Y side has an opening in the +Y-side face. 
     The coupling portion  69  is provided to the −X side of the five cover portions  67  and couples the five cover portions  67  together. More specifically, the five cover portions  67  are formed as a single component via the coupling portion  69 . The substrate cover  55  may not have the coupling portion  69 , that is, the five cover portions  67  may be formed as separate components. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the four first light-shielding portions  57  are provided side-by-side in the Y direction, between the five icon indicators  53 . The first light-shielding portions  57  are formed in a rectangular plate shape extending in the X direction. The first light-shielding portions  57  project in the −Z direction toward the substrate  61 , from the inner surface, i.e., the −Z-side face, of the cover exterior portion  13 . The first light-shielding portions  57  are formed of the non-transmissive portion  63  of the cover exterior portion  13 . The first light-shielding portions  57  do not necessarily have to have a rectangular plate shape, but may have, for example, a tubular shape surrounding the icon indicators  53 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the four second light-shielding portions  59  are provided side-by-side in the Y direction, between the five light sources  51 , i.e., the five cover portions  67 . In other words, the substrate cover  55  is attached to the opening exterior portion  12  such that the second light-shielding portions  59  are inserted between the cover portions  67 . The second light-shielding portions  59  are formed in a rectangular plate shape extending in the X direction. The second light-shielding portions  59  project in the −Z direction toward the substrate  61  from the inner surfaces, i.e., the −Z-side faces, of the wall portions between the cover openings  71  provided in the opening exterior portion  12 . The second light-shielding portions  59  do not necessarily have to have a rectangular plate shape, but may have, for example, a tubular shape surrounding the light sources  51 . 
     The first light-shielding portions  57  are located at positions corresponding to the second light-shielding portions  59  when the opening/closing cover  5  is closed. More specifically, the first light-shielding portions  57  are located to the +Z side, i.e., in the optical axis direction of the light sources  51 , with respect to the second light-shielding portions  59 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the substrate  61  has a switch member  77  to the −Y side of the five light sources  51 . The switch member  77  is provided at a position corresponding to the feed button  19 , which is provided on the opening/closing cover  5 , when the opening/closing cover  5  is closed. The opening exterior portion  12  has a switch opening  79  at a position corresponding to the switch member  77 . The switch opening  79  is covered by a flexible switch cover  81 . When a user presses the feed button  19 , the feed button  19  presses the switch member  77  via the switch cover  81 . As a result, the switch member  77  is switched between ON and OFF. When the switch member  77  is switched to ON, the feed motor  31  is actuated to rotate the platen roller  35 , thus feeding the recording paper P to the output port  15 . 
     Because the switch member  77  is provided on the substrate  61 , on which the light sources  51  are provided, there is no need to provide multiple substrates  61 . Thus, a simple structure is achieved. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the exit light L emitted from the light sources  51  is narrowed at the +Z-side ends of the second light-shielding portions  59 . More specifically, in the exit light L, exit light La is blocked and inhibited from reaching adjoining icon indicators  53  by the second light-shielding portions  59 . The narrowed exit light L is further blocked and inhibited from entering the adjoining icon indicators  53  by the first light-shielding portions  57 . More specifically, in the exit light L, the exit light Lb is inhibited from reaching the adjoining icon indicators  53  by the first light-shielding portions  57 . 
     Because the panel portion  21  has the four first light-shielding portions  57  provided between the five icon indicators  53  and the four second light-shielding portions  59  provided between the five light sources  51 , leakage of the exit light L coming from the light sources  51  into the adjoining icon indicators  53  is suppressed. Hence, it is possible to prevent unintentional lighting of the adjoining icon indicators  53 . The leakage of the exit light L coming from the light sources  51  into the adjoining icon indicators  53  means that, for example, the exit light L coming from the second light source  51  from the +Y-side end does not reach the second icon indicator  53  from the +Y side end, but reaches the first or third icon indicator  53 , which adjoins the second icon indicator  53 . 
     Furthermore, in this embodiment, because the first light-shielding portions  57  are located at positions corresponding to the second light-shielding portions  59  when the opening/closing cover  5  is closed, the gaps formed between the first light-shielding portions  57  and the second light-shielding portions  59  are minimum. Hence, the entry of the exit light L into the adjoining icon indicators  53  through the gaps between the first light-shielding portions  57  and the second light-shielding portions  59  is effectively inhibited. 
     The icon indicators  53  are provided in areas where the exit light L passing through the first walls  73 , without passing through the second wall  75   s , reaches. More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 9 , in the exit light L, the exit light Lc passing through the first wall  73  without passing through the second wall  75  reaches the icon indicator  53 , whereas the exit light Lb passing through the second wall  75  and then through the first wall  73  does not reach the icon indicator  53 . Hence, it is possible to prevent variation in the transmission distance, at which the exit light L passes through the cover portions  67 , in the exit light L reaching the icon indicators  53 . Hence, uneven brightness of the icon indicators  53  due to the variation in the transmission distance, at which the exit light L passes through the cover portions  67 , is suppressed. 
     Other Modifications 
     It is of course to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various structures can be adopted within a scope not departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. Furthermore, the embodiment and the modifications may be combined. 
     The first light-shielding portions  57  do not necessarily have to be provided on the cover exterior portion  13 , in which the icon indicators  53  are provided, and may be provided on a member other than the cover exterior portion  13 . Furthermore, the second light-shielding portions  59  do not necessarily have to be provided on the opening exterior portion  12  and may be provided on a member other than the opening exterior portion  12 , i.e., for example, the substrate  61 . 
     The cover portions  67  do not necessarily have to have the first walls  73  and the second walls  75  and may have, for example, only the first walls  73 . Also with this structure, the first walls  73  cover the cover openings  71 . Hence, the entry of foreign matter into the light sources  51  through the cover openings  71  is suppressed. 
     Additional Description 
     The printing device will be additionally described. 
     A printing device includes: a device body; an opening/closing cover pivotably provided on the device body; a plurality of light sources provided on the device body; a plurality of icon indicators provided in the opening/closing cover at positions corresponding to the plurality of light sources when the opening/closing cover is closed; first light-shielding portions provided on the opening/closing cover at positions between the plurality of icon indicators; and second light-shielding portions provided on the device body at positions between the plurality of light sources. 
     This structure suppresses leakage of exit light coming from the light sources into adjoining icon indicators. 
     In this case, the first light-shielding portions may be provided at positions corresponding to the second light-shielding portions when the opening/closing cover is closed. 
     This structure minimizes gaps formed between the first light-shielding portions and the second light-shielding portions. Hence, it is possible to effectively suppress the entry of the exit light coming from the light sources into adjoining icon indicators through the gaps between the first light-shielding portions and the second light-shielding portions. 
     In this case, the printing device may further include a plurality of cover portions that cover the plurality of light sources and through which exit light emitted from the light sources passes. 
     This structure suppresses the entry of foreign matter into the light sources. 
     In this case, the cover portions may have first walls provided between the light sources and the icon indicators and second walls provided around the light sources, and the icon indicators may be provided in areas reached by the exit light passing through the first walls without passing through the second walls. 
     This structure suppresses variation in the transmission distance, at which the exit light passes through the cover portions, in the exit light reaching the icon indicators. Hence, it is possible to suppress uneven brightness of the icon indicators due to the variation in the transmission distance, at which the exit light passes through the cover portions. 
     In this case, the printing device may further include a substrate on which the plurality of light sources are provided. The opening/closing cover may have an operation button, and the substrate may have a switch member that is switched between ON and OFF by the operation button when the opening/closing cover is closed. 
     In this structure, because the switch member is provided on the substrate provided with the light sources, there is no need to provide multiple substrates, thus achieving a simple structure. 
     Note that the feed button  19  is an example of the operation button. 
     In this case, the opening/closing cover may have a non-transmissive portion formed of a non-transmissive material, and a transmissive portion formed of a transmissive material. The non-transmissive portion and the transmissive portion may be formed as a single component, and the icon indicators may be formed of the transmissive portion. 
     In this structure, because the non-transmissive portion and the transmissive portion are formed as a single component, there is no gap between the non-transmissive portion and the transmissive portion, and thus, dust does not accumulate on the opening/closing cover.