Patent Publication Number: US-2011052299-A1

Title: Portable printer equipped with manual cutter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0079355 filed on Aug. 26, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable printer equipped with a manual cutter. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, POS (Point of Sales) systems, Auto ID systems, and the like use printers to output receipts or labels. These printers generally use a continuous stream of paper and the printers using the continuous stream of paper are equipped with a cutter for cutting outputted paper. 
     As for existing cutters, a scissors type, a guillotine type, and a rotary type, and the like, which are operated in an auto-cutting way by a driving force from a motor when power is supplied, as well as a tear bar operated in a manual-cutting manner, are known in the related art. 
     The auto-cutting type has a pair of blades (a fixed blade and a movable blade), in which the movable blade moves and cuts paper positioned between the blades. 
     On the other hand, the manual-cutting type tear bar has a fixed plastic or metal plate with a saw-toothed blade formed on the edge thereof, and in this configuration, a user cuts paper by contacting the paper with the tear bar and tearing it. 
     In the auto-cutting type, paper is cut with the cut surface smooth and the output paper is automatically cut after printing, such that it is convenient. However, since power is required to automatically cut paper, and an operating motor and a circuit are required for the auto cutting, not only the configuration of the product is complicated, but also the product cost is high. 
     On the other hand, for people such as traffic policemen or delivery persons who need a portable printer, the printer should be equipped with a cutter that can minimize power for long-time use, because batteries are used for the power source. Therefore, manual-cutting type cutters are occasionally used for their lack of power consumption, even though automatic cutters are convenient to use and have good cut quality. 
     The manual-cutting type cutters have the advantage of not requiring power for cutting, having a simple configuration, and making it possible to reduce the cost thereof. The manual-cutting type cutters, however, leave a saw shape on the paper after cutting, such that the cut surface is not smooth and many scraps of paper are made in the process of cutting. The scraps of paper frequently gather inside the printer and cause problems in the operation of the printer by adversely affecting an optical sensor for detecting paper and the driving system. 
     In particular, portable printers need to be fixed to a body for use, such as a belt; however, when the printers are not firmly fixed, they may fail to cut paper, such that the user has to cut the paper with both hands. This increases inconvenience in the use of the printers, rather than makes it possible to use the advantage of the portable printers in that both hands are free. 
     Therefore, an effort must be made in order to maintain the advantage of auto-cutting type cutters and simultaneously remove the disadvantage of the manual cutters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of at least any one of the requirements or problems found in printers equipped with the existing cutter. 
     An aspect of the present invention is to cut paper with the cut surface smooth, without power for cutting the paper. 
     An aspect of the present invention is also to cut paper with the cut surface smooth while realizing an improvement in convenience such that a user can operate the printer worn on the body with one hand. 
     An aspect of the present invention is also to minimize malfunctions due to scraps of paper by minimizing the scraps of paper in cutting. 
     An aspect of the present invention is also to prevent a safety accident by allowing cutting only when a printer cover is closed. 
     An aspect of the present invention is also to prevent a paper jam by stopping the discharge of paper in cutting. 
     A portable printer equipped with a manual cutter related to an embodiment for achieving at least any one of the objects may have the following features. 
     The present invention is basically configured such that a movable blade that has operated for cutting can automatically return to the initial position, after manual cutting. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable printer equipped with a manual cutter, which includes: a fixed blade disposed at one side of a paper outlet; a movable blade holder disposed adjacent to the paper outlet opposite to the fixed blade; a movable blade slidably mounted in the movable blade holder; an operator slidably mounted in the movable blade holder and connected with a predetermined portion of the movable blade; and elastic members having ends supporting predetermined portions of the movable blade holder and the other ends supporting the movable blade or the sides of the operator, and providing restoring force to return the movable blade or the operator to the initial position. 
     In this configuration, the movable blade may have a movable blade body and a connecting portion formed at a predetermined portion of the movable blade body to be attachable to or detachable from the operator. Meanwhile, the movable blade body may further have a cutting blade opposite to the fixed blade, and the cutting blade may be formed to decline downward to the center from both ends. 
     Further, the movable blade may further have protrusion parts at both ends of the cutting blade to guide paper or limit the movement range of the movable blade. 
     Further, the movable blade may further have an anti-cutting groove at the center of cutting blade to prevent paper from being completely cut through. 
     Meanwhile, a stopper may further be provided at a predetermined portion of the printer body to allow cutting only when the printer cover is closed. Further, an insertion groove in which the stopper is fitted may be further formed at a predetermined portion of the movable blade. 
     Further, a sensing unit is further provided at a predetermined portion in the printer body to stop paper discharged in cutting, and the operator may further have a leg such that the position of the operator is sensed by the sensing unit. 
     Further, a manual cutting blade may further be provided adjacent to the paper outlet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view showing the outer shape of a portable printer equipped with a manual cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view showing the case in which a cover of the portable printer equipped with the manual cutter shown in  FIG. 1A  is open; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the outer shape of a manual cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view the internal structure with a movable blade holder, a movable blade, a fixed blade, and a stopper which are included in a manual cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view showing an exemplary configuration of the movable blade shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , which further includes an operator; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view showing the operation for cutting of the manual cutter shown in  FIG. 4A  according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the configuration shown in  FIG. 4A , which further includes a manual cutting blade; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , which further includes a movable blade cover and a fixed blade cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In order to help understand the features described above of the present invention, hereinafter a portable printer equipped with a manual cutter will be described in detail with reference to embodiments of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, although the following embodiments will be described on the basis of examples that are the most suitable for understanding the technical features of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and it is exemplified that the present invention may be achieved by the embodiments. Therefore, the present invention may be modified from the following embodiments in various ways within the scope of the present invention and it should be understood that the modified embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention. 
     Further, in the reference numerals provided in the accompanying drawings to help understand the following embodiments, the same or extending reference numerals indicate related components among the components that have the same function in each embodiment. 
     The embodiments associated with the present invention are basically configured such that a movable blade that has operated for cutting can automatically return to the initial position, after manual cutting. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a portable printer  10  is equipped with a manual cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The portable printer  10  includes a printer body  11   a  equipped with a device for outputting data on paper and an openable printer cover  11   b  provided at a predetermined position in the printer body  11   a . Further, the printer cover  11   b  may have a paper seat  12  retaining paper that can be continuously supplied. 
     Meanwhile, the portable printer  10  may have a paper outlet  11   c  discharging paper. The embodiment shown in the figures exemplifies the case in which the paper outlet  11   c  is formed between the printer body  11   a  and the printer cover  11   b.    
     Further, the portable printer  10  may have a cutter  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cutter  100 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be configured to have a movable blade  120  disposed at any one side of the paper outlet  11   c  and a fixed blade  140  disposed at the other side of the paper outlet  11   c , opposite to the movable blade  120 , such that paper is cut by moving the movable blade  120 . In this configuration, the movable blade  120  may be slidably disposed in a movable blade holder  110 , with any one end movably fixed to an operator  130 . 
     In this configuration, the fixed blade  140 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , may be mounted to the printer cover  11   b . Unlike, the fixed blade  140  may be mounted to the printer body  11   a , at a predetermined distance from the movable blade  120 . Further, the movable blade holder  110  may be a portion of the printer body  11   a  or be formed on the printer body  11   a  as a separate member. 
     As an example of the configuration of the cutter  100 , as shown in the  FIG. 3 , the movable blade holder  110  is provided at a predetermined portion of the printer body  11   a . In this configuration, the movable blade holder  110  may be positioned close to the paper outlet  11   c  such that a portion of the movable blade  120  overlaps with the fixed blade  140 , crossing the paper outlet  11   c , when the movable blade  120  moves. 
     The movable blade  120  may be slidably mounted to the movable blade holder  110 . Further, the fixed blade  140  is disposed opposite to the movable blade  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , the movable blade  120  has a movable blade body  121  that can slide with the movable blade holder  110  and the movable blade body  121  may have a cutting blade  121   a  opposite to the fixed blade  140 . The cutting blade  121   a  may be formed to decline downward to the center from both ends while being opposite to the fixed blade  140 . In contrast, the cutting blade  121   a  may also be formed to decline downward to both ends from the center while being opposite to the fixed blade  140 . 
     Meanwhile, the movable blade  120  may further have protrusion parts  123  at both ends of cutting blade  121   a  to guide discharged paper or limit the position (distance) that the movable blade  120  moves to cut paper. 
     Further, when the cutting blade  121   a  is formed to decline downward to the center from both ends while being opposite to the fixed blade  140 , an anti-cutting groove  125  may be further formed at the center to prevent paper from being completely cut through. 
     The movable blade  120  that may have the above configuration may be connected to the operator  130 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , to easily move for cutting. In this configuration, a connecting portion  122  for connecting with the operator  130  may be formed at a predetermined portion of the movable blade body  121 . 
     The operator  130  connected with the movable blade  120  is slidably mounted on the movable blade holder  110  to be moved toward the fixed blade  140  by the user operation. In this configuration, a portion of the operator  130  is supported by elastic members  111  disposed within the movable blade holder  110 , such that the operator  130  can return to the initial position before the user operates the operator  130 , after cutting. 
     That is, according to the configuration described above, when the operator  130  moves toward the paper outlet  11   c  to cut paper, the elastic members  111  are compressed, however, the elastic members  111  may be extended, when the operator  130  moves toward the paper outlet  11   c . This configuration may be achieved by connecting one end of the elastic member  111  to a predetermined portion of the operator  130  and connecting the other end thereof to a predetermined portion of the printer body  11   a , such that a detailed description will be omitted. 
     As described above, the operator  130  can slide on the movable blade holder  110  against force from the elastic members  111 , in which, for smooth operation, an operation button  132  may be provided at a predetermined position in an operator body  131 . Meanwhile, the operation button  132  may have a knob shape. 
     Further, in order for the operator  130  supported by the elastic members  111  to maintain the initial position, the movable blade holder  110  may further have a supporter  112  to support a predetermined portion of the operation button  132  or the operator body  131 . 
     Meanwhile, a stopper  150  may be further provided such that the movable blade  120  cannot move, with the printer cover  11   b  opened, in order to prevent a safety accident. The stopper  150  may be provided at a predetermined portion of the printer body  11   a  to selectively fix the movable blade  120 . For example, the stopper  150  can be movably mounted while being supported by an elastic member (not shown) and may have a protrusion  151  at a predetermined position. Further, an insertion groove  124  in which the protrusion  151  of the stopper  150  is fitted may be further formed at a predetermined position in the movable blade body  121 . 
     According to this configuration, with the printer cover  11   b  closed, the stopper  150  is pressed by the printer cover  11   b  and the protrusion  151  of the stopper  150  separates from the insertion groove  124  of the movable blade body  121 , such that the movable blade  120  can slide. Further, when the printer cover  11   b  is open, the stopper  150  is released from the printer cover  11   b  and the protrusion  151  of the stopper  150  is fitted in the insertion groove  124  of the movable blade body  121 , such that the movable blade  120  cannot move. 
     On the other hand, a sensing unit  160  may be further provided at a predetermined portion of the printer body  11   a  to stop paper being discharged therefrom, while the movable blade  120  cuts the discharged paper. In this configuration, the operator  130  may further have a leg  133  at a predetermined portion and the leg  133  may be sensed by the sensing unit  160 . According to this configuration, when the movable blade  120  is moved by the operator  130  to cut paper, the leg  133  separates from the sensing unit  160  and the sensing unit  160  senses the separation of the leg  133 . That is, as the sensing unit  160  checks whether the leg  133  separates, it is possible to detect whether the movable blade  120  has moved. In other words, when the movable blade  120  moves, it is possible to stop the discharged paper, on the basis of an event transmitted from the sensing unit  160 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a manual cutting blade  170  may be further provided adjacent to the paper outlet  11   c . The manual cutting blade  170  may be a common blade manually operated, and disposed at the upper portion of the cutter  100 , described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a movable blade cover  120   a  and a fixed blade cover  140   a  may be further provided such that the movable blade  120  and the fixed blade  140  are not exposed to the outside. In this configuration, as shown in the figure, the movable blade cover  120   a  and the fixed blade cover  140   a  may be formed of separate members from the printer body  11   a  and cover  11   b . Unlike, the movable blade cover  120   a  and the fixed blade cover  140   a  may be portions of the printer body  11   a  and cover  11   b.    
     The portable printer equipped with a manual cutter according to the present invention is not limited to embodiments of portable printers equipped with the manual cutter described above, and the embodiments may be partially or entirely selectively combined to modify the embodiments in various ways. 
     As set forth above, according to exemplary embodiments, since a power source is not required to cut paper, it is possible to reduce power consumption and cut paper with the cut surface smooth. 
     Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience such that a user can operate the printer worn on the body with one hand, and make the cut surface smooth even though the user uses only one hand. 
     Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize scraps of paper by smoothly cutting paper, and, as the scraps of paper are reduced, it is possible to reduce malfunctions due to the scraps of paper, by reducing the scraps of paper. 
     Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a safety accident by allowing cutting only when the printer cover is closed. 
     Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a paper jam by stopping paper being discharged in a cutting process. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.