Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a print device comprising a hinged cover supported on an upper side of a rear end portion of a housing of the print device such that it can pivot around a rotation axis extending in a left-right direction, and opens and closes the housing. A keyboard unit, including a display unit, is removably mounted to the top of the hinged cover.

<CIT> discloses an image forming apparatus which includes: an image forming part, which forms an image on a prescribed sheet, a liquid crystal display part, which displays information concerning about image formation with the operation display part attached and detached to and from a casing; an input part, which constitutes the operation display part and performs input operation concerning about image formation; and an auxiliary display part covered by the operation display part with the operation display part attached to the casing and having a liquid crystal display device displaying the information concerning about image formation with the operation display part detached from the casing.

There has hitherto been known a printer, which is to be used for a point-of-sale system (POS), and includes a display unit configured to display predetermined information and a printer main body portion connected to the display unit through a cable. In this related-art printer, the display unit is arranged on a printer stand configured to support the printer main body portion.

However, in the above-mentioned related-art printer, an installation space for the printer stand is required, and hence there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of space saving at a time of installing the printer including the display unit connected to the printer main body portion through the cable.

In view of the foregoing, in this type of printer, there is a demand for a printer capable of effectively achieving space saving even when the printer includes the display unit connected to the printer main body portion through the cable.

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer according to claim <NUM>.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of further example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Now, a first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a block diagram of a point-of-sale system (POS) including a thermal printer according to the first embodiment. A POS <NUM> is installed in commercial places such as retail stores and restaurants. The POS <NUM> is a system configured to notify customers of payment information (predetermined information) such as names and prices of products purchased by the customers.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the POS <NUM> includes an information processing device <NUM> and a thermal printer <NUM> (corresponding to the "printer" in claims). The information processing device <NUM> is configured to perform, for example, payment processing for the products. The information processing device <NUM> is configured to control the operation of the thermal printer <NUM>. As examples of the information processing device <NUM>, there are given personal computers of a desktop type and a tablet type. The thermal printer <NUM> is installed on a store counter.

The thermal printer <NUM> includes a printer main body <NUM> and a display unit <NUM>. The printer main body <NUM> and the information processing device <NUM> are connected to each other through a first cable <NUM>, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) cable. The printer main body <NUM> and the information processing device <NUM> may be wirelessly connected to each other. The operation of the printer main body <NUM> is controlled by the information processing device <NUM>. The printer main body <NUM> is configured to print data such as payment information sent from the information processing device <NUM> on recording paper P (see <FIG>) such as heat-sensitive paper and deliver the printed recording paper P.

The display unit <NUM> and the printer main body <NUM> are connected to each other through a second cable <NUM>, for example, a USB cable. With this, the display unit <NUM> receives electric power supplied from the printer main body <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> is connected to the information processing device <NUM> through intermediation of the printer main body <NUM>. With this, the display unit <NUM> displays the data such as payment information sent from the information processing device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment in a state in which a printer cover is closed. <FIG> is a perspective view of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment in a state in which the printer cover is opened. In <FIG> and subsequent figures, an upper side of the drawing sheet is defined as an upward direction (upward direction in a gravity direction), and a lower side of the drawing sheet is defined as a downward direction (downward direction in the gravity direction). Further, a front-and-back direction is denoted by L1. An up-and-down direction is denoted by L2. A direction orthogonal to the front-and-back direction L1 and the up-and-down direction L2 is defined as a right-and-left direction L3. Further, a forward direction is indicated by the arrow FW, and a backward direction is indicated by the arrow BA.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the thermal printer <NUM> is a printer of a "forward delivery" type in which the recording paper P is delivered in the forward direction (on a front surface <NUM> side of the thermal printer <NUM>). The thermal printer <NUM> is used in a state in which the forward direction thereof is directed to, for example, a store clerk who is a first user, and the backward direction thereof is directed to, for example, a store customer who is a second user. This usage state of the thermal printer <NUM> is merely an example, and there is no particular limitation on the usage state.

The printer main body <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> and a printer cover <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is installed on an installation surface <NUM> in a store. As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> has a box shape having an opening <NUM> in the forward direction. The housing <NUM> has a plurality of outer surfaces including a bottom surface <NUM>, the front surface <NUM>, and a back surface <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> is formed, in a large part, so as to be opposed to the installation surface <NUM> in a state of being separated therefrom. The front surface <NUM> is formed of the printer cover <NUM> arranged in the opening <NUM>. The back surface <NUM> forms a mounting surface 23A on which the display unit <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) described later is removably mounted. The mounting surface 23A is positioned on a side opposite to the front surface <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the printer cover <NUM> is coupled to a lower part of the housing <NUM> so as to open and close the opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. A delivery slot <NUM> (gap) is formed between a distal end part of the printer cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. The recording paper P is delivered in the forward direction from an inside of the housing <NUM> through the delivery slot <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the recording paper receiving portion <NUM> is formed in the housing <NUM>. The recording paper P is received in the recording paper receiving portion <NUM> in a state of being wound into a tubular shape having an axial line extending along the right-and-left direction L3.

A platen unit <NUM> is provided on a back surface of the printer cover <NUM>. The platen unit <NUM> is a component of the printer main body <NUM>. The platen unit <NUM> is configured to send out the recording paper P in the forward direction from the delivery slot <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A head unit <NUM> is provided in the upward direction of the recording paper receiving portion <NUM> in the housing <NUM>. The head unit <NUM> is a component of the printer main body <NUM>. The head unit <NUM> is electrically connected to the information processing device <NUM> through the first cable <NUM>. The head unit <NUM> is configured to print, on the recording paper P, data such as payment information sent from the information processing device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment when viewed from the back surface side. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the thermal printer according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the display unit <NUM> is removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> includes a display unit main body <NUM> and a display unit mounting portion <NUM>.

The display unit main body <NUM> has a plate shape. One end of the second cable <NUM> (see <FIG>) is connected to the display unit main body <NUM>. One end of the second cable <NUM> may be removably connected to the display unit main body <NUM>, for example, through a connector (not shown). A display screen <NUM> (corresponding to the "display region" in the claims) is provided on the display unit main body <NUM>. Data such as payment information sent from the information processing device <NUM> are displayed in forms of characters and images on the display screen <NUM>. The size of the display screen <NUM> (size of the display region) is set to a region corresponding to the mounting surface 23A.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the display unit mounting portion <NUM> has a plate shape. The display unit mounting portion <NUM> is mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>. An upper part of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> is pivotably mounted on an upper part of the display unit main body <NUM> through intermediation of pivot portions <NUM> formed of, for example, hinges. With the pivot portions <NUM>, the display screen <NUM> of the display unit main body <NUM> can be changed in angle with respect to the mounting surface 23A.

A display unit arrangement portion <NUM> is formed so as to be recessed in the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>. The display unit mounting portion <NUM> is arranged in the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>. The movement of a lower part of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> is regulated by holding the lower part of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> in abutment against a step portion <NUM> on a lower side of the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>.

A pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged so as to be opposed to each other in edge portions <NUM> and <NUM> on the right and left sides of the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>. The pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM> are formed so as to be elastically deformable. The right and left sides of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> are sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM> through use of elastic force. In this embodiment, the right and left sides of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> are sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM> through snap-fitting.

A specific configuration of the sandwiching portion <NUM> is described. The sandwiching portion <NUM> includes a base portion <NUM> and a locking claw <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> is connected to the edge portion <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> extends in the up-and-down direction L2 that is an extending direction of the edge portion <NUM> and protrudes in the backward direction. The locking claw <NUM> is formed at a distal end of the base portion <NUM>. The locking claw <NUM> has a triangular shape in cross section. The display unit mounting portion <NUM> is locked on inner sides of the locking claws <NUM> and <NUM> with elastic force of the base portions <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> can be mounted on and removed from the mounting surface 23A by elastically deforming the base portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a sectional view of the thermal printer taken along the line VI-VI of <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a recessed portion <NUM> is formed in a lower part of the mounting surface 23A. The recessed portion <NUM> is formed so as to be recessed inward from the mounting surface 23A (toward an inner side of the housing <NUM>). The recessed portion <NUM> has an L-shape in side sectional view. A connector connecting portion <NUM> is formed in the recessed portion <NUM>. The connector connecting portion <NUM> is formed on a side surface <NUM> facing the front-and-back direction L1 in the recessed portion <NUM>. A connector <NUM> mounted on the second cable <NUM> is connected to the connector connecting portion <NUM> so as to be mountable on and removable from the connector connecting portion <NUM> through insertion and removal of the connector <NUM> along the front-and-back direction L1. For example, a locking portion capable of accommodating the second cable <NUM> by locking the second cable <NUM> may be formed in the recessed portion <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the display unit <NUM> is removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM> other than the bottom surface <NUM> among the plurality of outer surfaces. Therefore, the display unit <NUM> can be supported without the printer stand used in the related art. With this, an installation space for the printer stand is not required. Thus, even when the display unit <NUM> connected through the second cable <NUM> is provided, space saving can be achieved as compared to the related art. Further, the printer stand is not required, and hence the thermal printer <NUM> including the display unit <NUM> connected through the second cable <NUM> can be installed at low cost. Further, the display unit <NUM> can be mounted on and removed from the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>. Therefore, the thermal printer <NUM> can be adapted for a user who does not require the display unit <NUM> as well as a user who requires the display unit <NUM>. Thus, the thermal printer <NUM>, which is excellent in versatility and has a high degree of freedom in design, can be obtained.

Further, according to this embodiment, the mounting surface 23A on which the display unit <NUM> is mounted is a side surface on a side opposite to the opening <NUM> in which the printer cover <NUM> is arranged among the plurality of outer surfaces. Therefore, the display unit <NUM> can be provided on a side opposite to the printer cover <NUM>. In general, the delivery slot <NUM> of the recording paper P of the thermal printer <NUM> is formed on the opening <NUM> side in many cases. Thus, according to this embodiment, the thermal printer <NUM> can be used in a state in which the delivery slot <NUM> of the recording paper P of the thermal printer <NUM> is directed to the first user (for example, the store clerk) and the display unit <NUM> of the thermal printer <NUM> is directed to the second user (for example, the store customer). Therefore, the thermal printer <NUM>, which is easy to use and excellent in operability, can be obtained.

Further, according to this embodiment, the size of the display screen <NUM> is set to the region corresponding to the mounting surface 23A. Therefore, the predetermined information can be displayed on the display screen <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> while being enlarged to the largest possible size. Thus, the thermal printer <NUM> according to this embodiment enables a user to easily visually recognize the predetermined information.

Further, according to this embodiment, the display unit <NUM> is mounted on the mounting surface 23A while being sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM>. Therefore, the display unit <NUM> can be easily mounted on and removed from the mounting surface 23A by elastically deforming the pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, according to this embodiment, the thermal printer <NUM>, which is easy to use and excellent in operability, can be obtained.

Further, according to this embodiment, the connector connecting portion <NUM> is formed in the lower part of the mounting surface 23A. Therefore, the connector <NUM> provided at another end of the second cable <NUM> is connected to the lower part of the mounting surface 23A through intermediation of the connector connecting portion <NUM>. With this, the second cable <NUM> is prevented from being caught by other components, for example, at a time of use or transport, and hence the connector <NUM> of the second cable <NUM> can be prevented from being unexpectedly removed from the connector connecting portion <NUM>.

Further, according to this embodiment, the connector connecting portion <NUM> is formed in the recessed portion <NUM> that is recessed inward from the mounting surface 23A. Therefore, the connector <NUM> at another end of the second cable <NUM> is connected to the lower part of the mounting surface 23A through intermediation of the connector connecting portion <NUM> in the recessed portion <NUM>. With this, the second cable <NUM> can be accommodated in the recessed portion <NUM>, and exposure of the connector <NUM> to outside is suppressed. Thus, the connector <NUM> of the second cable <NUM> can be further prevented from being unexpectedly removed from the connector connecting portion <NUM>.

Next, a thermal printer <NUM> according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described. <FIG> is a perspective view of the thermal printer according to the second embodiment when viewed from a back surface side. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the thermal printer according to the second embodiment. In <FIG>, illustration of the second cable <NUM> connecting the display unit <NUM> and the housing <NUM> to each other is omitted. In the thermal printer <NUM> according to the second embodiment, the display unit <NUM> is removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM> with a configuration different from that of the first embodiment. This configuration is described below. Description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the display unit <NUM> of the thermal printer <NUM> according to the second embodiment is removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM> with a plurality of screws <NUM> (corresponding to the "fastening member" in claims). In the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>, a plurality of female thread portions <NUM> are formed in the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>. The plurality of female thread portions <NUM> are arranged at four corners of the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>. A plurality of through holes <NUM> are formed in the display unit mounting portion <NUM> of the display unit <NUM>. The plurality of through holes <NUM> are arranged at four corners of the display unit mounting portion <NUM>, which are positions corresponding to the plurality of female thread portions <NUM> in the display unit mounting portion <NUM>. The plurality of screws <NUM> are inserted into the through holes <NUM> of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> to be threadedly engaged with the plurality of female thread portions <NUM>. With this, the display unit <NUM> is removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM> with the plurality of screws <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the display unit <NUM> is mounted on the mounting surface 23A by threadedly engaging the plurality of screws <NUM> with the female thread portions <NUM>. Therefore, the display unit <NUM> can be reliably and firmly mounted on the mounting surface 23A. Thus, according to this embodiment, the display unit <NUM> can be prevented from being unexpectedly removed from the mounting surface 23A due to vibration or the like. Further, the display unit <NUM> can be easily removed from the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM> by releasing the screws <NUM> from the female thread portions <NUM>. Thus, according to this embodiment, the mounting and removing operation of the display unit <NUM> can be easily performed.

Next, a thermal printer <NUM> according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described. <FIG> is a perspective view of the thermal printer according to the third embodiment when viewed from a back surface side. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the thermal printer according to the third embodiment. In <FIG>, illustration of the second cable <NUM> connecting the display unit <NUM> and the housing <NUM> to each other is omitted. In the thermal printer <NUM> according to the third embodiment, the display unit <NUM> is removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM> with a configuration different from those of the first embodiment. This configuration is described below. Description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a display unit arrangement portion <NUM> is formed so as to be recessed in the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>. Unlike the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> in the first embodiment and the second embodiment (see <FIG> and <FIG>), the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> is formed with an upper side thereof being opened. With this, the display unit mounting portion <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> can be slid to be inserted into the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> from above. A pair of holding portions <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged so as to be opposed to each other in the edge portions <NUM> and <NUM> on the right and left sides of the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>. The pair of holding portions <NUM> and <NUM> are formed so as to extend along the edge portions <NUM> and <NUM>. The holding portion <NUM> may have a trapezoidal shape in cross section having a short side in the backward direction and a long side in the forward direction. A pair of grooves <NUM> and <NUM> are formed between the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> of the mounting surface 23A and the pair of holding portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

The pair of grooves <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged so as to be opposed to each other along the edge portions on the right and left sides of the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>. The display unit mounting portion <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> is fitted in the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> with the right and left sides of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> being inserted in the pair of grooves <NUM> and <NUM>. With this, the display unit <NUM> is removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>. The lower part of the display unit mounting portion <NUM> is brought into abutment against the step portion <NUM> on a lower side of the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> to be locked thereon. With this, the display unit <NUM> is held by the pair of holding portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the step portion <NUM> to be removably mounted on the mounting surface 23A of the housing <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the display unit <NUM> is mounted on the mounting surface 23A through insertion of both sides of the display unit <NUM> into the pair of grooves <NUM> and <NUM>. Therefore, the display unit <NUM> can be easily mounted on and removed from the mounting surface 23A by only sliding the display unit <NUM> along the grooves <NUM>. Thus, according to the present invention, the mounting and removing operation of the display unit <NUM> can be easily performed.

Note that, the technical scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the display unit <NUM> includes the display unit main body <NUM> and the display unit mounting portion <NUM>. However, the display unit <NUM> may be formed of only the display unit main body <NUM>, and the display unit main body <NUM> may be directly mounted on the mounting surface 23A. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, as an example of the predetermined information to be displayed on the display unit <NUM>, there is given payment information. However, information such as store information and bargain information may be displayed besides the payment information. Further, required information may be displayed in accordance with a place of use of the thermal printers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the mounting surface 23A on which the display unit <NUM> is mounted is formed on the back surface <NUM> on a side opposite to the front surface <NUM> having an opening. However, the position of the mounting surface 23A is not limited to that in the above-mentioned embodiments. Thus, for example, the mounting surface 23A may be formed on any one of right and left side surfaces adjacent to the front surface <NUM>, or on an upper surface on a side opposite to the bottom surface <NUM>.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, description is given of the example in which the present invention is applied to the thermal printers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the forward delivery type in which the recording paper P is delivered in the forward direction. However, besides the foregoing, the present invention may be applied to, for example, a thermal printer of an upward delivery type in which the recording paper P is delivered in the upward direction. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, description is given of the example in which the present invention is applied to the thermal printers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> as an example of the printer. However, besides the foregoing, the present invention may be applied to printers other than the thermal printers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, the present invention may be applied to an inkjet printer in which printing is performed on recording paper through use of ink droplets.

In the first embodiment, the pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged so as to be opposed to each other in the edge portions <NUM> and <NUM> on the right and left sides of the display unit arrangement portion <NUM>, and the display unit mounting portion <NUM> is sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM>. Meanwhile, the number of pairs of the sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM> is not limited to one pair. A plurality of pairs of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be arranged, and the display unit mounting portion <NUM> may be sandwiched by the plurality of pairs of sandwiching portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the thermal printer <NUM> according to the third embodiment, with the pair of grooves <NUM> and <NUM> formed on the right and left sides of the mounting surface 23A, the display unit mounting portion <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> can be slid to be inserted into the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> from above. Meanwhile, the display unit mounting portion <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> may be slid to be inserted into the display unit arrangement portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> from any one of the right direction and the left direction with the pair of grooves <NUM> and <NUM> formed on the upper and lower sides of the mounting surface 23A.

Claim 1:
A printer (<NUM>), comprising:
a housing (<NUM>), which has a recording paper receiving portion (<NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>), and includes a plurality of outer surfaces including a bottom surface (<NUM>);
a printer cover (<NUM>), which is coupled to the housing (<NUM>), and is capable of opening and closing the opening (<NUM>);
a display unit (<NUM>), which is removably mounted on a mounting surface (23A) other than the bottom surface (<NUM>) among the plurality of outer surfaces, and is configured to display predetermined information;
a cable having one end connected to the display unit (<NUM>) and another end on which a connector (<NUM>) is mounted; and
a connector connecting portion (<NUM>) to which the connector (<NUM>) is connected,
wherein the connector connecting portion (<NUM>) is formed in a lower part of the mounting surface (23A),
wherein a recessed portion (<NUM>) that is recessed inward from the mounting surface (23A) is formed in the lower part of the mounting surface (23A), and
wherein the connector connecting portion (<NUM>) is formed in the recessed portion (<NUM>).