Patent ID: 12225166

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows a schematic configuration of a printing device. A printing device1has a UI unit10, a printing mechanism11, a processor12, a communication unit13, and a non-volatile memory14. The UI unit10includes a touch panel display (hereinafter referred to as a touch panel)101. The UI unit10also includes various keys and switches or the like. The touch panel101has a display panel displaying various information, for example, the status of the printing device1and the remaining amount of ink or the like, and a touch detection panel superimposed on the display panel, and thus detects a touch operation with a human finger, a touch pen or the like. The touch panel101is a capacitive LCD (liquid crystal display). The content of an operation on the UI unit10by a user is sent to the processor12.

The printing mechanism11executes printing. The printing method by the printing mechanism11is not particularly limited. For example, an inkjet method, an electrophotographic method or the like is employed. The printing mechanism11has a paper feeding unit111and also has an actuator, various devices, a sensor, a drive circuit, a mechanical component and the like for executing printing on various media.

The processor12has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like, not illustrated. The processor12executes various programs recorded in the non-volatile memory14and thus controls each part of the printing device1. The communication unit13includes a communication interface for communicating with an external device in conformity with various wired or wireless communication protocols. The printing device1communicates with another device via the communication unit13. The communication unit13includes an interface for communicating with various removable memories attached to the printing device1.

FIG.2shows an external appearance of a part of a case20of the printing device1according to this embodiment. The printing mechanism11, the processor12and the like are covered by the case20. An X-axis direction in a three-dimensional coordinate system shown inFIG.2is defined as a lateral direction of the printing device1. A Y-axis direction (vertical direction on the sheet) is defined as a direction of height of the printing device1. A Z-axis direction is defined as a direction of depth of the printing device1. A positive direction along the X-axis is referred to as right. A negative direction along the X-axis is referred to as left. A position direction along the Z-axis is referred to as back. A negative direction along the Z-axis is referred to as front.

A top face21of the case20is a face on the upper side of the printing device1. A front face22is a face facing the user of the printing device1in the state where the printing device1is installed. A right side face23is a face on the right side when one is facing the printing device1. The touch panel101is provided at the top face21. The touch panel101is a rectangular panel and is arranged in such a way that a lower side1011and an upper side1012thereof are parallel to the front face22.

In this embodiment, the touch panel101is provided, inclined downward of the vertical direction (negative direction along the Y-axis) from the back toward the front of the printing device1in relation to the top face21. Also, on the side of the lower side1011of the touch panel101, a pen holder part201continued from the surface of the touch panel101is formed. The pen holder part201is a space for placing a touch pen2. The pen holder part201is a planar face extending to a front side edge part211coupled to the front face22, of the top face21, and is an example of a lower side face. The front side edge part211is an example of a wall. A contactless charging mechanism202is provided in the pen holder part201. Thus, the touch pen2can be charged in the pen holder part201. The touch pen2may be an accessory of the printing device1or may be a commonly available product purchased by the user.

FIG.3is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the touch panel101and the pen holder part201. As shown inFIG.3, the surface of the touch panel101and the pen holder part201are provided, continuing from each other so as to be flush with each other. That is, the pen holder part201is provided on the plane including the surface of the touch panel101and is formed, inclined downward of the vertical direction in relation to the top face21. As the touch panel101is thus arranged with an inclination, the visibility of the touch panel101can be improved. Hereinafter, the surface of the touch panel101and the pen holder part201, and an extended face from these parts, are referred to as a touch panel face.

As described above, on the side of the lower side1011of the touch panel101, the pen holder part201is provided and the front side edge part211is provided as well. The front side edge part211is provided to be flush with the top face21. That is, the height of the touch panel face in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) is the greatest at this point, of the peripheral edges of the touch panel101. Since the front side edge part211protrudes from the pen holder part201in this way, the touch pen2used to operate the touch panel101can be placed in the pen holder part201. When the user places the touch pen2on the touch panel101, the touch pen2rolls down and stops at the front side edge part211and is thus settled in the pen holder part201.

Preferably, the inclination of the touch panel101and the pen holder part201in relation to the top face21may be, for example, approximately 2 degrees. If the inclination of the touch panel101and the pen holder part201from the top face21is greater, the touch pen2gains momentum when rolling down, and may go beyond the front side edge part211and drop down, which is not preferable.

In view of placing the touch pen2, preferably, a width W of the pen holder part201in the direction of depth (Z-axis direction) of the touch panel face may be 15 mm or greater. Thus, an erroneous operation due to the user touching the touch panel101by mistake when picking up the touch pen2placed in the pen holder part201can be prevented.

When the touch pen2accessory to the printing device1is provided along with the printing device1, the pen holder part201may be formed in such a way that a depth D thereof is greater than half the thickness of the touch pen2. Also, preferably, the depth D of the pen holder part201may be greater than 2 mm. The depth D of the pen holder part201is the distance in the Y-axis direction from the lowest position in the vertical direction (lowest position in the Y-axis direction) of the pen holder part201to the highest position in the vertical direction of the front side edge part211. As the depth D of the pen holder part201is made greater than 2 mm in this way, the touch pen2placed in the pen holder part201can be prevented from going beyond the front side edge part211and dropping down. The depth D corresponds to the height of the wall from the pen holder part201as the lower side face.

In another example, the front side edge part211may be formed to extend further upward in the vertical direction than the top face21. That is, the front side edge part211may be provided to be higher than the height of the top face21. If the front side edge part211is higher, it is advantageous in that the front side edge part211can more easily stop the touch pen2rolling down with momentum.

To the left and right of the touch panel101, a left side edge part213and a right side edge part214are provided, respectively. On the side of the upper side1012of the touch panel101, a back edge part212is provided. All of the left side edge part213, the right side edge part214, and the back edge part212are provided to be flush with the top face21.

At the left side edge part213, a first switch221and a second switch222, which are mechanical switches, are provided. The first switch221is a power switch. The second switch222is a home switch. The home switch is an operation unit for accepting an instruction to return the display on the touch panel101to a basic screen.

The second switch222provided nearer to the back (in the position direction along the Z-axis) than the first switch221is located at the bottom of a recess and thus provided at a lower position in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) than the first switch221. That is, the second switch222is provided at a deeper position than the first switch221. As the second switch222is thus provided at a deeper position than the first switch221, an erroneous operation on the second switch222can be prevented. Also, both the first switch221and the second switch222are provided at an upper position in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) than the touch panel face, compared with a touch panel face located at the same position in the Z-axis direction as these switches. Thus, an erroneous operation by the user is even less likely to occur.

The printing device1may have a plurality of mechanical switches. The number and types of mechanical switches are not limited to the number and types given in the embodiment. The plurality of mechanical switches may include at least one of a power switch, a power-saving switch, a print stop switch, and a home switch.

Also, a light-emitting unit223extending from the left side edge part213to the front face22is provided. The light-emitting unit223is implemented by an LED or the like and notifies the user of the status or the like of the printing device1. The light-emitting unit223is provided extending over the two faces and is therefore visible from a broad range. The first switch221, the second switch222, and the light-emitting unit223are arranged along a straight line extending in the Z-axis direction. That is, the light-emitting unit223is arranged along the direction in which the mechanical switches are arrayed. Thus, the visibility and aesthetic appearance can be improved.

The positional relationship between the touch panel101and other components will now be described, referring toFIG.2. The printing mechanism11and the like are covered by the case20. The paper feeding unit111of the printing mechanism11is arranged in such a way that the direction of depth of the printing device1(Z-direction) is a direction of insertion of the paper feeding unit111. Also, a sub scanning direction of the printing mechanism11corresponds to the direction of depth (Z-direction). That is, the direction of insertion of the paper feeding unit111and the sub scanning direction of the printing mechanism11are perpendicular to the lateral side of the touch panel101and to the vertical direction.

In another example, the printing mechanism11may be arranged in such a way that a main scanning direction thereof is perpendicular to the lateral side of the touch panel101and to the vertical direction.

On the front face22, a connector131for coupling a removable memory is provided. The connector131is arranged at a position on the front face22within a range where the touch panel101is arranged in the lateral direction (X-direction). Since the components to be operated by the user such as the touch panel101and the connector131are collectively arranged, operability can be improved.

As described above, in the printing device1according to the embodiment, the touch panel101is provided, inclined downward of the vertical direction. On the lower side of the touch panel101, the pen holder part201is provided and the front side edge part211is provided as well. Thus, the touch pen2used to operate the touch panel101can be placed in the pen holder part201.

The above embodiment is an example for implementing the present disclosure. Various other embodiments can be employed. Various modifications and changes, such as applying one modification example to another modification example, can be made within the scope of the present disclosure described in the claims.

In a first modification example, while the printing device printing on a paper medium is employed as an example in the above embodiment, the medium to print on is not limited to paper and may be, for example, cloth or the like.

In a second modification example, the pen holder part201may have, at least at a part thereof, a curved surface part2011with a cross section thereof forming a curved line, as shown inFIG.4. Thus, when the user grips the touch pen2placed in the pen holder part201, the touch pen2moves along the curved surface and therefore the user can smoothly grip the touch pen2. In another example, the pen holder part201may be formed in such a way as to form a curved line from the lower side1011of the touch panel101to the front side edge part211. In still another example, the pen holder part201may be formed in the shape of a curved surface with a cross section thereof forming a recess2012from the lower side1011toward the front side edge part211, as shown inFIG.5. Thus, the touch pen2can be prevented from moving toward the touch panel101.

In a third modification example, the touch panel101, the pen holder part201, the front side edge part211, the back edge part212, the left side edge part213, and the right side edge part214may be formed in a unified manner as a touch panel unit30, as shown inFIG.6. The touch panel unit30may tilt in such a way that the back edge part212turns upward of the vertical direction as indicated by an arrow A about the front face22side (front side edge part211side) via a tilt mechanism.

In a fourth modification example, the right side edge part214may be provided on the plane including the surface of the touch panel101, as shown inFIG.7. That is, the right side edge part214may be provided, inclined downward of the vertical direction from the back to the front of the printing device1. Also, the right side edge part214itself may be absent. In this case, there is no edge at the right end of the pen holder part201. Therefore, even when the length of the touch pen2is longer than the length in the lateral direction of the pen holder part201, the touch pen2can be placed in the pen holder part201. Also, dust or the like accumulated on the touch panel101and the pen holder part201can be eliminated via the right side edge part214.

In the above embodiment, the touch panel101is arranged at the right end of the top face21. However, the touch panel101may be arranged at the left end of the top face21. In this case, the left side edge part213may be provided on the plane including the surface of the touch panel101. In this way, preferably, the edge part connecting to the side face (right side face23, or left side face, not illustrated) may be provided on the plane including the surface of the touch panel101. Also, not only the edge part connecting to the side face but also all of the back edge part212, the left side edge part213, and the right side edge part214may be provided on the plane including the surface of the touch panel101. All of the back edge part212, the left side edge part213, and the right side edge part214may be absent.

When the left side edge part213is provided on the same plane as the touch panel101, preferably, the first switch221, the second switch222, and the light-emitting unit223may be provided at the right side edge part214. In this way, preferably, the edge connecting to the side face, of the left side edge part213and the right side edge part214, may be provided on the same plane as the touch panel101, and the mechanical switches and the light-emitting unit may be arranged at the other edge part.

In a fifth modification example, a cut-out2141may be formed at a position corresponding to the pen holder part201, in the right side edge part214, as shown inFIGS.8and9.FIG.8shows the cut-out2141in the state where the touch pen2is not placed.FIG.9shows the cut-out2141in the state where the touch pen2is placed. Since the cut-out2141is formed, the touch pen2can be placed in the pen holder part201even when the length of the touch pen2is longer than the length in the lateral direction of the pen holder part201. Preferably, the cut-out2141may be formed up to the same plane as the pen holder part201. Also, preferably, the cut-out2141may be formed with a greater width than the thickness of the touch pen2.

When the touch panel101is arranged at the left end of the top face21, as described above, a cut-out may be formed at a position corresponding to the pen holder part201, in the left side edge part213. In this way, preferably, the cut-out may be formed at the position corresponding to the pen holder part201, in the edge part connecting to the side face.

Also, when the cut-out is formed in the left side edge part213, preferably, the first switch221, the second switch222, and the light-emitting unit223may be provided at the right side edge part214. In this way, preferably, the cut-out may be formed at the edge part connecting to the side face, of the left side edge part213and the right side edge part214, and the mechanical switches and the light-emitting unit may be arranged at the other edge part. Thus, dust or the like can be prevented from falling on the mechanical switches or the like, when being eliminated via the cut-out.

In a sixth modification example, the first switch221, the second switch222, and the light-emitting unit223may be arranged around the touch panel101, and the positions where these parts are arranged are not limited to the positions given in the embodiment. For example, the first switch221, the second switch222, and the light-emitting unit223may be arranged at the right side edge part214, as shown inFIG.10. In another example, the first switch221, the second switch222, and the light-emitting unit223may be arranged at the front side edge part211, as shown inFIG.11. In still another example, the first switch221, the second switch222, and the light-emitting unit223may be arranged at the back edge part212, as shown inFIG.12.

In a seventh modification example, a cut-out2111may be formed at least at a part of the front side edge part211, as shown inFIG.13. The cut-out2111is formed in a size to fit a finger into it. Thus, the user can put a finger in the cut-out2111and thus grip the touch pen2placed in the pen holder part201. Specifically, the user puts a thumb in the cut-out2111and puts an index finger to the touch panel101side of the touch pen2, and thus can grip the touch pen2. Therefore, the length in the short-side direction of the pen holder part201required for gripping the touch pen2may be short. Thus, a touch by mistake on the touch panel101can be prevented.

In an eighth modification example, the touch panel101may be arranged at the front face22, as shown inFIG.14. In this case, too, the touch panel101is arranged in such a way that the front side is inclined downward of the vertical direction, and on the side of the lower side1011of the touch panel101, the pen holder part201is provided and the front side edge part211is provided as well. Also, the touch panel101may be arranged as the touch panel unit30, and when not in use, the touch panel101may be accommodated in such a way as to be parallel to the front face22. In this case, the touch panel unit30tilts about the side of the upper side1012of the touch panel101.

In a ninth modification example, the left side edge part213of the touch panel may have a protrusion and thus may be higher than the front side edge part211. Even in this case, the touch pen2may be stopped by making the front side edge part211particularly high, specifically by making the front side edge part211higher than one of the back edge part212and the right side edge part214of the touch panel. The same applies to the other directions. It can be said that the front side edge part211has a greater height from the touch panel face than at least one of the back edge part212, the left side edge part213, and the right side edge part214.

The foregoing embodiment should not limit the present disclosure. The embodiment includes a plurality of technical ideas having different effects. Therefore, one problem or effect that can be understood from the embodiment is not necessarily the problem or effect of all the technical ideas included in the embodiment. For example, of course, the first switch221and the second switch222may be at the same position in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction). At least one of the first switch221and the second switch222may be at the same height as the touch panel face.