阅读说明：本技术 打印装置 (printing apparatus ) 是由 加藤伸夫 谷崎将司 于 2019-03-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种打印装置包括第一支撑部分,可在第二支撑部分的移动方向上朝向和远离第一支撑部分移动的第二支撑部分,由检测器可移动地支撑的可移动探针,以及允许机构。可移动范围包含第一范围和第二范围。允许机构被构造为在第二支撑部分的移动在第一范围内的情况下,允许可移动探针根据第二支撑部分在分离/接近方向上相对于第一支撑部分的移动而移动,且还被构造成在第二支撑部分的移动在第二范围内的情况下,防止可移动探针移动,而不管第二支撑部分相对于第一支撑部分的进一步移动。(A printing apparatus includes a first support portion, a second support portion movable toward and away from the first support portion in a moving direction of the second support portion, a movable probe movably supported by a detector, and a permitting mechanism. The movable range includes a first range and a second range. The allowing mechanism is configured to allow the movable probe to move in accordance with movement of the second support portion relative to the first support portion in the separation/approach direction in a case where the movement of the second support portion is within a first range, and is also configured to prevent the movable probe from moving in a case where the movement of the second support portion is within a second range, regardless of further movement of the second support portion relative to the first support portion.)

1. a printing apparatus, comprising:

A first support portion;

A second support portion that is engaged with the first support portion to detachably support the rolled-up printing medium, the second support portion being configured to be movable in a separation/approach direction that is a moving direction of the second support portion toward and away from the first support portion within a movable range that includes a first range and a second range subsequent to the first range, an interval between the first support portion and the second support portion being not greater than a predetermined amount within the first range, and an interval between the first support portion and the second support portion being greater than the predetermined amount within the second range;

A movable probe movable in the separation/approach direction;

A detector located at a fixed position and supporting the movable probe and configured to detect a position of the movable probe in the separation/proximity direction, the detector providing a detectable range within the first range; and

An allowing mechanism configured to allow the movable probe to move in accordance with movement of the second support portion relative to the first support portion in the separation/proximity direction if the movement of the second support portion is within the first range, the allowing mechanism being further configured to prevent the movable probe from moving despite further movement of the second support portion relative to the first support portion if the movement of the second support portion in the separation/proximity direction is within the second range.

2. The printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the allowing mechanism comprises:

A guide member extending from the second portion in an approaching direction, the approaching direction being a direction from the second support portion toward the first support portion;

An urging member that is supported on the guide member and urges the movable probe in a separation direction that is a direction from the first support portion toward the second support portion; and

A protruding portion that is provided at the guide member and is located in front of the movable probe in the separation direction, the movable probe abutting the protruding portion with the second support portion being located within the first range, and the movable probe separating from the protruding portion with the second support portion being located within the second range.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable probe is formed with a through hole extending in the separation/approach direction;

Wherein the allowing mechanism further comprises:

A holding portion provided at the guide member and located forward of the protruding portion in the approaching direction;

A rod member extending in the separation/approach direction and supported by the holding portion and the protruding portion, the rod member extending through the through hole to enable the movable probe to move relative to the rod member; and

An adjustment member configured to prevent the movable probe from moving in the separation direction in a case where the second support member moves from the first range to the second range.

4. the printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the urging member is a coil spring that is disposed above the lever member and is interposed in a compressed manner between the holding portion and the movable probe.

5. the printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment member is immovably positioned so as to abut the movable probe at a downstream position of the movable probe in the separation direction.

6. The printing device of claim 5, wherein the adjustment member is a projection.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the holding portion includes a first holding portion and a second holding portion aligned with the first holding portion in the separation/approach direction, the first holding portion and the second holding portion extending from the guide portion and having an inner diameter;

Wherein the rod member has a specific portion located between the first holding portion and the second holding portion, and a remaining portion having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter and an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter, thereby avoiding displacement of the rod member relative to the first holding portion and the second holding portion in the separation/approach direction.

8. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an interlocking mechanism configured to move the first support portion and the second support portion in the separation/approach direction in an interlocking relationship with each other.

9. The printing device of claim 8, wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises a pair of rack and pinion gears.

10. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount is equal to a maximum lateral length of the rolled print media.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus.

background

There has conventionally been known a sheet width detecting apparatus including a pair of sheet width adjusting members and a variable resistor, as described in japanese patent application publication No. hei 07-223758. At least one of the pair of sheet width adjusting members is movable. The movable member is provided with an abutment rib, a shaft, a lever and a tension coil spring. The shaft pivotally movably supports the lever. The variable resistor slidably supports a movable probe that moves interlockingly with movement of at least one of the pair of sheet width adjusting members. The moveable probe is initially positioned between the rib and the stem. The tension coil spring urges the rod to clamp the moveable probe between the rib and the rod. The user adjusts the interval between the pair of sheet width adjusting members so as to place the sheet therebetween. In the case where the movable member has a movement length greater than the maximum movable length of the movable probe supported by the variable resistor, the lever pivotally moves against the urging force of the tension coil spring, causing the rib to separate from the rib of the movable probe so that the movable member can be moved alone. The sheet width detecting device detects the width of the sheet placed between the pair of sheet width adjusting members based on a change in resistance value in response to the position of the movable probe.

in a case where a rolled printing medium is to be placed between a pair of sheet width adjusting members of the above-described sheet width detecting device, the interval of the pair of sheet width adjusting members is almost equal to the sheet width, making it difficult to place the rolled printing medium.

disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a printing apparatus provided with a sheet width detector and capable of facilitating setting of a rolled printing medium between a pair of support portions that detachably support the rolled printing medium.

To achieve the above and other objects, according to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a printing apparatus including a first support portion, a second support portion, a movable probe, a detector, and a permission mechanism. The second support portion is engaged with the first support portion to detachably support the rolled printing medium, and is configured to be movable within a movable range in a separation/approach direction that is a moving direction of the second support portion toward and away from the first support portion. The movable range includes a first range and a second range subsequent to the first range. The spacing between the first support portion and the second support portion is no greater than a predetermined amount within a first range. The spacing between the first support portion and the second support portion is greater than a predetermined amount within a second range. The movable probe is movable in a separation/proximity direction. The detector is located at a fixed position, supports the movable probe, and is configured to detect a position of the movable probe in the separation/proximity direction. The detector provides a detectable range within a first range. The allowing mechanism is configured to allow the movable probe to move in accordance with movement of the second support portion in the separation/approach direction with respect to the first support portion in a case where the movement of the second support portion is within a first range. The allowing mechanism is also configured to prevent the movable probe from moving in the case where the movement of the second support portion in the separation/proximity direction is within the second range, regardless of further movement of the second support portion with respect to the first support portion.

preferably, the allowing mechanism includes a guide member, a pushing member, and a protruding portion. The guide member extends from the second portion in an approaching direction, which is a direction from the second support portion toward the first support portion. The urging member is supported on the guide member, and urges the movable probe in a separation direction, which is a direction from the first support portion toward the second support portion. The protruding portion is provided at the guide member and is located in front of the movable probe in the separation direction. In a case where the second support portion is located within the first range, the movable probe abuts against the protruding portion, and in a case where the second support portion is located within the second range, the movable probe is separated from the protruding portion.

preferably, the movable probe is formed with a through hole extending in the separation/approach direction. The allowing mechanism further includes a holding portion, a lever member, and an adjusting member. The holding portion is provided at the guide member and is located forward of the protruding portion in the approaching direction. The lever member extends in the separation/approach direction and is supported by the holding portion and the protruding portion. The shaft member extends through the through hole to enable the movable probe to move relative to the shaft member. The adjustment member is configured to prevent the movable probe from moving in the separation direction in a case where the second support member moves from the first range to the second range.

Preferably, the urging member is a coil spring disposed above the lever member and interposed in a compressed manner between the holding portion and the movable probe.

Preferably, the adjustment member is immovably positioned so as to abut the movable probe at a position downstream of the movable probe in the separation direction.

Preferably, the adjustment member is a projection.

Preferably, the retaining portion comprises a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion. The second holding portion is aligned with the first holding portion in the separation/approach direction. The first retaining portion and the second retaining portion extend from the guide portion and have an inner diameter. The lever member has a certain portion between the first holding portion and the second holding portion, and the remaining portion. The remaining portion has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter, and the specific portion has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter, thereby preventing the rod member from being displaced in the separation/approach direction with respect to the first holding portion and the second holding portion.

Preferably, the printing apparatus further comprises an interlocking mechanism configured to move the first support portion and the second support portion in the separation/approach direction in an interlocking relationship with each other.

Preferably, the interlocking mechanism comprises a pair of rack and pinion gears.

Preferably, the predetermined amount is equal to a maximum lateral length of the rolled printing medium.

Drawings

The particular features and advantages of the embodiments, as well as other objects, will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment in a case where a cover 12 is in a closed state with respect to a main body portion 11;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment in a state where the cover 12 is opened with respect to the main body portion 11;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment in a state where the cover 12 is opened with respect to the main body portion 11;

Fig. 4A is a sectional view of the printing apparatus taken along line a-a in fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrows;

fig. 4B is an enlarged sectional view of the second support portion 4 in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a rear view showing the roller support mechanism 23 in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the second support portion 4 and the guide member 6 in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the printing apparatus taken along the line B-B in fig. 3, viewed in another arrow direction;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the roller support mechanism 23;

Fig. 9A is a view for describing the movable range R of the second support portion 4, and particularly shows the closest position of the second support portion 4 to the first support portion 3 in the movable range;

Fig. 9B is a view for describing the movable range R of the second support portion 4, and particularly shows a state where the second support portion 4 is located at the boundary K within the movable range R;

Fig. 9C is a view for describing the movable range R of the second support portion 4, and particularly shows the farthest position of the second support portion 4 from the first support portion 3 in the movable range; and

fig. 10 is a view for describing a flow of setting the sheet roll M to the printing apparatus 1.

Detailed Description

a printing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 10. With respect to the orientation of the printing apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1, a diagonally lower right direction, a diagonally upper left direction, a diagonally upper right direction, a diagonally lower left direction, an upward direction, a downward direction in fig. 1 will be referred to as a rightward direction, a leftward direction, a rearward direction, a forward direction, an upward direction, and a downward direction, respectively.

1. General structure of printing apparatus 1

The printing apparatus 1 is configured to receive print data from an external apparatus (not shown) such as a personal computer terminal, and perform printing on a print medium based on the print data. A thermal label is an example of an integral part of a print medium. As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the printing apparatus 1 includes a main body portion 11, a cover 12, and a discharge portion 15. The body portion 11 and the cover 12 are formed of a resin material. The discharge portion 15 is in the form of a slit through which a tape (described later) that records an image inside the printing apparatus 1 can be discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus 1. The discharge portion 15 extends in the leftward/rightward direction, and is composed of a lower discharge portion 151 located on the front side of the body portion 11 and an upper discharge portion 152 located on the front side of the cover 12.

The body portion 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The main body portion 11 constitutes a lower portion of the printing apparatus 1, and includes a main body cover 20, a housing portion 21, a pressure roller 22, a roller support mechanism 23, and a detector 9 (see fig. 5). As shown in fig. 3, 4A, 4B and 7, the body cover 20 is a plate-shaped member, and has a rear portion formed in an arc shape protruding downward. The main body cover 20 has guide grooves 25 and 26, a recessed portion 27, a lower discharge portion 151 and an adjustment member 39.

the guide grooves 25 and 26 are through holes having a rectangular shape extending in the leftward/rightward direction. The guide grooves 25 and 26 are located between the recessed portion 27 and the lowermost portion of the main body cover 20 in the forward/rearward direction. The guide groove 25 allows the connection portion 34 (fig. 3 and 5) of the first support portion 3 to extend therethrough, and the guide groove 26 allows the connection portion 44 (fig. 3 and 5) of the second support portion (described later) to extend therethrough. The guide groove 25 is located approximately in the right half of the main body cover 20, but the left end of the guide groove 25 is located on the left side of the center in the leftward/rightward direction of the main body cover 20. The guide groove 26 is located substantially in the left half of the main body cover 20, but the right end of the guide groove 26 is located on the right side of the center of the main body cover 20 in the leftward/rightward direction.

The left end portion of the guide groove 25 and the right end portion of the guide groove 26 overlap each other in the forward/backward direction at the center portion in the leftward/rightward direction of the printing apparatus 1. The guide groove 26 is located rearward of the guide groove 25. The recessed portion 27 is recessed downward and extends in the leftward/rightward direction. The recessed portion 27 is located forward of the guide grooves 25 and 26 and rearward of the platen roller 22 (described later). The lower discharge part 151 constitutes a lower portion of the discharge part 15 located at the front portion of the body cover 20. The regulation member 39 is a projecting portion that projects downward, and is disposed at a position facing the lever member 10 (described later).

As shown in fig. 2, the housing portion 21 is an internal space of the printing apparatus 1, and is defined by the main body cover 20. The accommodating portion is configured to accommodate therein the sheet roll M such that a core of the sheet roll M extends in the leftward/rightward direction. The sheet roll M is constituted by a core having a hollow cylindrical shape and a sheet roll wound around the core. The sheet roll includes a base sheet and a thermal label affixed to the base sheet. In the following description, the combination of the base sheet and the thermal label affixed thereto will be referred to as a "tape". Tape is an example of a print medium.

The press roller 22 is cylindrical in shape and is configured as a conveyor belt. The press roller extends in the longitudinal direction (leftward/rightward direction) of the discharge portion 15. The roller support mechanism 23 is configured to detachably support the sheet roll M. Details of the roller support mechanism 23 will be described later.

the detector 9 is shown in fig. 5. The detector 9 is configured to detect the width of the sheet roll M supported by the roller support mechanism 23. The width of the sheet roll M is the length in the extending direction (leftward/rightward direction) of the core of the sheet roll M. The detector 9 movably supports a movable probe 8 (described later) movable in a moving direction (a leftward/rightward direction or a separating/approaching direction described later) to detect a position of the movable probe 8 in the moving direction.

As shown in fig. 4B, the movable probe 8 is provided with an intervening member 81 and a movable body 82. The intervening member 81 has a front portion formed with a through hole 83 extending in the moving direction. The intervening member 81 has a lower surface formed with a concave portion recessed upward. The movable body 82 has a convex portion protruding upward, which is accommodated in a concave portion of the intervening member 81. The intervening member 81 and the movable body 82 move integrally in the moving direction.

The detector 9 is a well-known variable resistor, the longitudinal direction of which is the direction of movement. The detector 9 is formed with a guide groove 91 extending in the moving direction, as shown in fig. 7. The detector 9 movably supports the movable body 82 of the movable probe 8 along the guide groove 91. The printing apparatus 1 has a circuit board (not shown) in the main body portion 11 at a position below the main body cover 20. The circuit board is configured to control the printing apparatus 1.

the cover 12 is pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position about an axis extending in the leftward/rightward direction, and is positioned at an upper rear portion of the main body portion 11. As shown in fig. 1, in the closed state of the lid 12, the upper surface of the lid 12 is inclined downward toward the front end of the body portion 11. In the closed state of the cover 12, the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a display 13 and an operation portion 14 on the upper surface of the cover 12. The operation section 14 serves as an interface for inputting various instructions to the printing apparatus 1. As shown in fig. 2, the cover 12 accommodates therein a thermal head 30 extending in the leftward/rightward direction. The thermal head 30 includes a plurality of heating elements aligned with each other in the leftward/rightward direction. The thermal head 30 is controlled by the above-described circuit board, and is configured to print a character image on a thermal label while heating. The cover 12 includes an upper discharge portion 152, which is an upper portion of the discharge portion 15 provided at a front end portion of the cover 12.

2. Structure of roller support mechanism 23

Details of the roller support mechanism 23 will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 9. The roller support mechanism 23 includes a first support portion 3, a second support portion 4, guide members 5 and 6, a permission mechanism 40, and an interlock mechanism 60. The first support part 3 and the second support part 4 form a substantially bilaterally symmetrical appearance. Hereinafter, the moving direction of the second support portion 4 toward and away from the first support portion 3 will be referred to as a "separating/approaching direction" (leftward/rightward direction). The direction from the second support portion 4 to the first support portion 3 will be referred to as an approaching direction (rightward direction). The direction from the first support portion 3 to the second support portion 4 will be referred to as a separating direction (leftward direction).

As shown in fig. 6, the second support portion 4 is a plate-like member having a substantially right-angled triangular shape in side view. The second support portion 4 is configured to be movable in the separation/approach direction to detachably support the roller M in cooperation with the first support portion 3. When the second support portion 4 is moved in the separation/proximity direction, the movable probe 8 can be moved in the separation/proximity direction.

The second support portion 4 includes a protrusion 41, a fan-shaped portion 42, a facing surface 43, a connecting portion 44, a concave portion 45, and a convex portion 46. The facing surface 43 faces rightward toward the first support portion 3. A protrusion 41 having a truncated conical shape protrudes rightward from the center of the rear portion of the facing surface 43 toward the first support portion 3. The protrusion 41 has a protruding length H (see fig. 6) protruding from the sectorial portion 42.

The scallop 42 is semicircular in right view and protrudes in the approaching direction (rightward) from the facing surface 43 at a substantially upward position of the radial center in the upward/downward direction of the protrusion 41. The sector portion 42 has an imaginary center that substantially coincides with the radial center. The length of the protrusion 41 protruding rightward from the facing surface 43 is greater than the length of the sectorial portion 42 protruding rightward from the facing surface 43.

the connecting portion 44 having a plate-like shape extends in the approaching direction (rightward) from the lower end portion of the facing surface 43. The connecting portion 44 has a through hole extending in the upward/rearward direction. The connection portion 44 of the second support portion 4 is fixed to the guide member 6 (described later) by a screw extending through a through hole of the connection portion 44 while the connection portion 44 is inserted in the guide groove 26 of the main body cover 20.

The concave portion 45 is located near the hypotenuse of the second support portion 4 of the right triangle, and is recessed in the separating direction (leftward). The projecting portion 46 projects downward from the front end portion of the second support portion 4. The protruding portion 46 is fitted with the recessed portion 27 of the body cover 20. The movement of the second support portion 4 in the leftward/rightward direction is guided by the guide groove 26 and the recessed portion 27.

The first support portion 3 is a plate-like member having a substantially right-angled triangular shape in side view. The first support part 3 includes a protrusion 31, a sector 32, a facing surface 33, a connecting portion 34, a concave portion 35 and a convex portion 36, as shown in fig. 3 and 5. The facing surface 33 faces the facing surface 43 in the separation/approach direction.

The protrusion 31 having a truncated conical shape protrudes leftward from the center of the rear portion of the facing surface 33 toward the protrusion 41. That is, the projection 31 is aligned with the projection 41 in the separation/approach direction to allow the core of the sheet roll M (see fig. 10) to be fitted with the projections 31, 41. The protrusion 31 has a protrusion length H protruding from the sectorial portion 32. The protruding length H is equal to the protruding length H of the protrusion 41 from the sectorial portion 42.

The scallop 32 is semicircular and protrudes in the separation direction (leftward) from the facing surface 33 at a substantially upward position of a radial center in the upward/downward direction of the protrusion 31. The sector 32 has an imaginary center that is substantially coincident with the radial center. The length of the projection 31 projecting leftward from the facing surface 33 is longer than the length of the sector portion 32 projecting leftward from the facing surface 33.

The connecting portion 34 having a plate-like shape extends in the separating direction (leftward) from the lower end portion of the facing surface 33. The connecting portion 34 has a through hole extending in the upward/rearward direction. The connection portion 34 of the first support portion 3 is fixed to the guide member 5 (described later) by a screw extending through a through-hole of the connection portion 34 while the connection portion 34 is inserted into the guide groove 25 of the body cover 20. The connecting portion 34 is located forward of the connecting portion 44.

the concave portion 35 is positioned near the hypotenuse of the second support portion 4 of the right triangle, and is recessed in the approaching direction (rightward). The projecting portion 36 projects downward from the front end portion of the first support portion 3. The protruding portion 36 is fitted with the recessed portion 27 of the body cover 20. The movement of the first support section 3 in the leftward/rightward direction is guided by the guide groove 25 and the recessed section 27.

the guide members 5 and 6 are plate-like members having a rectangular shape, and extend in the separating/approaching direction. The guide member 5 has a right end portion connected to the connecting portion 34 of the first support portion 3. The guide member 6 has a left end portion connected to the connecting portion 44 of the second support portion 4. The guide members 5 and 6 are located below the body cover 20.

As shown in fig. 9, in the case where the movement of the second support portion 4 in the separation/proximity direction is within the first range R1, the allowing mechanism 40 allows the movable probe 8 to move in accordance with the movement of the second support portion 4 relative to the first support portion 3. The first range R1 is within the movable range R in the separating/approaching direction of the second support portion 4. In the first range R1, the interval between the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 is not more than a predetermined amount. Further, in the case where the movement of the second support portion 4 in the separation/proximity direction is within the second range R2, the allowing mechanism 40 prevents the movable probe 8 from moving regardless of the movement of the second support portion 4 relative to the first support portion 3. The second range R2 is within the movable range R in the separating/approaching direction of the second support portion 4. In the second range R2, the interval between the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 is larger than a predetermined amount.

the predetermined amount may be set appropriately. For example, the predetermined amount is equal to the maximum lateral length of the sheet roll M that can be accommodated in the accommodating portion 21. Alternatively, the predetermined amount is the sum of the maximum transverse length of the roll of sheets M and an additional predetermined amount, such as 1 to 10mm, for example. The length of the first range R1 is greater than the length of the second range R2. The length of the second range R2 is greater than the projection length H of the projection 41 from the sectorial portion 42 in the separating/approaching direction.

The permitting mechanism 40 includes the guide member 6, the urging member 7, the protruding portion 64, the holding portions 62 and 63, the lever member 10, and the adjusting member 39. The guide member 6, the pushing member 7, the protruding portion 64, the holding portions 62 and 63, and the lever member 10 are positioned below the body cover 20.

The lever member 10 is fixedly supported to the guide member 6 by the holding portions 62, 63 and the protruding portion 64. The movable probe 8 is slidably movable along the shaft member 10. The urging member 7 is disposed above the lever member 10 and between the holding portion 63 and the movable probe 8 so as to urge the movable probe 8 in the separating direction (leftward in fig. 9).

More specifically, the urging member 7 is a compression spring wound on the rod member 10, and is positioned between the holding portion 63 and the movable probe 8 in a compressed state. The protruding portion 64 protrudes from the guide member 6 and is at a position on the left side of the movable probe 8. In the case where the second support portion 4 is located within the first range R1 as shown in fig. 9A and 9B, the movable probe 8 pushed in the separating direction by the pushing member 7 abuts against the protruding portion 64. In the case where the second support portion 4 is located within the second range R2 as shown in fig. 9C, the protruding portion 64 is separated from the movable probe 8.

The holding portions 62 and 63 are provided at the guide member 6, and are positioned on the right side of the protruding portion 64. The holding portions 62 and 63 and the protruding portion 64 extend from the rear surface of the guide member 6 in the rearward direction. Each of the holding portions 62 and 63 and the protruding portion 64 includes a receiving portion having a C-shape with an opening formed at the top thereof in a side view.

The rod member 10 is a rod-like member extending in the separating/approaching direction, and specifically, a shaft having a circular shape in side view. The outer diameter of the rod member 10 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of each of the holding portions 62 and 63 and the receiving portion of the protruding portion 64. The guide member 6, the holding portions 62 and 63, and the protruding portion 64 are integrally formed of a resin material, and are elastically deformable so that each opening can be expanded and contracted.

The lever member 10 is inserted into the through hole 83 of the movable probe 8, and is fitted in each of the holding portions 62 and 63 and the receiving portion of the protruding portion 64. More specifically, the lever member 10 is fitted with the holding portions 62 and 63 and the receiving portion of the protruding portion 64 in the following manner. The holding portions 62 and 63 and the protruding portion 64 are elastically deformed so that the opening is enlarged by pressing the lever member 10 down to each top of the holding portions 62 and 63 and the protruding portion 64. As a result, the lever member 10 passes through the opening. After the lever member 10 is moved through the opening, the holding portions 62 and 63 and the protruding portion 64 are elastically deformed, so that the opening becomes small and the holding portions 62 and 63 and the protruding portion 64 return to their original shapes. Thus, the lever member 10 is held in the receiving portion and cannot pass upward through the opening.

the lever member 10 has a portion between the holding portions 62 and 63. The outer diameter of this portion is larger than the outer diameter of the rest of the rod member 10. Therefore, the lever member 10 cannot move in the separating/approaching direction (leftward/rightward direction) with respect to the holding portions 62, 63.

As shown in fig. 7 and 9, in the case where the second support portion 4 is moved from the first range R1 to the second range R2, the regulation member 39 prevents the movable probe 8 from moving in the separation/approach direction. More specifically, the regulation member 39 is a convex portion protruding upward from the lower surface of the main body cover 20. In the case where the second support portion 4 reaches the boundary K between the first range R1 and the second range R2, the movable probe 8 abuts against the regulation member 39, and the regulation member 39 prevents the movable probe 8 from moving further from the boundary K in the separation direction.

As shown in fig. 5, the interlocking mechanism 60 is configured to move the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 in the separating/approaching direction in an interlocking relationship with each other. The interlock mechanism 60 is located below the body cover 20. The interlocking mechanism 60 includes rack gears 51 and 61, a pinion gear 18, and a support plate 70.

The rack gear 51 includes gear teeth provided on the rear surface of the guide member 5. The rack gear 61 includes gear teeth (see fig. 6) provided on the front surface of the guide member 6. The gear teeth of the rack gear 51 and the rack gear 61 are aligned in a row in the left/right direction. The rack gears 51 and 61 face each other in the forward/backward direction with the pinion gear 18 disposed therebetween.

The pinion gear 18 is rotatably supported to the support plate 70 at a position between the guide grooves 25 and 26 in the forward/rearward direction. The pinion gear 18 is meshed with the rack gears 51 and 61. The pinion 18 is located at the center C of the space defined between the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 in the separating/approaching direction.

The rack gears 51 and 61 move in the separation/approach direction and in the directions opposite to each other when the pinion gear 18 rotates. Therefore, as shown in fig. 3, each of the support portions 3 and 4 moves in the separation/approach direction along the guide grooves 25 and 26 and the recessed portion 27. For example, in the case where the second support portion 4 is moved by a predetermined amount in the separating direction (leftward direction), the first support portion 3 is moved rightward by a predetermined amount in an interlocked relationship with the movement of the second support portion 4 via the rack gears 51 and 61 and the pinion gear 18. In other words, the rack gears 51 and 61 and the pinion gear 18 move the pair of support portions 3 and 4 apart from each other. On the other hand, in the case where the second support portion 4 is moved by a predetermined amount in the approaching direction (rightward direction), the first support portion 3 is moved by a predetermined amount leftward in interlocked relation to the movement of the second support portion 4 via the rack gears 51 and 61 and the pinion gear 18. In other words, the rack gears 51 and 61 and the pinion gear 18 move the pair of support portions 3 and 4 close to each other.

The support plate 70 is a plate-like member located below the pair of support portions 3 and 4, and extends in the separating/approaching direction. The support plate 70 has grooves 79 and 80 extending in the separation/approach direction at positions facing the guide members 5 and 6 in the upward/downward direction, respectively. The grooves 79 and 80 allow the pushing members 77 and 78, respectively, to be positioned therein. The tension spring is one of examples of the urging members 77 and 78. The pushing member 77 has a right end portion engaged with the support plate 70, and has a left end portion engaged with a lower end portion of the second support portion 4. The urging member 78 has a left end portion engaged with the support plate 70, and has a right end portion engaged with a lower end portion of the first support section 3. The pushing members 77 and 78 push the pair of support portions 3 and 4 toward the center C to move close to each other.

3. Operation mode of the roller support mechanism 23

An operation of the user to attach the sheet roll M to the accommodating portion 21 of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to fig. 3, 9, and 10.

The user opens the cover 12. In the open state (shown in fig. 3) of the cover 12, the user pushes a part of the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4, such as the concave portion 35 or the concave portion 45, to the right or left, respectively, to separate the pair of support portions 3 and 4 from each other. The urging member 7 has an urging force to urge the movable probe 8 in the separating direction so that the abutment between the movable probe 8 and the protruding portion 64 is maintained with the second support portion 4 located within the first range R1.

In the case where the user attaches the sheet roll M having the largest widthwise length width among the various sizes of sheet rolls, the user moves the second support portion 4 to a position within the second range R2. In a case where the second support portion 4 is located within the first range R1 as shown in fig. 9A, the movable probe 8 pushed in the separation direction by the pushing member 7 abuts against the protruding portion 64 and moves in the separation/approach direction in an interlocked relationship with the movement of the second support portion 4.

in the case where the second supporting portion 4 reaches the boundary K between the first range R1 and the second range R2 as shown in fig. 9B, the intervening member 81 of the movable probe 8 abuts against the regulation member 39. Therefore, the regulation member 39 prevents the movable probe 8 from further moving in the separation direction while maintaining the abutment between the intervening member 81 of the movable probe 8 and the regulation member 39. In the case where the second support portion 4 is located within the second range R2, the movable probe 8 is held at the abutment position in abutment with the regulation member 39 regardless of further movement of the second support portion 4 in the separation direction, and the intervening member 81 and the movable body 82 are held in engagement with each other. Therefore, as shown in fig. 9C, the protruding portion 64 is separated from the movable probe 8, and the pushing member 7 is compressed more, so that the length of the pushing member 7 becomes smaller. More specifically, in the case where the second support portion 4 is located within the second range R2, the user moves the support portion 4 in the separating direction against the urging force of the urging member 7. Therefore, the load required to move the second support portion 4 and the guide portion 6 in the separating direction is larger than the urging force of the urging member 7.

the movable probe 8 has a movable range having a length equal to the length of the first range R1 in the separating/approaching direction. Further, the detector 9 has a detectable range Q defined by the length of the guide groove 91 in the separating/approaching direction. An additional space is provided in the guide groove 91 to absorb dimensional errors and assembly errors of the mechanical parts. Therefore, the length of the movable range of the movable probe 8 is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the length of the detectable range Q in the separating/approaching direction. Further, the length of the detectable range Q is smaller than the length of the movable range R of the second support portion 4 in the separating/approaching direction.

The user moves the support portions 3 and 4 in the opposite directions to each other against the biasing force of the urging members 77 and 78 to position the sheet roll M at a position between the support portions 3 and 4 as shown in the upper part of fig. 10, so that the tape roll M is wound on the core of the sheet roll M in a clockwise manner in the right view. Then, the user releases the support portions 3 and 4 so that the support portions 3 and 4 are moved toward each other by the biasing force of the pushing members 77 and 78 until the sector portions 32 and 42 abut the sheet roll M, as shown in the lower part of fig. 10. When the sector portions 32 and 42 come into contact with the sheet roll M, the support portions 3 and 4 stop moving within the first range R1. In this case, the protrusions 31 and 41 are fitted in the through hole D of the core of the sheet roll M. As a result, the distance between the fan-shaped portions 32 and 42 becomes approximately equal to the transverse length W of the sheet roll M.

The detector 9 may output a detection signal indicating the lateral length of the sheet roll M according to the position of the second support portion 4 in the separation/approach direction. A portion of the tape drawn from the sheet roll M is positioned along the arc-shaped upper surface of the main body cover 20. The leading end portion of the belt is located in the vicinity of the discharge portion 15. Further, the main body cover 20 and the projecting portions 46 and 36 sandwich the belt in the leftward/rightward direction to define a belt conveying passage. The user then closes the lid 12. The user can also separate the sheet roll M from the accommodating section 21 in a similar manner.

4. Printing operation

In operation, the user opens the cover 12 to attach the sheet roll M to the accommodating portion 21 or detach the sheet roll M from the accommodating portion 21. The sheet roll M accommodated in the accommodating portion 21 has a width extending in the leftward/rightward direction. In the closed state of the cover 12, the thermal head 30 is located near the platen roller 22. With a portion of the tape between the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 22, the platen roller 22 presses the portion of the tape toward the thermal head 30.

a conveying motor (not shown) is provided to rotate the platen roller 22. The rotation of the platen roller 22 outputs the tape from the sheet roll M, and the tape is conveyed while being pressed between the platen roller 22 and the thermal head 30. In the thermal head 30, a plurality of heating elements selectively generate heat, thereby printing character images line by line on a thermal label affixed to a base sheet of the tape. In the closed state of the cover 12, the tape having the thermal label with the character image printed thereon is discharged from the discharge portion 15 to the outside of the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 may be provided with a cutter for cutting the print tape at a predetermined position.

In the printing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment, in the case where the second support portion 4 is located within the first range R1, the movable probe 8 can be moved in the separation/proximity direction in an interlocked relationship with the movement of the second support portion 4. Accordingly, the detector 9 can detect the width of the printing medium according to the position of the movable probe 8, which coincides with the position of the second supporting portion 4.

Further, the user may move the second support portion 4 from the first range R1 to the second range R2 to position the roll of sheets M at a position between the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 while preventing the movable probe 8 from moving further to the second range R2. Therefore, the length of the movable range R of the second support section 4 is larger than the length of the movable range of the movable probe 8. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the setting of the sheet roll M in the sheet containing section 21, and it is possible to achieve such a convenience without extending the moving range of the movable probe 8.

The movable range of the movable probe 8 slidably supported by the detector 9 is determined according to the maximum widthwise length of the sheet roll M receivable in the accommodating portion 21. Further, the detectable range Q of the detector 9 is determined so that the position of the movable probe 8 according to the maximum widthwise length of the sheet roll M is near the end of the detectable range Q in the separating direction. As a result, the detectable range Q of the detector 9 can be effectively utilized.

On the other hand, in the printing apparatus 1, the projections 31 and 41 are fitted in the through hole D of the core of the sheet roll M, and the fan-shaped portions 32 and 42 abut against the sheet roll M to hold the sheet roll M. Therefore, in order to attach or detach the sheet roll M to or from the accommodating portion 21 of the printing apparatus 1, the user needs to further move each of the support portions 3 and 4 by at least the projecting length H (2H in total) from the sheet roll holding positions of the first and second support portions 3 and 4. Such further movement of each of the support portions 3 and 4 by the projecting length H is only required for attaching or detaching the sheet roll M to or from the accommodating portion 21 of the printing apparatus 1. In this case, it is not necessary to detect the lateral length of the sheet roll M. Therefore, the setting of the sheet roll M can be facilitated by the allowing mechanism 40, and such convenience can be achieved without lengthening the detector 9 in the leftward/rightward direction.

The printing apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the following modifications (1) to (4) are conceivable.

The members or components of the printing apparatus 1 may be modified in shape, material, and position. For example, the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 may have a modified configuration. Each of the sectors 32 and 42 may be replaced by a disc-shaped member or may be omitted. For example, the first support portion 3 is immovable, and the second support portion 4 is slidably movable against the urging force of the tension spring. Each of the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 may be formed of a metal material or various materials, instead of the resin material. The position of the second support part 4 relative to the first support part 3 can be modified. Only one second support portion 4 can be moved in the separation/approach direction with respect to the first support portion 3. The printing mode of the printing apparatus 1 can be modified as appropriate. For example, the present disclosure may be applied to an ink ribbon printer or an ink jet printer.

(2) All or part of the members of the permitting mechanism 40, such as the guide member 6, the urging member 7, the protruding portion 64, the holding portions 62 and 63, the lever member 10, and the adjusting member 39, may have modified configurations. For example, the pushing member 7 may be an extension spring positioned to push the movable probe 8 in the separation direction. The guide member 6 may be integral with the second support portion 4. The protruding portion 64 and the holding portions 62 and 63 may be provided at a front surface, an upper surface or a bottom surface of the guide member 6. The adjustment member 39 may be fixed to at least one of the support plate 70 and the detector 9.

3) The moving probe 8 may not have the through-hole 83 extending in the separation/proximity direction. Further, the intervening member 81 and the movable body 82 of the movable probe 8 may be integrated with each other. The adjusting member 39 may be provided at a portion other than the body cover 20, for example, at the guide member 6 and the support plate 70.

(4) In the printing apparatus 1, the interlock mechanism 60 may have a suitably modified configuration, or may be omitted. The distance between the first support portion 3 and the second support portion 4 can be adjusted by a mechanism other than the rack gears 51 and 61. In the interlock mechanism 60, at least one of the urging members 77 and 78 may have a suitably modified configuration, or may be omitted.