Printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023398787-A1
Application number	US-202318162684-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2023
Priority date	May 24, 2022
Publication date	Dec 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A printer includes a housing, a shaft connected to an inner surface of the housing at a first end thereof, extending along a first direction to a second end, and by which an ink ribbon is held, a print head connected to the surface at a first end thereof, extending along the direction to a second end, and transferring ink from the ribbon to a sheet, a roller connected to the surface at a first end thereof, extending along the direction to a second end, and conveying the sheet, and a holding plate connected to the second end of the roller and rotatable around a first hinge and by which the second ends of the shaft and the head are held when the plate is rotated about the first hinge to be parallel to the surface. The plate includes a second hinge about which the holding plate is foldable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A printer comprising:
a housing; an ink ribbon shaft connected to an inner surface of the housing at a first end of the ink ribbon shaft, extending along a first direction away from the inner surface of the housing from the first end to a second end, and by which an ink ribbon is held; a print head connected to the inner surface of the housing at a first end of the print head, extending along the first direction from the first end to a second end, and configured to transfer ink from the ink ribbon to a sheet; a platen roller connected to the inner surface of the housing at a first end of the platen roller, extending along the first direction from the first end to a second end, and facing the print head to convey the sheet; and a holding plate connected to the second end of the platen roller to be rotatable around a first hinge, and by which the second end of each of the ink ribbon shaft and the print head is held when the holding plate is rotated about the first hinge to be parallel to the inner surface of the housing, wherein the holding plate includes a second hinge about which the holding plate is foldable.

2 . The printer according to claim 1 , wherein
the holding plate includes an upper plate and a lower plate, and the upper plate is rotatable about the second hinge and stackable on the lower plate.

3 . The printer according to claim 2 , wherein
the ink ribbon shaft includes a protrusion at the second end thereof, and the upper plate has a hole into which the protrusion fits.

4 . The printer according to claim 2 , wherein
the print head includes a protrusion at the second end thereof, and the lower plate has a hole into which the protrusion fits.

5 . The printer according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a handle attached to the upper plate and slidable along the upper plate to contact the lower plate; and a lock mechanism configured to maintain the holding plate in an unfolded state in which the upper and lower plates are on a same plane when the handle contacts the lower plate.

6 . The printer according to claim 5 , wherein a lower end portion of the handle includes an inclined surface that pushes an upper end of the lower plate such that the upper and lower plates are on the same plane when the handle is slid toward the lower plate.

7 . The printer according to claim 6 , wherein the lower plate includes a guide portion having a curved surface along which the lower end portion of the handle moves when the upper plate is rotated.

8 . The printer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover by which the ink ribbon shaft, the print head, the platen roller, and the holding plate are covered, wherein the cover is rotatable about a third hinge parallel to the first hinge.

9 . The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the print head is disposed below the ink ribbon shaft.

10 . The printer according to claim 9 , wherein the print head is directly above the platen roller.

11 . A printer comprising:
a housing; an ink ribbon shaft connected to an inner surface of the housing at a first end of the ink ribbon shaft, extending along a first direction away from the inner surface of the housing from the first end to a second end, and by which an ink ribbon is held; a print head connected to the inner surface of the housing at a first end of the print head, extending along the first direction from the first end to a second end, and configured to transfer ink from the ink ribbon to a sheet; a platen roller connected to the inner surface of the housing at a first end of the platen roller, extending along the first direction from the first end to a second end, and facing the print head to convey the sheet; and a holding plate including:
a lower plate connected to the second end of the platen roller to be rotatable around a first hinge and by which the second end of the print head is held when the lower plate is rotated about the first hinge to be parallel to the inner surface of the housing,
a second hinge, and
an upper plate connected to the lower plate to be rotatable around the second hinge and by which the second end of the ink ribbon shaft is held when the upper plate is rotated about the second hinge to be parallel to the inner surface of the housing.

12 . The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the upper plate is stackable on the lower plate.

13 . The printer according to claim 12 , wherein
the ink ribbon shaft includes a protrusion at the second end thereof, and the upper plate has a hole into which the protrusion fits.

14 . The printer according to claim 12 , wherein
the print head includes a protrusion at the second end thereof, and the lower plate has a hole into which the protrusion fits.

15 . The printer according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a handle attached to the upper plate and slidable along the upper plate to contact the lower plate; and a lock mechanism configured to maintain the holding plate in a state in which the upper and lower plates are on a same plane when the handle contacts the lower plate.

16 . The printer according to claim 15 , wherein a lower end portion of the handle includes an inclined surface that pushes an upper end of the lower plate such that the upper and lower plates are on the same plane when the handle is slid toward the lower plate.

17 . The printer according to claim 16 , wherein the lower plate includes a guide portion having a curved surface along which the lower end portion of the handle moves when the upper plate is rotated.

18 . The printer according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a cover by which the ink ribbon shaft, the print head, the platen roller, and the holding plate are covered, wherein the cover is rotatable about a third hinge parallel to the first hinge.

19 . The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the print head is disposed below the ink ribbon shaft.

20 . The printer according to claim 19 , wherein the print head is directly above the platen roller.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Ando Koichi

Classifications

• B41J2/325 Primary

  by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet · CPC title

• B41J2202/31

  Thermal printer with head or platen movable · CPC title

• B41J33/26 Primary

  by rollers engaging the ribbon · CPC title