Patent Application
20250104539
This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0126860 filed on Sep. 22, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a kiosk apparatus that can mount or detach a printer.
As the unmanned and non-face-to-face trend begins, kiosks are being introduced in various places, including public places. Kiosks have advantages such as improved customer convenience, reduced costs, and increased work efficiency, so demand for kiosks is continuously increasing in many fields.
Kiosks are composed of various devices to provide unmanned services. Among them, the printer is a key component of the kiosk. In general, kiosks input/output information through a display and provide various services to users. And as a result, various printed outputs (receipts, tickets, labels, and the like) are provided. These printed outputs are outputted through a printer mounted on the kiosk. Therefore, maintenance of the kiosk printer is essential for stable operation of the kiosk.
Kiosk managers often have to detach or mount printers from kiosks for maintenance. For example, there are cases where paper is supplied to the printer or the printer may break down. However, in existing kiosks, printers are coupled using screws, which causes the inconvenience of managers having to use separate tools each time to detach or attach the printer. In addition, there is a problem that the printer is not stably fixed to the kiosk during the detachment/installation process, so that failures frequently occur during use.
(Patent Literature 1) KR 10-2011-0115352 A, “Printer for Kiosk”
In order to solve the above problems, the printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention allows the manager to easily attach or detach the printer to the kiosk without using a separate tool, and ensures that the printer is stable even when installed.
A printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention is a kiosk apparatus being coupled to a printer formed with a groove at a lower portion thereof, and comprises: a housing unit forming a mounting space into which the printer is inserted and mounted; and
In a printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention, it is characterized in that the engaging member includes a first plane and a second plane each having a constant slope, and each of the slope of the first plane and the slope of the second plane is bent and connected so as to be different from each other, thereby forming a height difference between any two points spaced apart on the first plane and the second plane.
A printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that when the door comes into line contact with a portion of the bottom surface, the position of the front end of the printer main body rises while the door in line contact or a portion of the bottom surface acts as a fulcrum.
A printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that when the door comes into surface contact with a portion of the bottom surface, the position of the front end of the rising printer main body becomes the highest height.
A printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that in a state where the door is in surface contact with a portion of the bottom surface, the first height, which is the height lowered vertically from the rotation axis of the door to the outer edge of the door, is higher than the second height, which is the maximum height of the engaging member.
In a printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention, the stand unit is characterized in that the stand unit is disposed by inserting the engaging member into a penetrating surface formed in a partial area of a lower surface while the fixing member is coupled to a lower surface of the bottom surface.
A printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention includes a base unit that is surface-coupled to a lower portion of the bottom surface and having a portion of the area including the bottom surface coupled with the penetrating surface and the fixing member cut out.
A printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that in a state where the engaging member engaged a the groove, the printer fastening hole formed in a lower portion of the printer, the housing fastening hole formed by penetrating through the bottom surface of the housing, and the base fastening hole formed by penetrating through the base unit are positioned to correspond to one another, and the fastening hole is coupled to the printer fastening hole through the base fastening hole and the housing fastening hole.
The printer detachable kiosk apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above has the following effects.
In the present invention, since the printer is fixed by coupling with the stand unit, the printer can be easily and stably mounted on the kiosk apparatus by simply inserting the printer into the mounting space of the housing.
In addition, the present invention allows the printer to be easily detached and attached from the kiosk apparatus by disconnecting the printer and the stand unit only by an opening operation of the door of the printer without using a separate tool, so that for the maintenance of the printer, the manager can easily mount or detach the printer on or from the kiosk apparatus.
In addition, the stand unit is exposed to the lower portion of the kiosk apparatus through a cut portion of the base, so the printer can be easily detached and attached from the kiosk apparatus by removing only the stand unit without disassembling or separating the housing unit.
In addition, the printer is coupled to the housing unit by a fastening hole that is coupled to the printer fastening hole through the housing fastening hole and the base fastening hole, thereby preventing theft of the printer being exposed in front of the housing unit; and during maintenance, the printer can be easily detached through the fastening hole exposed at the lower portion of the kiosk apparatus.
Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. The present invention may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the structure or method described herein. Terms used in the description of the invention are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The term “comprising” in the description of the invention is intended to designate the existence of a configuration combining the described features. Therefore, it should be understood that it does not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features or a combined configuration thereof. Hereinafter, detailed descriptions of the disclosed configurations and functions will be omitted as they are obvious to those skilled in the art.
A groove 21 of a certain depth is formed in a lower portion of the printer 20. The groove 21 is disposed at the front end of the lower portion of the printer 20. Depending on the embodiment, the groove 21 may be disposed adjacent to the door 23 in state where the door 23 is fully opened. In the kiosk apparatus 10 of the present invention, the printer 20 is detached by an opening operation of the door 23, and when the groove 21 is disposed adjacent to the door 23, the printer 20 can be more easily disconnected from the stand unit 200, which will be described later. In the example of
Additionally, a printer fastening hole 25 is formed in a lower portion of the printer 20. The fastening hole is coupled to the printer fastening hole 25. The fastening hole secures the printer 20 to the kiosk apparatus 10. More specifically, the fastening hole secures the printer 20 to a housing unit 100, which will be described later. Therefore, unless the fastening hole is removed, the printer 20 is not separated from the kiosk apparatus 10. This is to prevent the problem of the printer 20 being stolen in a state where the front of the printer 20 mounted on the kiosk apparatus 10 is exposed. In the example of
Referring to
The housing unit 100 is disposed at a lower portion of the display unit including a display panel and forms a portion among the overall frame of the kiosk apparatus 10. Inside the housing unit 100, a printer 20 and a control unit are disposed, and an internal space where cables can be connected to various devices is formed. Such a housing unit 100 serves to protect the printer 20 and the control unit from the external environment. The upper portion of the housing unit 100 is extended up to the rear of the display unit, and the display unit can be rotatably coupled to the housing unit 100. Depending on the embodiment, the display unit and the housing unit 100 may be connected to each other in a state in which the internal space communicates.
The housing unit 100 forms a mounting space S inside which the printer 20 is inserted and mounted. The printer 20 is inserted into the mounting space S through an open space in the front of the housing unit 100 and mounted on the kiosk apparatus 10. The mounting space S is formed in a lower portion of the display unit, and the printer 20 is inserted into the mounting space S, so the printer 20 is disposed in a lower portion of the display unit in the kiosk apparatus 10. Therefore, after operating the kiosk through the display unit, the user can immediately check the output of the printer 20 without changing the location.
The housing unit 100 includes a bottom surface 110 forming the bottom of the mounting space S and a pad 120 being disposed on the ceiling surface forming the ceiling of the mounting space S. The bottom surface 110 is connected to the side wall configuring the housing unit 100 and forms a mounting space S whose front is open. The bottom surface 110 provides a space where the printer 20 is located when the printer 20 is inserted and mounted on the mounting space S. The bottom surface 110 includes a support area 111 that supports the door 23 of the printer 20 in a state where the door 23 is opened. The support area 111 is a part of area of the bottom surface 110 and is located at the front end of the bottom surface 110. The support area 111 is located in front of the penetrating surface 113 formed on the bottom surface 110 and is an area formed in the shape of a long rectangular bar. The penetrating surface 113 is formed as a portion of the bottom surface 110 is penetrated. An engaging member 210, which will be described later, is inserted and disposed on the penetration surface 113. The housing fastening hole 115 is formed in a location corresponding to the printer fastening hole 25, in a state where the printer 20 is inserted and mounted on the mounting space S of the housing unit 100. That is, the printer fastening hole 25 and the housing fastening hole 115 are positioned to correspond to each other. In the example of
Referring to
The stand unit 200 is configured to allow the printer 20 to be mounted on or detached from the housing unit 100 of the kiosk apparatus 10. Specifically, the stand unit 200 is coupled to or disengaged from the printer 20, and is mounted on or detached from the housing unit 100. The stand unit 200 can be coupled with the housing unit 100 through a fastening hole. Therefore, by removing the fastening hole, the housing unit 100 can be easily separated from the stand unit 200.
The stand unit 200 includes: an engaging member 210 being engaged in a groove 21 at a lower portion of the printer 20; and a fixing member 220 being coupled to the housing unit 100. The engaging member 210 is coupled to the groove 21 and formed to be protruded higher than the fixing member 220 in order to be easily engaged in the groove 21. Therefore, in a state where the stand unit 200 is coupled to the housing unit 100, it is formed to be protruded higher than the bottom surface 110 of the housing unit 100. The maximum protrusion height of the engaging member 210 may be the height of the depth of the groove 21 plus the thickness of the bottom surface 110. The engaging member 210 includes a first plane 211 and a second plane 213 having a flat area. The first plane 211 forms a surface on which the lower surface of the printer 20 rises when the printer 20 is mounted. Referring to
The slope of the first plane 211 and the slope of the second plane 213 are bent and connected so as to be different from each other. Accordingly, a height difference is formed between any two points spaced apart on the first plane 211 and the second plane 213. Depending on the embodiment, the height difference between any two points spaced apart at equal intervals may be greater on the second plane 213 than on the first plane 211. That is, the absolute value of the slope of the second plane 213 is larger.
The fixing member 220 is a configuration that fixes the stand unit 200 in a state being coupled to the housing unit 100. The fixing member 220 is formed in the shape of a flat plate. The fixing member 220 is connected to one side to the engaging member 210 and is coupled to the bottom surface 110 of the housing unit 100 to fix the stand unit 200. The fixing member 220 can stably fix the stand unit 200 as the plane of the plate is surface-coupled with the bottom surface 110. A coupling hole 221 is formed in the fixing member 220. The stand unit 200 can be coupled to the housing unit 100 through a fastening hole coupled to the coupling hole 221.
When the printer 20 is inserted into the mounting space S, the engaging member 210 is engaged in the groove 21 at a lower portion of the printer 20 so as to couple the printer 20 and the stand unit 200. Referring to
The second plane 213 has a greater slope than the first plane 211 and is formed to be protruded close to perpendicular to the fixing member 220 or the bottom surface 110. The inner side surface of the groove 21 at a lower portion of the printer 20 is in contact with the second plane 213 so as to be coupled thereto. Since the second plane 213 has a greater slope than the first plane 211, the second plane 213 functions as a jaw being caught by the groove 21. Therefore, when the engaging member 210 is coupled to the groove 21, the movement of the printer 20 within the mounting space S is restricted, thereby stably fixing the printer 20 to the housing unit 100. The difference in the slopes of the first plane 211 and the second plane 213 and the configuration in which they are connected by being bent has an effect of ensuring a smooth connection in that each of the operations of inserting the printer 20 into the mounting space S and coupling it with the stand unit 200 is not separated. the printer 20 While the first plane 211 supports the printer 20 being inserted into the mounting space S, the second plane 213 is also partially elastically deformed, and the slope of the second plane 213 may temporarily be changed. The change in the slope of the second plane 213 allows the slope of the first plane 211 to be changed more flexibly.
Referring to
Referring to
A base fastening hole 310 is formed through the base unit 300. The base fastening hole 310 is formed at a position corresponding to the printer fastening hole 25 and the housing fastening hole 115 in a state where the printer 20 is inserted and mounted in the mounting space S of the housing unit 100. That is, the printer fastening hole 25, the housing fastening hole 115, and the base fastening hole 310 are positioned to correspond to each other. Depending on the embodiment, the number of base fastening holes 310 may be formed to correspond to the number of printer fastening holes 25. The fastening hole is coupled to the printer fastening hole 25 through the base fastening hole 310 and the housing fastening hole 115. The printer 20 is fixed to the mounting space S of the housing unit 100 by the fastening hole. Therefore, even if the printer 20 is partially exposed to the front of the housing unit 100, the printer 20 cannot be separated unless the fastening hole is removed. The base fastening hole 310 is formed by penetrating so that the printer fastening hole 25 and the housing fastening hole 115 are exposed to the outside of the base unit 300, and is formed to have a larger diameter than the housing fastening hole 115. This difference in diameter is intended to more easily remove the fastening hole from the printer fastening hole 25 even if there is a slight difference in position between the fastening holes. The fastening hole and each of the fastening holes 25, 115, and 310 prevent the theft of the printer 20 in normal times by penetrating and coupling the fastening hole, and during maintenance, the printer 20 can be easily detached and mounted by easily removing it through the fastening holes 25, 115, and 310 exposed to the outside.
In a state where the printer 20 is inserted and mounted in the mounting space S, the printer 20 must be detached for the maintenance of the printer 20. The housing unit 100 of the kiosk apparatus 10 is limited in size to accommodate only the printer 20 in order to stably fix the printer 20. Accordingly, there is no free space in the mounting space S, making it difficult to detach and mount the printer 20. However, according to the present invention, the printer 20 can be detached by an opening operation of the door 23 of the printer 20 by releasing the engagement between the grooves 21 and the engaging member 210.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In a printer detachable kiosk apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the printer 20 is inserted into the mounting space S of the housing unit 100, the lower portion of the printer 20 rises along the first plane 211, which is inclined, of the engaging member 210, and at this time, the first plane 211 and the second plane 213 may be elastically deformed and their slope may be temporarily changed. The printer 20, which ascends the first plane 211, is stably mounted in the mounting space S of the housing unit 100 as the second plane 213 is engaged with an inner side surface of the groove 21. And when the door 23 of the printer is opened, the front end of the main body of the printer 20 begins to rise as the door 23 comes 20 into line contact with the support area 111 of the bottom surface 110, and as surface contact occurs, the front end of the main body of the printer 20 rises to its maximum. When the front end of the main body of the printer 20 rises to its maximum, the lower portion of the printer 20 rises to at least the second height H2 and is higher than the height of the second plane 213, and the groove 21 separates from the engaging member 210. When the printer 20 or the door 23 is pulled in a state where the coupling with the stand unit 200 is released, the printer 20 is easily detached from the kiosk apparatus 10. In addition, the fastening hole can be separated from the stand unit 200 exposed through the cut area of the base unit 300 to release the coupling. When the stand unit 200 is separated from the housing unit 100, the configuration for fixing the printer 20 within the mounting space S disappears, so the printer 20 can be detached from the kiosk apparatus 10. Meanwhile, in order to prevent theft of the printer 20, when the fastening hole is coupled to the printer fastening hole 25 through the base fastening hole 310 and the housing fastening hole 115, the printer 20 is firmly fixed to the housing unit 100. Therefore, in order to detach and mount the printer 20, the fastening hole must first be removed. When removing the fastening hole being exposed through the base fastening hole 310, the fixing of the printer 20 and housing unit 100 is released, thereby detaching and mounting of the printer 20 from and onto the kiosk apparatus 10 becomes possible by rotating the door 23 of the printer 20.
So far, the present invention has been reviewed with a focus on preferred embodiments. A person skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs will understand that the present invention may be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered from an illustrative rather than a restrictive perspective. The scope of the present invention is indicated in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0126860 | Sep 2023 | KR | national |
