The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-146412, which was filed on Jul. 28, 2017, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The following disclosure relates to a printing apparatus.
There is known a printing apparatus configured to hold a roll of a printing medium in the printing apparatus and perform printing on the printing medium drawn from the roll. There is also known a roll-sheet support device configured to support a roll sheet (a roll paper) to be supplied to a printing device. The roll-sheet support device includes a shaft, two guides, and a guide limiter. The shaft extends in the axial direction of the roll sheet. The two guides are moved in the axial direction along the shaft to respectively guide side surfaces of the roll sheet. Coil springs mounted on the shaft urge the respective two guides in directions in which the two guides move closer to each other. The guide limiter is moved into moving paths of the two guides to hold the two guides in a state in which the distance between the two guides is greater than the greatest width of the roll sheet. In the case where the roll sheet is set, an outer circumferential surface of the roll sheet contacts and bends the guide limiter, so that the guide limiter is moved out of the moving paths of the two guides. The two guides are moved toward each other by the urging forces of the respective coil springs. As a result, the two guides are brought into contact with the respective side surfaces of the roll sheet to position the roll sheet.
In the case of the above-described roll-sheet support device, there is a possibility that the roll sheet, when set, cannot bend the guide limiter, depending upon the outside diameter of the roll sheet to be set. In this case, a user has to manually bend the guide limiter to move the guide limiter out of the moving paths of the two guides. This complicates operations for setting the roll sheet.
Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure relates to a printing apparatus in which two guides are easily operated to position a roll sheet.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a main body including an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a roll of a printing medium, the accommodating portion having an opening on one side in an intersecting direction intersecting a widthwise direction of the roll; a cover being openable and closable so as to cover the opening of the accommodating portion; a pair of supporters provided in the accommodating portion and configured to support opposite portions of the roll in the widthwise direction, the pair of supporters including a movable supporter movable in the widthwise direction, the movable supporter being at least one of the pair of supporters; a lock member configured to perform: inhibiting movement of the movable supporter when the cover is in a closed state; and not inhibiting the movement of the movable supporter when the cover is in an open state; a first urging member configured to urge the movable supporter in an approach direction of the widthwise direction, the approach direction being a direction in which the distance between the pair of supporters decreases; an engaging member movable between a separated position at which the engaging member is spaced apart from the movable supporter and an engaged position at which the engaging member is engaged with the movable supporter to inhibit the movement of the movable supporter in the approach direction; and a second urging member configured to urge the engaging member from the separated position toward the engaged position. When the cover is in the open state, the engaging member is located at the engaged position by an urging force of the second urging member so as to inhibit the movement of the movable supporter in the approach direction, which movement is caused by an urging force of the first urging member. When the cover is in the closed state, the engaging member is located at the separated position against the urging force of the second urging member by contact of the cover with the engaging member so as not to inhibit the movement of the movable supporter in the approach direction, which movement is caused by the urging force of the first urging member.
The objects, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of the present disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, there will be described one embodiment by reference to the drawings. A printing apparatus 1 is connectable to an external terminal, not illustrated, via a USB (registered trademark) cable. The printing apparatus 1 is configured to print characters, such as letters and figures, on a printing medium based on print data received from the external terminal. The printing medium is a thermal label. The external terminal is a general-purpose personal computer (PC). The printing apparatus 1 is capable of battery-powered operation. The printing apparatus 1 is, for example, attached to a waist belt via a belt clip, not illustrated, and portably used by a user in operation. A lower right side, an upper left side, an upper right side, a lower left side, an upper side, and a lower side in
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When the cover 3 is in the closed state, as illustrated in
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Each of the fixed portions 10A, 10B has a substantially plate shape. The fixed portion 10A is fixed to the partition plate, not illustrated, corresponding to a front wall of the accommodating portion 24. The fixed portion 10A extends along the partition plate. The direction in which the fixed portion 10A extends is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The fixed portion 10A is inclined so as to be lower at its rear end portion than at its front end portion. As illustrated in
The fixed portion 10B is connected to a rear end portion of the fixed portion 10A. The fixed portion 10B extends horizontally along a lower end portion of the main body 2. The fixed portion 10B includes engaging portions 53, 54. Each of the engaging portions 53, 54 has teeth arranged in the right and left direction and each extending in the front and rear direction. The engaging portions 53, 54 are arranged in a straight line in the right and left direction. The engaging portions 53, 54 are spaced apart from each other in the right and left direction. The engaging portion 54 is disposed to the right of the engaging portion 53.
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The protruding portion 41C obliquely protrudes toward the lower front side from a lower front end portion of the extending portion 41B. The protruding portion 41C is inserted in the groove 101 (see
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The rack gears 71, 72 are opposed to each other in the up and down direction. The rack gear 72 is disposed above the rack gear 71. Each of the rack gears 71, 72 extends in the right and left direction. Teeth are formed on an upper end portion of the rack gear 71 and on a lower end portion of the rack gear 72. A left end portion of the rack gear 71 is connected to the protruding portion 41C of the supporter 41. A right end portion of the rack gear 72 is connected to the protruding portion 46C of the supporter 46.
The pinion gear 73 is provided between the rack gears 71, 72. The pinion gear 73 is rotatably supported by a part of a front portion of the fixed portion 10A (see
The support plate 74 is fixed in front of the pinion gear 73. The support plate 74 has an extending portion 740 extending leftward. The first urging member 75 is provided so as to extend over the extending portion 740 and the rack gear 72. The first urging member 75 is a tension spring. The first urging member 75 applies an urging force to each of the supporters 41, 46 such that each of the supporters 41, 46 moves in the approach direction.
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There will be next described a method of assembling the supporter 41, the lock member 5 (the first lock member 51 and the second lock member 52), and the rotation plate 43. It is noted that a method of assembling the supporter 46, the lock member 6 (the first lock member 61 and the second lock member 62), and the rotation plate 48 is the same as the method of assembling the supporter 41, the lock member 5, and the rotation plate 43, and an explanation thereof is dispensed with.
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The protruding portion 57A of the coupling portion 57 of the first lock member 51 is inserted, from a right side, into the hole 412 formed in the extending portion 41B of the supporter 41. At the same time, the protruding portion 57A of the coupling portion 57 is inserted, from the right side, into the hole 58A of the base portion 58 of the second lock member 52 in the extending portion 41B of the supporter 41. As a result, the coupling portion 57 of the first lock member 51 is coupled to the second lock member 52 (see
The rotation plate 43 is next placed near a right surface of the base portion 55 of the first lock member 51. The base portion 55 of the first lock member 51 is interposed between the base portion 41A of the supporter 41 and the rotation plate 43 from left and right sides of the base portion 55.
The screw 44 is next inserted, from the right side, into the hole 43A formed at the center of the rotation plate 43. The screw 44 extends through the hole 55A of the base portion 55 of the first lock member 51 and is engaged with the base portion 41A of the supporter 41. The first lock member 51 and the rotation plate 43 are supported by a right surface of the supporter 41 so as to be pivotable and rotatable about the screw 44. That is, the first lock member 51 and the rotation plate 43 are supported by the supporter 41 so as to be independently pivotable and rotatable. The coupling portion 57 pivots in response to pivotal movement of the first lock member 51. In this case, the second lock member 52 coupled via the coupling portion 57 is moved in conjunction with the pivotal movement of the first lock member 51. The spring 41D urges the first lock member 51 in a direction in which the first lock member 51 pivots in the clockwise direction in a state in which the first lock member 51 is viewed from the right side thereof (the state in
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Each of the first pivot portion 81 and the second pivot portion 82 is shaped like a curved plate. Specifically, as illustrated in
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Each of the tooth portions 861-863 has a protruding shape and includes a distal end 86C, and a first extending portion 86A and a second extending portion 86B extending from the distal end 86C. The first extending portion 86A extends from the distal end 86C in a direction inclined rearward with respect to the right direction. In other words, the first extending portion 86A is inclined so as to extend toward the third end portion 81B of the first pivot portion 81 to which the two base portions 80 are connected. The second extending portion 86B extends rearward from the distal end 86C. In other words, the second extending portion 86B extends in a direction orthogonal to the right and left direction toward the third end portion 81B of the first pivot portion 81 to which the two base portions 80 are connected. Each of the tooth portions 861-863 has a substantially mountain shape. The tooth portion 860 is provided to the right of the tooth portion 861. The second extending portion 86B extends from the distal end 86C of the tooth portion 860 in the direction orthogonal to the right and left direction. The distal ends 86C of the respective tooth portions 860-863 are spaced uniformly in the right and left direction.
The tooth portions 87 are symmetrical in shape to the tooth portions 86 in the right and left direction. Each of the tooth portions 871-873 has a protruding shape and includes a distal end 87C, and a first extending portion 87A and a second extending portion 87B extending from the distal end 87C. The first extending portion 87A extends from the distal end 87C in a direction inclined rearward with respect to the left direction. In other words, the first extending portion 87A is inclined so as to extend toward the third end portion 81B of the first pivot portion 81 to which the two base portions 80 are connected. The second extending portion 87B extends rearward from the distal end 87C. In other words, the second extending portion 87B extends in the direction orthogonal to the right and left direction toward the third end portion 81B of the first pivot portion 81 to which the two base portions 80 are connected. Each of the tooth portions 871-873 has a substantially mountain shape. The tooth portion 870 is provided to the left of the tooth portion 871. The second extending portion 87B extends from the distal end 87C of the tooth portion 870 in the direction orthogonal to the right and left direction. The distal ends 87C of the respective tooth portions 870-873 are spaced uniformly in the right and left direction. The second extending portion 86B of the tooth portion 863 corresponds to a left end portion of the first pivot portion 81 of the engaging member 8. The second extending portion 87B of the tooth portion 873 corresponds to a right end portion of the first pivot portion 81 of the engaging member 8.
The distance between the distal end 86C of the tooth portion 860 and the distal end 87C of the tooth portion 870, the distance between the distal end 86C of the tooth portion 861 and the distal end 87C of the tooth portion 871, the distance between the distal end 86C of the tooth portion 862 and the distal end 87C of the tooth portion 872, and the distance between the distal end 86C of the tooth portion 863 and the distal end 87C of the tooth portion 873 are defined respectively as “L0”, “L1”, “L2”, and “L3”.
The protruding portion 83 is provided on the first pivot portion 81 at a position located nearer to the third end portion 81B than to the tooth portions 86, 87. The protruding portion 83 protrudes from an upper surface of the first pivot portion 81. The protruding portion 83 extends in a straight line over right and left end portions of the first pivot portion 81.
The second urging member 84 extends downward, while curving, from a portion of the hole 81C of the first pivot portion 81, which portion is located near the third end portion 81B. The second urging member 84 has a rectangular shape elongated in the up and down direction. An upper end of the second urging member 84 is connected to an upper end of the hole 81C. When viewed from the right side, the second urging member 84 has a substantially arc-shape (see
The second pivot portion 82 has a rectangular shape elongated in the right and left direction. The second pivot portion 82 extends upward from a part of the third end portion 81B of the first pivot portion 81, which part is located between parts of the third end portion 81B to which the respective base portions 80 are connected. That is, the second pivot portion 82 is a portion of the engaging member 8 which is located above the pivot axis of the engaging member 8. The second pivot portion 82 has a second end portion 82A that is opposed to an end portion of the second pivot portion 82 which is connected to the first pivot portion 81. In other words, the second end portion 82A is opposed to the third end portion 81B to which the two base portions 80 are connected. The second pivot portion 82 is slightly bent frontward near the second end portion 82A. In the following description, a portion of the second end portion 82A which extends from the bent portion to the second end portion 82A may be referred to as “pressing portion 88”. The pressing portion 88 as one example of a contact portion is formed in the second pivot portion 82 and contacts the cover 3.
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That is, when the cover 3 is in the open state, each of the lock members 5, 6 is located at the unlock position, and accordingly each of the supporters 41, 46 is to be moved in the approach direction by an urging force of the first urging member 75 of the adjusting mechanism 7 (see
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That is, when the cover 3 is in the closed state, the engaging member 8 is located at the separated position, whereby each of the supporters 41, 46 is to be moved in the approach direction by the urging force of the first urging member 75 of the adjusting mechanism 7 (see
In a process in which the cover 3 pivots from the open state (see
The user changes the cover 3 to the open state to place the roll M into the accommodating portion 24 of the printing apparatus 1. In the open state of the cover 3, each of the lock members 5, 6 is located at the unlock position, and the engaging member 8 is located at the engaged position. Since the roll M is not contained in the accommodating portion 24 at this time, the supporters 41, 46 are respectively in contact with the second extending portions 86B, 87B of the most-inside tooth portions 860, 870 of the tooth portions 86, 87 of the engaging member 8, whereby the pair of supporters 4 are respectively engaged with the second extending portions 86B, 87B. Thus, the distance between the supporters 4 is kept at L0.
The user then operates the pair of supporters 4 to move each of the supporters 41, 46 in the away direction. This operation moves the supporter 41 leftward in a state in which the rear end portion of the base portion 41A of the supporter 41 is in contact with the first extending portion 86A of the tooth portion 861, and moves the supporter 46 rightward in a state in which the rear end portion of the base portion 46A of the supporter 46 is in contact with the first extending portion 87A of the tooth portion 871. In this movement, a force in the counterclockwise direction is applied to the engaging member 8, and accordingly the engaging member 8 pivots in the counterclockwise direction against the urging force of the second urging member 84. When the base portion 41A of the supporter 41 is moved to a left end portion of the first extending portion 86A of the tooth portion 861, and the base portion 46A of the supporter 46 is moved to a right end portion of the first extending portion 87A of the tooth portion 871, the force in the counterclockwise direction which is applied to the engaging member 8 is canceled. The urging force of the second urging member 84 causes pivotal movement of the engaging member 8 in the clockwise direction, so that the engaging member 8 moves back to the engaged position. As a result, the supporters 41, 46 are respectively in contact with the tooth portions 861, 871 of the respective second extending portions 86B, 87B of the engaging member 8, whereby the pair of supporters 4 are respectively engaged with the second extending portions 86B, 87B. The distance between the supporters 4 is kept at the distance L1. The user changes the distance between the supporters 4 to the distances L1, L2, L3 in the similar manner to increase the distance between the supporters 4 to a distance greater than the width (the width m) of the roll M.
It is noted that the user may adjust the distance between the supporters 4 in the following manner. The user presses the pressing portion 88 of the second pivot portion 82 of the engaging member 8 with his or her finger to forcibly move the engaging member 8 to the separated position. This enables the supporters 41, 46 to move in the right and left direction. Since each of the lock members 5, 6 is in the unlock state, the pair of supporters 4 are to move in the approach direction by the urging force of the first urging member 75. The user then moves each of the supporters 41, 46 in the away direction such that the distance between the supporters 4 is changed to any of the distances L1-L3 greater than the width m of the roll M. The user then ceases pressing the pressing portion 88 of the second pivot portion 82 of the engaging member 8. Each of the supporters 4 is brought into contact with and engaged with a corresponding one of the tooth portions 861-863 of the second extending portion 86B of the engaging member 8 and the tooth portions 871-873 of the second extending portion 87B of the engaging member 8. As a result, the distance between the supporters 4 is kept at any of the distances L1-L3 greater than the width m of the roll M.
It is noted that, in the above-described operation, the user may, independently of the width m of the roll M, operate the pair of supporters 4 such that the supporters 41, 46 are respectively in contact with the second extending portions 86B, 87B of the most-outside tooth portions 863, 873 of the tooth portions 86, 87 of the engaging member 8, and thereby the pair of supporters 4 are respectively engaged with the second extending portions 86B, 87B. As a result, the distance between the supporters 4 is kept at the distance L3, so that all the rolls M usable in the printing apparatus 1 are accommodatable in the printing apparatus 1.
In this state, the user places the roll M between the supporters 4 and then closes the cover 3. In a process in which the cover 3 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the engaging member 8 is first moved from the engaged position to the separated position. Since each of the lock members 5, 6 is in the unlock state, the pair of supporters 4 are to move in the approach direction by the urging force of the first urging member 75 of the adjusting mechanism 7. The rotation plates 43, 48 come into contact with the respective left and right end portions of the roll M, so that the movement of each of the pair of supporters 4 in the approach direction is stopped.
When the cover 3 is further closed, each of the lock members 5, 6 is moved from the unlock position to the lock position. The movement of each of the supporters 4 in the approach direction is inhibited by a corresponding one of the lock members 5, 6 in a state in which the rotation plates 43, 48 are respectively in contact with left and right surfaces of the roll M. The roll M is rotatably supported by the rotation plates 43, 48 from opposite sides of the roll M. This enables printing on the thermal label wound around the roll M after the cover 3 is changed to the closed state.
It is noted that, as illustrated in
It is noted that, even in the case where the roll M having an outside diameter less than the predetermined diameter is secured to the pair of supporters 4, for example, the user may press the pressing portion 88 of the second pivot portion 82 of the engaging member 8 with his or her finger to forcibly move the engaging member 8 to the separated position. In this case, the tooth portions 86, 87 of the first pivot portion 81 are separated from the respective supporters 4, and each of the supporters 4 is moved in the approach direction by the urging force of the first urging member 75 of the adjusting mechanism 7. That is, even in the case where the roll M having an outside diameter less than the predetermined diameter is placed between the supporters 4, the state in which the rotation plates 43, 48 are in contact with the respective left and right surfaces of the roll M can be established before the cover 3 is closed. Here, the roll M having an outside diameter less than the predetermined diameter refers to a partially used roll M, for example.
As described above, the position of the engaging member 8 of the printing apparatus 1 is changed between the engaged position (see
In the state in which the cover 3 is closed (see
In a process in which the cover 3 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the engaging member 8 is first moved to the separated position to enable the movement of the pair of supporters 4 in the right and left direction. With this configuration, each of the supporters 4 is moved in the approach direction by the urging force of the first urging member 75 of the adjusting mechanism 7. As a result, the supporters 4 are moved toward each other respectively to positions near opposite ends of the roll M, contained in the accommodating portion 24, in the right and left direction. Each of the lock members 5, 6 then inhibits the movement of the corresponding one of the supporters 4 in the right and left direction. The supporters 4 held near the respective opposite ends of the roll M in the right and left direction are immovably held by the respective lock members 5, 6. Accordingly, in the printing apparatus 1, the operation of placing the supporters 4 to positions near the respective opposite ends of the roll M in the right and left direction and an operation of inhibiting the movement of the supporters 4 in this state can be performed in conjunction with user's operation of closing the cover 3.
In the printing apparatus 1, when the cover 3 is in the open state, and the engaging member 8 is located at the engaged position, each of the supporters 4 is brought into contact with a corresponding one of the tooth portions 86, 87 of the engaging member 8 to inhibit the movement of each of the supporters 4 in the approach direction. This configuration allows the user to easily secure the roll M to a position between the supporters 4. In the printing apparatus 1, when the cover 3 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the cover 3 is pressed against the pressing portion 88 of the engaging member 8, whereby the engaging member 8 is moved from the engaged position to the separated position. This movement enables each of the supporters 4 to move in the approach direction. This configuration enables the pressing portion 88 of the engaging member 8 to serve as a mechanism that enables each of the supporters 4 to move in the approach direction in conjunction with the operation of closing the cover 3.
The tooth portions 86, 87 have a substantially sawtooth shape. Each of the tooth portions 86, 87 has a substantially mountain shape including the corresponding one of the first extending portions 86A, 87A, and the corresponding one of the second extending portions 86B, 87B extending from the corresponding one of the distal ends 86C, 87C each having the protruding shape. Each of the first extending portions 86A, 87A extends from the corresponding one of the distal ends 86C, 87C in a direction inclined toward the base portions 80 with respect to the approach direction. This configuration allows the user to, when the cover 3 is open, easily move each of the supporters 4 in the away direction in a state in which each of the supporters 4 is in contact with a corresponding one of the first extending portions 86A, 87A of the engaging member 8. Each of the second extending portions 86B, 87B extends from the corresponding one of the distal ends 86C, 87C toward the corresponding one of the base portions 80 in the rear direction orthogonal to the right and left direction. Thus, the supporters 4 are brought into contact with the second extending portions 86B, 87B of the respective tooth portions 86, 87, whereby the engaging member 8 appropriately inhibits the movement of each of the supporters 4 in the approach direction.
The second urging member 84 is the elastically-deformable leaf spring formed with the engaging member 8 as one unit. This configuration simplifies the configuration of the second urging member 84, resulting in reduced manufacturing cost of the engaging member 8.
The first pivot portion 81 of the engaging member 8 has the protruding portion 83. The outer circumferential surface of the roll M contained in the accommodating portion 24 is pressed against the protruding portion 83, whereby the engaging member 8 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and moved from the engaged position to the separated position. In this case, each of the supporters 4 is movable in the approach direction by the urging force of the first urging member 75 of the adjusting mechanism 7 in the state in which the roll M is contained in the accommodating portion 24. Thus, in the case where the roll M is placed into the accommodating portion 24 when the cover 3 is in the open state, each of the pair of supporters 4 is moved in the approach direction, whereby the supporters 4 hold the roll M from the opposite sides thereof in the right and left direction. It is noted that the center of the arc extending along the first pivot portion 81 and the center of rotation of the roll M supported by the pair of supporters 4 are substantially the same as each other in position. With this configuration, a force with which the roll M presses the protruding portion 83 can be efficiently transmitted to the engaging member 8 via the protruding portion 83.
Both of the cover 3 and the engaging member 8 are pivotably supported by the support shafts 28. This configuration enables the cover 3 to pivot with respect to the main body 2 to open and close the opening portion 20 of the accommodating portion 24. The engaging member 8 pivots with respect to the main body 2 to move between the engaged position and the separated position. Thus, it is possible to provide commonality of the support shafts 28 for supporting the cover 3 pivotably and the support shafts 28 for supporting the engaging member 8 pivotably. This configuration reduces the number of components of the printing apparatus 1 and facilitates assembly of the printing apparatus 1. Also, since the support shafts 28 provide the commonality of the pivot shafts for supporting the cover 3 and the engaging member 8, a force related to the operation of closing the cover 3 can be efficiently transmitted to the engaging member 8.
The engaging member 8 is curved, and the center of the arc extending along the first pivot portion 81 and the second pivot portion 82 and the center of rotation of the roll M supported by the pair of supporters 4 are substantially the same as each other in position. In this case, a structure engageable with the pair of supporters 4 can be made as large as possible as long as the structure is accommodatable in the accommodating portion 24.
It is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the details of the illustrated embodiment, but may be embodied with various changes and modifications, which may occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Only one of the supporters 4 may be movable in the right and left direction. For example, the pair of supporters 4 may be configured such that only the supporter 41 is movable in the right and left direction, and the supporter 46 is fixed to the accommodating portion 24. In this configuration, the pair of supporters 4 may be configured such that the lock member 5 is provided for the movable supporter 41, and the lock member 6 is not provided for the supporter 46. The engaging portions 53, 54 may be provided on the inner wall of the main body 2. Each of the first lock members 51, 61 may be coupled to the cover 3 via a linkage mechanism, for example. The linkage mechanism may cause pivotal movement of each of the first lock members 51, 61 when the cover 3 is moved from the open state to the closed state. In this case, the first lock members 51, 61 may not include the respective contact portions 56, 66.
In the case where the cover 3 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the timing at which each of the supporters 4 becomes movable in the approach direction by the movement of the engaging member 8 and the timing at which the lock members 5, 6 inhibit movement of the pair of supporters 4 may be made substantially the same as each other.
The engaging member 8 may be slidable with respect to the main body 2. In this configuration, the engaging member 8 is urged in a direction directed from the separated position toward the engaged position, and when the cover 3 is brought into contact with the pressing portion 88, the engaging member 8 is slid against the urging force of the engaging member 8 and moved from the engaged position to the separated position. The tooth portions 860-863 may not be spaced uniformly, and the tooth portions 870-873 may not be spaced uniformly. That is, the tooth portions 860-863 may be spaced at different distances, and the tooth portions 870-873 may be spaced at different distances. For example, the distance between each adjacent two of the tooth portions 860-863 may be determined such that the distance between each two away-direction-side tooth portions is greater than corresponding two approach-direction-side tooth portions or such that the distance between each two away-direction-side tooth portions is less than the corresponding two approach-direction-side tooth portions. Likewise, the distance between each adjacent two of the tooth portions 870-873 may be determined such that the distance between each two away-direction-side tooth portions is greater than corresponding two approach-direction-side tooth portions or such that the distance between each two away-direction-side tooth portions is less than the corresponding two approach-direction-side tooth portions. The shape of each of the tooth portions 860-863, 870-873 is not limited to the substantially mountain shape and may be any shape having a protrusion (or protrusions) and a recession (or recessions).
The second urging member 84 may not be formed on the engaging member 8 as one unit. For example, the printing apparatus 1 may be configured such that a leaf spring independent of the engaging member 8 is employed as the second urging member 84 and mounted on the engaging member 8 or the rear end portion of the main body 2. This leaf spring may be formed of any of synthetic resin and metal. The second urging member 84 may be a torsion coil spring. In this configuration, this torsion coil spring may be mounted on each of the support shafts 28. The protruding portion 83 may not be provided on the engaging member 8. The support shaft for supporting the cover 3 and the support shaft for supporting the engaging member 8 pivotably may be different from each other.
Each of the supporters 41, 46 is one example of a movable supporter. The right and left direction is one example of a widthwise direction. The up and down direction is one example of an intersecting direction.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017-146412 | Jul 2017 | JP | national |