Integrated cartridge and portable printer using same

Abstract

An integrated cartridge and a printer using the same is provided, the integrated cartridge in which an ink ribbon and a printing medium are provided in one integrated cartridge and the cartridge is inserted through the side of the printer such that the convenience of installation and replacement for a user is improved.

Claims

1. An integrated cartridge comprising: a cartridge body part having a recording media receiving part which has a feed roller inserting part in which a plurality of recording media are accommodated and a feed roller is inserted, a recording media outlet for discharging the recording media and a double feed prevention groove mounted above the recording media outlet to block feeding of the recording media so that just one of the recording media doubly fed can be fed, a feed reel mounting groove mounted at one side of the recording media receiving part, and a winding reel mounting groove mounted at one side of the feed reel mounting groove; a feed reel which is mounted on the feed reel mounting groove of the cartridge body part to wind an ink ribbon fed from the feed reel; a winding reel which is mounted on the winding reel mounting groove of the cartridge body part to wind the ink ribbon fed from the feed reel; and a cartridge covering part which is mounted above the cartridge body part to cover the recording media receiving part, the feed reel mounting groove and the winding reel mounting groove, wherein the recording media receiving part, the feed reel and the winding reel are arranged parallel in a horizontal direction.

2. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the recording media outlet and a thickness of the double feed prevention groove are larger than a thickness of one sheet of the recording medium.

3. The integrated cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising: a dummy paper pressing spring which is mounted on the cartridge body part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

4. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge body part includes one or more bosses which protrude inwardly to a predetermined length and are geared with the printer body so as to prevent the cartridge from moving inside the printer.

5. The integrated cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising: a dummy paper pressing spring which is mounted on the cartridge body part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

6. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge body part includes a cartridge fixing hole which is forcedly fit when the cartridge is inserted into the printer, in order to prevent the cartridge from being separated from the printer.

7. The integrated cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising: a dummy paper pressing spring which is mounted on the cartridge body part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

8. The integrated cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge body part includes a hand-grip formed at the side thereof to allow a user to grasp the cartridge with the hand.

9. The integrated cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising: a dummy paper pressing spring which is mounted on the cartridge body part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

10. The integrated cartridge according to claims 1, further comprising: a dummy paper pressing spring which is mounted on the cartridge body part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

11. A portable printer using an integrated cartridge comprising: a cartridge having a recording media receiving part which a plurality of recording media are accommodated and which feeds the accommodated recording media in order, a feed reel on which an ink ribbon is wound and a winding reel on which the printed ink ribbon will be wound, the feed reel and the winding reel being arranged parallel in a horizontal direction and being formed integrally with each other; and a printer having a cartridge insertion hole which is formed in the side thereof so that the cartridge is inserted from the side.

12. The portable printer according to claim 11, wherein the recording media receiving part includes a recording media outlet for discharging the recording media, and a double feed prevention groove mounted above the recording media outlet to block feeding of the recording media so that just one of the recording media doubly fed can be fed, and wherein a thickness of the recording media outlet and a thickness of the double feed prevention groove are larger than a thickness of one sheet of the recording medium.

13. The portable printer according to claim 12, wherein the cartridge further includes: a dummy paper pressing spring which is located above the recording media receiving part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

14. The portable printer according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge includes: one or more bosses geared with the printer to prevent the cartridge inserted into the printer from moving; a cartridge fixing hole which is forcedly fit when the cartridge is inserted into the printer, in order to prevent the cartridge from being separated from the printer; and a hand-grip for allowing the user to grasp the cartridge with the hand.

15. The portable printer according to claim 14, wherein the cartridge further includes: a dummy paper pressing spring which is located above the recording media receiving part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

16. The portable printer according to claim 11, wherein the printer includes: a printer body part which has a receiving space formed therein and a rectangular cartridge insertion hole formed in one side along the lengthwise direction; and a side cover which is mounted on the side of the printer body part to open and close the cartridge insertion hole.

17. The portable printer according to claim 16, wherein the printer body part includes one or more bushings which are geared and combined with the cartridge inserted into the cartridge insertion hole in order to prevent the cartridge from moving inside the printer.

18. The portable printer according to claim 16, wherein the printer body part includes a cartridge fixing protrusion which is forcedly fit to the cartridge inserted into the cartridge insertion hole in order to prevent the cartridge from being separated from the printer.

19. The portable printer according to claim 16, wherein the cartridge further includes: a dummy paper pressing spring which is located above the recording media receiving part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

20. The portable printer according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge further includes: a dummy paper pressing spring which is located above the recording media receiving part to press the recording media; and a dummy paper mounted between the dummy paper pressing spring and the recording media.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a structure of a printer according to a prior art.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the right side, showing an integrated cartridge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of a cover part of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a structure of a recording media outlet of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing a process that a recording medium of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2 is fed normally.

(7) FIG. 7 is another exemplary view showing a process that the recording media of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2 are fed doubly.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the right bottom, showing the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the left side, showing the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a portable printer using the integrated cartridge according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a cartridge insertion process of the portable printer using the integrated cartridge of FIG. 10.

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the portable printer using the integrated cartridge of FIG. 10.

MODE FOR INVENTION

(13) Hereinafter, reference will be now made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

(14) Cartridge

(15) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the right side, showing an integrated cartridge according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of a cover part of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a structure of a recording media outlet of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing a process that a recording medium of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2 is fed normally, FIG. 7 is another exemplary view showing a process that the recording media of the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2 are fed doubly, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the right bottom, showing the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the left side, showing the integrated cartridge of FIG. 2.

(16) As shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the integrated cartridge 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a body part 110 having a recording media receiving part 111 for receiving recording media; a feed reel 120 on which an ink ribbon is wound; a winding reel 130 on which the printed ink ribbon is wound, the feed reel 120 and the winding reel 130 being arranged in a row and formed integrally; a cartridge covering part 140; a dummy paper pressing spring 150; and a dummy paper 160.

(17) The cartridge body part 110 has the recording media receiving part 111 which is mounted at one side and has a receiving space for receiving recording media 101. A feed reel mounting groove 111 is mounted at one side of the recording media receiving part 111, and the feed reel 120 is mounted in the feed reel mounting groove 112. A winding reel mounting groove 113 for mounting the winding reel 130 is formed at one side which is spaced apart from the feed reel mounting groove at a predetermined interval.

(18) Moreover, the cartridge body part 110 includes a first boss 114 and a second boss 115 mounted between the feed reel mounting groove 112 and the winding reel mounting groove 113 and a cartridge fixing hole 116 and a hand-grip 117 mounted on the side surface of the cartridge body part 110.

(19) The recording media receiving part 111 is formed to be inclined to one side so that the embedded recording medium 101 can be easily moved in the direction of the feed reel mounting groove 112. A feeder roller inserting part 111a is bored in the bottom surface of the recording media receiving part 111 to allow insertion of a feeder roller (not shown), and a recording media outlet 111b bored in a rectangular shape in the recording media receiving part 111 so that the embedded recording medium 101 can be discharged out through the recording media outlet 111b by operation of the feed roller.

(20) The recording media outlet 111b has a double feed prevention groove 111c mounted above the recording media outlet 111b to prevent feeding of the recording media 101 so that just one of the recording media 101 doubly fed from the recording media receiving part 111 is fed. Thicknesses (t1) of the recording media outlet 111b and the double feed prevention groove 111c are larger than a thickness (t2) of one sheet of the recording medium 101.

(21) That is, if the recording media 101 are normally fed through the recording media outlet 111b, as shown in FIG. 6, the recording media 101 are fed sheet by sheet. However, if another recording medium 101 loaded on the target recording medium 101 to be fed is fed doubly due to friction force, even though the recording media 101 and 101 are fed doubly as shown in FIG. 7, feeding of the recording medium 101 is blocked by the double feed prevention groove 111c so that just one sheet of the recording medium 101 is fed through the recording media outlet 111b.

(22) The feed reel mounting groove 112 has a feed reel hole 112a bored at one side, and an upper part of the feed reel mounting groove 112 is opened. The feed reel 120 is seated on the feed reel mounting groove 112 to be able to rotate.

(23) The winding reel mounting groove 113 has a winding reel hole 113a bored at one side, and an upper part of the winding reel mounting groove 113 is opened. The winding reel 130 is seated on the winding reel mounting groove 113 to be able to rotate.

(24) The first boss 114 is a member protruding to a predetermined length toward the inside the cartridge body part 110, and is geared with the bushing formed on the printer body.

(25) The second boss 115 is spaced apart from a lower part of the first boss 114 at a predetermined interval and protrudes to a predetermined length toward the inside the cartridge body part 110. The second boss 115 is combined with the bushing formed on the printer body so as to firmly support the cartridge 100 inside the printer together with the first boss 114.

(26) In this embodiment, the two bosses 114 and 115 are mounted to prevent the cartridge body part 110 from moving during printing, but the present invention is not limited to the above but may be changed in various ways, for instance, has one boss and a retaining protrusion having a stepped jaw.

(27) The cartridge fixing hole 116 is bored in one side surface of the cartridge body part 110. When the cartridge 100 is inserted into the printer, the cartridge fixing hole 116 is forcedly fit to a cartridge fixing protrusion formed on the printer so that the cartridge 100 is fixed at a predetermined position of the printer, and prevents the cartridge 100 inserted into the printer from being separated from the printer.

(28) The hand-grip 117 is mounted on the side of the cartridge body part 110 in order to allow a user to grasp the cartridge 100 with the hand, so that the user can easily pull out the cartridge 100 inserted into the side of the printer.

(29) The feed reel 120 is mounted on the feed reel mounting groove 112, so that the ink ribbon wound on the feed reel is fed at the time of printing.

(30) The winding reel 130 is mounted on the winding reel mounting groove 113, so that the ink ribbon fed from the feed reel 120 is wound on the winding reel, and has a joining protrusion 131 mounted at one side to be geared with a felt slip driving part (not shown) mounted on the printer.

(31) The cartridge covering part 140 is mounted on the cartridge body part 110 to cover and protect the recording media receiving part 111, the feed reel mounting groove 112 and the winding reel mounting groove 113. The cartridge covering part 140 includes: a first cartridge cover 140a for covering the upper parts of the recording media receiving part 111 and the feed reel mounting groove 112; a second cartridge cover 140b for covering the upper art of the winding reel mounting groove 113; and paper fixing members 141 for fixing the dummy paper 160.

(32) The dummy paper pressing spring 150 is mounted on the cartridge body part 110 to press the recording media 101 so that the recording media 101 can come into close contact with the feeder roller (not shown).

(33) The dummy paper 160 is put between the dummy paper pressing spring 150 and the recording media 101 so that the recording media 101 can be evenly pressed and all of the recording media 101 accommodated in the recording media receiving part 111 can be fed.

(34) Printer

(35) FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a portable printer using the integrated cartridge according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a cartridge insertion process of the portable printer using the integrated cartridge of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the portable printer using the integrated cartridge of FIG. 10.

(36) As shown in FIGS. 2 to 12, the portable printer 200 using the integrated cartridge according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a cartridge 100 having a recording media receiving part 111 for receiving recording media 101, a feed reel 120 on which an ink ribbon is wound and a winding reel 130 on which the printed ink ribbon will be wound, the feed reel 120 and the winding reel 130 being arranged parallel in a row in a horizontal direction and being formed integrally with each other; and a printer 200 having a cartridge insertion hole 211 which is formed in the side thereof so that the cartridge 100 is inserted from the side.

(37) The cartridge 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a body part 110 having the recording media receiving part 111 in which recording media 101 are accommodated; the feed reel 120 on which the ink ribbon is wound; the winding reel 130 on which the printed ink ribbon is wound, the feed reel 120 and the winding reel 130 being arranged in a row and formed integrally; a cartridge covering part 140; a dummy paper pressing spring 150; and a dummy paper 160. The dummy paper pressing spring 150 and the dummy paper 160 are put on the recording media receiving part 111 so that the cartridge covering part 140 can press the recording media 101 accommodated in the recording media receiving part 111.

(38) The recording media receiving part 111 is formed to be inclined to one side so that the embedded recording medium 101 can be easily moved in the direction of the feed reel mounting groove 112. A feeder roller inserting part 111a is bored in the bottom surface of the recording media receiving part 111 to allow insertion of a feeder roller (not shown), and a recording media outlet 111b bored in a rectangular shape in the recording media receiving part 111 so that the embedded recording medium 101 can be discharged out through the recording media outlet 111b by operation of the feed roller.

(39) The recording media outlet 111b has a double feed prevention groove 111c mounted above the recording media outlet 111b to prevent feeding of the recording media 101 so that just one of the recording media 101 doubly fed from the recording media receiving part 111 is fed. A thickness (t1) of the recording media outlet 111b and the double feed prevention groove 111c is larger than a thickness (t2) of one sheet of the recording medium 101.

(40) Moreover, the cartridge 100 includes a first boss 114 and a second boss 115 which are mounted on the cartridge body part 110 and are geared with the printer 200 to prevent that the cartridge 100 inserted into the printer 200 moves during printing.

(41) Furthermore, the cartridge 100 has a cartridge fixing hole 116 which is formed at one side to be forcedly fit to a cartridge fixing protrusion 215 mounted on the printer 200 so that the cartridge 100 is fixed at a predetermined position of the printer and the cartridge 100 inserted into the printer 200 is prevented from being separated from the printer 200.

(42) Additionally, the cartridge 100 has a hand-grip 117 mounted on the side of the cartridge body part 110 to allow the user to grasp the cartridge 100 with the hand, so that the user can grasp the cartridge 100 and easily pull out the cartridge 100 from the printer 200.

(43) The printer 200 includes: a rectangular printer body part 210 having a cartridge insertion hole 211 formed at the side to allow insertion of the cartridge 100; and a side cover 220.

(44) The printer body part 210 includes: a receiving space formed therein; the cartridge insertion hole 211 formed at the side to allow insertion of the cartridge 100; an outlet 212 through which the recording medium is pulled out; and a first bushing 213, a second bushing 214 and a cartridge fixing protrusion 215 combined with the cartridge 100.

(45) The cartridge insertion hole 211 is a rectangular through hole formed along the lengthwise side of the printer body part 210, preferably, has the same shape as the lengthwise cross section of the cartridge 100.

(46) The first bushing 213 and the second bushing 214 are formed an end of a -shaped frame inside the printer body part 210 and are respectively combined with the first boss 114 and the second boss 115 of the cartridge 100 so that the cartridge 100 is fixed at the predetermined position of the printer 200 not to move during printing.

(47) The cartridge fixing protrusion 215 is a wedge-shaped member protruding to a predetermined length from the inner face of the printer body part 210 and is forcedly fit to the cartridge fixing hole 116 of the cartridge 100 inserted into the cartridge insertion hole 211 so as to guide the cartridge 100 to be arranged at the predetermined position of the printer 200 and prevent the cartridge 100 from being separated from the printer 200.

(48) The side cover 220 is rotatably mounted at the side of the printer body part 210 so that the cartridge insertion hole 211 is selectively opened and closed.

(49) Therefore, the integrated cartridge and a printer using the same according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention can improve convenience in installation and replacement because the ink ribbon and the printing medium are provided in one integrated cartridge and the cartridge is inserted through the side of the printer. Moreover, the present invention can prevent exposure of the thermal print head because the cartridge is inserted and mounted from the side of the printer, thereby reducing an occurrence rate of the user's burn. Furthermore, the present invention can reduce manufacturing costs and manufacturing processes by improving the structure of the cartridge so as to press the recording media without any pressure device inside the cartridge. Additionally, the present invention can accurately fix the cartridge inside the printer using a plurality of bosses, bushings and fixing protrusions for position correction and allow the user to easily pull out the cartridge from the printer through hand-grip.

(50) While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

(51) Furthermore, in the drawings, thicknesses of lines and sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience in explanation. In addition, the terms of the components used in the present invention are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and may differ depending on the intentions of a user or an operator or custom. Accordingly, such wordings should be defined on the basis of the contents of the overall specification.