Printer

• US 6,507,408 B2
• Filed: 07/21/1998
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Takeshi, Inoue, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas D.
• Application Number:
  US09/119,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 358/407, 358/428, 358/435, 358/1.15, 395/114, 395/500, 395/116, 395/152, 395/163, 395/172
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/37 Foldable typewriters
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0005 Accepting output data; Preparing data for the controlling system

Abstract

A printer for effecting recording on a recording medium by a recording unit includes a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium, an infrared ray communication unit containing in a case member an infrared ray communication element for effecting data communication with an external data processing apparatus with an infrared ray as a communication medium, and a supporting unit for rotatably supporting the infrared ray communication unit on the printer so as to be protrudable from the surface of the outer case of the printer.

Claims

1. A printer for recording on a recording medium by recording means, said printer comprising:

an infrared light communication unit having an infrared light communication element for performing data communication with an external data processing device with infrared light as a communication medium;

a printer housing for containing said infrared light communication unit;

supporting means for rotatably supporting said infrared light communication unit between a first position where said infrared light communication unit is contained in said printer housing and a second position where said infrared light communication unit projects from a surface of said printer housing;

a case member for said infrared light communication unit containing said infrared light communication element, said case member having a first case member formed with an opening portion at one end surface thereof and containing said infrared light communication element therein, and a second case member formed of a material intercepting light of a wavelength in a visible light range and transmitting therethrough light of a wavelength used in infrared light communication and covering the opening portion of said first case member, and said infrared light communication element faces said second case member and is contained in said first case member; and

static electricity eliminating means for conducting static electricity, entering from a gap between said first case member and said second case member into the interior of said case member, to the outside of said case member.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said infrared ray communication unit is supported to project from a side of a surface of said printer housing which is along a direction of conveyance of the recording medium.

3. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the maximum angle of rotation of said supporting means for said infrared light communication unit relative to a surface of said printer housing is less than 90°

.

4. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the maximum angle of rotation of said supporting means for said infrared light communication unit relative to a surface of said printer housing is within a range of 30°

to 85°

.

5. A printer according to claim 1, wherein an edge portion of said infrared light communication unit which becomes the remotest end portion relative to a surface of said printer housing when said infrared light communication unit is projected from said printer housing is formed roundly.

6. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said infrared light communication element is mounted on a printed base plate and is contained in said case member with said printed base plate, a flexible cable for effecting data communication with a main base plate provided in said printer is connected to said printed base plate, and said flexible cable is drawn out of said infrared light communication unit through the vicinity of the center of rotation of said infrared light communication unit.

7. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said infrared light communication unit comprises a finger engaging portion.

8. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said first case member and said second case member are restrained into a unit, and a restrained structural portion of said first case member and said second case member is provided so as not to be exposed to the outside of said printer even if said infrared light communication unit is rotated to the maximum angle of rotation relative to a surface of said printer housing.

9. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said first case member and said second case member are restrained so that said second case member may not disengage from said first case member when said infrared light communication unit is rotated by the use of a finger engaging portion.

10. A printer according to claim 1, wherein a supported portion of said infrared light communication unit relative to said printer is provided on said second case member.

11. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said static electricity eliminating means comprises a noise shield portion fixed in the vicinity of the gap, and a pivot shaft portion supporting said infrared light communication unit on said printer and electrically connected to a grounded metallic chassis portion of said printer and said noise shield portion.

12. A printer according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said case member forms a portion of the surface of said printer housing when in the first position.

13. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 8 to 10, 11 and 12, wherein said recording means comprises an ink jet recording head.

14. A printer according to claim 13, wherein said ink jet recording head comprises a heat generating resistance member for generating heat energy for discharging ink.