Printing device having engagement portion for suppressing disengagement of bearing from holder

{
  "publication_number": "US10668712B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Printing device having engagement portion for suppressing disengagement of bearing from holder",
  "abstract": "A printing device includes: a platen roller, a pair of bearings, and a holder. The platen roller has a rotational shaft extending in a first direction. The bearings rotatably support respective end portions of the rotational shaft. Each of the bearings includes an abutment portion. The holder includes a pair of fitting portions into which the bearings is respectively fitted. Each of the fitting portions includes: a receiving portion, an opening portion, and an engagement portion extending from the receiving portion. The receiving portion has an inner space configured to receive the corresponding bearing. The abutment portion is configured to abut against the engagement portion. In a case where an external force in a direction toward the opening portion is applied to the bearing, the engagement portion is configured to be deformed so as to reduce an area of the opening portion, thereby immovably engaging the bearing.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A printing device comprising: a platen roller having a rotational shaft extending in a first direction, the rotational shaft having end portions in the first direction; a pair of bearings each rotatably supporting each end portion of the rotational shaft in the first direction, each of the pair of bearings being formed with a through-hole through which the rotational shaft extends to form a generally hollow cylindrical shape, the through-hole defining a center axis extending in the first direction, each of the pair of bearings having a generally D-shape as viewed in the first direction, each of the pair of bearings including an abutment portion at a part of an outer peripheral surface; and a holder including a pair of fitting portions, each of the pair of bearings being fitted into each of the pair of fitting portions, each of the pair of fitting portions comprising: a receiving portion having a substantially U-shape as viewed in the first direction, the receiving portion having an inner space configured to receive the corresponding bearing such that the outer peripheral surface of the bearing is fitted into the receiving portion; an opening portion in communication with the inner space of the receiving portion; and an engagement portion extending from the receiving portion to define a gap serving as the opening portion, the abutment portion being configured to abut against the engagement portion, the engagement portion being configured to be deformed so as to reduce an area of the opening portion in response to application of a pressing force from the abutment portion to the engagement portion due to application of an external force to the bearing in a direction toward the opening portion, whereby the engagement portion immovably engages the bearing.",
    "2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion has a sloped surface sloped toward the inner space of the receiving portion as extending toward the opening portion, and wherein the abutment portion has a sloped surface configured to contact the sloped surface of the engagement portion.",
    "3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion has a center point to define an imaginary plane parallel to the first direction and passing through the center axis, wherein the engagement portion includes a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion being positioned symmetrically to each other with respect to the imaginary plane, and wherein the abutment portion includes a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion, the first abutment portion and the second abutment portion being positioned symmetrically to each other with respect to the imaginary plane.",
    "4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment portion includes a protruding portion protruding toward the engagement portion, and wherein the engagement portion has a sloped surface configured to contact the protruding portion.",
    "5. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein each of the first engagement portion and a second engagement portion has a tip end, the tip ends facing each other to define the gap serving as the opening portion therebetween, each of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion being configured to be deformed so as to reduce the area of the opening portion upon application of the external force to the corresponding bearing.",
    "6. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion has a protruding portion protruding toward the abutment portion, and wherein the abutment portion has a sloped surface configured to contact the protruding portion.",
    "7. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion has a gap length greater than an outer diameter of the rotational shaft."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a printing device.\n\nPortable printing devices are known in the art. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-160427 discloses a printing device provided with a belt clip. By attaching the printing device to a user's waist belt with the belt clip, the user can use the printing device portably. To this printing device, a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent application Publication No. 2015-208920 may be applicable. The printing device described in Japanese Patent application Publication No. 2015-208920 includes a rear cover supported to be opened and closed. The rear cover includes support sleeves (corresponding to bearings) for rotatably supporting both ends of a rotational shaft of a platen roller. The support sleeves may be presumably fitted with a holder, and the holder may be presumably fixed to the rear cover with a screw.\n\nHowever, during attachment or detachment of the printing device to and from the waist belt with the belt clip, the user may accidentally drop the printing device. Depending on the height from which the printing device is dropped, the support sleeves may be disengaged from the holder due to impact of dropping the printing device.\n\nIn view of the foregoing, it is an object of the disclosure to provide a printing device capable of suppressing disengagement of bearings from a holder even if an external force is applied to the printing device.\n\nIn order to attain the above and other objects, the disclosure provides a printing device including: a platen roller, a pair of bearings, and a holder.",
  "cpc": [
    "B41F 1/38",
    "B41F 13/20",
    "B41J 11/04",
    "B41J 2/32",
    "B41J 29/02",
    "F16B 2/20"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B41F 1/38",
    "B41F 13/20",
    "B41J 11/04",
    "B41J 2/32",
    "B41J 29/02",
    "F16B 2/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Brother Industries Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Hiroaki Kita",
    "Yusuke IKEMOTO",
    "Hikaru NAGATA",
    "Yuichiro Suzuki"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-09-13",
  "publication_date": "2020-06-02",
  "grant_date": "2020-06-02",
  "priority_date": "2016-10-28",
  "application_number": "US-201715702863-A",
  "family_id": "62019771",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US20030058327A1",
    "US20060291933A1",
    "US20100053297A1",
    "JP2015160427A",
    "JP2015208920A",
    "US20170129260A1",
    "US9848692B1",
    "US10131159B2",
    "US10000079B2"
  ]
}