Printer

Abstract

A printer includes upper and lower modules that are pivotably attached to each other. A first lock portion includes a first fastener on the lower module and a first holding portion on the upper module with a first fastener holding position and a first fastener release position. A second lock portion includes a second fastener on the upper module and a second holding portion on the lower module with a second fastener holding position and a second fastener release position. A link lever is on the upper module and reciprocates back-and-forth. When moved backwards, the link lever moves the first and second holding portions to the respective release positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A printer, comprising:
 a lower module including:
 a paper feeding unit configured to supply paper, and 
 a printing unit configured to print on the paper supplied by the paper feeding unit; 
   an upper module including a stacking unit configured to hold the paper that has been printed on by the printing unit;   a pivotable support at a back side portion of the upper module and connecting the upper module to the lower module, the upper module being configured to rotate about the pivotable support back and forth between an open state to a closed state;   a first lock portion configured to hold the upper module in the closed state and including a first fastener on the lower module and a first holding portion on the upper module that is movable between a holding position at which the first fastener is held by the first holding portion and a release position at which the first fastener is released from the first holding portion;   a second lock portion configured to hold the upper module in the open state and including a second fastener on the upper module and a second holding portion on the lower module that is movable between a holding position at which the second fastener is held by the second holding portion and a release position at which the second fastener is released from the second holding portion; and   a link lever on the upper module and configured to reciprocate along a front-to-back direction of the upper module, the link lever, when moving towards aback side of the upper module, causing the first holding portion to move to the release position and the second holding portion to move to the release position.   
     
     
         2 . The printer according to  claim 1 , wherein the second lock portion is adjacent to the pivotable support. 
     
     
         3 . The printer according to  claim 1 , wherein the second lock portion is nearer a back side of the lower module than to a front side of the lower module. 
     
     
         4 . The printer according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable support comprises a shaft connected to both the upper and lower modules. 
     
     
         5 . The printer according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second holding portion is pivotably attached to the lower module,   the second holding portion is movable between the holding position and the releasing position when pivoted, and   the second holding portion includes a pressable portion facing a back end of the link lever.   
     
     
         6 . The printer according to  claim 5 , wherein the pressable portion is closer to the front side of the lower module than is the point at which the second holding portion is pivotably attached to the lower module. 
     
     
         7 . The printer according to  claim 5 , wherein, when the upper module is at the open position, the link lever presses the pressable portion of the second holding portion to pivot the second holding portion. 
     
     
         8 . The printer according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first holding portion is pivotably attached to the upper module,   the first holding portion is movable between the holding position and the releasing position when pivoted, and   the first holding portion includes a pressable portion facing a back end of the link lever.   
     
     
         9 . The printer according to  claim 8 , wherein the pressable portion is closer to the front side of the upper module than is the point at which the first holding portion is pivotably attached to the upper module. 
     
     
         10 . The printer according to  claim 8 , wherein
 when the upper module is at the closed position, the link lever presses the pressable portion of the first holding portion to pivot the first holding portion.   
     
     
         11 . The printer according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second holding portion is pivotably attached to the lower module at a pivoting fulcrum,   the second holding portion has a first groove for the second fastener and a second groove that connects with the first groove and holds the second fastener,   the first groove has a shape corresponding to an arc centered on the pivotable support of the upper module, and   the second groove has a shape corresponding to an arc centered on the pivoting fulcrum of the second holding portion.   
     
     
         12 . A customer kiosk terminal, comprising:
 a housing;   a display screen on an upper portion of the housing;   a sheet discharge port on a front facing surface of the housing;   a printer within the housing and configured to provide printed sheets to the discharge por, the printer including
 a lower module including:
 a paper feeding unit configured to supply paper, and 
 a printing unit configured to print on the paper supplied by the paper feeding unit; 
 
 an upper module including a sheet stacking unit configured to hold the paper that has been printed on by the printing unit; 
 a pivotable support at aback side portion of the upper module and connecting the upper module to the lower module, the upper module being configured to rotate about the pivotable support back and forth between an open state to a closed state; 
 a first lock portion configured to hold the upper module in the closed state and including a first fastener on the lower module and a first holding portion on the upper module that is movable between a holding position at which the first fastener is held by the first holding portion and a release position at which the first fastener is released from the first holding portion; 
 a second lock portion configured to hold the upper module in the open state and including a second fastener on the upper module and a second holding portion on the lower module that is movable between a holding position at which the second fastener is held by the second holding portion and a release position at which the second fastener is released from the second holding portion; and 
 a link lever on the upper module and configured to reciprocate along a front-to-back direction of the upper module, the link lever, when moving towards aback side of the upper module, causing the first holding portion to move to the release position and the second holding portion to move to the release position. 
   
     
     
         13 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein the second lock portion is adjacent to the pivotable support. 
     
     
         14 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein the second lock portion is nearer a back side of the lower module than to a front side of the lower module. 
     
     
         15 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein the pivotable support comprises a shaft connected to both the upper and lower modules. 
     
     
         16 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the second holding portion is pivotably attached to the lower module,   the second holding portion is movable between the holding position and the releasing position when pivoted, and   the second holding portion includes a pressable portion facing a back end of the link lever.   
     
     
         17 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 16 , wherein the pressable portion is closer to the front side of the lower module than is the point at which the second holding portion is pivotably attached to the lower module. 
     
     
         18 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 16 , wherein, when the upper module is at the open position, the link lever presses the pressable portion of the second holding portion to pivot the second holding portion. 
     
     
         19 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the first holding portion is pivotably attached to the upper module,   the first holding portion is movable between the holding position and the releasing position when pivoted, and   the first holding portion includes a pressable portion facing a back end of the link lever.   
     
     
         20 . The customer kiosk terminal according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the second holding portion is pivotably attached to the lower module at a pivoting fulcrum,   the second holding portion has a first groove for the second fastener and a second groove that connects with the first groove and holds the second fastener,   the first groove has a shape corresponding to an arc centered on the pivotable support of the upper module, and   the second groove has a shape corresponding to an arc centered on the pivoting fulcrum of the second holding portion.