EP0165396A2 - Ink ribbon cassette for a printer - Google Patents
Ink ribbon cassette for a printer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0165396A2 EP0165396A2 EP85104394A EP85104394A EP0165396A2 EP 0165396 A2 EP0165396 A2 EP 0165396A2 EP 85104394 A EP85104394 A EP 85104394A EP 85104394 A EP85104394 A EP 85104394A EP 0165396 A2 EP0165396 A2 EP 0165396A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ribbon
- inked
- carriage
- inked ribbon
- cassette
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J35/00—Other apparatus or arrangements associated with, or incorporated in, ink-ribbon mechanisms
- B41J35/04—Ink-ribbon guides
- B41J35/08—Ink-ribbon guides with tensioning arrangements
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J32/00—Ink-ribbon cartridges
Definitions
- This invention relates to thermal transfer printers, and more particularly it is concerned with a thermal transfer printer equipped with an improved ribbon cassette that holds an inked ribbon suitable for use with a thermal transfer printer.
- the ribbon cassette holds therein an inked ribbon having two printing zones or an upper printing zone and a lower printing zone disposed in superposed relation one above the other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which printing is performed and each having a width large enough to accommodate one line of printed characters, symbols, etc., and that the ribbon cassette is provided with back tension imparting means for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inked ribbon to apply the brake thereto during its movement.
- Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view the preferred embodiment of the thermal transfer printer in conformity with the invention
- Figs. 2 and 3 show one constructional form of the ribbon cassette of the thermal transfer printer shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 being an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the ribbon cassette and Fig. 3 being a top plan view of the ribbon cassette, showing its interior.
- the thermal transfer printer comprises a pair of side plates 1 and 2, a plurality of shafts 3-and 4, a carriage 5, a home position sensor 6, a ribbon cassette 7, a carriage motor 8, a flat cable 9, a timing belt 10, a line feed motor 11, a gear 12, a platen knob 13, a thermal head 15, an inked ribbon 16, a plurality of sheet keep rollers 17, a platen 18 on which a sheet of paper 14 is wound, a sheet guide 19, a release lever 20, a controller 21, a cover 22, a rear stay 23, a front stay 24, a ribbon sensor 25 and a take-up shaft 26.
- the shaft 4 is secured at opposite ends thereof to the side plates 1 and 2 for supporting thereon the carriage 5 for sliding movement.
- the ribbon cassette 7 holding the inked ribbon 16 therein, and the thermal head 15.
- the carriage 5 is driven by the carriage motor 8 through the timing belt 10 to move rightwardly and leftwardly in the figure.
- the line feed motor 11 is operative to transmit a motive force to the gear 12 which is secured to a shaft of the platen 18 to feed the sheet of paper 14.
- the sheet of paper 14 can also be fed manually as the platen knob 13 is turned by hand.
- the sheet of paper 14 is guided by the sheet guide 19 as it is fed mechanically or manually.
- the sheet keep rollers 17 supported by the shaft 3 for sliding movement can be brought into and out of pressing contact with the surface of the sheet of paper 14.
- the flat cable 9 performs the function of passing an electric current therethrough to the thermal head 15 and the other electric components.
- the printer of the aforesaid construction is of a one-way printing type. More specifically, it performs printing only when the carriage 5 moves rightwardly, so that the inked ribbon 16 is taken up only when it moves rightwardly and not taken up when it moves leftwardly.
- the carriage motor 8, line feed motor 11, home position sensor 6 and thermal head 15 and so forth are controlled by the controller 21.
- the ribbon cassette 7 comprises an upper cassette case 31 and a lower cassette case 34 secured together by screws 30 and 32 to provide a hollow case in which are mounted the inked ribbon 16 and a constant tension imparting means or mechanism 33 for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inked ribbon 16.
- the upper cassette case 31 and lower cassette case 34 are each formed with cutouts 37A and 37B for alternately receiving the thermal head 15 supported by the carriage 5.
- Two ribbon cores 39 and 40 having opposite ends of the inked ribbon 16 connected thereto support the latter in the cassette case 7.
- the constant tension imparting means 33 comprises friction members 35 and 36 formed of felt or like material, and a plate spring 38 for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inked ribbon 16. The details of the constant tension imparting means 33 is subsequently to be described.
- Fig. 3 shows the interior of the ribbon cassette 7 as viewed from above by removing the upper cassette case 31.
- the thermal head 15 is positioned such that a heat generating element section, not shown, thereof is operative to use only the upper printing zone of the inked ribbon 16 for performing thermal transfer printing, and the ribbon cassette 7 is mounted on the carriage 5 such that the lower cassette case 34 is brought into contact with a top surface of the carriage 5.
- This causes the thermal head 15 inserted in the cutout 37A of the ribbon cassette 7 to force the inked ribbon 16 against the sheet of paper 14, and the inked ribbon 16 is moved toward the ribbon core 39 as the carriage 5 is driven by the carriage motor 8.
- the inked ribbon 16 wound on the ribbon core 40 which is not used yet is threaded through the constant tension imparting means 33 after being payed out the ribbon core 40 and moved to the thermal head 15 through the constant tension imparting means 33.
- the inked ribbon 16 is wound on the ribbon core 39 which is connected to a take- up shaft 26 mounted on the carriage 5 and driven by the timing belt 10 for rotation.
- the inked ribbon 16 having the traces of printed characters, symbols, etc., left only in the upper printing zone is moved from the ribbon core 40 toward the ribbon core 39 until an end portion of the inked ribbon 16 wound on the ribbon core 40 is reached.
- the ribbon cassette 7 is removed from the carriage 5 and mounted thereon again upside down after being turned over.
- the ribbon cassette 7 is mounted on the carriage 5 in an upside down position so that the upper cassette case 31 is brought into contact with the top surface of the carriage 5, and the thermal head 15 is inserted in the cutout 37B of the ribbon cassette 7.
- the heat generating element section of the thermal head 15 is positioned against the lower printing zone of the inked ribbon 16 which has not been used in the preceding printing operation, and _the ribbon core 40 supporting the inked ribbon at one end thereof is connected to the take-up shaft 26.
- the thermal transfer printer Upon, receipt of a command to start a printing operation, the thermal transfer printer is actuated and characters, symbols, etc., are printed on the sheet of paper 14 through the agency of the inked ribbon 16 by using a lower printing zone of the inked ribbon 16 in the same manner as described by referring to the printing of characters, symbols, etc., by using the upper printing zone of the inked ribbon 16, and the inked ribbon payed out of the ribbon core 39 is wound on the ribbon core 40.
- the constant tension imparting means 33 for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inked ribbon 16 will now be described by referring to Fig. 2.
- the constant tension imparting means 33 comprises the friction members 35 and 36 and the plate spring 38.
- the friction member 35 is attached to a wall surface having a certain curvature located substantially in a central portion of the front of the lower cassette case 34.
- the friction member 36 is attached to a central portion of the plate spring 38.
- the inked ribbon 16 is sandwiched between the two friction members 35 and 36 so that a predetermined tension is imparted to the inked ribbon 16 by the resilience of the plate spring 38.
- the friction members 35 and 36 each have a width which is greater than the width or edge-to-edge dimension of the inked ribbon 16.
- the inked ribbon _16 and friction members 35 and 36 are constructed and arranged such that the center of the width of the friction members 35 and 36 and the center of the edge-to-edge dimension of the inked ribbon 16 coincide with each other.
- the plate spring 38 is in the form of a letter H so that it produces at its central portion a biasing force distributed substantially equally in magnitude to the left and right sides of the plate spring 38. This enables a predetermined back tension to be imparted to the inked ribbon 16 irrespective of the direction of its movement as the ribbon cassette 7 is mounted in the regular position and in the upside down position on the carriage 5.
- the upper printing zone of the inked ribbon 16 is used in a first printing operation in which the inked ribbon 16 is moved from the ribbon core 40 toward the ribbon core 39 and the lower printing zone thereof is used in a second printing operation in which the inked ribbon 16 is moved from the ribbon core 39 toward the ribbon core 40.
- the lower printing zone may be used in the first printing operation and the upper printing zone may be used in the second printing operation.
- Figs. 4 and 5 show another constructional form of the ribbon cassette suitable for use with the thermal transfer printer according to the invention, Fig. 4 being an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the ribbon cassette and Fig. 5 being a top plan view of the ribbon cassette, showing its interior.
- the ribbon cassette of the constructional form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is designated by the reference numeral 7a, and the carriage of the thermal transfer printer for supporting the ribbon cassette 7a is designated by the reference numeral 5a.
- Parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5 which are similar to or identical with those shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are designated by like reference characters.
- the ribbon cassette 7a is provided with a pair of constant tension imparting mechanisms or means 33a and 33b each comprising griction members 35a and 36a formed of felt or like material, and a plate spring 38a.
- the two constant tension imparting means 33a and 33b located in the front of the ribbon cassette 7a on opposite sides of a cutout 37c formed in upper and lower cassette cases 31a and 34b for receiving the thermal head 15 are symmetrically arranged.
- Each friction member 35a which is constructed to have the same width as the friction member 35 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is attached to the curved surface of each partition rib 42 formed integrally with the lower cassette case 34a.
- Each friction member 36a of the same construction as the friction member 35a is attached to each plate spring 38a in the form of a letter T in a lying position. In operation, the inked ribbon 16 is sandwiched between the friction members 35a and 36a during its travel so that a constant tension is imparted to the inked ribbon 16 by the resilience of the plate spring 38a.
- the constant tension imparting means 33a and 33b of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and described hereinabove can achieve the same effects as those achieved by the constant tension imparting means 33 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. That is, they are capable of preventing the vertical displacement of the inked ribbon 16 and stabilizing its movement during its travel.
- the carriage 5a is distinct from the carriage 5 shown in Fig. 5 in that two pins 41 are secured thereto and project therefrom.
- the pins 41 perform the function of facilitating the positioning of the upper and lower cassette cases 31a and 34a when they are assembled.
- the pin 41 located on an upper left portion of the lower cassette case 34a as shown in Fig. 5 is maintained in contact with the plate spring 38a of the constant tension imparting means 33a interposed between the thermal head 15 received in the cutout 37c and the take-up shaft 26 to provide a gap between the two friction members 35a and 36a.
- the inked ribbon 16 is free from tension in its run between the thermal head 15 and takeup shaft 26. That is, a constant back tension is imparted to a run of the inked ribbon 16 between the ribbon core 40 and thermal head 15 received in the cutout 37c only by the constant tension imparting means 33b.
- the constant back tension can be imparted to the inked ribbon 16 by the constant tension imparting means 33a.
- the upper printing zone of the inked ribbon 16 is used in a first operation for printing characters, symbols, etc., as the inked ribbon 16 is moved from the ribbon core 40 toward the ribbon core 39, and the lower printing zone is used in a second operation for printing purposes as the inked ribbon 16 is moved from the ribbon core 39 toward the ribbon core 40.
- the lower printing zone may be used in the first operation and the upper printing zone may be used in the second operation.
- Figs. 6 and 7 show still another constructional form of the ribbon cassette suitable for use with the thermal transfer printer according to the invention, Fig. 6 being an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the ribbon cassette and Fig, 7 being a top plan view of the ribbon cassette, showing its interior.
- Figs. 6 and 7 The ribbon cassette shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are designated by the reference numeral 7b which is mounted on the carriage 5a shown in Fig. 4.
- Figs. 6 and 7 parts similar to or identical with those shown in Figs. 2 to 5 are designated by like reference characters.
- the ribbon cassette 7b comprises an upper cassette case 31b formed with cutouts 37A and 37B similar to those shown in Fig. 2, and a lower cassette case 34b formed with cutouts 37A and 37B similar to those shown in Fig. 4.
- the ribbon cassette 7b which is provided with a pair of constant tension imparting mechanisms or means 33c and 33d is supported on the carriage 5a.
- the constant tension imparting means 33c and 33d are operative to impart a predetermined back tension to the inked ribbon 16 irrespective of the direction of its movement as the ribbon cassette 7b is mounted in the regular position and in the upside down position on the carriage 5a.
- the constant tension imparting means 33c and 33d each comprise friction members 35b and 36b formed of felt or like material, and a plate spring 38b.
- the constant tension imparting means 33c and 33d of substantially U-shaped are located symmetrically on the lower cassette case 34b outwardly of the cutouts 37A and 37B for alternately receiving the thermal head 15.
- the friction member 35b which is constructed to have the same width as the friction member 35 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is attached to the curved surface of each partition rib 42 formed integrally with the lower cassette case 34b.
- Each friction member 36b of the same construction as the friction member 35b is attached to each plate spring 38b.
- the inked ribbon 16 is sandwiched between the friction members 35b and 36b, and a constant tension is imparted to the sandwiched inked ribbon 16 by the plate spring 48b.
- the pins 41 projecting from the carriage 5a perform the same function as that described hereinabove in connection with the cassette shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
- the upper printing zone of the inked ribbon would be used when the carriage moves rightwardly and the lower printing zone would be used when the carriage moves leftwardly.
- the same result can be achieved by using the upper printing zone when the carriage moves leftwardly and by using the lower printing zone when the carriage moves rightwardly.
- the thermal transfer printer according to the invention is capable of not only printing characters, symbols, etc., but also drawing graphs, charts, diagrams, etc.
- the use of the ribbon cassette according to the invention enables a predetermined back tension to be imparted to the inked ribbon when the latter is moved in opposite directions, thereby allowing the travel of the inked ribbon to be stabilized. This is conductive to a great reduction in running cost.
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Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to thermal transfer printers, and more particularly it is concerned with a thermal transfer printer equipped with an improved ribbon cassette that holds an inked ribbon suitable for use with a thermal transfer printer.
- It has hitherto been usual practice to use with thermal transfer printers inked ribbons of the type that can be used only once, because the ink of the inked ribbon is transferred to a sheet of paper to form characters, symbols, etc., thereon by thermal transfer printing. The inked ribbon once used is not fit for reuse. Thus, the use of conventional inked ribbons has made the thermal transfer printer uneconomical to use because of its high running cost.
- This invention has as its object-the privision of a thermal transfer printer equipped with an improved ribbon cassette that holds an inked ribbon of low running cost and high stability in=movement during operations.
- The outstanding characteristics of the invention enabling the aforesaid object to be accomplished are that the ribbon cassette holds therein an inked ribbon having two printing zones or an upper printing zone and a lower printing zone disposed in superposed relation one above the other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which printing is performed and each having a width large enough to accommodate one line of printed characters, symbols, etc., and that the ribbon cassette is provided with back tension imparting means for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inked ribbon to apply the brake thereto during its movement.
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- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the thermal transfer printer comprising one embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one constructional form of the ribbon cassette of the thermal transfer printer shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the ribbon cassette shown in Fig. 2, showing its interior;
- Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of another constructional form of the ribbon cassette shown in Fig. 2;
- Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the ribbon cassette shown in Fig. 4, showing its interior;
- Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of still another constructional" form of the ribbon cassette shown in Fig. 2; and
- Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the ribbon cassette shown in Fig. 6.
- Various constructional forms of the ribbon cassette of the thermal transfer printer comprising a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.
- Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view the preferred embodiment of the thermal transfer printer in conformity with the invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 show one constructional form of the ribbon cassette of the thermal transfer printer shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 being an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the ribbon cassette and Fig. 3 being a top plan view of the ribbon cassette, showing its interior.
- Referring to Fig. 1, the thermal transfer printer comprises a pair of
side plates 1 and 2, a plurality of shafts 3-and 4, a carriage 5, ahome position sensor 6, aribbon cassette 7, acarriage motor 8, a flat cable 9, atiming belt 10, a line feed motor 11, agear 12, aplaten knob 13, athermal head 15, an inkedribbon 16, a plurality of sheet keeprollers 17, aplaten 18 on which a sheet ofpaper 14 is wound, asheet guide 19, arelease lever 20, acontroller 21, acover 22, arear stay 23, afront stay 24, aribbon sensor 25 and a take-up shaft 26. - More specifically, the shaft 4 is secured at opposite ends thereof to the
side plates 1 and 2 for supporting thereon the carriage 5 for sliding movement. Mounted on the carriage 5 are theribbon cassette 7 holding the inkedribbon 16 therein, and thethermal head 15. - The carriage 5 is driven by the
carriage motor 8 through thetiming belt 10 to move rightwardly and leftwardly in the figure. - The line feed motor 11 is operative to transmit a motive force to the
gear 12 which is secured to a shaft of theplaten 18 to feed the sheet ofpaper 14. The sheet ofpaper 14 can also be fed manually as theplaten knob 13 is turned by hand. The sheet ofpaper 14 is guided by thesheet guide 19 as it is fed mechanically or manually. - As the
release lever 20 is moved forwardly and backwardly, the sheet keeprollers 17 supported by the shaft 3 for sliding movement can be brought into and out of pressing contact with the surface of the sheet ofpaper 14. - The flat cable 9 performs the function of passing an electric current therethrough to the
thermal head 15 and the other electric components. - The printer of the aforesaid construction is of a one-way printing type. More specifically, it performs printing only when the carriage 5 moves rightwardly, so that the inked
ribbon 16 is taken up only when it moves rightwardly and not taken up when it moves leftwardly. - The
carriage motor 8, line feed motor 11,home position sensor 6 andthermal head 15 and so forth are controlled by thecontroller 21. - The
ribbon cassette 7 will now be described by referring to Fig. 2. As shown, theribbon cassette 7 comprises anupper cassette case 31 and alower cassette case 34 secured together byscrews ribbon 16 and a constant tension imparting means ormechanism 33 for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inkedribbon 16. Theupper cassette case 31 andlower cassette case 34 are each formed withcutouts thermal head 15 supported by the carriage 5. Tworibbon cores ribbon 16 connected thereto support the latter in thecassette case 7. - The constant tension imparting means 33 comprises
friction members plate spring 38 for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inkedribbon 16. The details of the constant tension imparting means 33 is subsequently to be described. - Fig. 3 shows the interior of the
ribbon cassette 7 as viewed from above by removing theupper cassette case 31. - The operation of taking up the inked
ribbon 16 will be described by referring to'Figs. 2 and-3. - In the thermal transfer printer having the
ribbon cassette 7 of the construction described herein- - above, thethermal head 15 is positioned such that a heat generating element section, not shown, thereof is operative to use only the upper printing zone of the inkedribbon 16 for performing thermal transfer printing, and theribbon cassette 7 is mounted on the carriage 5 such that thelower cassette case 34 is brought into contact with a top surface of the carriage 5. This causes thethermal head 15 inserted in thecutout 37A of theribbon cassette 7 to force the inkedribbon 16 against the sheet ofpaper 14, and the inkedribbon 16 is moved toward theribbon core 39 as the carriage 5 is driven by thecarriage motor 8. - That is, as the
ribbon cassette 7 moves with the carriage 5 as a unit, the inkedribbon 16 wound on theribbon core 40 which is not used yet is threaded through the constant tension impartingmeans 33 after being payed out theribbon core 40 and moved to thethermal head 15 through the constant tension impartingmeans 33. - After characters, symbols, etc., are printed by the
thermal head 15 on the sheet ofpaper 14 through the agency of the inkedribbon 16, the inkedribbon 16 is wound on theribbon core 39 which is connected to a take-up shaft 26 mounted on the carriage 5 and driven by thetiming belt 10 for rotation. - The characters, symbols, etc., which are printed as described hereinabove by thermal transfer printing leave traces in an upper printing zone of the inked
ribbon 16 as indicated by hatching in Fig. 2. - The inked
ribbon 16 having the traces of printed characters, symbols, etc., left only in the upper printing zone is moved from theribbon core 40 toward theribbon core 39 until an end portion of the inkedribbon 16 wound on theribbon core 40 is reached. - When the inked
ribbon 16 has been payed out and the end portion thereof wound on theribbon core 40 is reached, theribbon cassette 7 is removed from the carriage 5 and mounted thereon again upside down after being turned over. - More specifically, the
ribbon cassette 7 is mounted on the carriage 5 in an upside down position so that theupper cassette case 31 is brought into contact with the top surface of the carriage 5, and thethermal head 15 is inserted in thecutout 37B of theribbon cassette 7. As a result, the heat generating element section of thethermal head 15 is positioned against the lower printing zone of the inkedribbon 16 which has not been used in the preceding printing operation, and_the ribbon core 40 supporting the inked ribbon at one end thereof is connected to the take-up shaft 26. - Upon, receipt of a command to start a printing operation, the thermal transfer printer is actuated and characters, symbols, etc., are printed on the sheet of
paper 14 through the agency of the inkedribbon 16 by using a lower printing zone of the inkedribbon 16 in the same manner as described by referring to the printing of characters, symbols, etc., by using the upper printing zone of the inkedribbon 16, and the inked ribbon payed out of theribbon core 39 is wound on theribbon core 40. - The constant tension imparting means 33 for imparting a predetermined back tension to the inked
ribbon 16 will now be described by referring to Fig. 2. - As described hereinabove, the constant tension imparting means 33 comprises the
friction members plate spring 38. Thefriction member 35 is attached to a wall surface having a certain curvature located substantially in a central portion of the front of thelower cassette case 34. Thefriction member 36 is attached to a central portion of theplate spring 38. In operation, the inkedribbon 16 is sandwiched between the twofriction members ribbon 16 by the resilience of theplate spring 38. - The
friction members ribbon 16. The inked ribbon _16 andfriction members friction members ribbon 16 coincide with each other. - Thus, upper and lower edges of the inked
ribbon 16 are completely covered with the friction members- 35 and 36 so that the inkedribbon 16 is prevented from being displaced in a vertical direction during its travel. This is conductive to a stabilized movement of the inkedribbon 16 during its travel. - As can be seen in Fig. 2, the
plate spring 38 is in the form of a letter H so that it produces at its central portion a biasing force distributed substantially equally in magnitude to the left and right sides of theplate spring 38. This enables a predetermined back tension to be imparted to the inkedribbon 16 irrespective of the direction of its movement as theribbon cassette 7 is mounted in the regular position and in the upside down position on the carriage 5. - In the thermal transfer printer according to the invention, the upper printing zone of the inked
ribbon 16 is used in a first printing operation in which the inkedribbon 16 is moved from theribbon core 40 toward theribbon core 39 and the lower printing zone thereof is used in a second printing operation in which the inkedribbon 16 is moved from theribbon core 39 toward theribbon core 40. However, this is not restrictive, and the lower printing zone may be used in the first printing operation and the upper printing zone may be used in the second printing operation. - Figs. 4 and 5 show another constructional form of the ribbon cassette suitable for use with the thermal transfer printer according to the invention, Fig. 4 being an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the ribbon cassette and Fig. 5 being a top plan view of the ribbon cassette, showing its interior.
- The ribbon cassette of the constructional form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is designated by the
reference numeral 7a, and the carriage of the thermal transfer printer for supporting theribbon cassette 7a is designated by the reference numeral 5a. Parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5 which are similar to or identical with those shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are designated by like reference characters. - In the constructional form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the
ribbon cassette 7a is provided with a pair of constant tension imparting mechanisms or means 33a and 33b each comprisinggriction members plate spring 38a. The two constant tension imparting means 33a and 33b located in the front of theribbon cassette 7a on opposite sides of acutout 37c formed in upper andlower cassette cases thermal head 15 are symmetrically arranged. - Each
friction member 35a which is constructed to have the same width as thefriction member 35 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is attached to the curved surface of eachpartition rib 42 formed integrally with thelower cassette case 34a. Eachfriction member 36a of the same construction as thefriction member 35a is attached to eachplate spring 38a in the form of a letter T in a lying position. In operation, the inkedribbon 16 is sandwiched between thefriction members ribbon 16 by the resilience of theplate spring 38a. - The constant tension imparting means 33a and 33b of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and described hereinabove can achieve the same effects as those achieved by the constant tension imparting means 33 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. That is, they are capable of preventing the vertical displacement of the inked
ribbon 16 and stabilizing its movement during its travel. - The carriage 5a is distinct from the carriage 5 shown in Fig. 5 in that two
pins 41 are secured thereto and project therefrom. Thepins 41 perform the function of facilitating the positioning of the upper andlower cassette cases - Of the two
pins 41, thepin 41 located on an upper left portion of thelower cassette case 34a as shown in Fig. 5 is maintained in contact with theplate spring 38a of the constant tension imparting means 33a interposed between thethermal head 15 received in thecutout 37c and the take-upshaft 26 to provide a gap between the twofriction members ribbon 16 is free from tension in its run between thethermal head 15 andtakeup shaft 26. That is, a constant back tension is imparted to a run of the inkedribbon 16 between theribbon core 40 andthermal head 15 received in thecutout 37c only by the constant tension imparting means 33b. - When the
ribbon cassette 7 is turned over and mounted in an upside down position on the carriage 5a, the constant back tension can be imparted to the inkedribbon 16 by the constant tension imparting means 33a. - In the constructional form of the
ribbon cassette 7a shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper printing zone of the inkedribbon 16 is used in a first operation for printing characters, symbols, etc., as the inkedribbon 16 is moved from theribbon core 40 toward theribbon core 39, and the lower printing zone is used in a second operation for printing purposes as the inkedribbon 16 is moved from theribbon core 39 toward theribbon core 40. However, this is not restrictive, and the lower printing zone may be used in the first operation and the upper printing zone may be used in the second operation. - Figs. 6 and 7 show still another constructional form of the ribbon cassette suitable for use with the thermal transfer printer according to the invention, Fig. 6 being an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the ribbon cassette and Fig, 7 being a top plan view of the ribbon cassette, showing its interior.
- The ribbon cassette shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are designated by the
reference numeral 7b which is mounted on the carriage 5a shown in Fig. 4. In Figs. 6 and 7, parts similar to or identical with those shown in Figs. 2 to 5 are designated by like reference characters. - The
ribbon cassette 7b comprises anupper cassette case 31b formed withcutouts lower cassette case 34b formed withcutouts ribbon cassette 7b which is provided with a pair of constant tension imparting mechanisms or means 33c and 33d is supported on the carriage 5a. The constant tension imparting means 33c and 33d are operative to impart a predetermined back tension to the inkedribbon 16 irrespective of the direction of its movement as theribbon cassette 7b is mounted in the regular position and in the upside down position on the carriage 5a. - More specifically, the constant tension imparting means 33c and 33d each comprise
friction members plate spring 38b. The constant tension imparting means 33c and 33d of substantially U-shaped are located symmetrically on thelower cassette case 34b outwardly of thecutouts thermal head 15. - The
friction member 35b which is constructed to have the same width as thefriction member 35 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is attached to the curved surface of eachpartition rib 42 formed integrally with thelower cassette case 34b. Eachfriction member 36b of the same construction as thefriction member 35b is attached to eachplate spring 38b. The inkedribbon 16 is sandwiched between thefriction members ribbon 16 by the plate spring 48b. By this arrangement, it is possible to achieve the same effects as those described hereinabove. - The
pins 41 projecting from the carriage 5a perform the same function as that described hereinabove in connection with the cassette shown in Figs. 4 and 5. - All the constructional forms of the ribbon cassette shown in Figs. 2 through 7 have been described as being moved in opposite directions and turned over when one of the two printing zones disposed one above the other has been used. However, the invention is not limited to the type of ribbon cassette which is turned over. The invention can have application in a thermal transfer printer of the type which enables printing to be performed by using the upper and lower printing zones of the inked ribbon while moving the ribbon cassette vertically in place of turning it over.
- When the invention is applied to this type of thermal transfer printer, printing of characters, symbols, etc., would be performed by using the upper printing zone of the inked ribbon as the carriage supporting the ribbon cassette moves rightwardly. As soon as one end portion of the inked ribbon is detected, the inked ribbon would be moved upwardly and the carriage would be moved leftwardly to print characters, symbols, etc., by using the lower printing zone of the inked ribbon.
- Even if the invention is applied to the aforesaid type of thermal transfer printer, the constructional forms of the
ribbon cassettes - When ribbon cassettes having no mechanism for turning it over are used, the upper printing zone of the inked ribbon would be used when the carriage moves rightwardly and the lower printing zone would be used when the carriage moves leftwardly. The same result can be achieved by using the upper printing zone when the carriage moves leftwardly and by using the lower printing zone when the carriage moves rightwardly.
- The thermal transfer printer according to the invention is capable of not only printing characters, symbols, etc., but also drawing graphs, charts, diagrams, etc.
- From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the use of the ribbon cassette according to the invention enables a predetermined back tension to be imparted to the inked ribbon when the latter is moved in opposite directions, thereby allowing the travel of the inked ribbon to be stabilized. This is conductive to a great reduction in running cost.
Claims (5)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP71863/84 | 1984-04-12 | ||
JP7186384A JPS60217193A (en) | 1984-04-12 | 1984-04-12 | Thermal transfer printer |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0165396A2 true EP0165396A2 (en) | 1985-12-27 |
EP0165396A3 EP0165396A3 (en) | 1986-02-05 |
Family
ID=13472779
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85104394A Withdrawn EP0165396A3 (en) | 1984-04-12 | 1985-04-11 | Ink ribbon cassette for a printer |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0165396A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS60217193A (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5094555A (en) * | 1985-03-15 | 1992-03-10 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Thermal printer and invertible ribbon cassette therefor including a variable ribbon braking and ribbon detection means |
WO2003095214A1 (en) | 2002-05-08 | 2003-11-20 | Zih Corporation | Thermal ribbon cartridge or roll with slack ribbon retraction |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE8713034U1 (en) * | 1987-09-28 | 1987-11-19 | Computer Gesellschaft Konstanz Mbh, 7750 Konstanz | Ribbon cassette |
JPH055477U (en) * | 1991-07-02 | 1993-01-26 | 株式会社パイロツト | Thermal transfer ribbon cassette |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2415265A1 (en) * | 1974-03-29 | 1975-10-16 | Buettner Ag Franz | Ink ribbon cassette for typewriter - has no ribbon direction reversing mechanism but can be inverted and replaced on typewriter |
EP0015142A1 (en) * | 1979-02-21 | 1980-09-03 | Exxon Research And Engineering Company | Endless stuffed print ribbon cartridge with tensioning means and printer using such a cartridge |
-
1984
- 1984-04-12 JP JP7186384A patent/JPS60217193A/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-04-11 EP EP85104394A patent/EP0165396A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2415265A1 (en) * | 1974-03-29 | 1975-10-16 | Buettner Ag Franz | Ink ribbon cassette for typewriter - has no ribbon direction reversing mechanism but can be inverted and replaced on typewriter |
EP0015142A1 (en) * | 1979-02-21 | 1980-09-03 | Exxon Research And Engineering Company | Endless stuffed print ribbon cartridge with tensioning means and printer using such a cartridge |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5094555A (en) * | 1985-03-15 | 1992-03-10 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Thermal printer and invertible ribbon cassette therefor including a variable ribbon braking and ribbon detection means |
WO2003095214A1 (en) | 2002-05-08 | 2003-11-20 | Zih Corporation | Thermal ribbon cartridge or roll with slack ribbon retraction |
US6848845B2 (en) | 2002-05-08 | 2005-02-01 | Zih Corp. | Thermal ribbon cartridge or roll with slack ribbon retraction |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0165396A3 (en) | 1986-02-05 |
JPS60217193A (en) | 1985-10-30 |
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Inventor name: KITAGISHI, TOMOJI Inventor name: ISE, SEIJI Inventor name: KUMAGAI, IKUO Inventor name: HAKOYAMA, AKIYOSHI |