EP1733896B1 - Moyeu de ruban d'impression et ensemble bobine - Google Patents

Moyeu de ruban d'impression et ensemble bobine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1733896B1
EP1733896B1 EP06115560A EP06115560A EP1733896B1 EP 1733896 B1 EP1733896 B1 EP 1733896B1 EP 06115560 A EP06115560 A EP 06115560A EP 06115560 A EP06115560 A EP 06115560A EP 1733896 B1 EP1733896 B1 EP 1733896B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hub
spool
splines
assembly
tapered
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.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP06115560A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1733896A1 (fr
Inventor
Dennis White
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Printronix LLC
Original Assignee
Printronix LLC
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Printronix LLC filed Critical Printronix LLC
Priority to EP10172952A priority Critical patent/EP2243634A1/fr
Publication of EP1733896A1 publication Critical patent/EP1733896A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1733896B1 publication Critical patent/EP1733896B1/fr
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B41J35/28—Detachable carriers or holders for ink-ribbon mechanisms
    • 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
    • B41J33/00—Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printer ink ribbon spool and hub assembly.
  • Impact printers incorporate inked ribbon to supply ink for the printing process.
  • this inked ribbon is provided as a long length of fabric wound-up onto a supply spool, or it is stored inside a cartridge in one long continuous loop.
  • the inked ribbon is pulled through the printing station by means of one or more motor-driven hubs that engage splines in the spools or cartridge.
  • the ribbon system including the inked fabric and its associated cartridge or set of spools, is a consumable product that must be periodically replaced. Replacement of the ribbon involves lifting the cartridge or spools from motor driven hubs, and re-installing a new cartridge or spools onto those hubs.
  • EP769762 discloses a ticket-printing device having a ribbon sensor and a mode-switching circuit. When the ink ribbon is replaced, a ribbon fixture holds the supply spool and take-up spool in correct relative positions so that they can be easily slipped onto a supply spool shaft and take-up spool shaft in the ticket-printing device.
  • US2004022572 discloses improvements that facilitate loading of supply items into data bearing identification or financial document production equipment.
  • Supply items include web materials that are used in data bearing identification or financial document production equipment, and which are supplied from a supply cylinder and wound onto a take-up cylinder after use.
  • Resilient fingers 54 fasten the cylinder to the spindle 48.
  • GB 1245729 discloses a reel support spindle with curved spring ends for releasably holding a reel.
  • FIGs. 1 to 5 show a conventional spool and hub assembly 10.
  • Assembly 10 includes a spool 12 ( Figs. 3 and 4 ) and a hub 14 ( Figs. 1 and 2 ).
  • hub 14 which is typically motor-driven, has one or more axially oriented splines 16.
  • Splines 16 engage similar splines 18 within spool 12 (as shown in Fig. 3 ) or drive rollers within the cartridge, i.e., splines 16 of hub 14 fit in the groove between splines 18 of spool 12.
  • Hub 14 also has a snap feature that prevents the spools or cartridge from moving axially on the hubs. In this way the vertical alignment of the ribbon with respect to the printing station is assured. In the reciprocating spool design, this alignment is crucial.
  • ribbon drive hubs contain a single, cantilever beam type 20 of locking feature. This beam must be deflected towards the central axis of the hub (or pushed inward) in order to remove or install a ribbon.
  • the deflection force is typically applied by pushing against beam 20 with the spool as it is being installed, or by deflecting beam 20 with the thumb while lifting the spool away from the hub. Because it is a single beam, the force required to deflect the beam is not counter-balanced with an opposing force, making the procedure awkward and difficult.
  • Fig. 5 shows spool 12 and hub 14 assembled and locked. As seen, to remove hub 14 from spool 12, the user has to depress beam 20, while also pushing hub 14 and spool 12 away from each other.
  • Installment of a new spool or cartridge is also complicated by the need to visually or tactilely align spool splines 18 between hub splines 16. This alignment involves rotating the spool or drive roller so that the splines properly interleave. In a cartridge application, because the internal splines within the cartridge cannot be accessed or seen, this alignment can be very difficult if the deflection of a cantilever snap feature is involved.
  • a hub and spool assembly for a ribbon printing system, comprising: a hub having at least one spline with a curved end, at least two movable beams parallel to the spline, and a smoothly curved and tapered crown at the end of each beam; and a spool having a plurality of curved and tapered splines along an interior portion of the spool, wherein the spline and crowns of the hub fit between the splines of the spool during an assembly of the hub and spool and when the hub and spool are fully assembled; said crown having a tapered point and a curved outer surface, said tapered point extending down a center ridge to a flattened guide portion having a width a little less than the width between splines of the spool.
  • the plurality of cantilever beam snaps enables opposing forces to balance the loads when the beams are deflected during spool or cassette installation.
  • a tapered, rounded, or smoothly blended crown or ridge on the top of the cantilever beam snaps lets the user more easily begin insertion of the hub into the hole of the spool.
  • This also, in conjunction with the rounded splines of the hub and the rounded, tapered splines of the spool allows for self-alignment, resulting in an easier alignment of spool and hub.
  • the tapered edge along the opening of the spool enables easy insertion of the hub.
  • the geometry of the beam snaps and tapered edge allows the hub to be removed by simply pushing out the hub, thereby eliminating the need to directly depress the beam snaps.
  • the crown of the beam snaps have a tapered lower portion so that the spool does not need to have a tapered edge along the opening.
  • the tapered lower portion would rest against the spool when the hub and spool are "locked".
  • the tapered lower portion would then similarly allow the user to remove the hub by simply pushing out the hub, since the physical action of pushing out the hub causes the cantilever to depress for easy removal.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional motor-driven hub
  • Fig. 2 is a top view of the hub of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the hole of a conventional ribbon spool showing splines located therein;
  • Fig. 4 shows the hub of Fig. 1 being inserted into the spool of Fig. 3 ;
  • Fig. 5 shows the hub of Fig. 1 fully inserted into the spool of Fig. 3 ;
  • Fig. 6 is a side view of a motor-driven hub according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the hub of Fig. 6 ;
  • Fig. 8 is a top view of the hub of Fig. 6 ;
  • Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the splines along the interior of a spool according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 shows the hub of Fig. 6 being inserted into the spool of Fig. 9 .
  • a hub and spool assembly for a printer system includes a hub with at least two tapered cantilever beams, rounded splines, and a tapered top, and a spool having rounded and tapered splines and a tapered opening.
  • Fig. 6 is a side view of a hub 100 according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of hub 100
  • Fig. 8 is a top view of hub 100.
  • Hub 100 can be a motor-driven hub for use in an impact printer system.
  • hub 100 has a top flat surface 102 with an angled or tapered portion 104 extending to the outer circumference of the hub.
  • a plurality of splines 106 is located along the outer circumference of the hub, where splines 106 extend parallel to the axis of rotation.
  • Each spline 106 has a rounded or curved top portion 108 at or near angled portion 104.
  • Hub 100 also has two opposing cantilever beams 110. Other embodiments can have more than two such beams. Beams 110 are attached to the base or a bottom portion of hub 100. The bottom portion of hub 100 has a ledge 111 with a larger circumference than the body of the hub. Hub 100 has recessed portions corresponding to beams 110 so that an upper portion of beams 110 can be flexibly pushed into the center of hub 100. In other words, when no force is applied to beams 110, there is a gap in the recessed portion between the center of the hub and the beams. Both hub 100 and beams 110 can be made by molding plastic or other suitable material. The opposing beams enable forces to be balanced when inserting the hub into a corresponding spool, where insertion pushes the beams toward the center of the hub.
  • Cantilever beams 110 have a top portion or crown 112 extending above top surface 102 of hub 100.
  • Crown 112 has a tapered point 114 and a curved outer surface.
  • Tapered point 114 extends down a center ridge to flattened portion 116 having a width a little less than the width between splines of the spool, as will be discussed below.
  • Tapered point 114 enables easy alignment with the spool.
  • the curved outer surface, center ridge, and angled portion 104 enable easy and smooth insertion into the spool.
  • Flattened portion 116 enables secure alignment with the spool.
  • one of the cantilever beams has a guide portion 118 having a width approximately the same as the width of flattened portion 116, i.e., a little less than the width between splines of the spool, extending along a central portion of the beam.
  • Guide portion 118 extends to approximately the same plane as flattened portion 116. This additional guide portion 118 engages with the groove between splines of the spool for easy insertion and stable alignment.
  • Fig. 9 shows an interior portion of a spool 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Spool 200 has a hole which hub 100 fits through.
  • a plurality of splines 202 is located along the interior portion or hole of spool 200.
  • spool 200 has a small beveled or tapered ring 204, where the taper extends from the surface of the spool into the hole.
  • Tapered ring 204 is present on both sides of spool 200.
  • Splines 202 have curved tapered ends 206 at both ends extending to the edge of tapered ring 204. In other words, the ends of the splines are sloped downward toward the tapered ring.
  • the combination of the tapered ring and curved tapered ends of the splines enables easy insertion and alignment of the hub.
  • Fig. 10 is a top view showing hub 100 being inserted into spool 200.
  • hub 100 is first pushed into the opening of spool 200.
  • the tapered point of the crowns contacts the interior surface of the spool.
  • the tapered ring of the spool and the curved and tapered crown allows the user to easily insert the hub into the spool.
  • the two opposing cantilever beams are then forced together as the hub is continually inserted into the spool.
  • the force from the cantilever beams are balanced so that the user simply needs to push the hub into the spool to engage the beams against the spool. This is in contrast to hubs having only one cantilever beam, which can make both initial and continued insertion difficult.
  • the hub quickly self-aligns with the splines of the spool.
  • the curved and tapered crowns and center ridge position themselves into the grooves between splines of the spool.
  • Continued insertion slides the splines of the hub and the flattened portion and guide portion of the cantilever beams along the grooves between the splines of the spool.
  • the hub is completed inserted into the spool.
  • the crown of the cantilever beams are then released from the inner portion of the spool and expand over the surface of the spool.
  • the user When removing the hub from the spool, the user simply pushes the hub back out.
  • the opposing cantilever beams balance the force for an easier movement.
  • the tapered ring on the spool engages and pushes inward the crown of the cantilever beams, thereby eliminating the need for the user to directly push together the crowns for hub removal.
  • the bottom of the crowns may be tapered upward, with the spool having no tapered ring. This would also enable the user to push out the hub without directly pushing in the crowns.
  • the figures show numerous features for both the hub and spool. However, not all are required to achieve advantages over conventional hub and spool assemblies. Further, the figures show two cantilever beams directly opposing each other. Embodiments with more than two beams are also suitable, with each beam spaced equally in angle from each other so that forces are balanced. For example, if three beams are used, each beam would be 120° apart. Thus the invention is limited only by the following claims.

Landscapes

  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Ensemble de moyeu et bobine pour système d'impression à ruban, comprenant :
    un moyeu (100) doté d'au moins une cannelure à extrémité courbe, au moins deux montants mobiles (110) parallèles à la cannelure, et une couronne effilée à courbe douce (112) à l'extrémité de chaque montant ; et
    une bobine (200) munie d'une pluralité de cannelures courbes et effilées (202) le long d'une partie intérieure de la bobine, où la cannelure et les couronnes du moyeu se logent entre les cannelures de la bobine au cours d'un montage du moyeu et de la bobine et quand le moyeu et la bobine sont complètement montés ;
    ladite couronne (112) étant dotée d'une pointe effilée (114) et une surface extérieure courbe, ladite pointe effilée (114) s'étendant vers le bas le long d'une arête centrale jusqu'à une partie de type guide aplatie (116) dont la largeur est légèrement inférieure à la largeur entre les cannelures de la bobine.
  2. Ensemble conforme à la revendication 1, où la bobine (200) comprend en outre une surface annulaire inclinée entre la partie courbe et effilée des cannelures et l'une de deux surfaces planes de la bobine.
  3. Ensemble conforme à la revendication 1, où le moyeu (100) comprend en outre une surface annulaire (104) inclinée vers l'intérieur depuis l'extrémité courbe de la cannelure jusqu'à une surface supérieure (102) du moyeu.
  4. Ensemble conforme à la revendication 1, où au moins un des montants (110) comprend une partie de type guide (118) s'étendant vers l'extérieur depuis le montant.
  5. Ensemble conforme à la revendication 1, où ladite partie de type guide aplatie (116) s'étend depuis une partie inférieure de la couronne.
  6. Ensemble conforme à la revendication 1, où le moyeu (100) comprend en outre un rebord inférieur (111) s'étendant au-delà de la au moins une cannelure.
  7. Ensemble conforme à la revendication 1, où les montants sont connectés à une partie inférieure du moyeu.
  8. Ensemble conforme à la revendication 1, où les couronnes s'étendent au-dessus d'une surface supérieure du moyeu.
EP06115560A 2005-06-17 2006-06-15 Moyeu de ruban d'impression et ensemble bobine Expired - Fee Related EP1733896B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10172952A EP2243634A1 (fr) 2005-06-17 2006-06-15 Moyeu de ruban d'impression et ensemble bobine

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US69219705P 2005-06-17 2005-06-17
US11/447,781 US20070003351A1 (en) 2005-06-17 2006-06-06 Ribbon hub and spool assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1733896A1 EP1733896A1 (fr) 2006-12-20
EP1733896B1 true EP1733896B1 (fr) 2010-08-25

Family

ID=37025081

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10172952A Withdrawn EP2243634A1 (fr) 2005-06-17 2006-06-15 Moyeu de ruban d'impression et ensemble bobine
EP06115560A Expired - Fee Related EP1733896B1 (fr) 2005-06-17 2006-06-15 Moyeu de ruban d'impression et ensemble bobine

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10172952A Withdrawn EP2243634A1 (fr) 2005-06-17 2006-06-15 Moyeu de ruban d'impression et ensemble bobine

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20070003351A1 (fr)
EP (2) EP2243634A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602006016366D1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1244663A (en) * 1967-12-05 1971-09-02 Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz Ag Earth-moving vehicles
US5439303A (en) * 1993-10-22 1995-08-08 Xerox Corporation Split-spline hub and latch mechanism
JP3330476B2 (ja) * 1995-10-18 2002-09-30 株式会社 沖情報システムズ アダプタケースとそのアダプタケースをインクリボン装着に用いる券処理装置
US5802880A (en) * 1997-01-10 1998-09-08 Min; Lin Chung Improvement of yarn supply reel and yarn guide for knitting machines
US6109801A (en) * 1999-03-18 2000-08-29 Eltron International, Inc. Ribbon core and spindle
US6997629B2 (en) 2002-07-31 2006-02-14 Datacard Corporation Supply items for printers and the like, and method of loading supply items
US6695495B1 (en) * 2003-03-12 2004-02-24 Printronix, Inc. Constant density printer system
US6926807B2 (en) * 2003-06-12 2005-08-09 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Insulated transition spool apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2243634A1 (fr) 2010-10-27
EP1733896A1 (fr) 2006-12-20
US20070003351A1 (en) 2007-01-04
DE602006016366D1 (de) 2010-10-07

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