JP2001010139A - Thermal transfer ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal transfer ribbon cassette in which a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons can be loaded/unloaded, as a replacing member, to/from the cassette of a printer easily without touching the coloring/transferring layer of the thermal transfer ribbon. SOLUTION: In a thermal transfer ribbon cassette 1 for loading/unloading a thermal transfer ribbon 8 wound around a pair of bobbins 9, 10, a pair of cassette frames 2, 3 are fitted rotatably at a joint 4 and thermal transfer ribbon holding parts 5, 6 are formed at the end of the frames 2, 3. The thermal transfer ribbon 8 is loaded under a state where the thermal transfer ribbon holding parts 5, 6 are close to each other. When the thermal transfer ribbon 8 is used in a printer, the pair of cassette frames 2, 3 are turned to separate the thermal transfer ribbon holding parts 5, 6 from each other and the thermal transfer ribbon 8 is stretched at the opening of the cassette frame.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer ribbon in which a belt-shaped thermal transfer ribbon used in a thermal transfer printer, such as a thermal fusion transfer ribbon or a thermal sublimation transfer ribbon, is wound around a pair of bobbins. It concerns a cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various thermal transfer methods are known. In this method, a colored transfer layer is formed on a substrate, and an image such as a character, a figure, or a pattern is formed from a back surface thereof by a thermal head or the like. The image is heated so that the colored transfer layer is thermally transferred to the surface of the material to be transferred. This thermal transfer method is roughly classified into two types, a sublimation transfer type and a hot-melt transfer type, depending on the configuration of the colored transfer layer. The sublimation transfer type uses a thermal transfer ribbon in which a dye that sublimates or migrates by heat is supported on a substrate as a colored transfer layer with an appropriate binder, and the dye in the colored transfer layer is covered by heating from the back side. This transfers heat to the transfer material surface. However, the receiving material surface is provided with a receiving layer on which dye is easily dyed. On the other hand, the hot-melt transfer type uses a thermal transfer ribbon that has a colored transfer layer that can be easily softened and melted and transferred by heating on a substrate, and the surface of the material to be transferred is colored by heating from the back. This is for transferring the transfer layer.

Both types can form monocolor and multicolor images, and in the case of multicolor images, for example, three to four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black if necessary. Five colors (five types) or six colors (six types) with the addition of a receiving layer or a protective layer
Is prepared and a color image is formed by thermally transferring each color (various types) to the surface of the same material to be transferred. In such a thermal transfer ribbon, one in which the above-described three to four colors and five to six colors are repeatedly applied on the same ribbon in a line-sequential manner is used.

[0004] Since such a thermal transfer ribbon is long, it takes a winding shape, and an unused thermal transfer ribbon is generally wound up on a supply bobbin, and the tip of the thermal transfer ribbon is connected to the winding bobbin. , In the form of a pair of windings. In general, the pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons are used by being housed in a dedicated cassette case.

[0005]

The thermal transfer ribbon is housed in a special cassette in a pair of winding forms in which a thermal transfer ribbon is connected between a supply bobbin and a winding bobbin. It is necessary to press against the image receiving sheet by the thermal head of the printer. For this purpose, the cassette is provided with an opening through which the thermal head can enter. Then, the thermal transfer ribbon as a pair of winding-type replacement members as described above, once all the thermal transfer ribbons are used, prepare a new thermal transfer ribbon to be used next, mount the cassette, when replacing, There is a problem in that a hand touches the colored transfer layer or the like of the thermal transfer ribbon and dust or oil from a finger adheres to the colored transfer layer or the like, which adversely affects an image of a printed matter.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons is used as a replacement member and is mounted on a cassette of a printer, taken out and discarded. An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer ribbon cassette that can be easily performed without touching a colored transfer layer of a thermal transfer ribbon.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a thermal transfer ribbon cassette capable of loading and unloading a thermal transfer ribbon wound on a pair of bobbins, wherein a pair of cassette frames are rotatably fitted at a connecting portion. A thermal transfer ribbon holding portion is formed at the end of the frame, the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted in a state where the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion is close, and when the thermal transfer ribbon is used in a printer, the pair of cassette frames are rotated, The above problem can be solved by inventing a thermal transfer ribbon cassette in which the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion moves away and the thermal transfer ribbon is stretched at the opening of the cassette frame.

[0008] A projection is formed at one connecting portion of the pair of cassette frames, and a concave portion is formed at the other connecting portion. By fixing the thermal transfer ribbon, a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons can be easily attached and detached, and the thermal transfer ribbon can be easily set on the printer. Further, a convex portion is formed at one intermediate portion of the pair of cassette frames, a concave portion is formed at the other intermediate portion, and the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted to fix the cassette frame. And a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons can be easily loaded and unloaded.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the thermal transfer ribbon cassette of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the thermal transfer ribbon cassette 1 of the present invention. In a state before the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted, the cassette frame 2 and the cassette frame 3 are rotatable about the connecting portion 4 as a fulcrum. It is fitted to. At the end of the cassette frame 2, there is formed a thermal transfer ribbon holding portion 5 for accommodating the supply winding, and similarly, at the end of the cassette frame 3, a thermal transfer ribbon holding portion for accommodating the winding winding. 6 are formed, and the thermal transfer ribbon holding portions 5 and 6 are in a state of approaching each other.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a state in which the thermal transfer ribbon cassette 1 is mounted on a printer. By rotating the pair of cassette frames 2 and 3 with the connecting portion 4 as a fulcrum, the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion 5 is rotated. Although not shown, a supply winding is installed on the thermal transfer ribbon holding unit 5, a winding winding is installed on the thermal transfer ribbon holding unit 6, and the supply winding and the winding winding are performed. Are a pair of winding forms connected by a thermal transfer ribbon, and the thermal transfer ribbon is stretched around the opening 7 of the cassette frame. The thermal transfer ribbon stretched at the opening 7 is pressed against the image receiving sheet by the thermal head of the printer to enable image formation.

FIG. 3 shows a state before the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the thermal transfer ribbon cassette (a), after the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted (b), and after the thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the printer (c). FIG. That is, a supply bobbin 9 in which an unused thermal transfer ribbon 8 is wound up, and a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons in which the leading end of the thermal transfer ribbon 8 is connected to the winding bobbin 10 are prepared. Although not shown, the pair of rolled thermal transfer ribbons are integrally fixed by bringing the respective rolls into contact with each other so as to prevent the pair of rolls from being unwound, and attaching a strap or a label. First, when the above-described pair of winding thermal transfer ribbons are mounted on the cassette,
As shown in FIG. 1A, a pair of cassette frames 2 and 3 are connected by a connecting portion 4 to form a thermal transfer ribbon cassette 1, and thermal transfer ribbon holding portions 5 and 6 are formed at ends of the cassette frames 2 and 3, respectively. The thermal transfer ribbon holding portions 5 and 6 are in a state of being close to each other.

Then, the winding of the unused thermal transfer ribbon 8 wound on the supply bobbin 9 is accommodated in the thermal transfer ribbon holding section 5, and the winding on the winding bobbin 10 side is shifted to the thermal transfer ribbon holding section 6. The thermal transfer ribbon in the form of a pair is wound in a thermal transfer ribbon holding section so as to be stored in the thermal transfer ribbon holding section. At this time, the thermal transfer ribbons, which are a pair of winding forms, are housed in the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion as they are without releasing the banding or labeling. As a result, the colored transfer layer of the thermal transfer ribbon is not touched by the hand, so that dust or oil from a finger does not adhere to the colored transfer layer, and there is no adverse effect on the printed image. (See FIG. 3B)

Next, when the thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the printer, the pair of cassette frames 2 and 3 are connected with the connecting portion 4 as a fulcrum in a direction in which the thermal transfer ribbon holding portions 5 and 6 move away from each other. Rotate, Figure 3
The state shown in FIG. 3C is changed from FIG. Then, the thermal transfer ribbon 8 is stretched at the openings 7 of the cassette frames 2 and 3, and the thermal transfer ribbon 8 stretched at the openings 7 is pressed against the image receiving sheet by a thermal head from a printer to form an image. Can start.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which a thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing a thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on a printer. A bobbin gear 20 is provided at the tip of a supply bobbin 9 on which an unused thermal transfer ribbon 8 is wound up. The supply bobbin 9 is attached, meshes with the drive gear 22 on the printer side, and the supply bobbin 9 is rotated by the rotational driving force on the printer side. A bobbin gear 21 is attached to the leading end of the winding bobbin 10, meshes with the drive gear 23 on the printer side, and the winding bobbin 10 rotates as described above. Therefore,
As the supply bobbin 9 and the winding bobbin 10 rotate, the thermal transfer ribbon connecting the bobbins is conveyed and moved.

FIG. 4 shows a pair of cassette frames 2 and 3.
However, the cassette frame 2 and the cassette frame 3 are rotatable through the shaft 13 in the respective circular holes 11 and 12 provided in the connecting portion 4. At this time, it is preferable that the shaft 13 is formed integrally with either the cassette frame 2 or 3 because the number of parts is small. Further, a projection 14 is formed in the connecting portion 4 of the cassette frame 2, and a concave portion 15 is formed in the connecting portion 4 of the other cassette frame 3, and the convex portion 14 and the concave portion 15 are fitted. The cassette frame is fixed, and the thermal transfer ribbon cassette can be mounted on the printer in a normal state. The illustrated circular hole 11 does not penetrate at the connecting portion 4, and the circular hole 12 penetrates at the connecting portion 4, but may or may not penetrate. It suffices if two and three can be rotatably supported.

When the above-mentioned convex portion 14 and concave portion 15 are fitted,
Or, when the fitting is released, the cassette frame 2 and the cassette frame 3
At a position where the convex portion 14 is not stored in the concave portion 15, there is a state where the portion in contact with the connecting portion of the other party and the convex portion 14 itself are slightly elastically deformed. However, the elastic deformation is such that the protrusion 14 is housed in the recess 15 or the protrusion 14
When is not in contact with the mating part of the partner, it has the original normal shape. In order to require such elasticity,
As a material used for the connecting portion including the concave portion, a plastic material such as a hard vinyl chloride resin, a polyester resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polystyrene resin, and a polyacetal resin is preferably used.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which the projecting portion and the concave portion of the connecting portion of the thermal transfer ribbon cassette are fitted. When the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the thermal transfer ribbon cassette, as shown in FIG. When the cassette frame 2 and the cassette frame 3 in a state where they are close to each other are closed, the convex portion 14 is located at a position above the connecting portion 4 and the other connecting portion 4
With the recess 15. (Refer to the left diagram of FIG. 5) Next, when the thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the printer, the convex portion 14 is moved from the above state.
Is rotated about 90 ° C. counterclockwise, the connection 4 having the recess 15 is rotated about 90 ° C. clockwise,
The protrusion 14 and the recess 15 are fitted. As described above, the positions of the cassette frame 2 and the cassette frame 3 when the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the thermal transfer ribbon cassette and when the thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the printer are accurately fixed, and the The mounting of the thermal transfer ribbon and the mounting of the thermal transfer ribbon cassette to the printer can be reliably performed.

In this case, since the material used for the connecting portion including the convex portion and the concave portion requires elasticity, the same material as described above is preferable. When the projection 14 and the recess 15 are fitted to each other or when the fitting is released, the cassette frame 2 and the cassette frame 3 are rotated. In addition, a groove may be formed in a portion (arc shape) in contact with the projection on the surface of the connecting portion of the other party to such an extent that the projection is not completely buried.

FIG. 6 shows the connecting portion 4 of the thermal transfer ribbon cassette.
Is formed in a hinge shape, and a pair of hinges 16 and 17 are integrated by passing a shaft 13 into a hole 18 formed in each hinge. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge and the shaft are separate bodies, but any one of the hinges and the shaft can be integrated. A stopper 19 is formed on the hinge 16, and the hinges 16 and 17 are opened and the stopper 19 is moved to the hinge 17.
The movement of the hinge is stopped at the position where the thermal transfer ribbon cassette is contacted, and the thermal transfer ribbon cassette can be easily mounted on the printer.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which a convex portion is formed at one intermediate portion of a pair of cassette frames and a concave portion is formed at the other intermediate portion, and the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted. A convex portion 14 is formed at an intermediate portion of the cassette frame 3, and a concave portion 1 is formed at an intermediate portion of the cassette frame 3.
5 are formed, and the convex portion 14 and the concave portion 15 are fitted. Thus, by fixing the cassette frame 2 and the cassette frame 3, a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons can be easily attached to and detached from the thermal transfer ribbon cassette 1.

The bobbin, bobbin gear, drive gear, and the like used in the thermal transfer ribbon cassette of the present invention are not particularly limited as long as they maintain their shapes. However, in view of moldability, cost, etc., hard vinyl chloride is used. It can be manufactured from plastic materials such as resin, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin, and polyacetal resin, and from the viewpoint of durability, aluminum, stainless steel, iron, chromium and other metals, and alloy materials.

As described above, the above-described thermal transfer ribbon cassette has a thermal transfer ribbon wound around a pair of bobbins, a pair of cassette frames, and the pair of cassette frames rotatably fitted at a connecting portion. The winding of the thermal transfer ribbon is stored on the thermal transfer ribbon holding portions of the pair of cassette frames. The cassette frame described above and a connecting portion of the cassette frame so that the pair of winding thermal transfer ribbons composed of the supply winding and the winding-up winding do not protrude upward and come off the cassette. The thermal transfer ribbon holding part, which is the same as the one that is rotatably fitted with the thermal transfer ribbon cassette or the one in which the thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing the thermal transfer ribbon is installed from the beginning, moves away, and the thermal transfer ribbon is stretched at the opening of the cassette frame. It is also possible to cover a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons as a top cover with a shape suitable for the state of being bridged. In this case, it is necessary to prevent the thermal transfer ribbon from being in contact with the pair of cassette frames so that the thermal transfer ribbon is not rubbed and scratched.

[0023]

According to the present invention, as described above,
In a thermal transfer ribbon cassette capable of loading and unloading a thermal transfer ribbon wound on a pair of bobbins, a pair of cassette frames are rotatably fitted at a connecting portion, and a thermal transfer ribbon holding portion is formed at an end of the frame. When the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted in a state where the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion is close to the thermal transfer ribbon and the thermal transfer ribbon is used in the printer, the pair of cassette frames are rotated so that the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion moves away, and the thermal transfer ribbon is moved to the cassette frame. It is stretched at the opening of. Therefore, a pair of wound thermal transfer ribbons are used as replacement members,
When it is mounted on the cassette of the printer, taken out and discarded, it can be easily performed without touching the colored transfer layer of the thermal transfer ribbon.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a thermal transfer ribbon cassette of the present invention before a thermal transfer ribbon is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example showing a state when the thermal transfer ribbon cassette of the present invention is mounted on a printer.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state before the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the thermal transfer ribbon cassette (a), after mounting the thermal transfer ribbon on the thermal transfer ribbon cassette, and after the thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing the thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on the printer (c). FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view and a partially enlarged view of an example showing a state in which a thermal transfer ribbon cassette containing a thermal transfer ribbon is mounted on a printer.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a convex portion and a concave portion in a connecting portion of the thermal transfer ribbon cassette are fitted.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example in which a connecting portion of the thermal transfer ribbon cassette is formed in a hinge shape.

FIG. 7 is a front view and a partially enlarged view showing an example in which a convex portion is formed at one intermediate portion of a pair of cassette frames, a concave portion is formed at the other intermediate portion, and the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted. .

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal transfer ribbon cassette 2, 3 Cassette frame 4 Connecting part 5, 6 Thermal transfer ribbon holding part 7 Opening 8 Thermal transfer ribbon 9 Supply bobbin 10 Winding bobbin 11, 12 Circular hole 13 Shaft 14 Convex part 15 Concave part 16, 17 Hinge 18 Hinge hole 19 Stopper 20,21 Gear for bobbin 22,23 Drive gear

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Eiichi Kitayama 1-1-1, Ichigaya-Kagacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term in Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C068 AA02 AA05 EE35 EE68 EE95

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a thermal transfer ribbon cassette capable of loading and unloading a thermal transfer ribbon wound on a pair of bobbins, a pair of cassette frames are rotatably fitted at a connecting portion, and a thermal transfer ribbon holding portion is attached to an end of the frame. Is formed, a thermal transfer ribbon is mounted in a state where the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion is close, and when the thermal transfer ribbon is used in a printer, the pair of cassette frames are rotated to move the thermal transfer ribbon holding portion away, A thermal transfer ribbon cassette, wherein a thermal transfer ribbon is stretched at an opening of a cassette frame. 2. The cassette frame according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion is formed at one connecting portion of the pair of cassette frames, and a concave portion is formed at the other connecting portion, and the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted to each other. 2. The thermal transfer ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer ribbon cassette is fixed. 3. The cassette frame is fixed by forming a convex portion at one intermediate portion of the pair of cassette frames and forming a concave portion at the other intermediate portion, and fitting the convex portion and the concave portion. The thermal transfer ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein