JP2001260507A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder in which power can be transmitted sufficiently to a ribbon wheel train even when a carriage is moved up and down by ensuring sufficient meshing of a rack and a ribbon wheel train gear. SOLUTION: The recorder comprises a carriage 7 carrying a ribbon cartridge, a fixed rack 5 extending in the moving direction of the carriage, a ribbon wheel train drive gear 21 meshing the rack, an arm 22 having one end linked with the ribbon wheel train drive gear 21, and a transmission gear 23 linked with the other end of the arm and born on the carriage wherein a ribbon winding shaft 29 is turned through the ribbon wheel train by a force obtained from the ribbon wheel train drive gear 21 as the carriage 7 turns to wind the ribbon 9A of the ribbon cartridge. The recorder further comprises a guide member 31 having one end stopped at the rotary shaft 21B of the ribbon wheel train drive gear 21 and the other end stopped at the basic body 5A of the rack 5 and keeping a substantially constant distance LH between the center of rotation of the ribbon wheel train drive gear 21 and the rack 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a structure for winding a ribbon of a ribbon cartridge supported on a carriage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional recording apparatus, a structure shown in FIG. 10 is known as a structure for winding a ribbon of a ribbon cartridge supported by a carriage.

This structure includes a carriage 51 supporting a ribbon cartridge 50, a fixed rack 52 extending in the moving direction A of the carriage 51, a ribbon train driving gear 53 meshing with the rack 52, and a ribbon train driving gear. An arm 54 to which the gear 53 is connected and a transmission gear 55 connected to the other end of the arm 54 and supported by the carriage 51 are provided. And the carriage 51
Moves in the arrow direction A, the power is obtained from the ribbon gear train drive gear 53, and the ribbon gear train 5 including the transmission gear 55 is moved.
6 is driven, the ribbon take-up shaft 57 is rotated, and the ribbon 50A of the ribbon cartridge 50 is taken up.

In the above configuration, when the recording paper 59 to be printed by the print head 58 is thin, the gap L1 between the recording paper 59 and the platen 60 is set small in advance.

When the thickness of the recording paper 59 is large, such as a passbook, the carriage 51 is moved upward through a mechanism (not shown) as shown in FIG. Is set to be large.

Whichever of the gaps L1 and L2 is set,
The guide roller 63 at the tip of the arm 54 comes into contact with the base 52A of the rack 52, whereby the inclination of the arm 54 is maintained, the meshing between the rack 52 and the ribbon train drive gear 53 is ensured, and the ribbon train 56 Power transmission to the vehicle.

[0007]

However, in the conventional configuration, the carriage 51 is largely moved upward to
For example, as shown in FIG.
When the size of the roller 2 is considerably large, the roller 63, which should originally be in contact with the base 52A and keep the meshing ratio between the rack 52 and the ribbon gear train driving gear 53 constant, floats up. There is a problem that does not fulfill.

Therefore, according to the conventional configuration, the platen 6
There is a problem in that the gap L2 with respect to 0 cannot be made too large, and the thickness of the recording paper 59 to be printed by this recording apparatus is limited.

In the conventional configuration, the carriage 5
12, the rotational force in the direction of arrow A acts on the center of the ribbon train drive gear 53, and the ribbon train drive gear 53 itself tries to rotate in the direction of arrow B, as shown in FIG. The transmission gear 55 meshing with the transmission gear 55 tends to rotate in the direction of arrow C.

In this case, the gear 6 meshing with the transmission gear 55
5 does not rotate, and the carriage 51 does not move in the horizontal direction in the figure.

On the other hand, when a rotational force in the direction of arrow A acts on the ribbon gear train driving gear 53, the ribbon gear train driving gear 53 moves in the direction of arrow D at the contact portion with the rack 52, contrary to the above. Receiving the rotational force of The direction D of this rotational force is opposite to the direction B in which the ribbon train drive gear 53 is going to rotate. In the conventional configuration, when the carriage 51 is moved up and down, the force in the opposite direction acts. , Rack 5
This causes inconvenience in the engagement between the gear 2 and the ribbon gear train drive gear 53.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of ensuring sufficient engagement between a rack and a ribbon train drive gear even when the carriage is moved up and down, and enabling sufficient power transmission to the ribbon train. Is to provide.

[0013]

In order to attain the above object, according to the present invention, a carriage supporting a ribbon cartridge, a fixed rack extending in the moving direction of the carriage, and a ribbon wheel meshing with the rack are provided. A row drive gear, an arm connected to one end of the ribbon train drive gear, and a transmission gear connected to the other end of the arm and supported by a carriage. In a recording apparatus having a configuration in which power is obtained from a ribbon gear train drive gear, a ribbon gear train including a transmission gear is driven, a ribbon take-up shaft is rotated, and the ribbon of the ribbon cartridge is wound up, A gear that is locked to the rotation shaft of the ribbon gear train drive gear and the other end is locked to the base of the rack to maintain a distance between the center of the rotation shaft of the ribbon gear train drive gear and the rack substantially constant. It is characterized in further comprising a de member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the other end of the guide member is configured to overhang on the upper surface of the rack base.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the guide member is fixed to the rotation shaft of the ribbon train drive gear, and the rack base is hingedly connected to the fixed portion. And a rockable portion locked to the rack, and the rockable portion is locked to the upper surface of the base of the rack.

In the present invention, a guide member is provided between the rotating shaft of the ribbon gear train driving gear and the base of the rack so as to maintain the distance between the center of the rotating shaft of the ribbon gear train driving gear and the rack substantially constant. Even when the carriage moves up and down and the arm is tilted, the distance between the center of the ribbon train drive gear and the rack is always kept constant. Accordingly, the engagement between the ribbon gear train drive gear and the rack is extremely stabilized.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a dot impact printer to which an embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied. The printer 41 is a printer that prints an image including characters by hitting a large number of recording wires on a sheet via an ink ribbon (both not shown) and recording dots.

The printer 41 includes a printer main body 42 as a recording apparatus main body, a sheet supply guide 43 installed in front of the printer main body 42 and configured to allow a cut sheet to be manually inserted, and a rear side of the printer main body 42. And a sheet feeder (cut sheet feeder) CSF which is installed in the printer and automatically supplies the cut sheet to the recording unit.

FIG. 2 shows the printer main body 41 from which the sheet feeding device CSF has been removed. A push tractor unit (continuous sheet transport device) 44 that supplies a continuous sheet to the recording unit is disposed substantially directly below the sheet feeding device CSF.

The sheets include the cut sheet cut to a predetermined length and a continuous sheet formed by connecting a plurality of sheets. Examples of the cut sheet include cut films such as cut sheets, copy paper, and OHP (overhead projector) sheets, and continuous sheets include continuous paper.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the printer main body 42.

The printer main body 42 has a pair of side frames 2A and 2B.
A platen 3 is rotatably hung between A and 2B,
The carriage guide shaft 4 is vertically movably extended by a mechanism not shown, and a rack 5 is fixedly extended.

The carriage guide shaft 4 includes the guide shaft 4
A carriage 7 is slidably mounted on the carriage 7, and a ribbon cartridge holder 8 is fixed to the carriage 7, and a ribbon cartridge 9 as a consumable is exchangeably mounted on the ribbon cartridge holder 8.

The carriage 7 has a carriage driving belt 1
The carriage drive belt 11 is stretched between a pair of pulleys 12 and 13, and one pulley 12 is connected to an output shaft of a carriage drive motor 15.

According to this configuration, by controlling the rotation direction of the carriage drive motor 15, the carriage drive belt 11 rotates in either the A direction or the B direction, and accordingly, the carriage 7 moves to the carriage guide. It slides on the shaft 4 to move in either the A direction or the B direction.

The carriage 7 has a print head 17.
The print head 17 has a number of wires (not shown).

While the carriage 7 slides on the carriage guide shaft 4 and moves in either the A direction or the B direction, the tip of the ribbon is moved by driving the wire. The image including the character is printed by hitting the recording paper S via the printer and recording dots.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the ribbon 9A of the ribbon cartridge 9 supported on the carriage 7 is wound up.

This structure, as shown in FIG.
, A ribbon gear train drive gear 21 that meshes with the arm, the ribbon gear train drive gear 21 is connected to one end, an arm 22 extending in a V shape, and connected to the other end of the arm 22,
A transmission gear 23 pivotally supported by the carriage 7 (ribbon cartridge holder 8).

The transmission gear 23 forms a part of the ribbon train 24. The ribbon gear train 24 is connected to the transmission gear 2.
3, a planetary lever 25 having the pin connected to one end of the planetary gear 25, a planetary gear 26 having a pin connected to the other end of the planetary lever 25, and a ribbon winding in which the planetary gear 26 is removably meshed. A take-up direction adjusting gear 27 and a ribbon take-up gear 28 are provided.
And a ribbon winding shaft 29 that is rotatable integrally therewith.

The ribbon gear train drive gear 21 has a small-diameter gear 21A coaxially, and an intermediate gear 30 meshing with the small-diameter gear 21A and the transmission gear 23 is supported by a pin at a substantially intermediate portion of the arm 22. Have been.

In the present embodiment, the ribbon gear train drive gear 21
A guide member 31 for maintaining the distance LH between the center of the rotation axis of the ribbon train drive gear 21 and the rack 5 substantially constant between the rotation shaft 21B of the rack 5 and the base 5A of the rack 5 as indicated by an imaginary line.
Is provided. 5 to 7.
As shown in the figure, the rotation shaft 21B of the ribbon train drive gear 21
And a swingable portion 31B hinged to the fixed portion 31A via a pin 33 and locked to the base 5A of the rack 5, and the swingable portion 31B is It is overhanged and locked on the upper surface of the base 5A of the rack 5. A resin 32 as a sliding member is provided on the lower surface of the swingable portion 31B, and the resin 32 slides on the upper surface of the base 5A of the rack 5. The fixed part 31A
Is formed on a ribbon cartridge holder 8 fixed to the carriage 7.

Next, the operation will be described.

In FIG. 3, when the carriage 7 moves in the A direction, the planetary lever 25 swings to the left in the direction of the arrow n as shown in FIG.

In this state, when the carriage 7 moves in the direction A, the ribbon train driving gear 21 meshing with the rack 5 rotates in the direction a, the intermediate gear 30 rotates in the direction b, and the transmission gear 23 moves in the direction c. The gear 24 rotates in the d direction. Further, the planetary gear 26 rotates in the direction e, the ribbon winding direction adjusting gear 27 rotates in the direction f, and the ribbon winding gear 2 rotates.
8 rotates in the g direction, the ribbon winding shaft 29 rotates in the g direction integrally with the ribbon winding gear 28, and the ribbon 9A is wound in the h direction.

On the other hand, when the carriage 7 moves in the direction B in FIG. 3, the planetary lever 25
Swings to the right in the figure.

In this state, when the carriage 7 moves in the B direction, the ribbon train drive gear 21 meshing with the rack 5 rotates in the i direction, the intermediate gear 30 rotates in the j direction, and the transmission gear 23 moves in the k direction. The gear 24 rotates in the l direction. Further, the planetary gear 26 rotates in the m direction. And
In this case, the ribbon winding direction adjusting gear 27 does not rotate,
The planetary gear 26 directly rotates the ribbon winding gear 28, which rotates in the direction g, the ribbon winding shaft 29 rotates in the direction g integrally with the ribbon winding gear 28, and the ribbon 9A winds in the direction h. Taken.

That is, regardless of whether the carriage 7 moves in the A direction or the B direction, the ribbon 9A is always wound in the h direction.

In the present embodiment, regardless of whether the carriage 7 moves in the direction A or the direction B in FIG. 3, the center of the rotation shaft of the ribbon train drive gear 21 and the rack Since the distance LH between the five gears is always kept substantially constant, the meshing position of the guide roller 31 is defined, and the meshing between the ribbon wheel drive gear 21 and the rack 5 is extremely stable.

FIG. 8 shows a state of printing on thick recording paper.

In this case, the carriage 7 is previously moved upward (in the direction of arrow H) via a mechanism not shown. As a result, the gap L with the platen 3 becomes large, and thick recording paper such as a passbook passes through the gap L. When the carriage 7 moves in the direction of arrow H, the arm 22 tilts and the ribbon train drive gear 21
And the rack 5 is kept engaged.

In this embodiment, the ribbon gear train drive gear 21
Is provided between the rotating shaft 21B of the rack 5 and the base 5A of the rack 5, the guide member 31 for maintaining the distance LH between the center of the rotating shaft of the ribbon train drive gear 21 and the rack 5 substantially constant is provided, so that the carriage 7 rises. Thus, even when the arm 22 is tilted, the distance LH between the center of the ribbon train drive gear 21 and the rack 5 is always kept constant. Therefore, the engagement between the ribbon gear train drive gear 21 and the rack 5 is extremely stable.

In the transition between FIGS. 4 and 8, ie, when the carriage 7 is moved up and down, the transmission gear 23 does not rotate unless a force greater than the pulling force of the ribbon 9A acts, and the carriage 7 is Unless a force greater than the holding force of a motor (not shown) is applied, it does not move in the left-right direction in the figure.

When the carriage 7 is moved up and down in this state, a rotational force in the direction of arrow A acts on the center of the ribbon train drive gear 21, as shown in FIG. In this case, the intermediate gear 30 rotates the outer periphery of the transmission gear 23 in a non-rotatable state in the direction of arrow B, and accordingly, the ribbon train drive gear 2
1 rotates in the direction of arrow C. Since the rotation direction C coincides with the direction D of the rotational force generated at the contact portion with the rack 5, the engagement between the rack 5 and the ribbon train drive gear 21 is stabilized.

In this embodiment, the ribbon gear train drive gear 21
Has a small-diameter gear 21A coaxially, and an intermediate gear 30 meshing with the small-diameter gear 21A and the transmission gear 23 is supported at a substantially middle portion of the arm 22, so that when the carriage 7 is moved up and down, the ribbon train drive gear The rotation direction of the rack 21 and the direction of the rotational force generated in the contact portion with the rack 5 can be made to coincide with each other, so that the meshing between the rack 5 and the ribbon train drive gear 21 can be stabilized. .

As described above, the present invention has been described based on one embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the above embodiment, the guide member 31 is provided between the rotating shaft 21B of the ribbon train drive gear 21 and the upper surface of the base 5A of the rack 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is clear that the mounting position is not limited as long as the member maintains the distance LH between the center of the rotation shaft of the ribbon train drive gear 21 and the rack 5 substantially constant.

[0049]

According to the present invention, a guide member is provided between the rotating shaft of the ribbon train drive gear and the base of the rack to maintain the center of the rotating shaft of the ribbon train drive gear and the distance between the racks substantially constant. Even when the carriage moves up and down and the arm tilts, the distance between the center of the ribbon train drive gear and the rack is always kept constant. Therefore, the meshing between the ribbon gear train drive gear and the rack can be stabilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer main body of a dot impact printer to which an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a printer main body from which a sheet feeding device CSF is removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer main body.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a ribbon train wheel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carriage and a rack.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a ribbon cartridge holder and a carriage.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a ribbon cartridge holder.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a ribbon train wheel.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a ribbon train wheel.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a conventional ribbon train.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a conventional ribbon train.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a conventional ribbon train.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Rack 5A Base 7 Carriage 8 Ribbon Cartridge Holder 9 Ribbon Cartridge 21 Ribbon Train Drive Gear 21B Rotary Shaft 31 Guide Member 31A Fixed Part 31B Swingable Part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A carriage supporting a ribbon cartridge, a fixed rack extending in a moving direction of the carriage, a ribbon train driving gear meshing with the rack, and an arm having one end connected to the ribbon train driving gear. A transmission gear connected to the other end of the arm and pivotally supported by the carriage, and with the movement of the carriage, receiving power from a ribbon gear train drive gear to produce a ribbon train including the transmission gear. , A ribbon winding shaft is rotated, and the ribbon of the ribbon cartridge is wound up, wherein one end of the recording device is locked to a rotation shaft of a ribbon train drive gear, and the other end is a rack base. A recording member provided with a guide member that is held at a fixed position to maintain a distance between the center of the rotation shaft of the ribbon train drive gear and the rack substantially constant. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the guide member is configured to overhang on the upper surface of a rack base. 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member includes a fixed portion that is locked to a rotating shaft of the ribbon train drive gear, and a swingable portion that is hinged to the fixed portion and locked to a rack base. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said swingable portion is locked on an upper surface of a base of said rack.