JP2003039797A - Heat-transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print an image recording without deterioration of quality of printing when the image recording is printed on a recording paper by suppressing slackening of an ink ribbon of a ribbon cassette. SOLUTION: A holding cover 54 which can holds a ribbon cassette 25 is arranged at a position facing to a carriage 14 and a cassette holder plate 60 on which the ribbon cassettes 25 can be piled and placed on a plurality of stages is supported so as to be elevated and lowered on a face facing to the carriage 14 of the holding cover 54 and a pair of guides 71 and 72 for holding penetrating through from the cassette holder plate 60 are stood at a position corresponding to each of ribbon cores 26a and 26b of the ribbon cassette 25 and on one of the guides 72 for holding, a rib 72c positioning between projected parts 26f of the ribbon cores 26a and 26b of the ribbon cassette 25 on the near side to the carriage 14 among the ribbon cassettes 25 piled on a plurality of the stages and hooking there is provided along the standing direction of the guide 72 for holding.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer capable of automatically exchanging a plurality of ribbon cassettes, and more particularly to a thermal transfer printer capable of preventing slack of an ink ribbon of a ribbon cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional thermal transfer printer will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 10, in a conventional thermal transfer printer, a platen 11 is arranged inside a printer body, and a guide shaft 1 is provided in parallel with the platen 11.
2 is bridged to both side plates of the printer body. A carriage 14 having a thermal head 13 mounted thereon is arranged above the platen 11. This carriage 1
The belt 4 is reciprocated along the guide shaft 12 by winding a belt 15 attached to the back surface thereof around a pulley (not shown) or the like. Behind the platen 11 (Fig. 1
0), the platen 11 and the thermal head 1
A paper feed mechanism 10 that conveys the recording paper is disposed between the paper feed mechanism 3 and the paper 3.

The carriage 14 is provided with a rotatable winding bobbin 14a and a feeding bobbin 14b. Further, the carriage 14 is provided with a lift gear 17, and a sensor mounting plate 19 having rod-shaped guide pins 18 at the upper corners of the carriage 14 and an optical sensor for detecting the type and position of a ribbon cassette described later. And are provided respectively.

A cassette carrier 20 is provided on the carriage 14 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (direction of arrow C in FIG. 10) and in the left-right direction (direction of arrow D in FIG. 10). The upper surface (mounting surface)
It is attachable to and detachable from the cassette carrier 14a via the cassette carrier 20.

As shown in FIG. 11, a holding cover 24 facing the carriage 14 can be opened and closed around a pair of cover shafts 24a on a frame (not shown) constituting the printer body of a conventional thermal transfer printer. Installed on. A cassette holder plate 30 facing the cassette carrier 20 is provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the holding cover 24 (see FIG. 11).

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cassette holder plate 30 has a pair of through holes 30 on its upper surface.
A and 30b are formed, and a holding portion 38 is integrally provided upright on a part of the peripheral edge portion of the one through hole 30a. An engaging claw 38b slightly protruding toward the other through hole 30b is formed at the tip of the holding portion 38. Also, the holding unit 3
A boss 39 that slightly protrudes is formed at the root portion of 8. The other through hole 30b has a boss 40 formed on a part of its peripheral edge.

As shown in FIG. 13, the boss 40 is
Is composed of a tapered skirt portion 40a whose bottom surface is integrated with the cassette holder plate 30, and a round pin 40b integrally provided at the tip of this skirt portion 40a. The round pin 40b, like the boss 39, serves as a rotation stopper to which a part of a ribbon core 26a of the ribbon cassette 25 described later is locked.

As shown in FIG. 14, the holder 40 integrally has a base portion 40a and cylindrical portions 40a and 40b at both ends thereof, and one cylindrical portion 40b is made of a resin having a fan-shaped cross section. The holding guide 41 is attached. A cylindrical holding guide 42 is provided in the other cylindrical portion 40c.
Is provided. Further, the holding guide 42 is
As shown in FIG. 11, a fixed claw 43 having an engaging claw 43d at its tip is provided.

Next, a holder 40 is provided between the lower surface of the cassette holder plate 30 and the holding cover 24.
The holder 40 is attached and fixed to the upper surface of the holding cover 24. The cassette holder plate 3 is attached to the holder 40.
0 is supported so that it can move up and down. In this embodiment, two ribbon cassettes 25 can be overlapped and held on the cassette holder plate 30.

As shown in FIG. 15, in general, the ribbon cassette 25 is a resin cassette case 2 having a substantially rectangular shape.
Ink ribbon 25 in which ink of desired color is applied in 5b
All of them are formed in the same shape and the same size, regardless of the type such as the color of the ink ribbon 25a. The cassette case 25b is formed with a pair of holes penetrating the upper surface and the lower surface, a part of which is inserted into the hole, and the ink ribbon 25a is wound with a pair of ribbon cores 26a and 26b. The ribbon core 26a for feeding and the ribbon core 26b for sending out are rotatably supported and arranged. Furthermore, a pair of ribbon cores 26a,
On the inner peripheral surface of 26b, a plurality of protrusions 26f are formed at equal intervals along the rotation axis direction.

When the ribbon cassette 25 is placed on the carriage 14 via the cassette carrier 20, a pair of ribbon cores 26a and 26b is wound on the bobbin 14 for winding.
The ink ribbon 25a is wound in a fixed direction by engaging and rotating a and the delivery bobbin 14a, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17,
When the ribbon cassette 25 is placed on the cassette holder plate 30, the protrusions 26 of the ribbon cores 26a and 26b are
The holding guide 41 and the bosses 39 and 40 located between f prevent the ribbon cores 26a and 26b from rotating and prevent the ink ribbon 25a from slackening.

Next, the case where the ribbon cassette 25 is mounted on the conventional thermal transfer printer will be described. First, the holding cover 24 is opened from the printer main body, and the ribbon cassette 25 is placed on the cassette holder plate 30 pushed upward by the biasing force of the coil spring. At this time, as shown in FIG. 16, the boss 39 engages with the peripheral portion of the winding ribbon core 26a of the ribbon cassette 25. Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the boss 40 engages with the peripheral portion of the delivery ribbon core 26a of the ribbon cassette 25.

Next, when the two ribbon cassettes 25 are mounted on the cassette holder plate 30 in an upper and lower stack, the lower ribbon cassette 25 previously mounted is moved downward by the upper ribbon cassette 25. When the cassette holder plate 30 is pushed, the cassette holder plate 30 is lowered along the holding guides 41 and 42 against the urging force of a coil spring (not shown), and the upper end edge of the ribbon cassette 25 on the upper stage is partially covered by the holding cover 24. Engaged. At the same time, the engaging claw 43b of the fixed claw 43 is engaged with the peripheral portion of the feeding ribbon core 26b of the ribbon cassette 25, the ribbon cassette 25 is held at two places, and the ribbon core 26b is prevented from rotating.

[0015]

By the way, as described above, when the ribbon cassettes 25 are stacked in two stages, the holding cover 24 is rotated and used in the vertical state (the state shown in FIG. 10). Therefore, even if the peripheral edge of the ribbon core 26b of the ribbon cassette 25 placed on the cassette holder plate 30 is engaged with the engaging claw 43d, the ink ribbon 25a and the ribbon core 26 around which the ink ribbon 25a is wound are formed.
The ribbon cores 26a and 26b are located below the center of the hole of the cassette holder plate 30 due to the weight of the ribbon cores 26a and 26b.
Was in a depressed position, and the engagement claw 43d could not sufficiently prevent the ribbon core 26b of the upper ribbon cassette 25 from rotating. Therefore, the ink ribbon 25a of the upper ribbon cassette 25 is slackened,
There is a possibility that the amount of slack of the ink ribbon 25a may increase due to vibrations generated during printing and recording.

When the ink ribbon 25a placed on the cassette holder plate 30 is detached and carried to the carriage 14 side for use, slack of the ink ribbon 25a of the ribbon cassette 25 causes printing on the recording paper. At this time, if there is slack in the ink ribbon 25a, there is a possibility that the print quality may deteriorate such as color unevenness at the start of printing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer capable of suppressing slack of an ink ribbon of a ribbon cassette and printing without deteriorating print quality when printing on a recording sheet.

[0018]

At least one of the above-mentioned problems
As a first solution to solve the above problem, a thermal head is mounted, a pair of carriages capable of reciprocating along a platen, and a plurality of ridges formed on an inner peripheral surface parallel to the axial direction. A ribbon cassette having a ribbon core and an ink ribbon wound around the ribbon core, and holding the ribbon cassette at a position facing a mounting surface of the carriage on which the ribbon cassette can be mounted and being separated from the mounting surface by a predetermined dimension. A holding cover that can be installed,
On the side of the holding cover facing the mounting surface of the carriage, there is a cassette holder plate on which the ribbon cassettes can be stacked and stacked in a plurality of stages, and the cassette holder plate with respect to the holding cover. A pair of one and the other, which is supported up and down and penetrates from the cassette holder plate and stands upright in the axial direction, at positions corresponding to the ribbon cores of the ribbon cassette placed on the cassette holder plate. Among the ribbon cassettes that have a holding guide, and one of the holding guides is stacked on the cassette holder plate in multiple stages, the ribbon core of the ribbon cassette on the side far from the cassette holder plate. A first engaging portion that is located between the protruding portions and engages is provided along the upright direction of the holding guide.

As a second solving means, the first engaging portion corresponds to the length of the protruding portion of the ribbon cassette on the outer peripheral wall of one of the holding guides, which is far from the cassette holder plate. It is a rib extended to the length.

As a third means for solving the problem, the cassette holder plate is provided with a second engaging portion on the other side, which is located at least between the projecting ridges of the ribbon cassette on the side far from the cassette holder plate. It is erected in parallel with the holding guide.

As a fourth solving means, the second engaging portion has a base portion in which the base portion is integrally erected on the cassette holder plate and extends from the base portion of the base portion along the tip portion. And the protrusions are positioned between the protrusions of the ribbon cassette and engaged with each other.

As a fifth solution, a pair of holes are formed in the cassette holder plate, and the peripheral edge of one of the holes is positioned between the ridges of the ribbon cassette. The possible convex portions having a square shape are vertically formed.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A thermal transfer printer which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the conventional thermal transfer printer are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. A flat platen 11 is disposed on a frame (not shown) constituting the printer body of the thermal transfer printer so that the recording surface of the platen 11 is directed upward, and a carriage 14 is provided above the platen 11. Platen 11 along the guide shaft 12
It is arranged so that it can reciprocate in parallel with. The ribbon cassette 25 can be mounted on the upper surface (mounting surface) 14a of the carriage 14 via the cassette carrier 20, and the ribbon cassette 25 can be held at a position separated from the mounting surface 14a by a predetermined dimension. Holding cover 5
4 are provided. The holding cover 54 is formed to have substantially the same length as the moving area of the carriage 14,
It is attached to the printer body so as to be openable and closable about a pair of cover shafts 54a. On the side of the holding cover 54 that faces the carriage 14 (the position of the upper surface in FIG. 1), a plurality of cassette holder plates 60 that face the cassette carrier 20 and are separated by a predetermined distance are provided.
It is possible to stack 5 in multiple stages.

Each cassette holder plate 60 of the holding cover 54
In the vicinity of one side, a fixed holding arm 61 having substantially the same length as the thickness of two ribbon cassettes 25 stacked.
Are formed so as to project. A holding claw 32 that is bent toward the cassette holder plate 60 side is formed at the tip of each of the fixed holding arms 61 so as to engage with the upper edge of the ribbon cassette 25. In addition, the fixed holding arm 6
1, a stopper groove 63 extending from the upper surface portion of the holding cover 54 is formed.

Next, in the vicinity of the other side of each cassette holder plate 60 of the holding cover 54, a movable holding arm 67 is attached so as to be swingable around the upper surface of the holding cover 54, and each of these movable holding arms is swingable. 67 is always the cassette holder plate 60 by the urging force of a coil spring (not shown).
It is biased to swing to the side. The tip of each of the movable holding arms 67 is gently bent to press the side edge of the ribbon cassette 25 located on the upper stage side.

The cassette holder plates 60 are arranged in parallel with the moving direction of the carriage 14 which holds the ribbon cassette 25 and moves along the platen 11. Further, in this embodiment, the two ribbon cassettes 25 are overlapped and held on one cassette holder plate 60.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cassette holder plate 60 is made of a resin having a substantially rectangular shape, and has a pair of through holes (holes) 60a and 60b formed in the upper surface thereof. . A rod-shaped second engaging portion 68 having a fan-shaped cross section is integrally provided upright on a part of the peripheral portion of the one through hole 60a. The second engaging portion 68 includes a base portion 68 a having a root portion integrally provided on the upper surface of the cassette holder plate 60, and the base portion 68 a.
a projecting portion 68f that extends from the root portion of a toward the tip portion and projects slightly outward, and an engaging claw 68b that projects slightly from the tip end of the base portion 68a toward the other through hole 60b. Has been formed. On the other side of the through hole 60b, a convex portion 69 protruding upward from the cassette holder plate 60 is provided upright on a part of the peripheral edge portion.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the convex portion 69
Has a rectangular shape, and the protruding portion 69 is adapted to be engaged with the protruding portion 26f of the feeding ribbon core 26b of the ribbon cassette 25. And which through hole 60
Inner wall portions 60d and 60e extending from the upper surface to the lower surface are also formed on the inner peripheral wall surfaces of a and 60b so as to project downward. Further, a pair of locking pins 65 are formed to project on the side wall of the cassette holder plate 60 facing the longitudinal direction. Then, the pair of locking pins 65 is used for the stopper groove 63.
It is adapted to be engaged with each other.

Next, a resin holder 70 is provided between the lower surface of the cassette holder plate 60 and the holding cover 54, and the holder 70 is provided on the upper surface (the surface facing the carriage 14) of the holding cover 54. It is attached and fixed together. As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 9, the holder 70 integrally includes a rectangular base body portion 70a and cylindrical portions 70b and 70c at both ends thereof. 70b has a rod-shaped holding guide 7 having a fan-shaped cross section.
1 is set up in one. The holder 70 has substantially the same configuration as the above-described conventional holder 40, but the shape of the holding guide 42 (the other holding guide) is partially different.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the other holding guide 72 is integrally provided in the other cylindrical portion 70c, and the holding guide 72 is made of resin and has a cylindrical tubular portion 72a. And a contact portion 72b having a substantially fan-shaped cross section at the tip of the tubular portion 72a, and a rib (first portion) extending from the tip to the connecting portion of the tubular portion 72a on the outer wall of the contact portion 72b. Engaging portions) 72c are formed respectively. A fixed claw 72d is integrally provided at the tip of the contact portion 72b.

On the holding cover 54 to which the holder 70 is attached, a cassette holder plate 60, on which the ribbon cassettes 25 can be stacked and stacked in a plurality of stages, is provided on the side opposite to the mounting surface of the carriage 14, the coil spring 44 and the engaging member. Stop pin 65
The ribbon cassette 25 is supported so that it can be moved up and down, and at the positions corresponding to the ribbon cores 26a and 26b of the ribbon cassette 25,
A pair of one and the other holding guides 71 and 72 penetrating from the cassette holder plate 60 are provided upright.

Next, the holding cover 5 of this thermal transfer printer
A case in which one ribbon cassette 25 is mounted on each No. 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 8. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon cassette 25 is inserted from above between the holding claw 62 of the fixed holding arm 61 and the tip of the movable holding arm 67, and the urging spring (not shown) of the movable holding arm 67 is inserted. This ribbon cassette 25 is moved downward (on the side of the holding cover 54) while sliding against the tip of the ribbon cassette while resisting the inward urging force.
To insert. Then, the ribbon cassette 25 is placed on the cassette holder plate 60 pushed upward by the biasing force of the coil spring 44.

As shown in FIG. 8, the movable holding arm 67 presses the side surface of the ribbon cassette 25 toward the fixed holding arm 61 by its urging force, and the upper edge of the ribbon cassette 25 is held by the holding claw of the fixed holding arm 61. 62, the engaging claw 72d of the holding guide 72 is engaged with the peripheral edge of the delivery ribbon core 26b of the ribbon cassette 25, and the engaging claw 68b of the second engaging portion 68 is engaged with the ribbon cassette 2.
5 is engaged with the peripheral edge of the winding ribbon core 26a.

Here, the rib 72c of the holding guide 72
Is located between the projecting ridges 26f of the ribbon ribbon 25 of the delivery cassette 25 and engages with the ridges 26f.
The protrusion 68f of the engaging portion 68 is engaged with the protruding portion 26f of the winding ribbon core 26a of the ribbon cassette 25 to stop the ribbon cores 26a and 26b from rotating. As a result, even if the holding cover 54 is erected in the vertical direction, the ribbon cores 26a and 26b and the ink ribbon 25a wound around them are displaced downward (vertically) from the center of the hole portion of the ribbon cassette 25 due to their own weight. Even when the ink ribbon 2 is in the open position, the protrusions 26f of both the ribbon cores 26a and 26b surely engage the holding guide 72 and the protrusion 68f of the second engaging portion 68, and the ink ribbon 2a is rotated by the rotation of the ink ribbon 25a.
The slack of 5a is surely prevented. The holding guide 7
1 also prevents the ribbon core 26a of the ribbon cassette 25 from rotating.

Next, the case where the two ribbon cassettes 25 are mounted on the holding cover 54 in the upper and lower stages will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 9. First, the first ribbon cassette (lower ribbon cassette) 25 is mounted in the same manner as when the above-mentioned one ribbon cassette 25 is mounted, and then mounted on the cassette holder plate 60. Next, prepare the second ribbon cassette (upper ribbon cassette) 25,
When the lower ribbon cassette 25 already mounted is pushed downward from above the upper ribbon cassette 25, the cassette holder plate 60 resists the biasing force of the coil spring and the holding guides 71 and 72 and the second engaging portion. Descend along 68.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper edge of the upper ribbon cassette 25 is engaged with the holding claw 62 of the fixed holding arm 61, and the engaging claw 72d of the holding guide 72 is connected to the ribbon cassette 25. Delivery ribbon core 26
The rib 72c of the holding guide 72 is located between the protruding portions 26f of the feeding ribbon core 26b and engages with the protruding portions 26f while engaging with the peripheral edge portion of b. The winding ribbon core 26a of the upper ribbon cassette 25 is prevented from rotating by the holding guide 71. In this way, the ribbon core 26a of the upper ribbon cassette 25,
Both 26b are prevented from rotating, and the slack of the ink ribbon 25a is prevented.

Then, the second ribbon cassette 25 of the lower stage is engaged with the second protrusion 26f of the winding ribbon core 26a.
The fixed claw 68b of the engaging portion 68 is provided on the lower ribbon cassette 2
5, the protrusion 68f is located between the protrusions 26f of the ribbon core 26b, and engages with the protrusion 26f. Also, the convex portion 6
9 similarly engages the peripheral edge of the ribbon core 26b of the ribbon cassette 25. In this way, the lower ribbon cassette 2
5, the winding ribbon core 26a engages with the protrusion 68f of the second engaging portion 68 to prevent rotation, and the ribbon core 26b engages with the rib 72c of the holding guide 72 to prevent rotation. The rib portion 26f of the rib 26c
, So that the slack of the ink ribbon 25a is prevented.

To start printing using the ribbon cassette 25 placed on the cassette holder plate 60 in this way,
The ribbon cassette 25 is transferred from the cassette holder plate 60 of the holding cover 54 to the cassette carrier 20.

Next, the carriage 14 on which the ribbon cassette 25 is mounted together with the cassette carrier 20 is reciprocated, and the winding bobbin 14a is rotationally driven to wind up the ink ribbon 25a, while thermal recording is performed based on image recording information. The head 13 is driven to record an image of a desired color on a recording sheet (not shown) conveyed between the platen 11 and the thermal head 13.

As described above, the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following effects. 1) Ribbon cassette 2 placed on the cassette holder plate 60
5 has one and the other pair of holding guides 71 and 72 penetrating from the cassette holder plate 60 and standing upright in the axial direction at positions corresponding to the respective ribbon cores 26a and 26b. In the upper and lower ribbon cassettes 25 stacked on top of each other, a rib 72c positioned between and engaged with the projecting ridges 26f of the ribbon core 26b of the upper ribbon cassette 25 is provided in the standing direction of the holding guide 72. Since the ribs 72c of the holding guide 72 are reliably engaged with each other between the protrusions 26f of the ribbon core 26b, the ribs 72c of the holding guides 54 are reliably engaged even if the holding cover 54 is vertically arranged. The slack of the ink ribbon 25a can be sufficiently suppressed. Therefore, the ink ribbon 25a of the upper ribbon cassette 25 transferred to the carriage 14
Can be printed and recorded on the recording paper from a predetermined position, so that the printing quality can be improved.

2) On the cassette holder plate 60, there is provided a second engaging portion 68 which is located between the projecting ridge portions 26f of the ribbon core 26 of the ribbon cassette 25 in the upper stage far from the cassette holder plate 60 and which engages with the other. Standing parallel to the guide 71,
Since the protrusion 68f extends from the root portion of the second engaging portion 68 with respect to the cassette holder plate 60 along the tip portion, the two ribbon cassettes 25 are placed on the cassette holder plate 60 in an overlapping manner. At this time, the winding ribbon core 26a of the ribbon cassette 25 on the upper stage is fixed to the protrusion 26f.
Since the projection 68f is securely engaged with the rotation prevention, the slack of the ink ribbon 25a can be prevented more reliably. In addition, the ridge 26 of the lower ribbon cassette 25
At the same time, f can also be stopped by the protrusion 68f.

3) The rib 72c is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the holding guide 72 so as to have a length corresponding to the length of the protruding portion 26f of the ribbon core 26b. Ribbon core 2 for delivering the ribbon cassette 25 in the upper stage when the ribbon cassettes 2 are placed on top of each other.
Since the rib 72c of 6b is securely engaged with the protruding portion 26f and is prevented from rotating, the slack of the ink ribbon 25a can be prevented more reliably.

4) A pair of holes 60a and 60b are formed in the cassette holder plate 60, and the peripheral edge of one of the holes 60b is located between the protrusions 26f of the ribbon core 26b of the ribbon cassette 25. -Shaped convex portion 6 that can be engaged with
Since 9 is provided upright, the engagement with the protruding portion 26f of the ribbon core 26b can be more reliably performed as compared with the conventional round convex portion.

[0044]

As described above, the thermal transfer printer of the present invention has a thermal head mounted thereon and a carriage capable of reciprocating along a platen, and a plurality of carriages formed on the inner peripheral surface parallel to the axial direction. A ribbon cassette having a pair of ribbon cores having ridges and an ink ribbon wound around the ribbon cores, and a ribbon at a position facing a mounting surface of the carriage on which the ribbon cassette can be mounted and separated from the mounting surface by a predetermined dimension. And a cassette holder plate on which a ribbon cover can be stacked and stacked in a plurality of stages on the side of the holding cover facing the mounting surface of the carriage. While supporting the plate so that it can be raised and lowered with respect to the holding cover, at a position corresponding to each ribbon core of the ribbon cassette placed on the cassette holder plate, Has one and the other of the pair of holding guide erected in the axial direction through the set holder plate,
One of the holding guides is located between the ridges of the ribbon core of the ribbon cassette on the side farther from the cassette holder plate among the ribbon cassettes stacked on the cassette holder plate in a plurality of stages and is engaged with the first holding guide. Since the engaging portion is provided along the standing direction of the holding guide, even if the holding cover is rotated and arranged vertically in the vertical direction,
Since the ribs of the holding guide surely engage between the ribs of the ribbon core, the slack of the ink ribbon does not occur. Therefore, the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette transferred to the carriage can be printed and recorded on the recording paper from a predetermined position,
The print quality can be improved.

Further, the cassette holder plate of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention has a second engaging portion which is located at least between the ridge portions of the ribbon cassette on the side far from the cassette holder plate and engages with the other holding guide. Since the second engaging portion engages with the protruding portion of the ribbon core by being erected parallel to
Since the ink ribbon is sent out together with the first engaging portion and the ribbon cores for both winding are stopped, the slack of the ink ribbon can be further prevented.

Furthermore, the thermal transfer printer of the present invention is
A pair of holes is formed in the cassette holder plate, and a corner-shaped convex portion that can be engaged and is located between the ridges of the ribbon cassette is formed upright on the peripheral edge of the one hole. As a result, the protrusions of the ribbon core of the ribbon cassette were more reliably stopped by using the protrusions in addition to the ribs of the holding guide to stop the rotation of the ribbon core, and by making it even more square, it became a non-slip shape. It is possible to further prevent the slack of the ink ribbon. In particular, when the ribbon cassettes stacked in a plurality of stages are placed on the cassette holder plate of the holding cover, the effect becomes remarkable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part showing a state in which one ribbon cassette is held on the cassette holder plate of the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention (the cassette holder plate is in a raised position).

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part showing a state in which two ribbon cassettes are held on the cassette holder plate of the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention (lower position of the cassette holder plate).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cassette holder plate of the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a plan view of the cassette holder plate shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is an enlarged view of a main part of the cassette holder plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of a holding guide of the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a state in which one ribbon cassette is held on a cassette holder plate of the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a state where two ribbon cassettes are held on a cassette holder plate of the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of relevant parts showing a schematic structure of a thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a holding cover of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a holding cover of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of a cassette holder plate of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a holder of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view showing a schematic structure of a ribbon cassette.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a feeding ribbon core portion showing a state in which a ribbon cassette is held on a cassette holder plate of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a winding ribbon core portion showing a state in which a ribbon cassette is held on a cassette holder plate of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Platen 13 Thermal head 14 carriage 25 ribbon cassette 25a ink ribbon 26a, 26b Ribbon core 26f ridge 54 holding cover 60 cassette holder plate 60a, 60b holes 68 Second engaging portion 68f protrusion 69 convex 71,72 holding guide 72c rib (first engaging portion)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A carriage on which a thermal head is mounted and which can reciprocate along a platen, a pair of ribbon cores having a plurality of protrusions formed on an inner peripheral surface parallel to the axial direction, and a ribbon core wound around the ribbon cores. A ribbon cassette having an ink ribbon formed thereon, and a holding cover arranged so as to hold the ribbon cassette at a position facing a mounting surface of the carriage on which the ribbon cassette can be mounted and separated from the mounting surface by a predetermined dimension. A cassette holder plate on which the ribbon cassettes can be stacked and stacked in a plurality of stages, and the cassette holder plate is provided on the holding cover on a side of the holding cover that faces the mounting surface of the carriage. While supporting it so that it can be raised and lowered,
At a position corresponding to each of the ribbon cores of the ribbon cassette placed on the cassette holder plate, there is a pair of one and the other holding guides penetrating from the cassette holder plate and standing in the axial direction, In the one holding guide, between the ridges of the ribbon core of the ribbon cassette on the side far from the cassette holder plate among the ribbon cassettes stacked in multiple stages on the cassette holder plate. A thermal transfer printer characterized in that a first engaging portion that is positioned and engaged is provided along the standing direction of the holding guide. 2. The first engaging portion extends on the outer peripheral wall of the one holding guide to a length corresponding to the length of the ridge portion of the ribbon cassette on the side far from the cassette holder plate. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer printer is a rib provided. 3. The cassette holder plate has at least a second engaging portion which is located between the projecting ridge portions of the ribbon cassette far from the cassette holder plate and engages with the other holding guide. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer printers are provided upright in parallel. 4. The second engaging portion has a base portion in which a root portion is integrally erected on the cassette holder plate and has a protrusion extending from the root portion of the base portion along a tip portion. 4. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion is positioned between the protrusions of the ribbon cassette and engaged with the protrusion. 5. A pair of holes are formed in the cassette holder plate, and a peripheral edge of one of the holes is an angular shape that can be engaged between the protrusions of the ribbon cassette. The thermal transfer printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the convex portion is formed so as to stand upright.