JP2006281556A - Ribbon cassette device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ribbon cassette device which can prevent the adhesion of dust and moisture to a thermal transfer ribbon, even if it is mounted on a printer with no case for covering a printing part. <P>SOLUTION: In a state wherein the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted in the printer 2, a transfer path, at least through which the transfer ribbon R leads to a ribbon winding shaft from a ribbon feed shaft, in a space sandwiched between a first base plate 9 and a second base plate 10, and a thermal head 4 are covered with the first base plate 9, the second base plate 10, an upper cover 16, an upstream side surface cover 17, a downstream side surface cover 18 and a medium L subject to printing. This prevents the dust and the moisture from adhering to the thermal transfer ribbon R. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette device for a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly to a ribbon cassette device for a thermal transfer printer that is used by being disposed in a transfer path of a belt-shaped print medium.

  A ribbon cassette device for storing a thermal transfer ribbon is a device that supplies a thermal transfer ribbon extending between a ribbon supply shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft between a thermal head of a printer and a platen roller. In general, a cover is provided to prevent dust and moisture from adhering to the thermal transfer ribbon, which leads to deterioration in print quality, but when the ribbon cassette device is installed in the printer, the ribbon supply shaft and ribbon take-up shaft Because the thermal head of the printer needs to be pressed against the thermal transfer ribbon that extends between the two, the dust and moisture are prevented from adhering to the thermal transfer ribbon by a case that covers the printing section of the printer that consists of the thermal head and the platen roller. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

However, in a printer that is used by being disposed in a transport path of a belt-shaped print medium, for example, a transport path of a label continuous body in a label sticking apparatus that sticks a label to a sticking object conveyed on a conveyor, In some cases, the printer may not be provided with a case that covers the print unit because the ease of setting the print medium and the transfer path of the print medium are not constant. When the ribbon cassette device is installed, there is a problem that dust and moisture adhere to the thermal transfer ribbon.
JP-A-8-295069

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to adhere dust and moisture to the thermal transfer ribbon even when the printer is not provided with a case that covers the printing unit. It is in the point which provides the ribbon cassette apparatus which can prevent.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configurations.
The gist of the invention described in claim 1 is that a ribbon is mounted on a belt-shaped print medium that is mounted on a printer that is not provided with a case that covers the thermal head and the platen roller, and is inserted between the thermal head and the platen roller. A ribbon cassette device for supplying a thermal transfer ribbon extending between a supply shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft, wherein the transfer ribbon extends from the ribbon supply shaft to the ribbon take-up shaft in a state of being mounted on the printer. A ribbon cassette apparatus comprising a cover for covering the transfer path and the thermal head with the print medium.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the cover covers a first base plate and a second base plate that support the ribbon supply shaft and the ribbon take-up shaft, and upper portions of the first base plate and the second base plate. It comprises an upper cover, an upstream side cover that covers the upstream side surface of the first base plate and the second base plate, and a downstream side cover that covers the downstream side surface of the first base plate and the second base plate. It exists in the ribbon cassette apparatus of Claim 1.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sealing member attached to a lower portion of the upstream side surface cover and the downstream side surface cover so as to contact the print medium. Present in the ribbon cassette apparatus.

  The ribbon cassette device of the present invention is provided with a cover that covers the transfer path from the ribbon supply shaft to the ribbon take-up shaft and the thermal head with the print medium while the ribbon cassette device is mounted on the printer. Even when the printer is not provided with a case that does not cover the print unit, it is possible to prevent dust and moisture from adhering to the thermal transfer ribbon.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a schematic external perspective view showing a configuration of a ribbon cassette device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a printer, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an internal configuration of the ribbon cassette device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the contact surface of the first base plate shown in FIG. 1 with the printer, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the embodiment of the ribbon cassette device according to the present invention is mounted on the printer. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view seen from the upstream side of the medium transfer direction, and FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of the ribbon cassette device according to the present invention mounted on the printer as seen from the downstream side of the print medium transfer direction. FIG.

  The ribbon cassette device 1 of the present embodiment stores a thermal transfer ribbon R wound in a roll shape, and a printer 2 to which the ribbon cassette device 1 is attached is shown in FIG. A thermal head 4 and a platen roller 5 supported by the housing 3 so as to be orthogonal to the transfer direction of the thermal transfer ribbon R are provided, and the print medium L and the thermal transfer ribbon R are placed between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 5. Printing is performed on the print medium L by nipping and transferring.

  The thermal head 4 is attached below a head bracket 7 rotatably supported on a head opening / closing shaft 6, and the head opening / closing lever 8 is rotated to open / close the thermal head 4 in the opening / closing direction (platen roller). 5 and a pressing direction).

  When the thermal head 4 is separated, that is, when the thermal head 4 is separated from the platen roller 5, the belt-shaped print medium L such as a label or a tag and the belt-shaped thermal transfer ribbon R are connected to the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 5. When the thermal head 4 is pressed, that is, when the thermal head 4 is pressed against the platen roller 5, the print medium L and the thermal transfer ribbon are interposed between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 5. R is pinched.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the ribbon cassette device 1 includes three support shafts 11, a drive guide shaft 12, and two driven guide shafts 13 between the first base plate 9 and the second base plate 10 that face each other. The ribbon supply shaft 14 and the ribbon take-up shaft 15 are spanned, and as shown in FIG. 1, at least the ribbon supply shaft 14 in the space between the first base plate 9 and the second base plate 10 is loaded. The transfer path from the thermal transfer ribbon R and the transfer ribbon R from the ribbon supply shaft 14 to the ribbon take-up shaft 15 is covered by the upper cover 16, the upstream side cover 17, and the downstream side cover 18. A seal member 17a and a seal member 18a are attached to the lower part of the side cover 17 and the lower part of the downstream side cover 18, respectively. .

  The support shaft 11 is a cylindrical member that fixes the first base plate 9 and the second base plate 10 with an interval equal to or larger than the width of the print medium L and the thermal transfer ribbon R, and opens the printer 2 side. When the cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, an opening 20 (see FIG. 3) formed in the first base plate 9 is formed with a fixed shaft 19 that protrudes from the housing 3 of the printer 2 toward the ribbon cassette device 1. The ribbon cassette device 1 is positioned with respect to the printer 2 by being inserted into the support shaft 11.

  The drive guide shaft 12 is disposed in the transfer path of the thermal transfer ribbon R from the ribbon supply shaft 14 to the ribbon take-up shaft 15 and guides the transfer of the thermal transfer ribbon R together with the driven guide shaft 13. Referring to FIG. 3, an engaging convex portion 12 a that protrudes outward from the first base plate 9 is formed. When the ribbon cassette device 1 is attached to the printer 2, the ribbon cassette device 1 is attached to the casing 3 of the printer 2. The engagement convex portion 12a is engaged with the engagement concave portion 21a of the drive shaft 21 formed so as to protrude toward the surface, and is rotated by the drive shaft 21, whereby the thermal transfer ribbon R is transferred to the ribbon take-up shaft 15.

  The ribbon supply shaft 14 is mounted with a thermal transfer ribbon R wound in a roll shape. With reference to FIG. 3, an engagement convex portion 14a protruding outward from the first base plate 9 is formed. When the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, the engaging convex portion 14 a is engaged with the engaging concave portion 22 a of the drive shaft 22 that is formed to protrude toward the ribbon cassette device 1 in the casing 3 of the printer 2. The thermal transfer ribbon R is fed out by being driven to rotate by the drive shaft 22.

  The ribbon take-up shaft 15 takes up the thermal transfer ribbon R. Referring to FIG. 3, an engagement convex portion 15 a protruding outward from the first base plate 9 is formed, and the ribbon cassette device 1 is connected to the printer 2. The engaging projection 15a is engaged with the engaging recess 23a of the drive shaft 23 formed to protrude toward the ribbon cassette device 1 on the casing 3 of the printer 2 and is rotated by the drive shaft 23. The thermal transfer ribbon R is wound up by being driven.

  The first base plate 9 is a plate that comes into contact with the casing 3 of the printer 2 when the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the first base plate 9 is formed to protrude from the casing 3 of the printer 2. Are formed with three openings 20 through which the three fixed shafts 19 pass, and three openings 24 through which the engaging convex portions 12a, the engaging convex portions 14a, and the engaging convex portions 15a protrude. In addition, when the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, a notch portion that introduces the printing portion including the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 5 attached below the head bracket 7 into the ribbon cassette device 1. 25 is formed.

  Further, at the peripheral edge of the surface of the first base plate 9 that comes into contact with the housing 3, dust and moisture enter the mechanism (drive shafts 21, 22, 32) from between the first base plate 9 and the housing 3. A seal member 26 is attached to prevent this. As the seal member 26, a flexible material such as rubber or sponge can be used.

  The second base plate 10 is a plate located on the side away from the housing 3 of the printer 2 when the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, and the head is opened and closed with the ribbon cassette device 1 mounted on the printer 2. An opening 27 for operating the lever 8 is formed, and a set handle 28 for holding the ribbon cassette device 1 is provided.

  When the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, first, the head opening / closing lever 8 of the printer 2 is rotated in the separating direction to separate the thermal head 4 from the platen roller 5. A gap through which the print medium L and the thermal transfer ribbon R can be inserted is formed between the platen roller 5 and the print medium L is inserted.

  Next, the set handle 28 of the ribbon cassette device 1 loaded with the thermal transfer ribbon R is gripped, and the ribbon cassette device 1 is moved to the printer 2 from the direction orthogonal to the transfer direction of the print medium L, and FIG. And as shown in FIG. In a state where the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, the positioning is performed by inserting the three fixed shafts 19 of the printer 2 into the three support shafts 11, and the protrusions for engaging the drive guide shaft 12. The engagement portion 21a of the drive shaft 21, the engagement protrusion 14a of the ribbon supply shaft 14 is the engagement recess 22a of the drive shaft 22, and the engagement protrusion 15a of the ribbon take-up shaft 15 is the drive shaft. The engaging recesses 23a are respectively engaged with the engaging recesses 23a.

  When the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, the thermal transfer ribbon R is inserted into the gap between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 5 together with the print medium L and passes through the opening 27 of the second base plate. Then, the head opening / closing lever 8 of the printer 2 is rotated in the pressing direction, and the thermal head 4 is pressed against the platen roller 5 with a predetermined pressing force, so that the preparation for the printing operation is completed.

  Further, when the ribbon cassette apparatus 1 is mounted on the printer 2, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first base plate 9, the second base plate 10, the upper cover 16, the upstream side cover 17, and the downstream side cover 18 The printing medium L covers at least the transfer ribbon R in the space sandwiched between the first base plate 9 and the second base plate 10 and the thermal head 4 covering the transfer path from the ribbon supply shaft 14 to the ribbon take-up shaft 15. It is possible to prevent dust and moisture from adhering to the thermal transfer ribbon R.

  Furthermore, when the ribbon cassette device 1 is mounted on the printer 2, the seal member 17 a and the seal member 18 a respectively attached to the lower part of the upstream side cover 17 and the lower part of the downstream side cover 18 are provided on the print medium L. It is possible to prevent dust and moisture from entering between the lower portion of the upstream side surface cover 17 and the downstream side surface cover 18 and the print medium L.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the transfer ribbon R from the ribbon supply shaft 14 to the ribbon take-up shaft 15 and the thermal head 4 are covered with the thermal head 4 in a state of being mounted on the printer 2. A cover that covers the print medium L (first base plate 9, second base plate 10, upper cover 16, upstream side cover 17, and downstream side cover 18) is mounted on a printer that does not have a case that covers the print section. In this case, it is possible to prevent adhesion of dust and moisture to the thermal transfer ribbon R.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be set to a suitable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention. In each figure, the same numerals are given to the same component.

1 is a schematic external perspective view showing an embodiment of a ribbon cassette apparatus according to the present invention and a configuration of a printer. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the internal structure of the ribbon cassette apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the contact surface with the printer of the 1st base plate shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a state in which an embodiment of a ribbon cassette device according to the present invention is mounted on a printer, as viewed from the upstream side in the transfer direction of a printing medium. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a state in which an embodiment of a ribbon cassette device according to the present invention is mounted on a printer, as viewed from the downstream side in the transfer direction of a printing medium.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ribbon cassette apparatus 2 Printer 3 Housing | casing 4 Thermal head 5 Platen roller 6 Head opening / closing axis | shaft 7 Head bracket 8 Head opening / closing lever 9 1st base plate 10 2nd base plate 11 Support shaft 12 Drive guide shaft 12a Engaging convex part 13 Driven guide shaft DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Ribbon supply shaft 14a Engagement convex part 15 Ribbon winding axis | shaft 15a Engagement convex part 16 Upper cover 17 Upstream side surface cover 18 Downstream side surface cover 19 Fixed shaft 20 Opening 21 Drive shaft 21a Engagement recessed part 22 Drive shaft 22a Engagement recessed part 23 Drive shaft 23a Engaging recess 24 Opening 25 Notch 26 Seal member 27 Opening 28 Set handle L Medium to be printed R Thermal transfer ribbon

Claims (3)

Mounted on a printer that does not have a case covering the thermal head and the platen roller, and is placed between the ribbon supply shaft and the ribbon take-up shaft on the belt-shaped print medium inserted between the thermal head and the platen roller. A ribbon cassette device for supplying a thermal transfer ribbon extending to
A cover that covers the transfer head and the thermal head from the ribbon supply shaft to the ribbon take-up shaft and the thermal head in a state where the transfer ribbon is mounted on the printer. Ribbon cassette device.   The cover includes a first base plate and a second base plate that support the ribbon supply shaft and the ribbon take-up shaft, an upper cover that covers upper portions of the first base plate and the second base plate, the first base plate, and the first base plate. 2. The ribbon cassette device according to claim 1, comprising: an upstream side surface cover that covers an upstream side surface of the two base plates; and a downstream side surface cover that covers a downstream side surface of the first base plate and the second base plate. 3. The ribbon cassette device according to claim 1, wherein a seal member that contacts the print medium is attached to a lower part of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover.

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