JP2007118268A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can shorten the printing period of time regarding a color printing which is performed by repeating single color printings while suppressing the number of motors which are expensive, and in addition, occupy a large volume to two. <P>SOLUTION: In this printer, the movement in the vertical direction of a thermal head which is required for color printing one sheet of a medium to be recorded is performed by one rotation of a cam mechanism which rotates in a fixed direction. In addition, the paper-feeding/reciprocating carrying of the medium to be recorded is performed by a first motor. At the same time, the moving of the thermal head and the taking up of an ink ribbon are performed by a second motor. The paper-feeding/reciprocating carrying of the medium to be recorded and the cue of the ink ribbon are simultaneously performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer type printing apparatus that performs color printing of video information or the like on a recording medium.

First, an example of a specific configuration of a conventional thermal transfer type printing apparatus will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional printing apparatus and a ribbon cassette. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which a ribbon cassette is mounted on a conventional printing apparatus.
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the printing apparatus 1 includes a main body housing 2 including a frame 5 having side walls 3 and 4 disposed on both the left and right sides, and a horizontally long shape penetrating the side wall 3. A ribbon cassette 8 in which an ink ribbon 7 is detachably mounted in the frame 5 by being fitted into the ribbon cassette hole 6 from the side surface side, and a plurality of sheets 9 of recording media are stored in a stacked state. A paper tray 10 that is fitted into the lower front side of the main body housing 2 from the front side and a long thermal head on the upper side facing the ribbon cassette 8 of the main body housing 2 is arranged at the front lower end edge. The head unit 11 that is rotatably attached to the side walls 3 and 4 of the frame 5 while being urged in a predetermined rotation direction, the conveyance of the paper 9, the winding of the ink ribbon 7, the rotation of the head unit 11, etc. With drive source That is composed of a first motor 12 and the like the second motor 13. With these configurations, video information or the like is color-printed on a recording medium.

  Patent Document 1 below describes an image printer which is a thermal transfer type printing apparatus. In this image printer, the printing operation is repeated three times in total for each of the colors yellow, magenta, and cyan, using the ink sheet on which the three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are sequentially applied. Thus, a predetermined full color image is printed on the recording paper.

In this image printer, a single motor serves as both a drive source for conveying recording paper and a drive source for winding up an ink sheet. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of motors that are expensive and occupy a large volume, and as a result, only two motors, ie, the dual-purpose motor and the other motor that presses and retracts the thermal head, are sufficient for the motor. Therefore, it is possible to realize an inexpensive and small-sized image printer.
JP-A-10-181145 (page 2-3)

  The point that only two motors that are expensive and occupy a large volume is sufficient in the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

  Of course, the printing operation performed for each color includes cueing of the recording paper (conveyed to the printing start position), cueing of the ink sheet (winding up to the printing start position), pressing of the thermal head, conveyance of the recording paper, and ink sheet. Since it is composed of each process such as winding (single color printing) and retreating the thermal head, some processes of the printing operation, for example, the cueing of the recording paper and the cueing of the ink sheet are in the process. Although it is allowed to proceed at the same time and the printing time can be shortened, as with the image printer described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the conveyance of the recording paper and the winding of the ink sheet are performed by one motor. In that case, it was difficult to proceed simultaneously with the configuration.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the printing time for color printing performed by repeating monochromatic printing while suppressing the number of expensive motors that occupy a large volume to two. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of shortening the number of times.

  In order to solve this problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a paper tray, a paper feeding unit that feeds a recording medium stored in a stacked state on the paper tray, and a paper feeding unit that feeds the recording medium. A paper conveying means for reciprocating the paper-recorded recording medium, a thermal head provided in a long shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium conveyed by the paper conveying means, and the thermal Thermal head moving means for moving the head up and down, a platen roller to which the thermal head is pressed and separated by the thermal head moving means, and color printing ink disposed between the platen roller and the thermal head A cassette supporting means for detachably supporting a ribbon cassette containing a ribbon, and a color of the ribbon cassette supported by the cassette supporting means. An ink ribbon take-up means for taking up the ink ribbon for printing, and simultaneously transporting the recording medium to the printing start position in a state where the thermal head is separated from the platen roller. By winding up the ink ribbon for printing and winding the ink ribbon for color printing in the ribbon cassette while transporting the recording medium in a return path in a state where the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller after winding the ink ribbon. In a printing apparatus that performs monochromatic printing and discharges the recording medium on which color printing has been completed by repeating each monochromatic printing, in a state where the thermal head is separated from the platen roller, and is conveyed in a backward path, The thermal head moving means moves the platen roller when the recording medium is fed / discharged. The thermal head is separated from the recording medium by a first distance, and when each monochrome printing is performed on the recording medium, the thermal head is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller, and recording is performed again. When the medium is transported to the print start position, the cam mechanism is configured to rotate the fixed position in a state in which the thermal head is separated from the platen roller by a second distance smaller than the first distance. A first motor that also serves as a drive source for the paper feed unit and the paper transport unit, and the platen roller and the thermal head when the first motor rotates in a predetermined direction. While being separated by the first distance, the driving force of the first motor is transmitted to the paper conveying means and the paper feeding means, while the platen roller and the servo are transmitted. The driving force of the first motor is transmitted to the sheet conveying means when the multi-head is separated from the second distance by the second distance, and the first motor is rotated when the first motor is rotating in the opposite direction. The first transmission means for transmitting the driving force to the paper conveying means, the second motor that also serves as the drive source for the thermal head moving means and the ink ribbon winding means, and the first motor depending on the rotation direction of the second motor. And a second transmission means for switching and transmitting the driving force of the two motors to the thermal head moving means or the ink ribbon take-up means.

  That is, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the vertical movement of the thermal head necessary for color printing on one recording medium is performed by one rotation of the cam mechanism that rotates in a fixed direction. The first motor is used to feed and reciprocate media, and the second motor is used to move the thermal head and wind up the ink ribbon. Simultaneous feeding and feeding of the recording medium and cueing of the ink ribbon are performed simultaneously. Since the number of motors that occupy a large volume is expensive, the printing time for color printing performed by repeating single color printing can be further reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment prints overcoat (OP) after repeating primary color printing of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), so that video information and the like are recorded on the recording medium. This is a thermal transfer type printing apparatus for performing color printing, and its simple schematic configuration is the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 in the “Background Art” section, except as described below. Similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the ribbon cassette is mounted on the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. In the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2, as a color printing process, a paper feeding process in which the paper 9 is first transported and set at a printing start position, and an ink ribbon 7 in the ribbon cassette 8 are performed. A cueing process for cueing each of the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and overcoat (OP) inks repeatedly disposed on the head unit 11 and rotating the head unit 11 downward. A head-down process in which the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller, a monochromatic printing process in which the paper 9 is simultaneously fed back and the ink ribbon 7 is wound, and the head unit 11 is turned upward to turn the thermal head on the platen roller. A head-up process for separating the paper 9 from the printer, and a resetting process for transporting the paper 9 forward again and setting it at the print start position.

In order to describe the configuration for performing each step, first, a cam incorporated in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 14 is a front view, a side view, and a rear view of the cam 100 incorporated in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment from the left. Four peripheral surface protrusions 101 for reading the position of the cam 100 by a sensor are provided on the outer periphery of the cam 100, and a tooth surface G1 for rotating the cam 100 is formed. Further, a side protrusion 103 on which a cam curve 102 for rotating the head unit 11 in the vertical direction is formed on one side surface of the cam 100. Further, a side guide groove 105 having a cam curve 104 for switching the transmission of the driving force of the medium side motor 13 is provided on the other side surface of the cam 100. A shaft hole 106 for pivotally supporting the cam 100 inside the side wall 4 is provided at the center of the cam 100. Reference numeral 107 denotes a shaft support pin for fixing the cam 100 to a shaft fitted in the shaft hole 106.

  The other cam 100 is also pivotally supported on the inner side of the side wall 3, but the cam curve 104 and the side guide groove 105 are not provided on the other side surface of the cam 100.

  Next, a paper feed process in which the paper 9 is first transported and set at the print start position will be described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 2 during the paper feeding process. As shown in FIG. 3, in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the head unit 11 provided with a long thermal head 21 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 rotates while being urged by a torsion spring 22. The shaft 23 is pivotally supported, and during the paper feeding process, the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 24 are separated to the maximum by adjusting the position of the head unit 11 with the cam curve 102 (see FIG. 14) of the cam 100. (Hereinafter, this maximum separation state is referred to as “large UP”). The position of the cam 100 is determined by the head sensor 25.

  Further, during the paper feeding process, the paper 9 is picked up from the paper tray 10 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 26, and further to the printing start position by the rotation of the transport roller 27 in a predetermined direction. It is transported forward. At this time, the position of the sheet 9 is determined by the sheet sensor 28. Here, in order to rotate the paper feed roller 26 and the transport roller 27, the driving force of the medium side motor 13 (see FIG. 2 and the like) is used.

That is, in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the mechanism is connected directly to the drive shaft of the medium side motor 13 as a mechanism for transmitting the drive force of the medium side motor 13 on the outside of the side wall 4. Gear G21 and gears G22, G23, G24, G25, G26, G27, G28, and G29 are provided. In this regard, since the gear G25 is directly connected to the transport roller 27, the driving force of the medium side motor 13 can be transmitted to the transport roller 27.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment during the paper feeding process.

  Further, a gear G31 provided coaxially with the gear G27, planetary gears G32 and G33, and a gear G34 are provided, and the gear G34 is directly connected to the paper feed roller 26, so that the medium side motor 13 is driven. The force can be transmitted to the paper feed roller 26.

  As for the planetary gears G32 and G33, as shown in FIG. 5, a planetary gear G33 is provided at one end of the first link member L1 pivotally supported on the side wall 4, and the first link member L1 is coaxial (shaft). A planetary gear G32 (see FIG. 4) is provided on the fulcrum F1). Further, the other end of the first link member L1 is provided with a locking object F2 protruding inside the side wall 4. The locking object F2 is a long hole in the side wall 4 as shown in FIG. The second link member L2 is disposed at a position where the second link member L2 is pushed down by being inserted into the H and projecting inside the side wall 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the second link member L2 can be slid within a limited range by a pair of guide mechanisms Z provided at the intermediate portion thereof, and further, the second link member Since the other end of L2 is engaged with the side guide groove 105 of the cam 100, the position of the other end of the second link member L2 is adjusted by the cam curve 104 of the cam 100. Therefore, the movement of the first link member L1 can be limited at one end of the second link member L2 that slides by the rotation of the cam 100.

Note that only when the cam 100 is in a position that realizes “large UP”, as shown in FIG. 3, one end of the second link member L2 does not push down the locking object F2 of the first link member L1. Thus, the planetary gear G33 can be meshed with the gear G29 directly connected to the paper feed roller 26.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the state of the second link member L2 during the paper feeding process of the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the gears G32, G27, G31 has been removed.

  Next, a description will be given of a cueing process for cueing each ink of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and overcoat (OP) repeatedly arranged on the ink ribbon 7 in the ribbon cassette 8. . In order to perform this cueing process, it is necessary to wind up the ink ribbon 7 in the ribbon cassette 8, but the driving force for the winding is transmitted from the ribbon side motor 12.

  The cueing of yellow (Y) ink can be performed in parallel with the feeding of the paper 9 by the following transmission mechanism. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, as a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the ribbon side motor 12 on the outside of the side wall 4, the gear G41 directly coupled to the driving shaft of the ribbon side motor 12 or the gears G42, G43, G44. , G45, G46, G47 are provided, and a take-up shaft 31 for taking up the ink ribbon 7 (see FIG. 15 etc.) in the ribbon cassette 8 (see FIG. 15, FIG. 3 etc.) is directly connected to the gear G47. Therefore, the ink ribbon 7 in the ribbon cassette 8 can be taken up by the driving force of the ribbon side motor 12. The position of the ink ribbon 7 is determined by a ribbon sensor 34 shown in FIG.

  Further, the gear G43 is provided with a spring clutch 32, and only the driving force of the ribbon side motor 12 in the rotating direction for winding the ink ribbon 7 is transmitted to the winding shaft 31 by the spring clutch 32.

  The cueing of each ink of magenta (M), cyan (C), and overcoat (OP) will be described later.

  Next, a head down process for pressing the thermal head 21 against the platen roller 24 by rotating the head unit 11 downward will be described. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 2 during the head-down process. As shown in FIG. 6, during the head down process, the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 24 are brought into pressure contact with each other by adjusting the position of the head unit 11 with the cam curve 102 of the cam 100 (hereinafter referred to as this pressure contact state). Is called "DOWN"). For this purpose, it is necessary to rotate the cam 100 by a predetermined amount in a certain direction, and the driving force for rotating the cam 100 is transmitted from the ribbon side motor 12.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, as a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the ribbon side motor 12 (see FIG. 2 etc.) outside the side wall 4, a gear G41 directly connected to the driving shaft of the ribbon side motor 12, Gears G51, G52, G53, G54, G55, and G56 are provided, and the gear G56 meshes with the tooth surface G1 of the cam 100, whereby the cam 100 can be rotated by the driving force of the ribbon side motor 12. The position of the cam 100 is determined by the head sensor 25.

  The gear G52 is provided with a spring clutch 33, and only the driving force of the ribbon side motor 12 that rotates the cam 100 in a certain direction is transmitted to the gear G56.

  As described above, as for the driving force of the ribbon side motor 12, when the ribbon side motor 12 rotates in a predetermined direction by the spring clutches 32 and 33, a driving force for rotating the cam 100 in a certain direction is generated. When rotating in the opposite direction, a driving force for winding the ink ribbon 7 in the ribbon cassette 8 is generated.

  Next, a single color printing process in which the paper 9 is conveyed backward and the ink ribbon 7 is taken up simultaneously will be described. During the monochromatic printing process, the sheet 9 is conveyed in the backward direction to the printing end position by the rotation of the conveying roller 27 in the opposite direction. At this time, the position of the sheet 9 is determined by the sheet sensor 28. Here, the driving force of the medium side motor 13 is used to rotate the transport roller 27.

That is, in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, as described above, as a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the medium side motor 13 on the outside of the side wall 4, as shown in FIG. A gear G21 directly connected to the drive shaft, and gears G22, G23, G24, G25, G26, G27, G28, and G29 are provided. Since the gear G25 is directly connected to the conveyance roller 27, the driving force of the medium side motor 13 can be transmitted to the conveyance roller 27.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment during the monochrome printing process.

  However, since the backward conveyance of the paper 9 in the single color printing process is opposite to the forward conveyance of the paper 9 in the paper feeding process, the rotation of the medium side motor 13 is also opposite in the single color printing process and the paper feeding process.

  In the monochromatic printing process, the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 24 are in pressure contact with each other, and the cam 100 is in a position where “DOWN” is realized. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, one end of the second link member L2 Pushes down the locking member F2 of the first link member L1, thereby separating the planetary gear G33 from the gear G29 directly connected to the paper feed roller 26, as shown in FIG. Therefore, during the single color printing process, the driving force of the medium side motor 13 is not transmitted to the paper feed roller 26.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 2 during the monochromatic printing process. FIG. 10 is a side view showing the state of the second link member L2 during the monochromatic printing process of the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the gears G32, G27, G31 has been removed.

  In addition, during the monochrome printing process, it is necessary to wind up the ink ribbon 7 in the ribbon cassette 8, and the driving force for the winding is the same as the above-described yellow (Y) ink cueing. It is transmitted from the side motor 12.

  Next, a head-up process for separating the thermal head 21 from the platen roller 24 by rotating the head unit 11 upward will be described. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 2 during the head-up process. As shown in FIG. 11, during the head-up process, the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 24 are separated to a minimum by adjusting the position of the head unit 11 with the cam curve 102 of the cam 100 (hereinafter referred to as “this”). The pressure contact state is called “Small UP”). For this purpose, it is necessary to rotate the cam 100 by a predetermined amount in a certain direction, but the driving force for rotating the cam 100 is transmitted from the ribbon-side motor 12 in the same manner as “DOWN” described above.

  Next, a resetting process in which the paper 9 is transported forward again and set at the print start position will be described. During the resetting process, the paper 9 is again transported to the printing start position by the rotation of the transport roller 27 in a predetermined direction. The driving force for performing the forward transport is the same as that in the paper feeding process described above. , And transmitted from the medium side motor 13.

  Further, during the resetting process, the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 24 are spaced apart to a minimum, and the cam 100 is in a position where “small UP” is realized, but the cam 100 described above realizes “DOWN”. As shown in FIG. 12, as shown in FIG. 12, one end of the second link member L2 pushes down the locking member F2 of the first link member L1, as shown in FIG. Thus, the planetary gear G33 is separated from the gear G29 directly connected to the paper feed roller 26. Therefore, the driving force of the medium side motor 13 is not transmitted to the paper feed roller 26 during the resetting process.

  FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 2 during the resetting process. FIG. 10 is also a side view showing the state of the second link member L2 during the resetting process of the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the gears G32 and G27 shown in FIG. , G31 are removed.

  Further, during the resetting process, cueing of each ink of magenta (M), cyan (C), and overcoat (OP) is performed in parallel, and the transmission mechanism at that time is yellow (Y). This is the same as the transmission mechanism in the cueing of ink.

  Further, in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the paper 9 on which the overcoat (OP) single-color printing has been completed is discharged by continuing the backward conveyance, and during the paper discharge, the conveyance roller 27 and the discharge roller 27 are discharged. Although it is necessary to rotate the paper roller 35, the driving force of the rotation is transmitted from the medium side motor 13 in the same manner as in the monochrome printing process. Note that a gear G29 is directly connected to the paper discharge roller 35, and the paper discharge roller 35 is also rotated when the transport roller 27 is rotated by the gears G21 to G29 constituting the driving force transmission system of the medium side motor 13. It has become.

When the paper discharge is completed, as shown in FIG. 13, the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 24 are returned to “large UP” by adjusting the position of the head unit 11 with the cam curve 102 of the cam 100. . For this purpose, it is necessary to rotate the cam 100 by a predetermined amount in a certain direction. However, in the same manner as “DOWN” and “Small UP” described above, the driving force to be rotated is transmitted from the ribbon side motor 12. Yes.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, taken along line AA in FIG.

  As described above, each process when performing color printing in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has been described in detail, but each process when performing color printing is summarized in a time chart as shown in FIG. That is, in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when performing color printing, the state of the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 24 (the state of the head unit 11 moving up and down) is set to “Large UP”. ”→” DOWN ”(yellow (Y) single color printing) →“ small UP ”→“ DOWN ”(magenta (M) single color printing) →“ small UP ”→“ DOWN ”(cyan (C) single color printing) → “Small UP” → “DOWN” (single color printing of overcoat (OP)) → “Large UP”. This transition is a driving force when the ribbon motor 12 rotates in a predetermined direction. Thus, the cam 100 (the cam curve 102) makes one round in a certain direction.

  In the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the paper feed roller 26 and the transport roller 27 are rotated by the driving force of the medium side motor 13, and the ink ribbon 7 is wound and the cam 100 is rotated (the head unit 11 is rotated). As shown in the time chart of FIG. 1, the rotation of the paper feeding roller 26 is performed while the number of motors that occupy a large volume is limited to two. When the paper 9 is fed and when the paper 9 is transported to the print start position by the rotation of the transport roller 27, the ink ribbon 7 can be cued in parallel. Shortening can be achieved.

  In the time chart of FIG. 1, “forward rotation” and “reverse rotation” of the ribbon side motor 12 and “forward rotation” and “reverse rotation” of the medium side motor 13 specify the rotation directions of the motors 12 and 13 individually. However, the direction of rotation between the motors 12 and 13 is not necessarily specified.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
For example, in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the single color printing process has four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and overcoat (OP). By appropriately changing the design of 106, there may be three colors or five or more colors.
Further, the drive switching of the ribbon side motor 12 may be performed by a planetary gear instead of the spring clutches 32 and 33.

  The present invention can be applied to a technique for speeding up color printing in which single color printing is repeated.

It is a time chart figure of the curler printing of the printing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the state which mounted | wore the ribbon cassette with the printing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the printing apparatus of this Embodiment along the line AA of FIG. 2 in the paper feeding process. It is a side view of the printing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is the side view which showed the 2nd link member of the printing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the printing apparatus of this Embodiment in the line AA of FIG. 2 in the head down process. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the printing apparatus of this Embodiment in the line AA of FIG. 2 in the head down process. It is a side view in the monochrome printing process of the printing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the printing apparatus of this Embodiment by the line AA of FIG. 2 in the monochrome printing process. It is the side view which showed the 2nd link member of the printing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the printing apparatus of this Embodiment in the line AA of FIG. 2 in the head-up process. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the printing apparatus of this Embodiment in the line AA of FIG. 2 in the reset process. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2 during discharge of the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. From the left, they are a front view, a side view, and a rear view of a cam incorporated in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the conventional printing apparatus and a ribbon cassette. It is a perspective view which shows the state which mounted | wore the conventional printing apparatus with the ribbon cassette.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 6 Ribbon cassette hole 7 Ink ribbon 8 Ribbon cassette 9 Paper 10 Paper tray 12 Ribbon side motor 13 Medium side motor 21 Thermal head 24 Platen roller 26 Paper feed roller 27 Carrying roller 32, 33 Spring clutch 35 Paper discharge roller 100 Cam 102, 106 Cam curves G21-G29, G31, G34, G41-G47, G51-G56 Gear G32, G33 Planetary gear L1, L2 Link member

Claims (1)

A paper tray; a paper feeding means for feeding recording media stored in the paper tray in a stacked state; a paper feeding means for reciprocating the recording medium fed by the paper feeding means; and the paper feeding A thermal head provided in a long shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium transported by the means, a thermal head moving means for moving the thermal head in the vertical direction, and the thermal head moving means A platen roller that presses and separates the thermal head by means of, and a cassette support means that detachably supports a ribbon cassette that stores an ink ribbon for color printing disposed between the platen roller and the thermal head And an ink ribbon winding means for winding the color printing ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette supported by the cassette supporting means, The recording medium is transported to the printing start position with the thermal head being separated from the platen roller, and at the same time the color printing ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette is wound up and the head is cued. While the thermal head is in pressure contact with the platen roller, single-color printing is performed by winding the ink ribbon for color printing of the ribbon cassette while the recording medium is conveyed in the return path, and color printing is performed by repeating each single-color printing. In a printing apparatus that discharges a completed recording medium by carrying it in a backward path in a state where the thermal head is separated from the platen roller,
The thermal head moving means keeps the thermal head separated from the platen roller by a first distance when the recording medium is fed and discharged, and each monochrome printing is performed on the recording medium. When performing, the thermal head is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller, and when the recording medium is transported to the print start position again, the thermal head is moved from the first distance to the platen roller. A cam mechanism that performs the rotation in a certain direction to make the state separated by a small second distance;
A first motor that also serves as a drive source for the paper feeding means and the paper conveying means;
When the first motor is rotating in a predetermined direction, when the platen roller and the thermal head are separated from each other by the first distance, the driving force of the first motor is applied to the paper transport unit and the paper supply unit. When the platen roller and the thermal head are separated by the second distance while being transmitted to the paper means, the driving force of the first motor is transmitted to the paper transport means, and the first motor is anti-predetermined. First transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the first motor to the paper transport means when rotating in the direction;
A second motor that also serves as a drive source for the thermal head moving means and the ink ribbon winding means;
And a second transmission unit configured to switch and transmit the driving force of the second motor to the thermal head moving unit or the ink ribbon winding unit according to the rotation direction of the second motor. .

Images