JP2510686Y2 - Ribbon cartridge with a print ribbon end detection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a ribbon cartridge provided with a printing ribbon end extension mechanism.

(Prior Art) As a terminal device of a computer, a printing device that outputs input information as character information on a recording medium is such that all of the film ribbon is fed out during this period because the instructed printing operation is continuously performed. Even if it happens, it causes a problem that the operation is continued as it is.

For this reason, this type of printing apparatus is configured to detect the end of the film ribbon and temporarily stop the printing operation based on the detection output. Proposals have been made.

The devices disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-171374 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-88212 also relate to the detection of the end of the ribbon, and the former optically detects the hole provided at the end of the ribbon. The latter is designed to detect the end from the decrease in the diameter of the film ribbon wound on the spool, but in the former, a relatively expensive photoelectric detection element is used. In terms of use, there is a problem that the device cannot be provided inexpensively, and in the latter case, there is a problem that the detection accuracy thereof is extremely poor.

(Problems to be solved) The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to accurately detect the end of the ribbon by utilizing a temporary increase in tension generated at the end of the ribbon. It is to provide a simpler and cheaper device that can be done.

(Means for Solving the Problem) That is, the present invention is a ribbon cartridge provided with a ribbon end detection mechanism for achieving such a problem, which is disposed in a part of a film feeding path and has a film ribbon. A lever member that swings due to a change in the tensile force that occurs during the feeding of
In addition, the locking plate having a width such that it is positioned outside the locking region of the mover due to a large swing at the end of feeding of the film ribbon, and the locking plate that is normally biased by the biasing member And a ribbon end detecting mover which is unlocked by the locking plate at the end of feeding the film ribbon and is displaced in a direction orthogonal to the swinging direction of the locking plate.

(Embodiment) Therefore, an embodiment illustrated below will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a ribbon cartridge with an upper lid removed, in which a single stud 2 provided upright in the cartridge body 1 is provided with a feeding-side ribbon spool 4 having a film ribbon 3 wound therein and a used ribbon 3. The winding-side ribbon spools 6 to be wound are vertically inserted so as to rotate independently, and the film ribbon 3 fed from the feeding-side ribbon spool 4 is placed on the first guide roller 8 and a braking lever 15 described later. It is configured such that the pin 22 is suspended on the front surface of the print head (not shown) and the second and third guide rollers 10, 10 and is wound on the take-up side ribbon spool 6.

A ribbon feed roller 11 is driven by a drive motor (not shown) on the carriage via a drive force transmission mechanism to rotate at a constant speed. The feed roller 11 is urged by a spring 12 to come into pressure contact with the roller 11. In cooperation with the idler 13, the film ribbon 3 is fed at a constant speed between the second and third guide rollers 10, 10.

By the way, reference numeral 15 in the drawing denotes a braking lever for applying a braking force to the above-mentioned feeding-side ribbon spool 4, and this braking lever 15 pivotally supported by the stud 16 of the cartridge body 1 has one arm 17 thereof. The pad 18 is constantly slid on the disk 5 peripheral surface of the ribbon spool 4 so as to suppress the blind movement of the spool 4, and the tip of the arm 17 is also clear from the figure. To
The locking plate 20 is integrally provided, and the locking plate 20 is
It is positioned immediately below the movable element 25 for ribbon end detection, and its lowering is regulated at all times. At the end of feeding of the film ribbon 3, the large swinging thereof causes the movable element 25 to move as shown in FIG. 2 (b). It is configured to be out of regulation.

The braking lever 15 is also provided with another arm 21 extending to the feeding side of the film ribbon 3, and a pin 22 for hanging the film ribbon 3 from the feeding side ribbon spool 4 pulled out by the ribbon feeding roller 11 is provided here. When the film ribbon 3 is further drawn out by the ribbon feed roller 11 when the film ribbon 3 is completely drawn out, a large pulling force of the ribbon 3 generated at that time causes the braking lever 15 to move through the pin 22. Is rotated counterclockwise in the figure and the locking plate
The support of the mover 25 by 20 is released and lowered, and the shaft 27 of the mover 25 is provided in the bottom plate 9 of the cartridge body 1 through the hole 28.
And the limit switch 29 (FIG. 2) on the carriage is closed.

Reference numeral 7 in the drawing denotes a pulley on the take-up side ribbon spool 5 configured to receive a driving force from the ribbon feeding roller 10 via the belt 14.

In the above-described embodiment, the feeding side ribbon spool 4
The film ribbon 3 wound up on the sheet is taken out by the feed roller 11 in accordance with the recording / printing operation, and is sequentially taken up by the take-up spool 3. Under this condition, the pulling force acting on the film ribbon 3 is small, so that the braking lever is
Although the ribbon 3 is suspended around the pin 22 of the lever 15, the lever 15 takes a normal braking posture by the urging force of the spring 18 acting on itself, and the locking plate 20 at the tip of the arm 17
This prevents the mover 25 from descending (FIG. 2 (a)).

Then, under such a condition, the recording and printing operation is repeated, and when the film ribbon 3 is finally fed out from the feeding side ribbon spool 4, one end of the film ribbon 3 fixed to the feeding side ribbon spool 4 is fed. A large feeding force by the feed roller 11 temporarily acts on this. Therefore, the ribbon 3 rotates the braking lever 15 counterclockwise in the figure via the pin 22, moves the locking plate 20 from immediately below the mover 25, and pushes the mover 25 with the spring 26. Lower that axis
The limit switch 29 is operated by projecting 27 downward from the hole 28 of the cartridge body 1 to stop the recording and printing operation and a series of operations related thereto (FIG. 2 (b)).

Although the above-described embodiment relates to a ribbon cartridge in which ribbon spools 4 and 6 are stacked, the present invention is also applied to other types of ribbon cartridges in which the ribbon switches 4 and 6 are arranged side by side. It goes without saying that you can do it.

(Effect) As described above, according to the present invention, the lever member which is disposed in a part of the feeding path of the film ribbon and which swings under the change of the tensile force generated during the feeding of the film ribbon is provided with the film. A locking plate is provided that is displaced outside the locking region by a large swing at the end of feeding of the ribbon, and the movable plate displaced in a direction orthogonal to the swing direction of this locking plate is supported by this locking plate. Therefore, even if the lever member swings due to fluctuations in tension during feeding of the film ribbon, the swinging to this extent does not displace the mover, but only during a large swing that occurs at the end of feeding the film ribbon. Displace the mover in the direction orthogonal to the swing direction,
Not only can the end condition of the ribbon be accurately transmitted to the user via a limit switch, but also the film ribbon may be cut due to the strong pulling force generated at the end of feeding, or the switch may be turned off at this point to the lever member. Even when the load is released, the lever member once displaced can be held as it is, and the ribbon end detection posture can be continuously maintained to prompt the user to replace the ink ribbon.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are explanatory views showing a normal state and a ribbon end detection state. 1 ... Cartridge body 3 ... Film ribbon 4 ... Feeding side ribbon spool 6 ... Winding side ribbon spool 11 ... Ribbon feed roller 15 ... Braking lever 20 ... Locking piece 25 ... Mover 29 ... Limit switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A lever member, which is disposed in a part of a feeding path of a film ribbon and swings in response to a change in a tensile force generated during the feeding of the film ribbon, and a part of the lever member. An engaging plate having a width such that it is located outside the engaging region of the mover due to a large swing at the end of feeding of the film ribbon, and the engaging plate is normally energized by the energizing member. A), and when the feeding end of the film ribbon is released, the locking by the locking plate is released,
A ribbon cartridge provided with a ribbon ribbon end detection mechanism including a ribbon end detection mover that is displaced in a direction orthogonal to the swinging direction of the locking plate.