JP2533908Y2 - Ink ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette used for a wire dot printer, for example.

[Prior art]

In the ink ribbon cassette, a long endless ink ribbon is stored in a folded state in a case, and the ink ribbon runs in a printing space outside the case. FIG. 5 shows a main part of a conventional ink ribbon cassette. The traveling mechanism of the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette shown in FIG. 1 includes a driving gear 5 and a driven gear 6. The drive gear 5 and the driven gear 6 are provided with a plurality of gears separated by a fixed distance for each rotating shaft.
The drive gear 5 is pivotally supported by a hole in the bottom surface of the case 20 and a support member 8 protruding from the side wall, and is connected to a rotary drive source (not shown). The driven gear 6 is rotatably supported by a gear holder 9, and is pressed toward the drive gear 5 by a spring 11 on the back of the gear holder 9. Gear holder 9 is a ribbon storage section
It can be displaced with the shaft 9a on the 22 side as a fulcrum. The drive gear 5 and the driven gear 6 are loosely engaged with each other while sandwiching the ink ribbon 2. Separators on the side of ribbon storage section 22 of gears 5 and 6
4a and 4b are provided. When the driving gear 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the driven gear 6 also rotates, and the ribbon 2 sandwiched between the driving gear 5 and the ribbon receiving passage 24 → the ribbon storage portion 22 → the ribbon delivery passage which is substantially symmetrical to the ribbon receiving passage → printing It makes a circuit through section 25 and returns to ribbon receiving passage 24. The ribbon 2 sent to the ribbon storage section 22 bends according to the direction of the running ribbon 2, changes its direction when touching the separator 4 a or 4 b, and is folded while pushing the preceding ribbon 2. The folded ribbon 2 is pushed by the succeeding ribbon 2 and moves toward the ribbon delivery path. As the ink ribbon becomes thinner as it is used, it needs to be replaced when a certain number of prints is reached. It is troublesome to replace a long ribbon that is housed in a complicated shape in a case and is bitten by a gear. In order to replace the ribbon 2 of the ink ribbon cassette shown in FIG. 5, the driven gear 6 is shifted to the position indicated by the dashed line and is separated from the driving gear 5, but the driven gear 6 is constantly pressed by the spring 11 toward the driving gear 5. Therefore, it is necessary to work while holding down the driven gear 6 with a finger, which is inconvenient. FIG. 6 shows an example of an ink ribbon cassette using a roll as a traveling mechanism. This traveling mechanism is a drive roll
The ribbon 2 is held between the driven roll 15 and the driven roll 16 urged by the spring 11 to travel. If such an ink ribbon cassette is manufactured and left for a long time while holding the ribbon 2 until the use thereof is started, the ribbon 2 sticks to the rolls 15 and 16 or ink unevenness occurs. I will. For this reason, the claw 18 provided on the back surface of the gear holder 9 holding the roll 16 is fixed to a hole in the side wall so as to retract the roll 16 as shown by a chain line. At the start of use, the claw 18 is pushed through the hole to clamp the ribbon 2. When exchanging the ink ribbon 2 with this cassette, the work can be performed with the claw 18 again fixed to the hole and the roll 16 retracted. Therefore, the ribbon exchanging operation itself becomes easy, but since the claws 18 are small and there is resistance due to the spring 11, it is difficult to put the claws 18 on the holes. It is also difficult to remove the claws 18 after the work is completed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, the operation of replacing the ink ribbon with the conventional ink ribbon cassette is a troublesome operation. The present invention provides an ink ribbon cassette that does not require such a complicated operation and that allows easy replacement of the ink ribbon.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The ink ribbon cassette of the present invention for achieving the above object will be described with reference to the drawings corresponding to the embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention stores a case 20 in which a ribbon storage section 22, a ribbon delivery path 23 and a ribbon receiving path 24 are integrated, and stores the ribbon storage section 22 in a largely folded state. A non-end ink ribbon 2 partially looping around the inside of the case via the ribbon delivery passage 23, the printing unit 25 and the ribbon receiving passage 25, and a traveling mechanism for nipping and traveling the ink ribbon 2 in the ribbon storage unit 22. It has. The traveling mechanism includes a driving rotator 5 connected to a driving source and a driven rotator 6 supported by a displaceable support member 9. The ink ribbon cassette of the first invention has a case 20 at one end.
The driven rotator 6 is driven by a leaf spring 11 whose other end is locked by a movable piece 12 which is rotatably supported by a case 20 so as to be rotatable by a case 20, and whose intermediate portion is in contact with the back surface of the support member 9. Body 5
When the movable piece 12 is rotated, the locking is released, and the leaf spring 11 can be retracted from the back surface of the support member 9, and a pressing mechanism for releasing the pressing is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the ink ribbon cassette of the second invention has one end supported by the case 20 and another end connected to the case 20.
The driven rotor 6 is locked by a leaf spring 11 whose intermediate portion is in contact with the
Is pressed toward the drive rotating body 5, the locking is released by removing the spacer 13, the leaf spring 11 can be retracted from the back surface of the support member 9, and a pressing mechanism for releasing the pressing is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, both ends of the ink ribbon cassette of the third invention are held by a fixture 14 which is locked in a case 20 by a removable spacer 13, and an intermediate portion thereof comes into contact with the back surface of the support member 9. The driven rotator 6 is pressed toward the drive rotator 5 by the leaf spring 11, the locking is released by extracting the spacer 13, and the leaf spring 11 can retreat from the back surface of the support member 9, and the pressing is released. Pressing mechanism is disposed.

[Action]

The ink ribbon cassette of the first invention always has a movable piece.
12 is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG.
Since the leaf spring 11 presses the driven rotator 6 toward the drive rotator 5, the drive rotator 5 and the driven rotator 6 rotate together while holding the ink ribbon 2, and the ink ribbon 2 runs.
When the movable piece 12 is rotated (for example, when the ink ribbon 2 is replaced) (see a chain line), the leaf spring 11 can be retracted from the back surface of the support member 9, the pressing of the driven rotating body 6 is released, and the driven rotating body 6 is released. 6 can be separated from the driving rotary member 5, and in this state, the old ink ribbon can be pulled out and a new ink ribbon can be inserted. In the ink ribbon cassette of the second invention, the spacer 13 is always inserted to lock the leaf spring 11 at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the leaf spring 11 presses the driven rotor 6 toward the drive rotor 5. Therefore, the driving rotator 5 and the driven rotator 6 rotate together while holding the ink ribbon 2, and the ink ribbon 2 runs. When replacing the ink ribbon 2, the spacer 13
Is pulled out, the leaf spring 11 can be retracted from the back surface of the support member 9, the pressing of the driven rotating body 6 is released (see a chain line), and the driven rotating body 6 can be separated from the driving rotating body 5. Then, the old ink ribbon can be extracted and a new ink ribbon can be inserted. In the ink ribbon cassette of the third invention, a fixing device 14 for holding a leaf spring 11 with a spacer 13 inserted therein is always used as shown in FIG.
And the leaf spring 11 presses the driven rotator 6 toward the drive rotator 5, so that the drive rotator 5 and the driven rotator 6 rotate together while holding the ink ribbon 2. ,
The ink ribbon 2 runs. When the ink ribbon 2 is replaced or the like, when the spacer 13 is pulled out, the fixing member 14 holding the leaf spring 11 can be retracted from the back surface of the support member 9, and the pressing of the driven rotating body 6 is released (see a chain line). Driven rotator 6
Can be separated from the driving rotary member 5, and in this state, the old ink ribbon can be pulled out and a new ink ribbon can be inserted.

【Example】

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is an overall view of one embodiment of an ink ribbon cassette to which the first invention is applied. In this ink ribbon cassette, a long ink ribbon 2 is stored in a case 20 in which a ribbon storage section 22, a ribbon delivery path 23, and a ribbon receiving path 24 are integrated. The ink ribbon 2 is a non-terminal one in which its ends are connected to each other. Most of them are stored in a folded state in the ribbon storage section 22, and some of them pass through the inside of the case 20 through the ribbon delivery passage 23 and the ribbon reception passage 24. A printing portion 25 exposed to the outside is provided between the ribbon sending passage 23 and the leading end of the ribbon receiving passage 24. On the ribbon receiving passage 24 side of the ribbon storage section 22, a traveling mechanism that sandwiches and travels the ink ribbon 2 is arranged. The traveling mechanism includes a driving gear 5 and a driven gear 6.
The drive gear 5 is supported by a hole in the bottom surface of the case 20 and a support member 8 protruding from the side wall, and is connected to a rotary drive source (not shown). The driven gear 6 is rotatably supported by a gear holder 9. The drive gear 5 and the driven gear 6 are provided with a plurality of gears separated by a fixed distance for each rotating shaft. Separators 4a and 4b are provided on the respective ribbon storage portions 22 side. The ribbon holder 22 side of the gear holder 9 extends along the side wall of the case 20, and a shaft 17 formed at the end thereof is
It is fitted into the groove on the side wall of 20. Gear holder 9 is shaft 17
Can be displaced with the fulcrum as a fulcrum. On the back side of the gear holder 9, a pressing mechanism using a lever for displacing the leaf spring 11 with the movable piece 12 is arranged. One end of the leaf spring 11 is locked to the inner wall of the case 20 to form a fulcrum, and the other end is in contact with the free end of the movable piece 12. The movable piece 12 is formed by loosely fitting one axially formed side into a groove in the wall surface of the case 20. An intermediate portion of the leaf spring 11 can contact the rear surface of the gear holder 9. When using the ink ribbon cassette, the movable piece 12 is set at the position shown by the solid line. The leaf spring 11 is distorted by contacting the end of the movable piece 12 and the gear holder 9, and the restoring force pushes the driven gear 6 toward the drive gear 5. The ink ribbon 2 is sandwiched between the driving gear 5 and the driven gear 6, and travels in the same manner as the cassette described above. When replacing the ink ribbon 2, the movable piece 12 is displaced to the position shown by the dashed line. Then, the distortion of the leaf spring 11 is released, and the gear holder 9 can be displaced. If the driven gear 6 is displaced to the position shown by the chain line, the state separated from the drive gear 5 is maintained, and the ink ribbon 2 can be replaced. After the replacement is completed, the movable piece 12 is returned to the position shown by the solid line. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of an embodiment of the ink ribbon cassette to which the second invention is applied. This cassette is different from the cassette pressing mechanism shown in FIG. 1 in that a removable spacer 13 is provided in place of the movable piece 12. One end of the leaf spring 11 is wound around a rib 9a formed on the inner wall of the case 20 to serve as a fulcrum. The leaf spring 11 abuts on the spacer 13 and the gear holder 9 and is distorted. The restoring force of the leaf spring 11 presses the driven gear 6 toward the drive gear 5. When replacing the ink ribbon 2, the spacer 13 is removed. Then, the pressing by the leaf spring 11 is released, and the driven rotating body 6 can be separated from the driving rotating body 5, so that the ink ribbon 2 can be easily replaced. After the replacement is completed, the spacer 13 is mounted at the position shown by the solid line. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main part of an embodiment of the ink ribbon cassette to which the third invention is applied. In this cassette, the pressing mechanism of the cassette shown in FIG. 2 is changed, and both ends of the leaf spring 11 are separated from the case 20 by a spring holder.
This was supported by 14. When the spring holder 14 is positioned by mounting the spacer 13, the leaf spring 11 is moved to the gear holder 9.
The driven gear 6 is pressed against the drive gear 5 by the restoring force. When replacing the ink ribbon 2, the spacer 13 is removed. Then, the pressing by the leaf spring 11 is released, and the driven rotor 6 can be separated from the driving rotor 5. The ink ribbon 2 can be easily replaced. After the replacement is completed, the spacer 13 is mounted at the position shown by the solid line. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main part of an embodiment of the ink ribbon cassette to which the third invention is applied. In this cassette, the pressing mechanism of the cassette shown in FIG. 2 is changed, and both ends of the leaf spring 11 are separated from the case 20 by a spring holder.
This was supported by 14. When the spring holder 14 is positioned by mounting the spacer 13, the leaf spring 11 is moved to the gear holder 9.
The driven gear 6 is pressed against the drive gear 5 by the restoring force. When replacing the ink ribbon 2, the spacer 13 is removed. Then, the spring boulder 14 can be displaced, and the leaf spring 11
Is released, and the driven rotator 6 can be separated from the drive rotator 5. After the replacement of the ink ribbon 2, the spacer 13 is mounted at the position shown by the solid line. In the ink ribbon cassette shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spacer 13 is an independent member.
If the tip of the spacer 13 attached to the opening / closing lid 21 is formed as a thin projection as shown in the vertical sectional view taken along the line AA in the figure), the lid closing operation and the insertion of the spacer 13 can be performed simultaneously and thoroughly. Is more convenient. In the case of the cassette shown in FIG. 2, when the cover 21 is closed, the spacer 13 penetrates between the inner wall of the case 20 and the leaf spring 11, and pushes the leaf spring 11 into contact with the gear holder 9. In the case of the cassette shown in FIG. 3, the spacer 13 penetrates between the inner wall of the case 20 and the spring holder 14 to bring the leaf spring 11 on the spring holder 14 into contact with the gear holder 9. A spacer is provided on the open / close lid 21 of the cassette shown in FIG.
If the same member as that of 13 is provided, and it is made to penetrate along the inner wall near the movable piece 12 when the lid is closed, the spacer 13 functions as a lock member for the movable piece 12, and the gears 5 and 6 are separated during printing. Is prevented. Further, when the driving gear 5 and the driven gear 6 are separated from each other, the tip of the spacer 13 hits the upper surface of the movable piece 12 so that the lid cannot be closed. In the above embodiment, a gear is used for the traveling mechanism. However, the same effect can be obtained even when a rubber or synthetic resin roll is used instead of the gear.

[Effect of the invention]

As described above in detail, in the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention, the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body of the traveling mechanism always travel while sandwiching the ink ribbon. When the ink ribbon is replaced, the driven rotator can be separated from the drive rotator to maintain that state. Therefore, the ink ribbon can be easily replaced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of an ink ribbon cassette to which the present invention is applied, FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views of main parts of another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are longitudinal sectional views taken along line AA, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of a conventional ink ribbon cassette. 2 ... ink ribbon, 5 ... drive gear, 6 ... driven gear, 8 ...
Support member, 9: gear holder, 11: leaf spring, 12: movable piece,
13 ... spacer, 14 ... spring holder, 17 ... shaft, 20 ... case,
21 ... lid, 22 ... ribbon storage section, 23 ... ribbon delivery passage,
24 ... ribbon receiving passage, 25 ... printing section

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Amamori 1140 Kamiokutomi, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture Inside of Tokyo Plant of Dynick Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-59-229382 (JP, A) JP-A-54- 121821 (JP, A) Fully open 1979-101812 (JP, U) Fully open 1987-128847 (JP, U) Fully open 63-41576 (JP, U)

Claims (6)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A case in which a ribbon storage section, a ribbon delivery path, and a ribbon reception path are integrated, and most of the ribbon storage section is stored in a folded state, and a part of the ribbon storage section is a ribbon delivery path, a printing section, and a ribbon reception section. An endless ink ribbon that goes around the inside of the case through a passage,
An ink ribbon cassette having a traveling mechanism for nipping and running the ink ribbon in the ribbon storage section, wherein the traveling mechanism comprises a driven rotating body connected to a driving source and a driven rotating body supported by a displaceable support member; One end is supported by the case, the other end is locked by a movable piece rotatably supported by the case, and the driven rotator is moved toward the drive rotator by a leaf spring whose middle portion is in contact with the back surface of the support member. The ink ribbon cassette is characterized in that the ink ribbon cassette is provided with a pressing mechanism that is pressed and released by the rotation of the movable piece so that the leaf spring can be retracted from the back surface of the support member and the pressing is released. 2. A case in which a ribbon storage section, a ribbon delivery path, and a ribbon reception path are integrated, and most of the ribbon storage section is stored in a folded state in the ribbon storage section, and a part of the ribbon delivery path, the printing section, and the ribbon reception section. An endless ink ribbon that goes around the inside of the case through a passage,
An ink ribbon cassette having a traveling mechanism for nipping and running the ink ribbon in the ribbon storage section, wherein the traveling mechanism comprises a driven rotating body connected to a driving source and a driven rotating body supported by a displaceable support member; One end is supported by the case, the other end is locked by a spacer that can be inserted into and removed from the case, and the driven rotator is pressed toward the drive rotator by a leaf spring whose middle portion is in contact with the back surface of the support member. Wherein the locking mechanism is released to allow the leaf spring to retreat from the back surface of the supporting member, and a pressing mechanism for releasing the pressing is disposed. 3. A case in which a ribbon storage section, a ribbon delivery path, and a ribbon reception path are integrated, and the ribbon storage section is mostly stored in a folded state, and a part thereof is a ribbon delivery path, a printing section, and a ribbon reception section. An endless ink ribbon that goes around the inside of the case through a passage,
An ink ribbon cassette having a traveling mechanism for nipping and running the ink ribbon in the ribbon storage section, wherein the traveling mechanism comprises a driven rotating body connected to a driving source and a driven rotating body supported by a displaceable support member; The driven rotator is pressed toward the drive rotator by a leaf spring whose intermediate portion is in contact with the back surface of the support member, and the driven rotator is held at both ends by a fixture locked in the case by a detachable spacer. The ink ribbon cassette is characterized in that the locking is released, the leaf spring can be retracted from the back surface of the support member, and a pressing mechanism for releasing the pressing is disposed. 4. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is a gear. 5. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is a roll. 6. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 2, wherein said spacer is a projection attached to an opening / closing lid of a case.