JP2559634Y2 - Ink ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ribbon storage section for storing an endless ink ribbon in a folded state in a cartridge case, and a ribbon drive section for circulating the ink ribbon across a printing section and a ribbon storage section. And a ribbon traveling path for guiding the ink ribbon drawn from the exit of the ribbon storage unit to the printing unit along the entrance / exit direction of the ribbon storage unit with the driving of the ribbon driving unit, and the ribbon The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cartridge in which a travel path and a ribbon storage section are defined by a partition wall extending in the direction of the entrance and exit of the ribbon storage section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink ribbon cartridge of this type, an ink ribbon is fed into a ribbon storage unit while being folded by a ribbon drive unit provided at an entrance side of the ribbon storage unit. A large number of bent portions of the ribbon R move to the outlet side while contacting the inner wall surface of the ribbon storage unit 3, and as a result, the contact area between the ink ribbon R and the inner wall surface of the ribbon storage unit 3 increases. , The ribbon movement resistance due to friction increases,
There is a problem that adversely affects the circular movement of the ink ribbon R. Therefore, as a method of reducing the ribbon movement resistance in the ribbon storage section 3, as shown in FIG.
Utilizing the technique disclosed in 451, the ribbon movement having a step smaller than the ribbon width on both lower and upper sides of the ribbon storage unit 3 in a state of being continuous from the entrance side to the exit side of the ribbon storage unit 3. It is conceivable to form a ridge 8 for guidance.

[0003]

In such a case, the bent portions of the ink ribbon R are guided by the ridges 8 provided at the four corners in the ribbon storage portion 3, so that the ink ribbon R
And the contact area between the inner wall surface of the ribbon storage section 3 and
The ribbon movement resistance due to friction can be reduced.
On the other hand, since the four ridges 8 for guiding the movement of the ribbon are continuously provided from the entrance side to the exit side of the ribbon storage section 3, there is a problem that the weight of the entire cartridge case is increased. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the ribbon movement resistance due to friction while reducing the weight of the entire cartridge case.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a ribbon storage section for storing an endless ink ribbon in a folded state in a cartridge case, and a printing section and a ribbon storage section for storing the ink ribbon in a cartridge case. And a ribbon driving unit for circulating the ink ribbon drawn from the outlet of the ribbon storage unit along with the drive of the ribbon driving unit toward the printing unit along the entrance and exit direction of the ribbon storage unit. In the ink ribbon cartridge, a ribbon travel path is provided, and the ribbon travel path and the ribbon storage section are defined by partition walls along the entrance and exit directions of the ribbon storage section. And a ribbon having a step smaller than the ribbon width in a state of being continuous from the entrance side to the exit side of the ribbon storage section on both upper sides. In addition to forming a ridge for motion guide, an opening communicating with the ribbon storage section and the ribbon traveling path is formed in the partition wall, and a lower edge of the opening of the partition wall is formed as a lower ridge. It is located above the upper surface, and further, the upper edge of the opening of the partition wall is located below the lower surface of the ridge on the upper side,
The functions and effects of the above are as follows.

[0005]

When the ribbon drive unit located on the entrance side of the ribbon storage unit is driven, the ink ribbon is fed into the ribbon storage unit while being folded. Each of the bent portions of the fed ink ribbon is guided to move along ridges provided on both lower and upper sides of the ribbon storage unit. Since these ridges are smaller than the ribbon width, the contact area with the ink ribbon is reduced. Further, by forming an opening in the partition wall, the weight of the entire cartridge case can be reduced. However, if a large opening is simply formed, the ink ribbon guided to move along the upper and lower ridges receives a feeding force or the like. The center portion of the lever in the ribbon width direction is curved and protrudes toward the ribbon traveling path, and may closely contact the ink ribbon moving along the ribbon traveling path, which may greatly hinder the circular movement of the ink ribbon. However, in the present invention, the fact that the center portion in the ribbon width direction of the ink ribbon guided to move along the upper and lower ridges is curved and protrudes toward the ribbon traveling path side is determined by the protruding position above the upper surface of the lower ridge. This can be prevented by contact with the lower edge of the opening of the partition wall and the upper edge of the opening of the partition wall located below the lower surface of the upper ridge.

[0006]

Therefore, the ribbon moving guide ridges are provided on both the lower side and the upper side of the ribbon storing section, respectively, so that the increase in the ribbon moving resistance due to friction can be suppressed, and the ribbon moving section and the ribbon traveling path can be connected. By forming the opening in the partition wall located therebetween, the weight of the entire cartridge case can be reduced. Moreover, by devising the upper edge position and the lower edge position of the opening as described above, it is possible to prevent the ink ribbon in the ribbon accommodating portion from curving and projecting toward the ribbon traveling path through the opening, and the ink ribbon circulates. It was possible to achieve the intended purpose while keeping the movement in good condition.

[0007]

[Other Examples]

In the above-described embodiment, the ribbon driving unit 4 is connected to the pair of rolls 4.
A and 4B are used, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and various changes can be made according to various conditions. Also,
The shape of the opening 9 and the shape of the ridge 8 formed in the partition wall 7 can be variously changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the partition walls 7 are formed separately from the main body case 1 and the lid 2. However, the partition walls 7 may be formed only on the main body case 1.

[0008] In the claims of the utility model registration, reference numerals are written for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the attached drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall horizontal sectional view showing an ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a main body case.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional ink ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of another conventional ink ribbon cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Cartridge case B Printing unit R Ink ribbon H Ribbon width h Step 3 Ribbon storage unit 3a Inlet 3b Outlet 4 Ribbon drive unit 5 Ribbon travel path 7 Partition wall 7a Lower edge 7b Upper edge 8 Ridge 8a Upper surface 8b Lower surface 9 Opening

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A ribbon storage section (3) for folding and storing an endless ink ribbon (R) in a cartridge case (A), and a printing section (B) for storing the ink ribbon (R).
Drive unit (4) for circulating and moving between the ribbon storage unit (3) and the ribbon drive unit (4), and the ribbon drive unit (4) is pulled out from the exit (3b) of the ribbon storage unit (3). A ribbon traveling path (5) for guiding the ink ribbon (R) along the entrance and exit of the ribbon storage section (3) toward the printing section (B) is provided, and the ribbon traveling path (5) and the ribbon storage section are provided. (3) is an ink ribbon cartridge partitioned by a partition wall (7) extending in the direction of the entrance and exit of the ribbon storage section (3), wherein both lower and upper sides of the ribbon storage section (3) are provided. A ridge (8) for guiding the ribbon movement having a step (h) smaller than the ribbon width (H) in a state of being continuous from the entrance (3a) side to the exit (3b) side of the ribbon storage section (3). And the partition wall (7) The, the ribbon housing section (3)
An opening (9) is formed for communicating with the ribbon running path (5), and a lower edge (7a) of the opening (9) of the partition wall (7) is formed.
Is positioned above the upper surface (8a) of the lower ridge (8), and further, the upper edge (7) of the opening (9) of the partition wall (7).
An ink ribbon cartridge wherein b) is located below the lower surface (8b) of the upper ridge (8).