JP2671934B2 - Ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette. Specifically, it relates to a ribbon cassette applied to a dot printer, a thermal printer, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer is widely used in which a ribbon cassette is mounted and a ribbon accommodated in the cassette is pulled out and supplied between a platen and a print head to perform printing.

A schematic configuration of such a printer is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.
FIG . In the figure, 1 is a main body frame , and 2 is a platen. A carrier 3 is configured to reciprocate along the platen 2 via a carrier shaft 4 arranged in parallel with the platen 2. A print head 5 is mounted on the carrier 3 so as to face the platen 2 at a predetermined distance. Here on standby
Is the print head 5 (carrier 3) at the center of the reciprocating direction.
It is supposed to be located .

Reference numeral 10 is a ribbon cassette. Ribbon cassette 10 has a body case 11D whose longitudinal direction on both sides of the ribbon take-up side <br/> guide arm 13A and the ribbon pulling out side of the guide arm 14A is formed, the guide arms 13A, between 14A A ribbon 15 that is pulled out from the pull-out side 11b of the main body case 11D and is wound around the take-up side 11a is stretched.

Therefore, when the ribbon cassette 10 is mounted on the main body frame 1, the ribbon 15 stretched between the guide arms 13A and 14A of the cassette 10 is placed between the print head 5 of the printer and the platen 2 (or normally). Platen 2
And between the print head 5 and the card holder 6 arranged between the print heads 5).

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional printer, the platen 2 and the print head 5 are used.
Gap is very narrow between (or the card holder 6 print head 5) and, moreover shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6 the guide arms 13A, ribbon 15 is stretched between 14A is partly long ribbon cassette 10 As described above , the ribbon 15 is easily loosened and it is difficult to insert the ribbon 15 into the gap. Therefore, conventionally, when the ribbon cassette 10 is mounted, an operator picks the ribbon 15 with tweezers 9 (or directly by hand) to apply tension to remove slack and insert the ribbon 15 into the gap.

However, the pull-out side 1 of the ribbon cassette 10
The ribbon 15 pulled out from 1b through the guide arm 14A does not become a load when being wound on the winding side 11a, and is applied with only a braking force that is pulled by the reciprocating movement of the carrier 3 and does not loosen. Since there is not, even if you try to apply tension by pinching the ribbon 15 with tweezers 9 ,
It is easily pulled out from the pull-out side 11b, and it is difficult to apply tension to remove the slack.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to stand by.
The print head is located at the center position in the reciprocating direction.
It is possible to easily instrumentation wear without such soiling the hand ribbon printer, the ribbon take-up side guide arms
When the ribbon is loosened when it is moved to the printing position,
It is to provide a ribbon cassette that can be prevented .

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a ribbon pull-out side and a ribbon winding provided on both sides in a longitudinal direction of a main body case .
In a ribbon cassette in which a ribbon is stretched between the guide arms on the take-out side, the guide arm on the ribbon pull-out side and the ribbon
A take-up side of the guide arm in the longitudinal direction of the main body case
It is provided so that it can be approached and separated from the center position, and the ribbon pull-out side
A ribbon traveling path is provided on the front surface of the main body case.
It is formed on the side of the guide groove and on the ribbon winding side.
Ribbon winding route does not go through the guide groove.
It is formed by directly connecting the side guide arm and the winding means.
Characterized in that that.

[0010]

In the present invention, the ribbon cassette has a ribbon pulling function.
The guide arm on the delivery side and the guide arm on the ribbon winding side
The printer is mounted in the printer in a state in which it is close to the center position in the longitudinal direction of the main body case and the gap between both guide arms is narrower than that during printing. As a result, when the ribbon cassette is mounted, the length of the ribbon portion stretched between both guide arms of the ribbon cassette becomes short and does not loosen, so it is not necessary to apply tension with tweezers or hands.

Therefore, the ribbon can be easily attached to the printer without soiling the hand.

After mounting the ribbon cassette, the ribbon winding
The guide arm on the take-out side and the guide arm on the ribbon pull-out side are relatively moved in a direction in which the space between them is widened and positioned at a predetermined printing position. At this time, the ribbon on the ribbon take-up side
Travel route is a straight and a ribbon take-up Guy Doamu and the take-up means
The ribbon is slack because it is formed by binding.
Can be prevented.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ribbon cassette according to the present embodiment is applied to the printer having the same configuration as the printer shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 described above. sand
That is, the print head (5) is in the center of the reciprocating direction during standby.
Applies to printers located in.

[0014] The ribbon cassette, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the body case 11 Ribbon
Moth drawer side 11b Idoamu 14 'and the ribbon take-up 11
a of the guide arm 13 'in the longitudinal direction of the main body case 11
And it consists in probable and spaced close to the center position. So
The ribbon running path on the ribbon pull-out side 11b is
Via a guide groove 21 'provided on the front surface of the space 11
Formed on the ribbon winding side of the ribbon winding side 11a.
The path does not go through the guide groove 21 ',
Id arm 13 'and winding means (17, 18) described later
It is formed by directly connecting .

Thus, the ribbon winding side 11a and the ribbon
If you changed the ribbon running route on the pull-out side 11b,
Guide arm 1 after attaching the cassette to the printer
When 4'and 13 'are moved left and right, the left side in the figure
Ribbon 15 does not loosen because it is on the side of the drawer 11b
However, if the right side in the figure is the same as the left side, the ribbon 15
This is because it ends up.

[0016] Here, in the main body casing 11, as shown in FIG. 4, and endless ribbon 15 is housed, the guide arm 14 from the case 11 to the drawer side 11b
Ribbon pressing spring 16 for imparting a braking force is provided to the ribbon 15 drawn through the '. Further, the take-up side 11a of the body case 11, the winding means comprising a winding shaft 17 and by the urging force of the spring 19 is pressed against the winding shaft 17 has a driven shaft 18. is provided, the winding The ribbon 15 pulled out from the pull-out side 11b by means (17, 18) and stretched with a constant tension between the guide arms 13 ' , 14 ' is wound up.

Further, the ribbon pull-out side 11b gas Idoamu 14 'and moths Idoamu 13 of the ribbon winding side 11a'
Is configured to be moved in the arrow X direction via the guide means. The guide arm 13 ', as shown in FIG. 2, it is constructed from the main body 13a and the lid 13b and the like. Similarly, the guide arm 14 'includes a body 14a and
It is composed of a lid portion 14b and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the guide means is composed of a guide groove 21 'provided on the front surface of the main body case 11. Then, both guide arms 14 ', 13'
Are held in the guide grooves 21 'so as to be slidable in the arrow X direction.

In consideration of the fact that the ribbon cassette is mounted on the printer in which the print head (5) is located at the center during standby , the guide arms 14 'and 13' are moved much closer to the center. In addition, the interlocking means is provided so that the operation can be performed smoothly. The interlocking means is the pinion 41
And using the racks 42 and 43, the guide arm 14 ',
13 'is moved in the opposite direction by the same length.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the pinion 41 is rotatably supported at the center of the front surface of the body case 11 so as to face the guide groove 21 '. Further, the rack 42 is the guide arm 1
It is provided at the upper part of 4'to be projected toward the guide arm 13 'by a predetermined length , and meshes with the pinion 41. On the other hand, the rack 43 is provided below the guide arm 13 ′ so as to project toward the guide arm 14 ′ by a predetermined length , and meshes with the pinion 41.

However, when either one of the guide arms 14 'and 13' is moved in the direction of the arrow X, the guide arm is moved by the interlocking means (pinion 41, racks 42, 4).
By 3), move the same length in the opposite direction.

Further, the guide arms 14 'and 13' are
As shown in FIG. 3, the print position via a locking means P2 ',
It is configured to be positioned and held at P2 '. In this embodiment, the locking means comprises a locking groove provided in a predetermined position of the front portion of the body case 11, the guide arm 1
4'and 13 'are integrally formed with a locking claw.

[0023] The guide arm 14 ', 13' Since the respective locking grooves and locking claws for the same configuration, only the locking groove 31b and the locking claw 35 of the guide arm 14 'in FIG. 1 Illustrate.

Thus, each guide arm 14 ', 13'
When positioned at the printing positions P2 'and P2' , they are locked by the locking claw and the locking groove , respectively.

Next, the operation will be described. When this ribbon cassette cassette is attached to the printer, one of the guide arms 14 'and 13' (for example, 14 ') is moved toward the other party (13'), and the interlocking means (41, 4).
2, 43), both guide arms 14 ', 13' come close to each other, and set positions P1 ', P in the central portion of the main body case 11
1'is positioned.

[0026] Thus, the guide arms 14 of the ribbon cassette ', 13', as shown in FIG. 2, the set position P
1'and P1 'are positioned, and when the distance between them is narrowed more than that at the time of printing, the cassette is mounted on the main frame (1) of the printer in which the print head (5) is positioned at the center.

[0027] At this time, the guide arms 14 of the ribbon cassette ', 13' because the ribbon 15 parts spanned between the no sag shorter length, it is unnecessary to provide tension in particular tweezers or hand, or the like.

After mounting the ribbon cassette, as shown in FIG. 3 , the guide arms 14 'and 13' are moved away from each other and positioned at the printing positions P2 'and P2'. At this time, since the ribbon 15 is sandwiched between the winding shaft 17 and the driven shaft 18, the guide arm 13 'can be positioned at the printing position P2' without slack on the winding side 11a. Further, the guide arm 14 'can be positioned at the printing position P2' while pulling out the ribbon 15 moderately in accordance with the movement of the arm 14 'from the pull-out side 11b side. As a result, the ribbon 15 stretched between the guide arms 14 'and 13' is not loosened during printing.

At this time, the force that the print head (5) moves to the home position on the right or left side in preparation for printing is utilized [that is, the print head (5) uses either of the guide arms 14 ', 13'. It is also possible to position each arm 14 ', 13' to the printing position P2 ', P2' by pressing either one.

[0030] Thus, according to the actual施例this, both guide arms (14 ', 13') is provided to probable and spaced close to the longitudinal direction (arrow X direction) central position of the main body case 11, the ribbon pullout The ribbon traveling path on the side 11b is the main case
11 through the guide groove 21 'provided on the front surface
The ribbon running path formed on the ribbon and on the ribbon winding side 11a
The ribbon winding side 11a without passing through the guide groove 21 '.
Directly connect the guide arm 13 'and the winding means (17, 18).
Since they are connected to each other , it is possible to prevent the ribbon 15 from loosening by shortening the distance between the guide arms (14 ', 13') during mounting. As a result, the ribbon 15
Can be easily attached to the printer without being soiled by hand. Further, two guide arms (14 ', 13') since the configuration in which the approaching operation or the like to the central using the interlocking means (41, 42, 43), the print head during standby (5)
The ribbon cassette can be more easily mounted on the printer whose center is located at.

[0031] In the above you施例, both guide arms 14 ', 13' simultaneously approach to and with interlocking means
Although the guide arms 14 'and 13' are separated from each other, the guide arms 14 'and 13' may be moved separately in the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the main body case 11.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the ribbon pull-out side guide arm and the ribbon take-up side guide arm are provided so as to be close to and separable from the central position in the longitudinal direction of the main body case.
The ribbon traveling path on the output side is provided on the front of the main case.
Ribbon winding side that is formed through the guide groove
Ribbon winding route does not go through the guide groove.
It is formed by directly connecting the take-up side guide arm and the winding means.
Because there, at the time the ribbon cassette mounting can be by shortening the distance between the guide arm to prevent the ribbon sagging. As a result, the print head is centered in the reciprocating direction during standby.
The ribbon can be easily attached to the printer located at the position without soiling the hands with the ribbon. Also, take up the ribbon
Ribbon when moving the side guide arm to the printing position.
Can be prevented from sagging .

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the actual施例of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise a perspective view showing a state in which both guide arms are positioned at a set position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which both guide arms are similarly positioned at a printing position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of the same .

FIG. 5 is also a diagram for explaining the interlocking device.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional ribbon cassette with a print head during standby.
Attached to the printer located at the center position in the reciprocating direction
It is a perspective view showing how to do.

[Fig. 7] Similarly, the positions of the ribbon, print head, and platen
It is a side view for explaining a physical relationship.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Main body case 11a Ribbon winding side 11b Ribbon drawing side 13 'Ribbon winding side guide arm 14' Ribbon drawing side guide arm 15 Ribbon 17 Winding shaft (winding means) 18 Driven shaft (winding means) 21 ' Guide groove

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Tanaka 570, Ohito, Ohito-cho, Tata-gun, Shizuoka Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. Ohito factory (72) Inventor Kiyotaka Futashi 570, Ohito, Ohito-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka Tokyo Electric Ohi Plant Co., Ltd. (56) Bibliographic references Sho 59-148359 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. The main body case is provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction.
In a ribbon cassette in which a ribbon is stretched between a guide arm on the ribbon pull-out side and a guide arm on the ribbon take-up side, the guide arm on the ribbon pull-out side and the guide arm on the ribbon take-up side are arranged in the longitudinal center of the main body case. Approaching position
Possible and spaced capable provided, ribbon traveling through the ribbon lead side
Passage through the guide groove provided on the front of the body case.
The ribbon running path on the ribbon winding side.
Guide path on the ribbon winding side without passing through the guide groove.
A ribbon cassette, wherein the ribbon cassette and the winding means are directly connected to each other .