JP2766834B2 - Case for storing refill parts for ink ribbon cartridge and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a case for accommodating an ink ribbon or the like, which is a supplementary part of an ink ribbon cartridge, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When the print density of an ink ribbon in an ink ribbon cartridge is lowered, the ink ribbon is discarded and replaced with a new refill ink ribbon. The ink ribbon for replenishment is provided in a case called a sub-cassette.
It is assembled from ordinary paper or paper coated with resin on the surface. Such a conventional case has the following functional and manufacturing problems. First, functionally, the side wall of the ink ribbon storage section is a plane perpendicular to the bottom surface, so when the ink ribbon is taken out, the end of the folded ink ribbon comes into contact with the side wall and is easily caught, so the folded state And the transfer to the ink ribbon cartridge is hindered. Next, as a manufacturing problem, firstly, the material paper itself is expensive, so the overall cost is high, and then, when assembling the case, it is necessary to bond each side using an adhesive or a stapler The assembling process is complicated, especially when the storage section for other replenishment parts such as ink tanks is to be installed in addition to the ink ribbon, the assembly becomes extremely difficult due to the complicated shape. There is a disadvantage that the packaging material may be damaged.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to refill an ink ribbon cartridge which can smoothly take out a folded ink ribbon without breaking it and can transfer it to an ink ribbon cartridge without any trouble. It is an object of the present invention to provide a case for storing a component and a method for manufacturing a case for storing a replenishment component of an ink ribbon cartridge which can solve the above-mentioned disadvantages in manufacturing and can be manufactured extremely easily and efficiently.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a case for storing a replenishing part of an ink ribbon cartridge according to the present invention comprises a side wall 3 of a storing part 2 for a replenishing part such as an ink ribbon provided on a case body 1. The width of the space between the opposing side walls at the position of the opening edge 5 is larger than the width between the opposing side walls at the position of the bottom surface 4 of the storage portion 2. It has a configuration.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a method of manufacturing a case for storing a replenishing part of an ink ribbon cartridge according to the present invention is provided. It is characterized by being formed by vacuum forming.

The thermoplastic resins usable in the present invention include, for example, PP, PE, PET, PVC, PTFE,
ETFE, PCTFE, PS, PBR, SB, PVD
C, PVA, PMMA, EVA, SAN, ABS, I
O, POM, nylon 6, nylon 66, PC, PP
There are O, PSF, PI, PAI, PPS, and the like, which can be freely selected from these.

The above-mentioned thermoplastic resin is formed into a film and vacuum-formed, and the thickness at that time is 0.05 mm to 3.0 mm.
A range of 0 mm is possible, more preferably 0.1 m
m to 2.0 mm.

[0008]

In the case of the present invention, the side wall 3 of the storage part 2 for a refill component such as an ink ribbon has a curved shape, and is larger than the width between the opposing side walls at the position of the bottom surface 4. Since the width between the opposing side walls at the position of the opening edge 5 is wider, if the case is turned upside down, the ink ribbon does not catch on the side wall 3 and falls while maintaining the folded state. Can be transferred smoothly.

Further, since the method of manufacturing the case for storing replenishment parts of the ink ribbon cartridge according to the present invention is performed by vacuum forming, it can be easily formed even if the side wall 3 has a curved surface.

[0010]

1 and 2 show a case for accommodating a replenishment component for accommodating only an ink ribbon 6. FIG. This case includes a case body 1 vacuum-formed using a thermoplastic resin as a material, and a detachable lid (not shown) that covers an opening of the case body 1, and a state in which an endless ink ribbon 6 is folded. The side wall 3 surrounding the storage section 2 to be accommodated in the storage section 2 has a curved shape, and the width between the opposite side walls at the opening edge 5 is larger than the width between the opposite side walls at the position of the bottom surface 4 of the storage section 2. It is getting wider. Note that both ends of the folded ink ribbon 6 in the storage section 2 extend to the outside from the slits 7 provided in the side wall, and surround the outer surface of the side wall 3 substantially half a circumference.

The side wall 3 of the case body 1 has a curved surface such that the outer surface swells as shown in the figure. However, as shown in FIG. A curved surface is also possible.

Next, FIG. 4 and FIG.
And other replenishment parts, ie, the ink tank 8,
FIG. 3 shows a replenishment part storage case provided with a storage section 2 for accommodating a transfer roller 9. This case is manufactured by vacuum molding using a thermoplastic resin as a material, and the side wall 3 of each storage part 2 has a curved shape, and the bottom surface 4 of the storage part 2 is formed.
The width between the opposing side walls at the position of the opening edge 5 is wider than the width between the opposing side walls at the position.

[0013]

The present invention is as described above. First, in the case for storing replenishment parts of the present invention, the side wall 3 of the storage section 2 in the case body 1 has a curved shape, and the bottom surface 4 of the storage section 2 is formed. The width between the opposing side walls at the position of the opening edge 5 is wider than the width between the opposing side walls at the position. Since the ink ribbon 6 escapes smoothly without being caught by the ink cartridge 3, the ink ribbon 6 can be transferred to the ink ribbon cartridge without any trouble while maintaining the folded state.

Next, in the manufacturing method of the present invention, since vacuum forming is performed using a thermoplastic resin as a material, processing is greatly facilitated, productivity is improved, and cost is reduced, as compared with the conventional method of assembling paper as a material. effective. In particular, this manufacturing method by vacuum forming has an advantage that it can easily cope with a complicated shape by providing an ink ribbon and a storage part for other replenishment parts, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. . However, in the case of another manufacturing method, for example, injection molding, there is a disadvantage that it is unsuitable for molding a thin object such as the case of the present invention and the mold becomes expensive. Since there is a disadvantage that it is unsuitable for molding an object having no height and the mold becomes expensive, after all, a mold is used for molding a thin object having no height such as a case for storing a replenishment part of the ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention. However, the production method by vacuum molding of the present invention, which is inexpensive, is optimal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a replenishment component storage case configured to store only an ink ribbon.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of a replenishment component storage case configured to store only an ink ribbon.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a replenishment part storage case having a structure in which a storage part for other replenishment parts is provided in addition to the ink ribbon.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 2 Storage part 3 Side wall 4 Bottom 5 Opening edge 6 Ink ribbon 7 Slit 8 Ink tank 9 Transfer roller

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A side wall 3 of a storage part 2 for refill parts such as an ink ribbon provided in a case body 1 is positioned at an opening edge 5 at a position of a bottom surface 4 of the storage part 2 more than a width between opposing side walls at a position of a bottom surface 4 of the storage part 2. A case for storing a replenishment component of an ink ribbon cartridge, wherein the case has a curved shape such that a width between opposing side walls is wider. 2. A method of manufacturing a case for storing a replenishment part of an ink ribbon cartridge, comprising forming a case body 1 having a storage part 2 for a replenishment part such as an ink ribbon by vacuum molding using a thermoplastic resin as a material.