JP2775820B2 - Printing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing mechanism having a print head retraction mechanism that detects the thickness of a printing medium and keeps the distance between the printing head and the printing medium constant. More particularly, the present invention relates to a printing mechanism with improved ribbon setting when replacing an ink ribbon.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a means for detecting the thickness of a print medium in a print mechanism having a print head retraction mechanism, a paper pressing member provided at the front of the print head is pressed against the print medium, and the thickness of the paper pressing member relative to the medium thickness is reduced. In some cases, the amount of movement is transmitted to a print head holding unit, and the distance between the print head and the print medium is kept constant to perform printing.

In this type of printing mechanism, when the ink ribbon is replaced, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-61-69481, the print head is moved vertically upward from the above-described paper pressing member, A gap is formed between the print head and the paper pressing member, parallel to the paper pressing member.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above prior art, when the print medium moves horizontally and the print head front face is held downward with respect to the print surface of the print medium, the front end of the print head front face becomes difficult to see when replacing the ink ribbon. In addition, the ink ribbon has to be inserted horizontally into the gap between the front surface of the print head and the paper holding member. This is an operation that is ergonomically difficult, and there is a problem that the ink ribbon is easily caught on the leading end of the print head, and the ink ribbon is easily broken when the ink ribbon is inserted. For the latter, a measure such as adding a ribbon guide member to the print head end portion can be considered, but in this case, the ink ribbon must be horizontally inserted into the gap between the print head front surface and the paper pressing member. The basic problem is not solved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in the related art, improve operability when replacing an ink ribbon ergonomically, and set a ribbon set. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing mechanism with improved performance.

[Means for solving the problem]

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing mechanism having a carrier that supports a print head and a printing medium pressing member having an ink ribbon guide function in a direction perpendicular to a printing surface of a printing medium, wherein the carrier is a carrier. A printing mechanism or a print head, wherein the print medium holding member is rotatable in a direction away from the print head, while being rotatable around a support rail that supports the print head in a horizontally movable manner. And a printing medium holding member having an ink ribbon guide function, the printing medium having a carrier movably supporting the printing medium in a direction perpendicular to the printing surface of the printing medium, a support rail for supporting the carrier horizontally movably. The entire printing mechanism including the printer is configured to be rotatable around a fulcrum provided in the printing medium transport mechanism and Is achieved by the print mechanism, characterized in that said printing medium pressing member is rotatable in a direction away from the print head.

[Action]

In the printing mechanism according to the present invention, the carrier including the print head is rotated in a direction away from the print medium, and the paper pressing member on the carrier is made rotatable in a direction away from the print head. The space between the front surface of the print head and the paper pressing member can be released in a V-shape, and the ink ribbon can be easily inserted between the front surface of the print head and the paper pressing member.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a print head according to an embodiment of the present invention at the time of printing, and FIG. 3 is a front view thereof. The print head 1 shown in the present embodiment is fixed to a print head slide 2, and the print head slide 2 is configured to be slidable up and down with respect to a carrier 3. It is pressed down.
The carrier 3 is supported by a support rail 5 whose both ends are supported by a side frame (not shown), is movable in a horizontal direction along the support rail 5, and rotates around the support rail 5. It is configured to be possible.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper press, which is supported by a fulcrum 7 provided on the print head slide 2 and is configured to be rotatable about the fulcrum 7. It is pressed against the platen 8 via the slide 2 and the print head gap adjusting screw 10. The bearings 11 are held by the paper presser 6, smoothen the horizontal movement on the platen 8, and are located on both sides of the print head 1. Reference numeral 9 denotes a ribbon guide, which is located on both sides of the print head 1.

In the print head configured as described above, the paper presser 6 moves a small amount in the vertical direction in response to a change in the thickness of the print medium sent on the platen 8, and transmits this change to the print head slide 2. The gap between the print head 1 and the print medium can be kept constant. That is, the gap between the print head 1 and the print medium can be adjusted by adjusting the gap between the print head slide 2 and the paper presser 6 with the print head gap adjusting screw 10. Although illustration is omitted, it goes without saying that a latch mechanism for preventing the rotation of the print head 1 during printing is provided.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which the above-described rotation preventing latch mechanism is released and the carrier 3 is rotated in a direction away from the platen 8 with the support rail 5 as a fulcrum. The carrier 3 is held at a position shown by a lock mechanism not shown. As is clear from the figure, the print head 1 and the print head slide 2 rotate together with the carrier 3, and the leading end of the print head 1 is
, The print head slide 2 has been lowered to the lower starting point by the spring 4.

The paper presser 6 rotates toward the platen 8 by its own weight around the fulcrum 7 of the print head slide 2,
A V-shaped gap is formed with the print head 1. If the ink ribbon is replaced in this state, the replacement and setting of the ink ribbon becomes very easy.

According to the above embodiment, the print head 1 during printing is normally
By setting the above-mentioned latch mechanism for preventing rotation of the print head, the print head 1 on the print head slide 2 can perform printing with a predetermined pressing force on the print medium by the spring 4. At the same time, when replacing the ink ribbon, the above-described latch mechanism is removed, and the carrier 3 on which the print head is mounted is rotated in a direction away from the print medium, thereby forming the V-shaped opening as described above. If the replacement of the ink ribbon is performed in this state, the replacement and setting of the ink ribbon becomes very easy. If the latch mechanism is configured to maintain this state, the operation is further facilitated.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing another embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, while holding all of the print head 1, print head slide 2, carrier 3 and support rail 5 of the print mechanism, supporting the medium feeding upper rollers 18 and 19, The printing mechanism unit 12, which also serves as a medium feeding mechanism, is configured to be rotatable around a fulcrum 13 provided in a medium feeding mechanism including a medium feeding lower roller 14, 15, 16 and an upper roller 17, a platen 8, and a lower surface feeding guide 20. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the printing mechanism unit 12 is rotated in a direction away from the platen 8.

Even in this state, the paper presser 6 rotates toward the platen 8 by its own weight around the fulcrum 7 of the print head slide 2 to form a V-shaped gap with the print head 1. If the replacement of the ink ribbon is performed in this state, there is an effect that the replacement and setting of the ink ribbon become very easy, as in the case of the above-described example. In FIG. 4, a portion indicated by A of the above-described upper surface conveyance guide is a rotation angle restricting portion for preventing the paper presser 6 from excessively turning downward.

According to the above-described embodiment, the print head 1 on the print head slide 2 can normally perform printing on the print medium with a predetermined pressing force by the spring 4, and when the ink ribbon is replaced, the above-described latch is used. By removing the mechanism and rotating the printing mechanism unit 12 having the print head away from the print medium, the V-shaped opening as described above can be formed. By replacing the ink ribbon, there is an effect that the replacement and setting of the ink ribbon becomes very easy. If the latch mechanism is configured to maintain this state, the operation becomes easier.
As described above.

In each of the above embodiments, the paper presser 6 is configured to rotate toward the platen 8 by its own weight around the fulcrum 7 of the print head slide 2 to form a V-shaped gap with the print head 1. Although an example has been shown, a spring may be disposed between the paper presser 6 and the print head 1 so as to open both so as to form a V-shaped gap around the fulcrum 7 of the print head slide 2. .

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the carrier including the print head is rotated in a direction away from the print medium, and the paper pressing member on the carrier is rotatable in a direction away from the print head. A V-shaped space between the front surface of the print head and the paper pressing member can be released, and a printing mechanism that facilitates insertion of the ink ribbon between the front surface of the print head and the paper pressing member can be realized. It has a remarkable effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a carrier of a print head according to an embodiment of the present invention is rotated in a direction away from a platen with a support rail as a fulcrum, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the state, FIG. 4 is a front view of the same, and FIG. It is a side view showing the state where it was moved. 1: print head, 2: print head slide, 3: carrier, 4:
Spring, 5: Support rail, 6: Paper press, 7: Support point provided on print head slide, 8: Platen, 9: Ribbon guide, 11: Bearing, 12: Printing mechanism unit, 13:
Unit fulcrum.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 25/28-25/30 B41J 35/04-35/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing mechanism having a carrier for supporting a print head and a printing medium pressing member having an ink ribbon guide function in a direction perpendicular to a printing surface of a printing medium. A printing mechanism, wherein the printing mechanism is configured to be rotatable around a support rail movably supported and rotatable in a direction away from the print head. 2. A printing mechanism having a carrier for supporting a print head and a printing medium pressing member having an ink ribbon guide function in a direction perpendicular to a printing surface of a printing medium. The entire printing mechanism including the support rail that supports the movable member is configured to be rotatable about a fulcrum provided in the printing medium transport mechanism, and the printing medium pressing member is rotated in a direction away from the printing head. A printing mechanism characterized by being made possible.