JP3049907B2 - Ink ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette used for a printer such as a sublimation type thermal transfer type color printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an ink ribbon cassette used in a thermal printer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-46668. This will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Reference numeral 100 denotes an ink ribbon cassette. The front side of the substantially cylindrical cassette body 101 of the ink ribbon cassette 100 is open, and an inverted U
It has a pair of notch portions 101a, 101a in a letter shape.
In the cassette body 101, a supply reel 103 around which an ink ribbon 102 is wound is rotatably housed, and the pair of notches 101 of the cassette body 101 are rotatable.
The shaft portions 104a, 104 on both sides of the take-up reel 104 around which the other end of the ink ribbon 102 is wound
a is rotatably loosely fitted.

The take-up reel 104 has a pair of notches 101a, 1 at the center of both sides of the cassette body 101.
01a is removed by a transporting means provided in a printer (not shown) and transported to the platen side in the platen. Thereby, the ink ribbon 102 is pulled out to the platen side.

[0004]

However, in the conventional ink ribbon cassette 100, the cassette main body 101 is not provided.
Of the supply reel 10
3 and the take-up reel 104, the ink ribbon 102 is always exposed, so that dust and the like adhere to the Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) color material layers of the ink ribbon 102. They were easily damaged due to breakage or tearing, and were difficult to handle.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the ink ribbon can be protected by covering the reel with a lid, and the supply and take-up reels are brought as close as possible to further reduce the size of the cassette body. An ink ribbon cassette is provided.

[0006]

A bearing is provided on each side.
With upper case and bearings on both sides
The lower case, the upper case bearing part and the lower case bearing
Parts facing each other, and connect the bearing part of the upper case with the lower case.
Having a bearing formed by a bearing portion of the
Wrap the ink ribbon between the upper case and the lower case
Take-up reel or take-up reel
A cassette main body in which an opening portion is formed.
Rotate either of the above reels onto the bearing of the set body.
And has bearings on both sides, respectively,
The lid that opens and closes is rotatably supported on the cassette body.
And the other reel is rotatably mounted on the bearing portion of the lid and
Hold detachably.

[0007]

Since the opening of the cassette main body is closed by the lid, the ink ribbon is protected without dust or the like adhering to the ink ribbon and without damaging the ink ribbon. Also, since one of the reels is rotatably and detachably held on the bearing portion of the lid , the number of parts is reduced, and the ink ribbon cassette having the lid is provided at low cost. In addition, test
Insert either the supply reel or the take-up reel into the cassette.
Rotatably held in the bearing of the main body and the bearing part of the lid
The other reel is held rotatably and detachably
The supply reel and take-up reel can be as close as possible.
As a result, the size of the entire ink ribbon cassette can be reduced.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink ribbon cassette which is a compact disposable used in a sublimation type thermal transfer type color printer. The cassette main body 2 is attached to a lower case 10 made of a synthetic resin, and is bonded to an upper peripheral edge of the lower case 10 by ultrasonic welding or the like.
1 and an upper case 20 made of synthetic resin and having both side portions 21 and 21 in contact with the upper case 20.

A rear portion between the two side portions 11, 11 of the lower case 10 is a curved portion 10a curved upward in an arc shape, and a front portion thereof is a flat portion 10b. The two side portions 11, 11 are integrally formed so as to project vertically from both edges of the curved portion 10a to the flat portion 10b. Behind the two side portions 11, 11, a pair of arc-notched bearing portions 11a, 11 rotatably supporting a take-up reel 50 described later.
a is formed, and a pair of tapered bearing portions 11b, 11b that rotatably support the supply reel 40 with the both sides of the lid 30 described later are formed in front of the upper edge thereof. Outside the tapered bearings 11b of the both sides 11, 11 of the lower case 10, the upright portions 12a perpendicular to the outer surfaces of the side portions 11 and the flat portions 10b are flush with the flat portions 10b. A pair of protruding pieces 12, 12 composed of a portion 12b are integrally formed. Note that the curved portion 10 of the lower case 10
a, the flat portion 10b, the side portions 11, 11, and the pair of projecting pieces 12, 12, are integrally formed of synthetic resin.

A rear portion between the two side portions 21 and 21 of the upper case 20 is a curved portion 20a curved downward in an arc shape, and a front portion thereof is a flat portion 20b. A pair of bearings 11 a, 11 of both sides 11, 11 of the lower case 10 are provided behind the two sides 21, 21 of the upper case 20.
a pair of arc-notched bearing portions 21a, 21a facing
The front side of each of the upright portions 12a of the pair of projecting pieces 12, 12 of the lower case 10 and the flat portion 1
It is L-shaped so as to abut on 2b and is wider than the rear side. The center of the front edge of each of the side portions 21 and 21 of the upper case 20 protrudes in an arc shape.
b is formed respectively. Furthermore, the upper case 20
Of the front edge of the flat portion 20b (each side portion 21 and the lower case 10).
Between each bearing portion 11b), a pair of stopper portions 20
c and 20c are integrally formed. Further, an opening 3 for taking out a supply reel 40 to be described later is formed between the front edge of the flat portion 10b and each side portion 11 of the lower case 10 and the front edge of the flat portion 20b of the upper case 20. is there.
Note that the curved portion 20a, the flat portion 20b, and the side portions 21, 21 of the upper case 20 are integrally formed of synthetic resin.

Thus, the curved portion 10a of the lower case 10
The upper edge of the upper case 20 and the upper edge of both sides 11, 11 and the lower edge of the curved portion 20a of the upper case 20 and the lower edge of the both sides 21, 21 are positioned and abutted to each other at a plurality of positions by, for example, ultrasonic welding. Welded and joined. A supply reel 40 is rotatably housed in the opening 3 side of the cassette body 2 composed of the upper and lower cases 20 and 10, and the bearings 11 opposed to each other in the cassette body 2 are opposed to each other.
A take-up reel 50 is rotatably housed between a, 21a and 11a, 21a.

The opening 3 of the cassette body 2 can be opened and closed by a lid 30 made of synthetic resin. This lid 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a curved arc-shaped piece 31 for opening and closing the opening 3 of the cassette body 2, a pair of U-shaped bearing pieces 32, 32 adhesively fixed to both ends of the arc-shaped piece 31, and the circular arc. A pair of fan-shaped side pieces 33 are adhered to the rear portions of both ends of the piece 31 via respective connecting pieces 34 and fixed in parallel with the bearing pieces 32. As shown in FIG. 5A, the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of side pieces 33, 33 protrude outward from the arc-shaped front ends 21 c of the both sides 21, 21 of the upper case 20. Each of the shaft portions 33a formed integrally with the base portions of the pieces 33, 33 is
It penetrates through the small holes 21b, 21b from the inside. Thereby, the lid 30 is supported rotatably around the small holes 21b. Further, the pair of side pieces 33, 33
A tension coil spring 35 is interposed between each of the base end portions 33b and each of the rib portions 21d protruding below the step between the side portions 21 and 21 of the upper case 20. As a result, the arc piece 31 of the lid 30 is constantly urged in the direction to close the opening 3 of the cassette body 2. When the lid 30 is closed by each of the tension coil springs 35, the pair of connecting pieces 34, 34 fixed to both ends of the arc-shaped piece 31 project from both sides of the front edge of the flat portion 20 b of the upper case 20.
The closed state of the lid 30 is maintained by abutting on c. Further, the pair of bearing pieces 3
Reference numerals 2 and 32 denote a pair of tapered bearing portions 11 of the lower case 10.
b, 11b (each protruding piece 12 side), each shaft part 41a of the supply reel 40 described later with each bearing part 11
Are rotatably and detachably supported. The pieces 31 to 34 constituting the lid 30 may be integrally formed of a synthetic resin.

The supply reel 40 has a cylindrical body 41 made of synthetic resin, and a pair of inner and outer flanges 42, 42 and 43, 43 integrally formed on the body 41 and formed into an annular plate. It is composed of Inner flange 4 on both sides of this body 41
2 and a pair of shaft portions 41a, 41a between the outer flange portion 43.
The pair of shaft portions 41a, 41a are rotatable and detachable between the pair of tapered bearing portions 11b, 11b of the lower case 10 and the pair of bearing pieces 32, 32 of the lid 30. Supported.

The take-up reel 50 is integrally protruded at a position opposite to a cylindrical body 51 made of a synthetic resin and a pair of flanges 42, 42 inside the supply reel 40 on both sides of the body 51. It is composed of a pair of molded ring-shaped flanges 52, 52. The outside of the pair of flanges 52, 52 of the body 51 is a pair of shafts 51a, 51a, and the pair of shafts 51a, 51a is connected to the upper and lower cases 20, 10.
Are rotatably supported between the bearing portions 21a, 11a of the respective side portions 21, 11.

Both ends of the ink ribbon 60 are provided between a pair of flanges 42, 42 inside the body 41 of the supply reel 40 and a pair of flanges 52, 52 of the body 51 of the take-up reel 50. Locked and wound around each. The ink ribbon 60 has a predetermined number of colored regions formed of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) color material layers formed at predetermined intervals.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a tray 70 on the side of the sublimation type thermal transfer type color printer using the ink ribbon cassette 1 and one of a pair of reel transfer arms 80, 80. FIG. On the front side of the tray 70, the ink ribbon cassette 1 is removably mounted via a leaf spring 71 and the like, and a pair of bosses 72, 72 protruding from both side surfaces on the front side.
The lid 30 of the ink ribbon cassette 1 is opened by a pair of cassette openers 74 rotatably supported via a torsion spring 73. The pair of reel transfer arms 80 are rotatably supported on both sides of a shaft 82 of a platen 81 via respective gears 83.
As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of reel transfer arms 80, 80 includes a pair of flanges 43, 43 outside the supply reel 40 exposed from the opening 3 of the ink ribbon cassette 1 and a pair of bearing pieces of the lid 30. The supply reel 40 is inserted through a pair of arm insertion openings (indicated by reference numeral A only in FIG. 4) formed between the supply reels 32 and 32 to hold the pair of shaft portions 41 a and 41 a of the supply reel 40. 6 to 8, reference numeral 75 denotes a stopper member, reference numeral 84 denotes a torsion spring, and reference numeral 85 denotes a lock claw.

According to the ink ribbon cassette 1 of the above embodiment, before the ink ribbon cassette 1 is used in a sublimation type thermal transfer type color printer, the pair of shaft portions 51a, 51a of the take-up reel 50 are connected to each other as shown in FIGS. As shown in (a), the upper and lower cases 20, 1 constituting the cassette body 2
0 is rotatably supported between the bearing portions 21a and 11a of the both side portions 21 and 11. Further, the pair of shaft portions 41a, 41a of the supply reel 40 are, as shown in FIG.
The lower case 10 is rotatably supported between a pair of tapered bearing portions 11 b, 11 b of both side portions 11, 11 and a pair of U-shaped bearing pieces 32, 32 of the lid 30. Then, as shown in FIG.
Is closed by the arc piece 31 of the lid 30 by the tensile force of the pair of tension coil springs 35, 35.

As shown in FIG. 5D, the supply reel 40 and the take-up reel 50 are housed in the cassette body 2 in parallel and as close as possible to each other. The size can be further reduced. Further, when the cover 30 for opening and closing the opening 3 of the cassette body 2 is opened, the cover 30 is housed in the cassette body 2 so that the appearance of the ink ribbon cassette 1 can be made compact.

Further, before the ink ribbon cassette 1 is used, the opening 3 of the cassette main body 2 is closed and covered by the lid 30. Therefore, dust or the like adheres to the ink ribbon 60 or the ink ribbon cassette 1 is dropped by mistake. However, the ink ribbon 60 is not broken. Thereby, the ink ribbon 60 is reliably protected by the lid 30 and handling of the ink ribbon cassette 1 before use is very simple. Further, a pair of shaft portions 4 of the supply reel 40 are provided.
A pair of bearing pieces 32, 3 having 1a, 41a provided on the lid 30
2 and the upper case 2 of the cassette body 2
Since there is no need to provide a bearing on the 0 side, the number of parts can be reduced by that amount, and the ink ribbon cassette 1 having the lid 30 can be manufactured at low cost.

Next, using the ink ribbon cassette 1 in the sublimation type thermal transfer color printer, the supply reel 4
A case where 0 is transported to the platen 81 will be briefly described. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ink ribbon cassette 1 horizontally moves toward the platen 81 while being placed on the tray 70. At this time, the ink ribbon cassette 1 is held on the tray 70 side by the urging force of the leaf spring 71 so as not to come off. A pair of cassette openers 74, 74 urged by both torsion springs 73 on both sides of the tray 70 are at the positions shown in FIG. From this state, as shown in FIG.
Further, when the tray 70 moves horizontally to the platen 81 side,
The pair of shaft portions 41a of the supply reel 40 of the ink ribbon cassette 1 enter the pair of reel transfer arms 80, 80, and the pair of locking claws 85, 85 of the pair of flange portions 43, 43 outside the supply reel 40. Each engagement part 43a
Enters.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), each of the stopper members 75 moves horizontally to the lock claws 85 of the pair of reel transfer arms 80, 80. Then, the pair of cassette openers 74, 74 rotate upward about the respective bosses 72 by the urging force of the respective torsion springs 73. By this rotation, the pair of cassette openers 74, 74
The lid 30 opens the opening 3 of the cassette body 2 by pressing the respective end faces 33c of the pair of fan-shaped side pieces 33, 33 upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the pair of reel transfer arms 80, 80 is rotated to take out the supply reel 40 from the opening 3 of the cassette body 2. When the supply reel 40 is taken out of the cassette main body 2, a pair of flanges 43, 43 outside the supply reel 40 are provided.
Since the pair of lock claws 85, 85 are inserted into the U-shaped engaging portion 43a of the above, and the supply reel 40 is locked,
When the supply reel 40 is transported to the platen 81 side,
The ink ribbon 60 wound around the take-up reel 50 is shown in FIG.
It is drawn out as shown in (c). When the transport of the supply reel 40 is completed and the ink ribbon 60 is completely pulled out to the platen 81 side, the lock claws 8 of the supply reel 40 are stopped.
5 is released.

When the lid 30 of the ink ribbon cassette 1 is opened by the pair of cassette openers 74, 74, the U-shaped pair of bearing pieces 32, 32 of the lid 30, as shown in FIG. Is also rotated, and the supply reel 40 is detachable from the opening 3 of the cassette body 2 and is taken out. When the supply reel 40 is taken out of the cassette main body 2, the cover 30 is inserted into the cassette main body 2, so that a dead space is required in the printer main body into which the ink ribbon cassette 1 is carried. do not do. Thus, the size of the entire color printer can be reduced.

According to the above-described embodiment, the supply reel is detachably supported on the lid that opens and closes the opening of the cassette body. However, the take-up reel is rotatably supported on the lid side, and When opened, the take-up reel side may be taken out of the opening of the cassette body. Further, if all the openings of the cassette main body are closed by the lid at the time of closing, it is possible to more reliably prevent dust and the like from adhering to the ink ribbon.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, both side portions
Upper case with bearings on each side,
A lower case having a bearing portion, and a bearing portion of the upper case.
And the bearings of the lower case are joined to face each other.
The bearing formed by the bearing part of the lower case and the bearing part of the lower case
Between the upper case and the lower case.
Either the supply reel or the take-up reel around which the ribbon is wound
Cassette book with an opening to take out one reel
And the bearing of the cassette main body
The two reels are rotatably supported, with bearings on each side.
A lid body for opening and closing the opening portion is provided on the cassette body.
Rotatably supported, and the other reel is mounted on the bearing of the lid
Since the ink ribbon is held rotatably and detachably , the ink ribbon can be protected by preventing dust and the like from adhering to and damaged by the ink ribbon, and the cost of the ink ribbon cassette having the lid with a small number of components can be reduced. Can be. Also, the other reel is rotatably mounted on the bearing portion of the cover and is rotatable.
Since the cassette main body is detachably held , the size of the cassette body itself can be reduced, and the supply reel and the take-up reel can be made as close as possible, so that the entire ink ribbon cassette can be further reduced in size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cassette showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 5A is a side view of the ink ribbon cassette,
(B) is a sectional view of one end of the ink ribbon cassette, (c) is a sectional view of one side of the ink ribbon cassette, and (d) is a sectional view of a central portion of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a use state of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a use state of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are side views respectively showing a state in which a supply reel is taken out of the cassette main body of the ink ribbon cassette and then transported.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink ribbon cassette, 2 ... Cassette main body, 3 ... Opening, 30 ... Lid, 40 ... Supply reel, 50 ... Take-up reel, 60 ... Ink ribbon.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-46668 (JP, A) JP-A-3-2075 (JP, A) JP-A-62-41556 (JP, U) JP-A-1-156057 (JP) , U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 17/32 B41J 32/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An upper casing having bearings on both sides.
And the lower case having bearings on both sides,
With the bearing of the upper case and the bearing of the lower case facing each other
After joining, the upper case bearing and the lower case bearing
And the upper case and the lower case
Between the supply reel around which the ink ribbon is wound
The opening to take out either one of the take-up reels is
A cassette body to be formed, and a shaft of the cassette body.
One of the above reels is rotatably supported on the receiver,
Lid body having a bearing on each side to open and close the opening
Is rotatably supported on the cassette body, and the axis of the lid is
The other reel is rotatably and detachably held on the receiving part.
An ink ribbon cassette characterized in that: