JP3325761B2 - 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 a ribbon cassette, and more particularly to a ribbon cassette for storing an ink ribbon for thermal fusion transfer and an ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer, and applying an appropriate tension in accordance with the type of the ink ribbon. It relates to a ribbon cassette that can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a predetermined sheet is conveyed between a platen and a recording head, and then a thermal head is pressed against the sheet with a predetermined pressing force. In this state, a carriage is moved, While winding the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette, the heater element formed on the thermal head is energized based on a desired print signal, and the heater element is heated to melt the ink of the ink ribbon and transfer it to paper. A thermal transfer printer for performing desired printing on the paper is often used.

As described above, as a thermal transfer printer,
For example, there is a thermal transfer printer as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-127069.

In this thermal transfer printer, a delivery bobbin and a take-up bobbin are arranged on an upper surface of a carriage which is reciprocally movable along a platen, and a second delivery bobbin is provided in the middle of a travel path of the ink ribbon. Bobbin and second
A winding bobbin is provided. A ribbon cassette mounted on the thermal transfer printer is provided with a take-up reel and a delivery reel on which an ink ribbon is wound while being engaged with a take-up bobbin and a delivery bobbin of the carriage, respectively. A second delivery bobbin formed on the carriage and a take-up guide roller and a delivery guide roller that are engaged with the second take-up bobbin are provided.

In such a conventional thermal transfer printer, by moving the carriage, the take-up bobbin is driven to rotate and the ink ribbon is taken up.
A desired printing is performed by driving a thermal head while applying a predetermined tension to the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette by applying a rotational force to the second delivery bobbin and the second winding bobbin.

In recent years, a thermal sublimation transfer ink ribbon has been developed in addition to a normal thermal fusion transfer ink ribbon. In the thermal sublimation transfer ink ribbon, ink of a predetermined color is applied to a thermal head. Since it is not melted by heat, but is transferred to paper by sublimation, it has excellent density gradation expression and is suitable for printing photographic images and the like. Since the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer has a low peeling force of the ink ribbon from the paper, proper printing can be performed even when the tension of the ink ribbon is low.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional thermal transfer printer, there is no problem in printing using an ink ribbon for hot-melt transfer, but using the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer. When performing printing, although the peeling force of the ink ribbon from the paper may be low, it is necessary to drive the thermal head at a high output to apply heat to the ink ribbon, as in the conventional thermal transfer printer. The structure in which a high tension is applied to the ink ribbon has a problem that the tension applied to the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer causes thermal deformation of the ink ribbon or, in some cases, cutting of the ink ribbon.

Therefore, in the thermal transfer printer,
When printing using the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer cannot be performed, and when performing printing using the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer, it is necessary to prepare a printer having a structure that does not impart strong tension to the ink ribbon. There is a problem in that one printer cannot perform proper printing using the ink ribbon for thermal fusion transfer and the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the tension can be appropriately changed by the ink ribbon for hot-melt transfer and the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ribbon cassette capable of performing good printing by tension.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a ribbon cassette according to the first aspect of the present invention is detachably mounted on an upper surface of a carriage reciprocally movable along a platen. Inside, a delivery reel and a take-up reel, on which a thermal sublimation transfer ink ribbon is wound, respectively engaged with a delivery bobbin and a take-up bobbin provided on the upper surface of the carriage, are mounted on the carriage. A ribbon cassette provided with a delivery guide roller that is located on the ink ribbon supply side of the thermal head to be applied and that is engaged with a second delivery bobbin that applies tension to the ink ribbon, The inner diameter of the delivery guide roller is loosely fitted to the second delivery bobbin and
It has a large inner diameter so that it can rotate freely.
Between the delivery guide roller and the delivery bobbin.
10-50g ・ cm tension to ink ribbon
Wherein a load applying member for applying the pressure is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the heat rise
Feed the ribbon cassette containing the ink ribbon for flower transfer
The inner diameter of the delivery guide roller is loosely fitted to the second delivery bobbin.
With a large inner diameter so that it can rotate freely
Guide roller when the ink ribbon travels
Is rotated freely, and the load is applied to the ink ribbon.
It is something that can not be given. Also negative
10 to 50 g with respect to the ink ribbon by the load applying member
・ Because cm tension is applied,
Tension is applied to the ink ribbon by the feeding guide roller.
Even if it is not applied to the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer,
Tension can be imparted and the ink ribbon drip
Can be prevented from occurring.
As a result, printing can be performed by appropriately adjusting the tension in accordance with the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer .

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

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

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a ribbon cassette according to the present invention. Inside a ribbon cassette 1, a delivery reel 3 around which a predetermined ink ribbon 2 is wound, and A take-up reel 4 is rotatably disposed, and a cylindrical delivery guide roller 5 and a take-up guide roller 6 for guiding the ink ribbon 2 are provided at both ends on one side inside the ribbon cassette 1. Are rotatably arranged. In this case, in the present embodiment, the ink ribbon 2 for hot-melt transfer and the ink ribbon 2 for thermal sublimation transfer are used as the ink ribbon 2, and a ribbon cassette for storing the hot-melt transfer ink ribbon 2 is used. In the case of 1, the delivery guide roller 5 is formed so as to have the same inner diameter as the winding guide roller 6, though not shown. On the other hand, in the case of the ribbon cassette 1 which stores the ink ribbon 2 for thermal sublimation transfer, as shown in FIG.
Is formed so as to have an inner diameter larger than that of the winding guide roller 6, and is further provided in the vicinity of the delivery guide roller 5 by 10 to 50 with respect to the ink ribbon 2.
A load applying member 7 made of a leaf spring or the like for applying a load of about g · cm is provided.

A concave portion 8 for inserting a thermal head is formed at a central portion of one side of the ribbon cassette 1, and a notch portion 9 is formed at a position symmetrical on both sides of the concave portion 8 of the ribbon cassette 1. 9 are formed. Further, the delivery reel 3 inside the ribbon cassette 1
A plurality of guide members 10a and 10b are provided at a portion between the feeding guide roller 5 and the portion between the take-up reel 4 and the take-up guide roller 6, the concave portion 8, and a front end portion of each cutout portion 9, respectively. , 10c, 10d, and 10e are provided, and the ink ribbon 2 is guided from the delivery reel 3 by the guide member 10 and the delivery guide roller 5, and is exposed to the outside by the notch portion and the concave portion 8, It is guided along the inside of each guide member 10, and is taken up on the take-up reel 4 via the take-up guide roller 6 and the guide member 10.

Further, the ribbon cassette 1 has a plurality of detection holes 11 formed therein. By forming a specific detection hole 11 according to the type of the ink ribbon 2, the type of the ink ribbon 2 can be detected. It has been made possible.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show an embodiment of a thermal transfer printer in which the ribbon cassette 1 according to the present invention is mounted. A carriage 13 reciprocally movable along a platen 12 has a thermal transfer printer. Platen 1 of head 14
A motor 15 for controlling the contact and separation of the ink ribbon 2 and the winding of the ink ribbon 2 is provided, and a transmission gear 17 is meshed with an output pinion gear 16 of the motor 15. A gear portion 19 formed on an outer peripheral surface of a cam 18 is meshed with the transmission gear 17, and a cam groove 20 for head contact / separation and a cam groove 21 for ribbon winding are formed on the upper surface of the cam 18, respectively. Is formed.

A substantially L-shaped head pressure contact lever 22 is provided.
The head press-contact lever 22 is provided at one end thereof with a pin 24 which is engaged with the head contact / separation cam groove 20 of the cam 18. . The other end of the head pressure lever 22 is in contact with the back surface of a head mount 25 via a pressure spring (not shown). On the front surface of the head mount 25, a thermal head 14 is attached to the platen 12. It is mounted so as to face each other. Further, a lever 26 is connected to the other end of the head pressure contact lever 22. The rotation of the head pressure contact lever 22 with the rotation of the cam 18 causes the thermal head 14 to move toward and away from the platen 12. At the same time, the lever 26 rotates in conjunction with the head press lever 22.

A drive gear 28 meshed with a rack 27 formed in the printer is provided on the carriage 13 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 29. The support shaft 29 is provided with an ink ribbon. The swinging plate 30 constituting the winding force transmitting mechanism 2 is swingable about the support shaft 29 and is urged counterclockwise in the figure by the urging force of the urging spring 31. Installed. further,
A pin 32 is formed at one end of the rocking plate 30 so as to be engaged with the cam groove 21 for winding the ribbon of the cam 18. A transmission gear 33 meshed with 28 is rotatably mounted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 13 has an ink ribbon 2 with which a delivery reel 3 and a take-up reel 4 of the ribbon cassette 1 are respectively engaged.
A take-up bobbin 34 and a take-up bobbin 35 are provided respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, a take-up gear 36 meshed with the transmission gear 33 is not shown below the take-up bobbin 35. It is mounted coaxially via a friction mechanism.

Further, in the present embodiment, the carriage 13 has a second delivery bobbin 37 with which the delivery guide roller 5 and the take-up guide roller 6 of the ribbon cassette 1 are engaged, and a second take-up bobbin 37. Bobbin 38
Are respectively disposed, and the second delivery bobbin 37 is provided.
Below the second delivery bobbin 37,
A friction mechanism (not shown) for applying a rotational load of about 80 g · cm is provided. The second winding bobbin 3
8, a winding gear 36 of the winding bobbin 35
Take-up gear 40 meshed with the transmission gear 39
Are mounted coaxially via a friction mechanism (not shown). When the swing plate 30 swings by the rotation of the cam 18, the transmission gear 33 is meshed with the winding gear 36 in conjunction with the head-down operation of the thermal head 14, whereby the winding bobbin 35 The second winding bobbin 38 is driven to rotate.

A take-up spring 41 made of a leaf spring is attached to a tip of the lever 26 connected to the head pressure lever 22. The tip of the take-up spring 41 is Are separated from the transmission gear 39 when the head is in the down state, and engage with the teeth of the transmission gear 39 when the thermal head 14 is in the head up state.

Further, on the upper surface of the carriage 13,
A photo sensor 42 for detecting the end of the ink ribbon 2 to be used and for detecting the color marker of the color ink ribbon 2 is provided.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, the delivery reel 3 of the ribbon cassette 1
Is on the delivery bobbin 34 of the carriage 13, the take-up reel 4 is on the take-up bobbin 35, and the delivery guide roller 5 is on the second
The take-up guide roller 6 is engaged with the second take-up bobbin 38 on the delivery bobbin 37, and the ribbon cassette 1 is mounted on the carriage 13 such that the thermal head 14 is located in the concave portion 8 of the ribbon cassette 1. .

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the pin 24 of the head pressure contact lever 22 is
In the state located at the outermost periphery of the head pressure contact lever 22, the head pressure contact lever 22 is pivoted to the leftmost in FIG. 4 and the head mounting base 25 is operated together with the head pressure contact lever 22. The thermal head 14 is held in a head-up state separated from the platen 12 by the swing of the nozzle 22. In this state, the swing plate 30
Since the pin 32 is located at the innermost periphery of the ribbon take-up cam groove 21, the swing plate 30 is swung to the rightmost in FIG. 4, and the transmission gear 33 is separated from the take-up gear 36. Held in state. For this reason, the carriage 13
Is moved along the platen 12, the winding gear 36 is not rotated, and the winding of the ink ribbon 2 is not performed.
Further, the rotation of the head pressing lever 22 causes the lever 26 to move.
The winding spring 41 is meshed with the teeth of the transmission gear 39 during this rotation operation, and the rotation of the lever 26 further rotates the transmission gear 39 in the ribbon winding direction. The slack of the ink ribbon 2 can be wound up.

Next, when performing a predetermined printing, as shown in FIG. 3, the motor 15 is driven to rotate the cam 18 from the state shown in FIG. Is located closest to the center of rotation of the head contact / separation cam groove 20, the head pressure lever 22 is pivoted rightward about the support shaft 23. As a result, the head mount 25 is operated together with the head pressure lever 22, and the thermal head 1 is moved.
4 is held in a head-down state pressed against the platen 12.

On the other hand, in this state, since the pins 32 of the rocking plate 30 are located at the outermost periphery of the cam groove 21 for winding the ribbon, the rocking plate 30 is turned leftward from the state shown in FIG. As a result, the transmission gear 33 of the swing plate 30 is engaged with the winding gear 36.

In this state, by moving the carriage 13 along the platen 12, the drive gear 28 is driven to rotate via the rack 27, whereby the take-up gear 36 and the second Winding gear 4
0 is rotated. As a result, the take-up bobbin 35 and the second take-up bobbin 38 are driven to rotate at a predetermined speed, and while the take-up reel 4 and the take-up guide roller 6 are respectively rotated to take up the ink ribbon 2 of the ribbon cassette 1, The printing is performed on a predetermined sheet by driving the thermal head 14 on the basis of the print signal.

In this case, in the present embodiment, the ribbon cassette 1 in which the ink ribbon 2 for hot-melt transfer is stored.
The inner diameter of the feed guide roller 5
Since the inner diameter is set to be engaged with the delivery bobbin 37, the delivery guide roller 5 of the ribbon cassette 1
3 is properly engaged with the second delivery bobbin 37, and the load by the second delivery bobbin 37 is applied to the delivery guide roller 5, whereby a predetermined tension is applied to the ink ribbon 2. Thus, the ink ribbon 2 can be sent out with an appropriate tension necessary for the thermal fusion transfer printing.

The inside diameter of the delivery guide roller 5 of the ribbon cassette 1 in which the thermal sublimation transfer ink ribbon 2 is stored is set to be large so that it can be freely rotated by freely fitting to the second delivery bobbin 37. Therefore, the delivery guide roller 5 is freely rotated when the ink ribbon 2 travels, and the load by the delivery guide roller 5 is not applied. The load application member 7 applies a slight tension to the ink ribbon 2, for example, smaller than the load applied to the second delivery bobbin 37. Even when no tension is applied to the ink ribbon 2, it is possible to apply tension to the ink ribbon 2 and to prevent the ink ribbon 2 from sagging or the like, thereby performing thermal sublimation transfer printing with a weak tension. .

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ink ribbon 2 to be accommodated is the ink ribbon 2 for hot-melt transfer.
The tension applied to the ink ribbon 2 can be changed by changing the inner diameter of the delivery guide roller 5 of the ribbon cassette 1 depending on whether the ink ribbon 2 is a thermal sublimation transfer ink ribbon 2 or not. Appropriate tension is applied in accordance with the type of the ribbon 2, so that good printing can be performed with appropriate tension in accordance with hot melt transfer printing or thermal sublimation transfer printing.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed.

[0039]

As described above, the ribbon cassette according to the present invention is a ribbon cassette in which an ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer is stored.
The inner diameter of the delivery guide roller of the cassette is set to the second delivery button.
Large inner diameter so that it can be freely rotated by freely fitting into the bottle
So that the feeding guide is used when the ink ribbon runs.
The roller will be rotated freely, and the ink ribbon
Do not apply a load, and
10 to 50 gcm for the ink ribbon
, So the sending guide row
When tension is not applied to the ink ribbon by
Also apply the appropriate tension to the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer.
Can be given, causing the ink ribbon to slack, etc.
Can be prevented, and as a result, thermal sublimation transfer
The effect is that good printing can be performed with an appropriate tension according to the ink ribbon for use .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing one embodiment of a ribbon cassette accommodating an ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a thermal transfer printer to which a ribbon cassette according to the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 3 is an internal plan view showing a head-down state of the thermal transfer printer of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an internal plan view showing a head-up state of the thermal transfer printer of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 ribbon cassette 2 ink ribbon 3 delivery reel 4 take-up reel 5 delivery guide roller 6 take-up guide roller 7 load applying member 12 platen 13 carriage 14 thermal head 34 delivery bobbin 35 take-up bobbin 37 second delivery bobbin 38 2nd winding bobbin

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 32/00 B41J 35/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A removably mounted upper surface of a carriage reciprocally movable along a platen, and internally engaged with a delivery bobbin and a take-up bobbin disposed on the upper surface of the carriage, respectively. A delivery reel and a take-up reel around which the ink ribbon for thermal sublimation transfer is wound are provided, and are positioned closer to the ink ribbon supply side than the thermal head mounted on the carriage to apply tension to the ink ribbon. A ribbon cassette provided with a delivery guide roller engaged with a second delivery bobbin, wherein an inner diameter of the delivery guide roller is set to the second delivery size.
Large bobbin so that it can be freely rotated
And the delivery guide roller and the delivery
10 to 50 with respect to the ink ribbon
A load applying member for applying g · cm tension is provided.
A ribbon cassette.