JP3496894B2 - Ink ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette used for a printer or the like, and more particularly to an ink ribbon cassette which can supply ink to an ink ribbon. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink ribbon cassette has a structure in which most of an endless ink ribbon is folded and housed in an ink ribbon cassette so that a part thereof is exposed to the outside, and this is mounted on a carriage of a printer or the like. We are using it. The ink ribbon is fed by the feed roller and used repeatedly, but when the ink contained in the ink ribbon is consumed, the ink ribbon is replaced with a new ink ribbon cassette despite the life of the base fabric of the ink ribbon itself. There must be. In order to solve such a problem and extend the life of the ink ribbon cassette, an ink supply means for supplying ink to the ink ribbon may be provided in an exchangeable manner. For example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 55-15046. That is, the ink ribbon cassette disclosed in the above-mentioned publication is configured such that an ink cartridge is removably attached to a storage case storing an ink ribbon, the ink cartridge includes an ink foam member, and the ink cartridge is moved from the ink cartridge via the ink foam member. It has a structure that supplies ink to the ribbon. [0004] However, in the conventional ink replenishing means such as the ink cartridge disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 55-15046, if there is a sudden change in temperature, etc. This causes a pressure change in the air that enters. Therefore, even if the ink leakage prevention means is provided inside the ink cartridge, the ink leakage cannot be completely stopped, and there is a problem that the ink ribbon cassette is soiled or leaks to the outside of the ink ribbon cassette. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and even if ink leaks from the ink replenishing means due to environmental changes such as temperature changes, contamination of the ink ribbon cassette or ink outside the ink ribbon cassette will occur. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon cassette that can prevent leakage. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon cartridge that can reliably supply ink. [0006] In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to a first aspect of the present invention is directed to an ink ribbon, a pair of rollers running with the ink ribbon interposed therebetween, and the ink ribbon. And a storage case to which the roller is attached, and an ink tank which stores ink and is detachable from the storage case, wherein the ink tank comprises an ink leakage receiving pocket and an ink chip, The pocket is attached to the outside of the ink tank and has at least an ink leakage receiving pocket.
Rise from the bottom of the cartridge and the bottom of the ink leak receiving pocket.
The rising wall with the ink leak pocket component
And forming them integrally in a concave shape with an open top
The ink chip is configured to be able to store more leaked ink, and the ink chip projects from the ink tank, passes above the ink leak receiving pocket, and is in contact with the roller. In the present invention, the ink reservoir may be further connected to the ink leakage receiving pocket. Examples of the ink storing means include a groove having a capillary force, and the provision of the groove has an effect that a large amount of ink leakage can be stored. In the invention according to the first aspect of the present invention, an ink leakage receiving pocket is provided below the ink chip protruding from the ink tank. For this reason, even if ink leaks from the protruding portion of the ink chip due to a change in environment, the ink will accumulate in the ink leakage receiving pocket, thereby preventing contamination of the ink ribbon cassette and prevention of ink leakage to the outside of the ink ribbon cassette. The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the figure, 1 is a box-shaped storage case, and 2 is an endless ink ribbon. A pair of arm-shaped guide portions 3 and 4 projecting forward are formed on both sides of the storage case 1. 5
Denotes a pair of rollers for sandwiching the ink ribbon 2 and includes a feed gear 5a and a follower gear 5b, and is provided at a predetermined position of the storage case 1. The feed gear 5a is supported by a feed gear guide 6, and rotates by receiving power from a printer (not shown). When the ink ribbon 2 is pulled by the roller 5, the ink ribbon 2 is stored in the storage case 1 in a folded state.
Part of the ink ribbon 2 is pulled out from the ribbon guide 4 and is exposed to the outside. Then, it enters the other ribbon guide portion 3, passes between the rollers 5, and returns to the storage case 1.
The follower gear 5b is supported by the follower gear guide 7, and is pressed by the coil spring 8 in the direction of the feed gear 5a. An opening 9 is provided in a portion of the storage case 1 facing the side surface of the feed gear 5a, and a flat portion 10 extending from the opening 9 is connected to a side edge of the storage case 2, and
A tunnel-shaped locking portion 11 is provided on the side of the opening 9 of the “0”. Reference numeral 12 denotes an ink tank which is fixed to an ink leakage receiving pocket constituting member 13. Ink tank 1
2 is provided with an ink impregnated body 14 impregnated with ink, an ink chip 15, a chip tension member 16, and a plate-shaped lid 1.
7 sealed. Examples of the material of the ink impregnated body include felt and urethane. The material of the ink chip includes felt and the like, and a rod-shaped material is used. As a material of the chip tension member, an elastic metal or resin is used, and a thin plate or a film is used.
Reference numeral 12a denotes an air hole for taking outside air into the ink tank 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the ink chip 15 side of the member 13 is provided with a concave ink leakage receiving pocket 18 which is open at the upper side and is formed by the front surface of the ink tank 12 and the bottom surface of the member 13 and three surrounding walls. Reference numeral 15 passes over the ink leakage receiving pocket 18 and contacts the feed gear 5a. A groove 18a having a capillary force is connected to the ink leakage receiving pocket 18, and this groove 18a is formed by the bottom surface and the rising wall 13a of the ink leakage receiving pocket component 13, and the side wall of the ink tank 12. I have. The tip tension member 16 is arranged on the side opposite to the side of the ink chip 15 that contacts the gear 6, in order to apply a pressing force to the ink chip 15 against the feed gear 6. The ink tank 12 and the ink leakage receiving pocket component 13 configured as described above are placed on the flat portion 10, and the tip end side of the ink leakage receiving component 13 is locked by the tunnel-shaped locking portion 11. Feed gear 5a
Of the ink tank 12 with respect to the ink gear 15, and the ink chip 15 contacts the feed gear 5a. Reference numeral 19 denotes a plate-shaped ink ribbon cassette cover, which is provided with an engaging portion 20 at an appropriate position. On the other hand, the storage case 1 has a locked portion 21 at a location corresponding to the locking portion 20.
Are provided, and the ink leakage receiving pocket constituent member 1 is provided.
3 is also provided with a similar locked portion 21. And
The ink ribbon cassette cover 19 fits and locks the locking portion 20 to the locked portion 21, and covers the upper surfaces of the storage case 1 and the ink tank 12 to cover. Thus, the ink tank 12 is fixed to the ink ribbon cassette. With such a structure, even if ink leaks from the protruding portion of the ink chip 15 due to environmental changes, the excess ink is discharged to the ink leak receiving pocket 18.
Or it will accumulate in the groove 18a having a capillary force,
It is possible to prevent contamination of the ink ribbon cassette and to prevent ink leakage to the outside of the ink ribbon cassette. Further, since the tip tension member 16 is disposed on the side of the ink chip 15 opposite to the side in contact with the feed gear 5a, a pressing force is applied to the ink chip 15 against the feed gear 5a, so Ink replenishment becomes possible. Further, the ink ribbon cassette cover 19
Locks the ink leak receiving pocket component 13 to which the ink tank 12 is fixed, so that the ink tank 12 can be prevented from being displaced with a simple structure, and the ink ribbon cassette cover 19 and the ink leak receiving pocket component 13 can be connected to each other. When the combination is released, a new ink supply means can be replaced. As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink ribbon, a pair of rollers for running with the ink ribbon interposed therebetween, the ink ribbon being housed, A storage case to which a roller is attached, and an ink tank which stores ink and is detachable from the storage case, the ink tank includes an ink leakage receiving pocket and an ink chip, and the ink leakage receiving pocket is Attached to the outside, the ink chip protrudes from the ink tank and passes over the ink leakage receiving pocket and is in contact with the roller. Therefore, even if ink leaks from the ink chip due to environmental change, the ink chip remains in the ink leakage receiving pocket. The ink will accumulate, causing contamination of the ink ribbon cassette and ink leakage to the outside of the ink ribbon cassette. Prevention becomes possible. [0022]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an ink ribbon cassette of the present invention in a state where an ink tank is separated. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of FIG. 1 showing a state where an ink tank is mounted. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a tip structure of the ink tank of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 viewed from above, showing a contact state between an ink chip of an ink tank and a roller. [Description of Signs] 1 Storage case 2 Ink ribbon 3 Ribbon guide 4 Ribbon guide 5 Roller 5a Feed gear 5b Follower gear 6 Feed gear guide 7 Follower gear guide 8 Coil spring 9 Opening 10 Flat portion 11 Tunnel-shaped locking portion 12 Ink tank 12a Air hole 13 Ink leakage receiving pocket constituent member 13a Rising wall 14 Ink impregnated body 15 Ink chip 16 Chip tension member 17 Cover 18 Ink leakage receiving pocket 18a Ink storing groove 19 Ink ribbon cassette cover 20 Locking portion 21 Locked Department

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] An ink ribbon, a pair of rollers that run across the ink ribbon, a storage case that houses the ink ribbon and has the roller attached thereto, and an ink ribbon. housed consists freely ink tank detachable on said storage case, the ink tank is provided with a pocket and ink tip receiving ink leakage, the ink leakage receiving pockets be those annexed to the outside of the ink tank, small
At least the bottom of the ink leakage receiving pocket and the ink leakage receiving
Ink leaks from the rising wall rising from the bottom of the pocket
Receiving pocket component members, with concave
To store leaked ink by integral molding
The ink ribbon cassette , wherein the ink chip projects from the ink tank, passes over the ink leakage receiving pocket, and contacts the roller.