JP3639061B2 - Print selection device for printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print selection device in a printer, and more particularly to a print selection device in a printer attached to a portable label printing application device (handler labeler) or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional handler labeler, for example, an endless band for printing on which a printing character and a heading character are formed is rotatably supported on a selection wheel or the like, and a desired printing character can be printed by rotating the band. For example, ink is applied to the printed characters and stamped on labels.
In this print selection, the print endless band is usually moved (moved) in the direction of the axis to select (index) the print endless band row, and the operation wheel is rotated in this row to select the selected wheel. The desired print characters in the print endless band are selected by rotating with the moderation (appropriate set state for each character or distinction of the set state).
[0003]
Such a print selection device has various mechanisms for ensuring the indexing and moderation. For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-38681 uses a support positioning member integrally formed with an elastic engagement piece. In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-218861, a positioning member integrally formed with a flexible piece and a spring-biased positioning piece are used.
[0004]
However, in both cases, since the moderation is taken in a part such as a selection wheel located away from the operation axis, there is a so-called reliable response as a feeling when selecting the print on the operator's finger. There was no problem with the operation feeling.
In addition, since the indexing mechanism and the moderation securing mechanism are located at locations apart from each other, there is a sense of incongruity in the sense of operation of each of them, and there is a sense of incongruity at the time of assembly or maintenance inspection There is a problem that it is difficult to do.
Since the elastic force of the positioning member itself is used, there is a problem that the biasing force is difficult to design.
[0005]
Furthermore, since it is necessary to provide an indexing mechanism and a moderation securing mechanism independently, the configuration becomes complicated and the number of parts increases, which causes problems in parts management and maintenance inspection work.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been considered in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a print selection device in a printer capable of performing this with a natural feeling that there is a certain response when selecting a print. To do.
[0007]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a print selection device in a printer that can ensure the indexing of column selection and moderation of print selection, and can make each operation feeling almost equal.
[0008]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a print selection device in a printer that has a simple structure and is convenient for work even during assembly work.
[0009]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a print selection device in a printer that is configured by combining an indexing mechanism and a moderation securing mechanism to reduce the number of parts and is convenient for parts management and maintenance inspection work. .
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention focuses on the combination of the indexing mechanism and the moderation securing mechanism, and also the urging mechanism in each mechanism. Printing in a printer having a sleeve inserted through the shaft and rotatable integrally with the operation shaft, and a selection wheel that is rotatably supported by the sleeve and can select a print character by operating the operation shaft A selection device, wherein a plurality of rows of indexing grooves are formed at equal intervals in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the operation shaft, and moderation through holes for equality determination are formed at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the sleeve. And an urging mechanism that can be engaged with the indexing groove of the operation shaft and the through hole for determining moderation of the sleeve from the radial direction of the operation shaft. A print selector in shape device.
[0011]
The biasing mechanism includes an indexing pin that can be engaged with the indexing groove and the moderation determining / through hole, and an index that biases the indexing pin to the indexing groove and the moderation determining / through hole. And a spring.
[0012]
By providing the biasing mechanism in the vicinity of the operation axis, it is possible to do this with a natural feeling that there is a certain response when selecting a print, and also the indexing of column selection and the moderation of print selection Can be ensured.
[0013]
In addition to the printing endless band, the present invention can be applied to a printer having a type ring that engages with a heading ring.
[0014]
In the printing selection device in the printer according to the present invention, the biasing mechanism is engaged with the indexing groove of the operation shaft and the through hole for determining the moderation of the sleeve from the radial direction of the operation shaft. The urging mechanism is also used in the part for determining the moderation of the outlet groove and the sleeve, and the number of parts can be reduced, and the respective operation feelings can be made substantially equal.
That is, as a specific operation, when operating the operating shaft in the axial direction, the urging mechanism is used to select any one of the indexing grooves of the operating shaft while being engaged with one moderation determining / through hole of the sleeve. Selectable (indexable). Further, when the operation shaft is rotated, the biasing mechanism can select any one of the through holes for determining the moderation of the sleeve while being engaged with one indexing groove of the operation shaft.
[0015]
Furthermore, since the indexing groove and the moderation securing mechanism are combined in the indexing groove and sleeve moderation through hole of the operating shaft, it is possible to work in assembly work, parts management, maintenance and inspection work, etc. Convenient to.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, a print selection device in a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is a cross-sectional view of a printer 1 equipped with a print selection device, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. The printer 1 includes a print selection device 2, a printer frame 3, and , A print selection operation shaft 4, a plurality of rows of selection wheels 5, a print cradle 6, and a plurality of rows of print endless bands 7.
[0017]
The printer frame 3 is formed with a heading window 8 at the top and an ink roller facing opening 9 at the bottom.
Ink roller R rolls in ink roller facing opening 9 so as to be able to contact endless band 7 for printing.
[0018]
The operation shaft 4 is moved in the axial direction thereof to select (index) the print endless band 7 in an arbitrary column, and the selection wheel 5 is rotated in the indexed column to move the operation shaft 4 in the print endless band 7. A specific print character is selected, and an indicator 10 and a rotary pin 11 are attached.
A plurality of rows of indexing grooves 4A are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operating shaft 4 at equal intervals in the axial direction, and the indexing pins 12 and the indexing pins 12 are biased in the direction of the indexing grooves 4A. The operating shaft 4 and the indicator 10 can be set (indexed) in a predetermined row by the indexing spring 13 that performs the indexing.
The indexing pin 12 and the indexing spring 13 constitute an urging mechanism 2A.
[0019]
The indicator 10 moves integrally with the operation shaft 4 in the axial direction of the operation shaft 4 and is free to rotate. The indicator portion 10A protrudes in the index window portion 8, and the indicator portion 10A The desired column is indicated.
[0020]
The rotary pin 11 moves and rotates integrally with the operation shaft 4, and the inner peripheral surface of the selection wheel 5 through an axial slit 14 </ b> A (see FIG. 2) of a sleeve 14 rotatably provided in the printer frame 3. It can be engaged with the inner peripheral engagement groove 5A of the selection wheel 5 in an arbitrary row.
The sleeve 14 is inserted through the operation shaft 4 and supports the selection wheel 5. Since the rotary pin 11 is engaged with the axial slit 14 </ b> A, the sleeve 14 can rotate integrally with the operation shaft 4. Therefore, by operating the operation shaft 4, the selection wheel 5 can be rotated to select a print character.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sleeve 14, and moderation determining / through holes 14 </ b> B are formed at equal angular intervals on the circumferential surface of the portion where the index pin 12 faces.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement state of the index pin 12 and the sleeve 14 as seen from the side, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the same in the axial direction when the operation shaft 4 moves in the axial direction. Then, the index pin 12 moves in each index groove 4A while the index pin 12 is fitted in the predetermined moderation determining / through hole 14B.
When the operation shaft 4 rotates, the indexing pin 12 moves in each through hole 14B for determining moderation while the indexing pin 12 is fitted in the predetermined indexing groove 4A.
Therefore, with a single component called the sleeve 14, the row indexing operation by the operation shaft 4 and the rotation operation of the selection wheel 5 can be realized while ensuring the respective moderation.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, a printing endless band 7 is stretched between a selection wheel 5 and a printing cradle 6 with a predetermined tension.
The printing endless band 7 is formed by dividing a predetermined number of printing characters 7A and heading characters 7B into respective areas on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
However, a printing blank portion 7C is formed in each boundary area. As will be described later, when the rotation of the selection wheel 5 is stopped to prevent the printing endless band 7 from moving, each printing blank portion 7C is formed. 7C faces the index window 8 and the ink roller facing opening 9.
[0023]
On the inner peripheral surface of the printing endless band 7, the portion corresponding to the printed character 7A is flat, and the portion corresponding to the heading character 7B is low enough to engage with the outer peripheral engaging groove 5B of the selection wheel 5 respectively. A driving projection 7D and a high driving projection 7E are formed.
[0024]
The low driving projection 7D and the high driving projection 7E engage with the outer peripheral engagement groove 5B of the selection wheel 5, and the rotation of the selection wheel 5 causes an arbitrary print character 7A to be printed at the ink roller facing opening 9 by ink. The roller R can be contacted.
[0025]
However, the heading character 7B does not contact the ink roller R.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a plurality of rows of stopper members 15, a metal claw rotation shaft 16, and a high driving drive formed on the print endless band 7 as described above. And a protrusion 7E.
[0026]
The stopper member 15 is positioned between the selection wheel 5 and the print cradle 6 and has an engaging claw portion 15A facing the selection wheel 5, a centering spring portion 15B, a drive arm portion 15C, Are integrally molded.
[0027]
The claw portion rotation shaft 16 enables the engagement claw portion 15A to be rotatable so that the pair of left and right lock end portions 15D of the engagement claw portion 15A can be engaged with and disengaged from the outer peripheral engagement groove 5B of the selection wheel 5.
However, as shown in FIG. 1, in a normal selectable state, a first gap S1 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the selection wheel 5 and the lock end portion 15D, thereby enabling the selection wheel 5 to rotate. .
[0028]
The claw rotation shaft 16 is made of a material having a strength capable of withstanding the rotational stress of the operation shaft 4, for example, an iron-based material or other metal material.
[0029]
The aligning spring portion 15B is located between the engaging claw portion 15A and the driving arm portion 15C, and enables the displacement of the engaging claw portion 15A and the driving arm portion 15C to be transmitted to each other, and external force is transmitted. When the operation stops, the engaging claw portion 15A and the drive arm portion 15C are returned to their original positions by the elastic force.
[0030]
The drive arm portion 15 </ b> C can be rotated around the arm rotation shaft 17 and can be engaged only with the high drive protrusion 7 </ b> E of the printing endless band 7.
That is, a second gap S2 is provided between the pair of left and right working end portions 15E of the drive arm portion 15C and the inner peripheral surface of the printing endless band 7. Only the low driving projection 7D of the printing endless band 7 can pass through the second gap S2.
[0031]
Further, the deformation elastic coefficient of the high driving projection 7E of the printing endless band 7 is set to be larger than that of the aligning spring portion 15B of the stopper member 15.
[0032]
Therefore, when the driving protrusion 7E of the printing endless band 7 is engaged with one of the left and right working ends of the driving arm 15C of the stopper member 15 by the rotation of the selection wheel 5, the driving arm The rotation of 15C around the arm rotation shaft 17 is transmitted to the engagement claw portion 15A via the aligning spring portion 15B, and the engagement claw portion 15A rotates around the claw portion rotation shaft 16 to lock. The end portion 15D engages with the outer peripheral engagement groove 5B of the selection wheel 5, and further rotation of the selection wheel 5 is prevented, so that the headline character 7B does not contact the ink roller R.
[0033]
A first pressing frame portion 3A and a second pressing frame portion 3B of the printer frame 3 are formed on the outer peripheral side of the printing endless band 7 in the drive arm portion 15C.
[0034]
In the printer 1 and the print selection device 2 having such a configuration, in a normal print selection state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an arbitrary column is determined by moving the operation shaft 4 in the axial direction, and the column is determined. If this is rotated in any direction, forward or reverse, the selection wheel 5 rotates the printing endless band 7 and stops at a position where a desired heading character 7B of the printing endless band 7 can be seen from the heading window 8.
[0035]
Specifically, first, when the operating shaft 4 is moved in the axial direction, the indexing pin 12 remains in the indexing groove 4A while the indexing pin 12 is fitted in the predetermined moderation determining / through hole 14B. Thus, a desired column can be determined in the heading window 8.
[0036]
When the operating shaft 4 is rotated while looking at the heading character 7B in the heading window portion 8 in the indexing state of this row, the indexing pin 12 remains fitted in the indexing groove 4A. Since the rotary pin 11 rotates in the through hole 14B for determining the moderation of the sleeve 14 and the selection wheel 5 is rotated, the print character 7A on the print end band 7 can be selected.
[0037]
In this selected state, the print character 7A corresponding to the selected heading character 7B is set and exposed on the print receiving base 6 at the ink roller facing opening 9, and the print character 7A is exposed by the rolling of the ink roller R. Printing can be performed by applying ink and impressing the entire printer 1 on a label by operating a hand lever (not shown), for example.
[0038]
Thus, the operation shaft 4, the sleeve 14, and the biasing mechanism 2 </ b> A can perform a desired row indexing operation and a print selection operation in the row, but these members are all disposed in the vicinity of the operation shaft 4. Therefore, the printing selection operation is natural and the operation feeling of indexing selection and moderation of printing selection can be made almost equal.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the urging mechanism that can be engaged with both the indexing groove of the operation shaft and the through hole for determining the moderation of the sleeve is provided, the number of parts can be reduced and the natural number can be reduced. A print selection operation can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a printer 1 equipped with a print selection device 2 in a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sleeve 14;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement state of the index pin 12 and the sleeve 14 as seen from the side.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the axial direction of the index pin 12 and the sleeve 14 in an engaged state.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer (Fig. 1)
2. Print selection device in printer 1 (first embodiment, FIG. 1)
2A urging mechanism (index pin 12, index spring 13)
3 Printer Frame 3A First Presser Frame 3B of Printer Frame 3 Second Presser Frame 4 of Printer Frame 3 Operation Shaft 4A for Selecting Printing 5 Indexing Groove 5 for Operating Shaft 4 Selection Wheel 5A Selection Wheel 5 Inner peripheral engagement groove 5B Outer peripheral engagement groove 6 of selection wheel 5 Printing cradle 7 Printing endless band 7A Printing endless band 7 printing character 7B Printing endless band 7 heading character 7C Printing endless band 7 printing Blank part 7D Low driving protrusion 7E of printing endless band 7 High driving protrusion 8 of printing endless band 7 Heading window part 9 Ink roller facing opening 10 Indicator 10A Indicator part 11 of indicator 10 Rotary pin 12 Indexing Pin (biasing mechanism)
13 Indexing spring (biasing mechanism)
14 Sleeve 14A Axial slit 14B of sleeve 14 Moderate determining and through-hole 15 of sleeve 14 Stopper member 15A Engaging claw portion 15B of stopper member 15 Alignment spring portion 15C of stopper member 15 Drive arm portion 15D of stopper member 15 Engagement A pair of left and right lock ends 15E of the claw portion 15A A pair of left and right working ends 16 of the drive arm portion 15C 16 Metal claw portion rotation shaft 17 Arm rotation shaft R Ink roller S1 The outer peripheral surface of the selection wheel 5 and the lock end portion 1st clearance S2 between 15D and 2nd clearance between the action end part 15E and the inner peripheral surface of the endless band 7 for printing

Claims (3)

Operation axis for print selection,
A sleeve that passes through the operation shaft and is rotatable integrally with the operation shaft;
A print selection device in a printer having a selection wheel that is rotatably supported by the sleeve and can select a print character by operating the operation shaft,
A plurality of rows of indexing grooves are formed at equal intervals in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the operation shaft, and moderation determining and through holes are formed at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve.
A printing selection device for a printer, comprising a biasing mechanism that can be engaged with the indexing groove of the operation shaft and the through hole for determining moderation of the sleeve from the radial direction of the operation shaft. The biasing mechanism is
An indexing pin that can be engaged with the indexing groove and the moderation determining / through hole, and an indexing spring that urges the indexing pin to the indexing groove and the moderation determining / throughhole. The print selection apparatus for a printer according to claim 1. 2. The print selection device for a printer according to claim 1, wherein the urging mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the operation shaft.

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