JP3640364B2 - Ribbon subcassette and ribbon loading method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ribbon sub-cassette having a Mobius block and a ribbon loading method for loading a ribbon into the ribbon cassette using the ribbon sub-cassette.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to facilitate replacement of an ink ribbon in an ink ribbon cartridge used in a printer, a ribbon subcassette containing a refilling ink ribbon and a Mobius block is known.
[0003]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, such a ribbon sub-cassette has an endless ink ribbon 9a having a side-opening door on one side 3a of opposing side pieces 3a, 4a of a box-shaped storage case 1a opened at the top. Is folded and stored in the storage case 1a, and the remaining portion 10a of the ribbon is placed on the folded ribbon 9a, and a box-shaped Mobius block 11a having an open top that reverses the front and back of the ribbon is arranged on the side piece 4a side. The Mobius block has a ribbon inversion portion 12a inside 11a, and a ribbon outlet 15a and a ribbon inlet 16a provided in opposing side pieces 13a and 14a are formed in a slit shape.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional ribbon sub-cassette, when a ribbon is loaded into the ribbon cassette, the upper part of the Mobius block 11a is opened and the ribbon 9a in the Mobius block is exposed. For this reason, if a hand etc. touches the ribbon 9a carelessly, the ribbon 9a will come out from the ribbon outlet 15a or the ribbon inlet 16b, and the ribbon 9a needs to be set again on the Mobius block 11a. .
[0005]
This drawback can be prevented by providing a stopper 11b at the open end of the slit constituting each of the ribbon outlet and the ribbon inlet, but in this case, an advanced molding technique is required for manufacturing the Mobius block. There is a new disadvantage of cost.
[0006]
Further, when the ribbon is loaded into the ribbon cassette, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the door 3a of the ribbon sub-cassette is opened, and then the door 3a is directed to the storage portion 18b of the ribbon cassette 17b. The rear side is lifted so that the entire ribbon sub-cassette is inclined, the ribbon 9a and the Mobius block 11a are poured into the storage portion 18b of the ribbon cassette 17b, and then the storage case 1a is removed as shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 20a denotes a ribbon drive feed roller installed in the printer. Since such ribbon loading is performed, if the distance between the ribbon subcassette door 3a and the storage portion 18b of the ribbon cassette 17b and the lifting angle behind the ribbon subcassette door 3a are inappropriate, the ribbon loading fails. It becomes easy to induce. For this reason, when it is unfamiliar with loading and immature, it takes time to load and there is a drawback that ribbon loading is not easy.
[0007]
Further, since the Mobius block 11a is arranged on the side piece 4a side of the storage case 1a, as shown in FIG. 6, the ribbon fed by the ribbon drive feeding roller 20a after being loaded into the ribbon cassette 17b. However, since the Moebius block 11a accumulates between the Mobius block 11a and the ribbon drive retraction roller 20a in the storage unit 18b and pushes the Mobius block 11a, it is necessary to move the Mobius block 11a in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cassette storage unit 18b. Consideration is required. For this reason, the Mobius block has a problem that a special shape and structure that is slippery are required.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon subcassette and a ribbon loading method in which the ribbon is difficult to come out of the Mobius block, the structure is simple, and the ribbon can be loaded easily. .
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a slit-shaped outlet and an inlet are provided in opposing side pieces of a box-shaped storage case that opens upward, and most of the endless ink ribbon is folded in the storage case. Ribbon sub-cassette which is stored at the outlet of the storage case by turning the box-like Mobius block open at the top and turning the ribbon back and out, and then turning the ribbon upside down. is there.
[0010]
Further, the invention according to claim 2 is a Mobius block in which a box-shaped Mobius block has a ribbon inversion portion inside, and a ribbon outlet and a ribbon inlet provided in opposing side pieces are formed in a slit shape. The ribbon sub-cassette according to claim 1.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 3 is the ribbon sub-cassette according to claim 1, wherein the remaining portion of the endless ink ribbon is arranged along the outer wall of the storage case.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a slit-shaped outlet and an inlet are provided in opposing side pieces of a box-shaped storage case having an upper opening, respectively, and the endless ink ribbon is folded into the storage case in a folded state. Store the ribbon part out of the storage case from the outlet and entrance, turn over the Mobius block that opens the top and reverse the ribbon, and place it at the outlet of the storage case. Ribbon sub-cassettes along the direction of the ribbon cassette and the outlet of the storage case are aligned so that the opening side of the storage case faces the storage part of the ribbon cassette, and then the ribbon cassette is stored. Remove the storage case, leaving the ribbon and Moebius block in the section, and then remove the remaining ribbon from the ribbon cassette ribbon outlet. A ribbon loading method characterized by passing.
[0013]
One of the features of the present invention is that a box-shaped Mobius block having an open top that reverses the front and back of the endless ink ribbon is turned over and disposed in the storage case. By doing this, it is possible to prevent the hand from inadvertently touching the ribbon of the Mobius block, making it unnecessary to re-set the ribbon on the Mobius block, and also eliminating the need to prevent the ribbon from coming off. Becomes easy.
[0014]
Another feature of the present invention is that a Mobius block is disposed at the outlet of the storage case. As long as the ribbon outlet of the ribbon cassette and the outlet of the storage case are aligned, the Mobius block is placed at the ribbon outlet of the ribbon cassette after loading into the ribbon cassette. For this reason, there is no movement in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cassette housing part, and consideration of slipping of the Mobius block is unnecessary.
[0015]
A feature of the present invention is that the opening side of the storage case is inserted facing the storage portion of the ribbon cassette, and then the storage case is removed leaving the ribbon and Moebius block in the storage portion of the ribbon cassette. In this way, unlike the method of pouring the ribbon and Mobius block, the ribbon can be easily loaded by a single operation even when the loader is unfamiliar.
[0016]
Another feature of the present invention is that the remaining portion of the ink ribbon runs along the outer wall of the storage case. In this way, after loading the ribbon cassette, unlike the case where the rest of the ribbon is placed on the folded ribbon, the remainder of the ribbon does not fall under the folded ribbon. This makes it possible to prevent an accident that separates the folded ribbon and causes the ribbon remaining portion to easily pass through the ribbon drawer opening of the ribbon cassette.
[0017]
Here, the “ribbon cassette” includes, in addition to the ribbon cassette as shown in FIG. 2, a ribbon storage device fixed to the printer and installed as shown in FIG.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, description will be given based on the drawings.
[0019]
The storage case 1 in the ribbon sub-cassette shown in FIG. 1 is formed in a box shape having an upper opening at the bottom piece 2 and the four side pieces 3, 4, 5, and 6. The opposing side pieces 3 and 4 have vertical slits. A shaped outlet 7 and an inlet 8 are formed. The storage case 1 uses, for example, paper that is inexpensive and suitable for disposable use.
[0020]
The ribbon 9 is a fabric ribbon and is formed into an endless Mobius loop. The ribbon 9 is accommodated in the storage case 1 in a manner that most of the ribbon is folded in a meandering shape when viewed from above, and the remaining portion 10 of the ribbon protrudes from the outlet 7 and the inlet 8. Further, a box-like Mobius block 11 is attached to the ribbon 9.
[0021]
The Mobius block 11 has a ribbon inversion portion 12 inside, and a ribbon outlet 15 and a ribbon inlet 16 are provided in the opposing side pieces 13 and 14, respectively. Both the ribbon outlet 15 and the ribbon inlet 16 are formed only by vertical slits. Then, the ink ribbon 9 is passed through the Mobius block 11 through the path of the ribbon inlet 16, the ribbon reversing unit 12, and the ribbon outlet 15. The guide block 11 is made of a hard material such as a synthetic resin material suitable for guiding the ribbon 9.
[0022]
The Mobius block 11 is turned upside down and disposed at the outlet 7 of the storage case 1 as shown in FIG.
[0023]
The above ribbon sub-cassette can be packaged in a vinyl bag so as to be suitable for transportation and storage.
[0024]
In order to load a ribbon into a ribbon cassette using the ribbon subcassette, the ribbon subcassette in FIG. 1 is aligned with the ribbon outlet 19 of the ribbon cassette 17 and the outlet 7 of the storage case 1 and the opening of the storage case 1 is opened. The ribbon case 17 is removed while the ribbon 9 and the Mobius block 11 are left in the storage portion 18 of the ribbon cassette 17, and the remaining portion 10 of the ribbon is removed from the ribbon cassette 17. All operations are completed simply by passing the ribbon outlet 19 and the ribbon inlet 20.
[0025]
The ribbon cassette described above is detachable from the printer, but in addition, a ribbon can be loaded into a ribbon cassette 17a in which a storage portion 18a as shown in FIG. 3 is fixed to the printer.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, slit-like outlets and inlets are provided in opposing side pieces of a box-shaped storage case that opens upward, and most of the endless ink ribbon is stored in a folded state in the storage case. At the same time, the remainder of the ribbon is taken out of the storage case from the outlet and entrance, and the box-shaped Mobius block with the upper opening that reverses the front and back of the ribbon is turned over and placed at the outlet of the storage case. Can be prevented from touching the Mobius block, and it is not necessary to re-set the ribbon on the Mobius block, and it is not necessary to prevent the ribbon from coming off, which makes it easy to manufacture the Mobius block. Furthermore, as long as the ribbon outlet of the ribbon cassette and the outlet of the storage case are aligned, the Mobius block can be placed at the ribbon outlet of the ribbon cassette after loading into the ribbon cassette. There is no movement in the longitudinal direction of the cassette housing portion, and therefore there is an effect that consideration of slipping of the Mobius block becomes unnecessary.
[0027]
The ribbon sub-cassette with the ribbon remaining along the outer wall of the storage case is aligned with the ribbon drawer outlet of the ribbon cassette and the outlet of the storage case, and the opening side of the storage case faces the ribbon cassette storage. Next, remove the storage case, leaving the ribbon and Moebius block in the ribbon cassette storage, and pass the remaining ribbon through the ribbon outlet and the ribbon inlet of the ribbon cassette. There is no movement in the hand direction, so there is no need to consider Mobius block slipping, and unlike the conventional method of pouring the ribbon and Mobius block, even if the loader is unfamiliar, the ribbon can be easily operated with a single operation In addition, after loading the ribbon cassette, the rest of the ribbon is collected. Because it is along the outer wall of the case, the rest of the ribbon does not lie under the folded ribbon, which can prevent accidental pulling of the folded ribbon due to inadvertent withdrawal of the remaining ribbon, There is an effect that it becomes easy to pass the remaining ribbon through the ribbon outlet and the ribbon inlet of the ribbon cassette.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon sub-cassette of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ribbon cassette in which the ribbon is loaded into the ribbon cassette using the ribbon sub-cassette, and the ribbon and Moebius block are transferred.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of a ribbon cassette.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional ribbon sub-cassette.
5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the door of the ribbon sub-cassette of FIG. 4 is opened.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette in which a ribbon is loaded into the ribbon sub-cassette using the ribbon sub-cassette and the ribbon and the Mobius block are transferred.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage case 2 Bottom piece 3, 4, 5, 6 Side piece 7 Outlet 8 Inlet 9 Ribbon 10 Ribbon remaining part 11 Mobius block 12 Ribbon inversion part 13, 14 Side piece 15 Ribbon outlet 16 Ribbon inlet 17, 17a Ribbon cassette 18, 18a Storage part 19 Ribbon outlet

Claims (4)

Slit-shaped outlets and inlets are provided on opposite side pieces of the box-shaped storage case that opens upward, and the majority of the endless ink ribbon is stored in the storage case while the remainder of the ribbon is stored from the outlet and the inlet. A ribbon sub-cassette that is placed outside the storage case and turned upside down to open the box-shaped Mobius block that opens upward to reverse the front and back of the ribbon. The ribbon sub-cassette according to claim 1, wherein the box-shaped Mobius block is a Mobius block having a ribbon inversion portion therein and having a ribbon outlet port and a ribbon inlet port formed in opposing side pieces formed in a slit shape. The ribbon sub-cassette according to claim 1, wherein the remaining portion of the ribbon is placed along the outer wall of the storage case. Slit-shaped outlets and inlets are provided on opposite side pieces of the box-shaped storage case that opens upward, and the majority of the endless ink ribbon is stored in the storage case while the remainder of the ribbon is stored from the outlet and the inlet. Ribbon sub-cassette, which is placed outside the storage case and turned upside down on the Mobius block that opens the top and bottom of the ribbon, and is placed at the outlet of the storage case. Align the direction of the ribbon outlet and the outlet of the storage case and insert the opening side of the storage case opposite the ribbon cassette storage, then leave the ribbon and Moebius block in the ribbon cassette storage. Ribbon loading method characterized by removing and passing the remaining ribbon through the ribbon drawer outlet of the ribbon cassette .

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