JP3683049B2 - 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 print character and a heading character are formed is rotatably supported on a selection wheel or the like, and is rotated so that a desired print character can be printed. In this way, ink is applied to the printed characters and imprinted on the label.
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]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made 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. And
[0006]
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.
[0007]
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.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention includes an operation shaft for printing selected provided in parallel, respectively two, a sleeve rotatable integrally respectively on the operating shaft, by operating the operation shaft while rotatably supported by the sleeve A selection wheel capable of selecting a printing character by a printing wheel, 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 the sleeve A moderation groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction, and a first urging mechanism that can be engaged with the indexing groove from a radial direction of the operation shaft, and a radial direction of the sleeve A second urging mechanism that can be engaged with the moderation groove, the two urging shafts can be urged by the first urging mechanism, and the second urging mechanism the mechanism, octopus and energizable the two sleeves A printing selection device in the print device according to claim.
[0009]
The first biasing mechanism for indexing for urging the steel ball for a pair of indexing engageable with the indexing groove, the pair of indexing steel balls to each groove the indexing And a spring.
[0010]
The second biasing mechanism includes a pair of moderation steel balls that can be engaged with the moderation groove, and a moderation spring that biases the pair of moderation steel balls to the moderation groove, respectively. be able to.
[0012]
The first urging mechanism can be provided at one end of the operation shaft, and the second urging mechanism can be provided at the other end of the operation shaft.
[0014]
In addition to the printing endless band, the present invention can also be applied to a printer having a type ring engaged with a heading ring corresponding to a selection wheel.
[0015]
In the print selection device in the printer according to the present invention, the plurality of rows of indexing grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation shaft are urged by the first urging mechanism to restrict the movement of the operation shaft in the axial direction ( The moderation groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve that rotates integrally with the operation shaft is urged by the second urging mechanism to restrict its rotation (to ensure the moderation). did.
[0016]
Therefore, the first urging mechanism and the second urging mechanism are provided in the vicinity of the operation shaft along the axial direction and the radial direction of the operation shaft, and the first urging mechanism and the second urging mechanism are provided. Since the regulation by the mechanism is immediately transmitted to the operation of the operation shaft, the operation feeling is responsive and natural and appropriate.
Moreover, since both the first urging mechanism and the second urging mechanism are provided in association with the operation shaft or the sleeve that rotates integrally with the operation shaft, the restriction by the respective urging forces acts equally on the operation shaft. Therefore, there is no sense of incongruity in operation when selecting printing, and workability during assembly is also good.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, a print selection device in the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is a cross-sectional view of a printer 1 and a print selection device 2 installed in the printer 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. , A printer frame 3, 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.
[0018]
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.
[0019]
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 steel balls 12 and the indexing steel balls 12 are indexed into the indexing grooves 4A. The operating shaft 4 and the indicator 10 can be set (indexed) in a predetermined row by a first biasing mechanism 14 having an indexing spring 13 biasing in the direction.
[0020]
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.
[0021]
The rotary pin 11 rotates integrally with the operation shaft 4 and protrudes to the inner peripheral surface of the selection wheel 5 through the axial slit 15A of the sleeve 15 rotatably provided in the printer frame 3, and is selected in an arbitrary row. The wheel 5 can be engaged with the inner peripheral engagement groove 5A.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sleeve 15, and moderation grooves 15 </ b> B are formed at equal angular intervals on the circumferential surface of the end adjacent to the first urging mechanism 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the second biasing mechanism 18 having a moderation steel ball 16 and a moderation spring 17 that biases the moderation steel ball 16 to the moderation groove 15B has a predetermined moderation. The printing endless band 7 is rotatable.
[0023]
That is, FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement state of the moderation steel ball 16 and the sleeve 15 as viewed from the side, and when the operation shaft 4 rotates, the moderation steel ball 16 is in each moderation groove 15B. Will move.
When the operation shaft 4 moves in the axial direction, the indexing steel balls 12 move in the respective indexing grooves 4A.
Therefore, by using the parts of the operation shaft 4 and the sleeve 15, the column indexing operation by the operation shaft 4 and the rotation operation in which the moderation of the selection wheel 5 is secured can be performed.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing endless band 7 is formed with a predetermined number of printing characters 7A and heading characters 7B divided into respective regions on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
However, a printing blank portion 7C is formed in each boundary area. As described later, when the rotation of the selection wheel 5 is stopped to prevent the movement of the printing endless band 7 (stain prevention), respectively. The printing blank portion 7 </ b> C faces the index window portion 8 and the ink roller facing opening 9.
[0025]
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.
[0026]
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.
[0027]
However, the heading character 7B does not come into contact with the ink roller R by the stopper member 19.
That is, the stopper member 19 is rotatable about the claw portion rotation shaft 20, and the stopper member 19 integrally includes the engaging claw portion 19A, the alignment spring portion 19B, and the drive arm portion 19C. Formed.
However, the engaging claw portion 19A can be engaged with the outer peripheral engaging groove 5B of the selection wheel 5, and the driving arm portion 19C can be engaged with the high driving projection 7A of the printing endless band 7.
Further, the aligning spring portion 19B has a spherical end portion 19D inserted into the guide portion 21 so as to be slidable.
[0028]
That is, when the operation shaft 4 is operated in a predetermined row to rotate the selection wheel 5 and the printing endless band 7 is rotated (for example, counterclockwise), the driving protrusion of the printing endless band 7 is high. The portion 7E engages with the drive arm portion 19C of the stopper member 19, and the drive arm portion 19C rotates about the claw portion rotation shaft 20 (counterclockwise), and this rotational displacement is immediately (for example, in the figure). It is transmitted to the engagement claw portion 19 </ b> A (on the right side) and engages with the outer peripheral engagement groove 5 </ b> B of the selection wheel 5. Accordingly, further rotation of the selection wheel 5 is prevented, and the heading character 7B of the printing endless band 7 is not positioned on the printing cradle unit 6.
[0029]
The aligning spring portion 19B is in a state where its spherical end portion 19D slides slightly upward in the guide portion 21 and is elastically accumulated by being slightly bent.
[0030]
When the selection wheel 5 is rotated in the opposite direction (clockwise), the stopper member 15 returns to the original position shown in FIG. 1 by the elastic force of the aligning spring portion 19B.
[0031]
In the printer 1 and the print selection device 2 configured as described above, when the operating shaft 4 is moved in the axial direction, the indexing steel ball 12 of the first biasing mechanism 14 is applied by the biasing force of the indexing spring 13. By operating the operating shaft 4 while being urged in the direction of the indexing groove 4A of the operating shaft 4, it is possible to select the selection wheel 5 (endless band 7 for printing) in an arbitrary row.
[0032]
By rotating the operation shaft 4 in the selected predetermined row, the selection wheel 5 is rotated through the rotary pin 11.
At this time, an arbitrary printed character 7A (heading character 7B) is pressed while the moderation steel ball 16 of the second urging mechanism 18 is urged in the direction of the moderation groove 15B of the sleeve 15 by the urging force of the moderation spring 17. You can choose.
[0033]
Thus, since the first urging mechanism 14 and the second urging mechanism 18 are provided in the vicinity of the operation shaft 4 and the sleeve 15, an operation with a reliable response is realized as an operation feeling. be able to.
Further, since the first urging mechanism 14 and the second urging mechanism 18 are provided in the vicinity of the operation shaft 4 in the axial direction and in parallel with each other, the restriction by the respective urging forces is controlled by the operation. It acts on the shaft 4 evenly, and there is no sense of incongruity in operation when printing is selected, and workability at the time of assembly is also good.
[0034]
Next, FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of the printer 30 equipped with the print selection device 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG.
[0035]
The print selection device 31 in the printer 30 includes a first urging mechanism 32 corresponding to the first urging mechanism 14 and a second urging mechanism 33 corresponding to the second urging mechanism 18. Have. The other configuration is substantially the same as the print selection device 2 (FIG. 1) in the printer 1.
[0036]
The first biasing mechanism 32 has a pair of front and rear indexing steel balls 12 and an indexing spring 13 that biases the indexing steel balls 12 so as to be separated from each other. The steel balls 12 can urge the operation shafts 4 of the printer 1 at the same time.
[0037]
The second urging mechanism 33 includes a pair of front and rear moderation steel balls 16 and a moderation spring 17 that urges the moderation steel balls 16 to be separated from each other, and the moderation steel balls 16 are printed. Each sleeve 15 of the vessel 1 can be simultaneously energized.
[0038]
In the printer 30 and the print selection device 31 configured as described above, similarly to the print selection device 2, a print selection operation can be performed by the operation shaft 4 of each printer 1.
Further, in restricting the movement and rotation of the operation shaft 4 and the sleeve 15 in each printer 1, the indexing spring 13 and the moderation spring 17 can be used together, simplifying the configuration with fewer parts, Indexing and moderation can be ensured.
Since the first urging mechanism 32 and the second urging mechanism 33 are provided separately at both ends of the operation shaft 4, it is possible to feel the difference in resistance transmitted to the operation shaft 4 when they function. It can be an operation aid.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention as described above, since the first biasing mechanism and the second biasing mechanism digits set, in the simple configuration, can be operated with the appropriate sense of challenging, further, two rows Space can be effectively used especially in a printing type printer.
In addition, when restricting the movement and rotation of the respective operation shafts and sleeves in each printer, the indexing spring and the moderation spring can be used together, simplifying the configuration with fewer parts and reducing the indexing and moderation. Can be secured.
In addition, since the first urging mechanism and the second urging mechanism are provided separately at both ends of the operation shaft, it is possible to feel the difference in resistance transmitted to the operation shaft when each functions and to assist the operation. can do.
[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 a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
3 is a side view of the sleeve 15. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a moderation steel ball 16 and a sleeve 15 as viewed from the side.
FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of a printer 30 equipped with a print selection device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer (Fig. 1)
2. Print selection device in printer 1 (first embodiment, FIG. 2)
3 Printing frame 4 Operation shaft 4A for selecting printing 5 Indexing groove 5 for operating shaft 4 Selection wheel 5A Inner peripheral engagement groove 5B of selection wheel 5 Outer peripheral engagement groove 6 of selection wheel 5 Print receiving base 7 Endless printing Band 7A Printing character 7B of printing endless band 7 Heading character 7C of printing endless band 7 Printing blank part 7D of printing endless band 7 Low driving protrusion 7E of printing endless band 7 High driving of printing endless band 7 Protruding portion 8 Heading window portion 9 Ink roller facing opening portion 10 Indicator 10A Indicator portion 11 of indicator 10 Rotary pin 12 Steel ball for indexing 13 Spring for indexing 14 First biasing mechanism 15 Sleeve 15A Axial direction of sleeve 15 Slit 15B Moderation groove 16 of sleeve 15 Steel moderation steel bob 17 Spring 18 for moderation Second biasing mechanism 19 Stopper member 19A Engaging claw portion 19B of stopper member 19 Alignment spring portion 19C of stopper member 19 Drive arm portion 19D of stopper member 19 Spherical shape of alignment spring portion 19B End portion 20 Claw portion rotation shaft 21 Guide portion 30 Printer (FIG. 5)
31 Print Selection Device in Printer 30 (Second Embodiment, FIG. 5)
32 First urging mechanism 33 Second urging mechanism R Ink roller

Claims (4)

An operation shaft for selecting a print provided in parallel with each other , a sleeve that can rotate integrally with each of the operation shafts, and a print character selected by operating the operation shaft while rotatably supporting the sleeve. A printing selection device for a printer having a selection wheel, 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 the moderation is performed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve. A first urging mechanism capable of engaging with the indexing groove from the radial direction of the operation shaft, and the moderation groove from the radial direction of the sleeve. A second urging mechanism engageable with the first urging mechanism, the two urging mechanisms can be urged by the first urging mechanism, and two printing, wherein a sleeve was energizable Print selection device in. Wherein the first biasing mechanism includes a pair of indexing steel ball engageable with the indexing groove, for indexing for urging the pair of indexing steel balls to each of the indexing grooves The print selection device for a printer according to claim 1, further comprising a spring. The second urging mechanism includes a pair of moderation steel balls that can be engaged with the moderation groove, and a moderation spring that urges the pair of moderation steel balls to the moderation groove, respectively. The printing selection device for a printer according to claim 1.  The first urging mechanism is provided at one end of the operating shaft, and the second urging mechanism is provided at the other end of the operating shaft. Item 2. A print selection device for a printer according to item 1.

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