JP4613409B2 - Thermal printer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal printer device that presses and heats an overlapped printing paper and an ink ribbon with the platen by a thermal head and prints on the printing paper with ink of the ink ribbon.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of thermal printer apparatus includes a guide member that engages the ink ribbon that has passed through the platen from the opposite side of the printing paper and guides the ink ribbon while detaching the printing ribbon from the printing paper. Things can be seen. After transfer printing on the printing paper, the ink ribbon is transported downstream together with the printing paper. At this time, the ink ribbon peeled off from the printing paper is pressed against the guide member and given tension. As a result, the peeling is promoted, and the ink ribbon is stretched and stretched in the width direction as a whole, and the ink ribbon at the printing position where the ink ribbon abuts the platen. Sag is suppressed to prevent wrinkles and good printing is performed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, due to an assembly error of each member such as a platen of the thermal printer apparatus, a ribbon cassette containing the ink ribbon is set to be inclined with respect to the platen in the axial direction thereof, or between the platen and the guide member. When the guide portion is not parallel to the axial direction of the platen, the ink ribbon is applied with tension biased by the guide portion of the guide member at one end and the other end in the width direction. As a result, the ink ribbon is wrinkled at the printing position, causing defective printing such as faint printing.
[0004]
Further, as the guide member, in particular, when the guide portion is linearly formed in the width direction of the ink ribbon, even if there is no assembly error of the thermal printer as described above, the following The occurrence of problems like this is pointed out. That is, according to the print pattern, for example, when printing is performed at a very small part in the center of the ink ribbon in the width direction, the ink ribbon may be applied even if balanced tension is applied to the entire ink ribbon by the guide member. Is pulled by the center of the ink ribbon, and wrinkles are generated at portions corresponding to the left and right sides of the platen of the ink ribbon, and the wrinkles spread to the center of the ink ribbon and deteriorate the subsequent print quality. It will be. Also, in the case where printing is performed at a portion biased to one side or the other side in the width direction of the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is pulled by the biased portion of one side or the other side where the ink ribbon is printed. A wrinkle is generated on the other side or one side opposite to the one side or the other side where printing is performed, and this wrinkle spreads to the central portion of the ink ribbon and deteriorates the subsequent print quality.
[0005]
However, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and is concerned with a slight arrangement error of each member such as a platen caused by an assembly error of the apparatus, and various printing patterns as described above. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal printer device that can perform printing with good print quality without always causing wrinkles on the ink ribbon.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, a thermal printer apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention provides: Heavy A thermal head that pressurizes and heats the printed printing paper and the ink ribbon between the platen and prints the printing paper on the printing paper with the ink of the ink ribbon; A thermal printer device including a guide member that engages and guides the ink ribbon while facilitating separation from the printing paper, The guide member is formed continuously with the first guide portion engaged with the entire width direction of the ink ribbon and the first guide portion, and is disposed downstream of the first guide portion in the ink ribbon feeding direction. A second guide portion guided after the ribbon is bent and guided by the first guide portion and peeled off from the printing paper, and the first guide portion and the second guide portion are ink surfaces of the ink ribbon. The opposite surface is guided, and the second guide part is The portions corresponding to both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon in the guide member are slightly smaller than the other intermediate portions, respectively. At the print position Projection that protrudes downstream in the ink ribbon feed direction and engages both sides of the ink ribbon Is provided It is characterized by that.
[0007]
According to the thermal printer apparatus configured as described above, the superimposed printing paper and the ink ribbon are pressed and heated between the platen and the thermal head by the thermal head, and printed on the printing paper by the ink of the ink ribbon. After printing, the ink ribbon that has passed through the platen is guided while being peeled off from the printing paper by the guide member that is engaged from the opposite side of the printing paper. And, from the portions corresponding to both sides of the ink ribbon in the width direction of the guide member, each of them is slightly smaller than the other intermediate portions. At the print position Each of the protrusions protruding downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction engages with both sides of the ink ribbon so that both sides are slightly At the print position It is guided by protruding to the downstream side in the ink ribbon feeding direction. At this time, a moderately large tension is generated on both sides of the ink ribbon, and in particular, both sides are tensioned. As a result, a slight mutual arrangement error of each member such as a platen due to an assembly error of the apparatus and a tension that is pulled to a portion where the ink ribbon is printed is applied to the ink ribbon by various printing patterns. However, the phenomenon that wrinkles occur in the ink ribbon due to the tension on the both side portions is eliminated, and therefore printing with good print quality can always be performed.
[0008]
The thermal printer apparatus according to claim 2 is wound around a take-up spool in which the upstream side of the ink ribbon is wound around a ribbon spool and the downstream side is spaced apart from the platen on the thermal head side. The guide member is arranged in the vicinity of the platen. Therefore, according to the thermal printer device configured as described above, the take-up spool is disposed apart from the platen on the thermal head side, and is disposed in the vicinity of the guide member or the platen. The ink ribbon that has passed through the platen is steered at a steep angle at the position of the guide member and guided to the take-up spool, and therefore, the ink ribbon can be reliably peeled from the printing paper, and A large tension can be reliably generated on both sides of the ink ribbon by the protrusions of the guide member.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in particular, the guide member is constituted by a plate-like member whose base is fixed to the thermal head, and the protrusions that engage with the ink ribbon are provided. Including guidance part Of the guide member The platen side is arcuate and the opposite side is open and its open end The second guide part Is bent into a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped cross section so that the ink protrudes downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction. The bent part is a first guide part, and the second guide part is The open end of each protrusion is slightly different from the open end of the other intermediate part. At the print position The ink ribbon is bent so as to open downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction. Therefore, after guiding the ink ribbon that has passed through the platen by the bent portion of the guide member having a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped cross section, both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon are opened at the open ends of the protruding portions. The side of the ink ribbon slightly At the print position The ink ribbon is guided so as to protrude downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction, and a moderately large tension is generated on both sides of the ink ribbon.
[0010]
Moreover, according to the thermal printer apparatus of Claim 4, especially, The second guide part is The outer surface of the guide member corresponding to both sides of the ink ribbon in the width direction is slightly smaller than the outer surface of each other intermediate portion. At the print position Fixes the protruding piece that protrudes downstream in the ink ribbon feed direction and engages both sides of the ink ribbon. Become It is characterized by that. Accordingly, the protrusions fixed to the outer side surfaces of the guide member corresponding to the both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon engage the both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon through the platen, and Slightly At the print position The ink ribbon is guided so as to protrude downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction, and a moderately large tension is generated on both sides of the ink ribbon.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is embodied in a thermal printing apparatus that prints characters, images, and the like on a long print sheet using a thermal head.
[0012]
On the rear side of the thermal printing apparatus, a roll sheet unit (not shown) for storing a long tape-like printing paper 1 on which characters, images, etc. are printed, is provided in a roll shape. The paper is conveyed in the forward direction fed out from the roll sheet unit or in the reverse direction of winding by the conveyance mechanism. On the downstream side of the roll sheet unit, it functions as the transport mechanism that transports the printing paper 1 in the forward direction or the reverse direction by obtaining power from a stepping motor that can rotate forward and backward. A roller-shaped platen 2 that is rotatable in the width direction is provided.
[0013]
Above the platen 2, a ribbon cassette 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is detachably mounted on the thermal printer apparatus. The ribbon cassette 3 includes a lower ribbon case 4 formed of a synthetic resin material and the like, and an upper ribbon case 6 fixed to the upper side of the lower ribbon case 4 with a plurality of screws 5. An opening 7 into which a thermal head, which will be described later, is inserted from above is provided at a substantially central portion of the ribbon cassette 3. In addition, a cylindrical ribbon storage portion 8 that is long in the width direction of the printing paper 1 is formed on the rear side of the ribbon cassette 3 upstream of the printing paper conveyance direction. A cylindrical ribbon take-up storage 9 that is long in the width direction of the printing paper 1 is formed on the front side that is downstream in the direction. A ribbon spool 11 in which a long ink ribbon 10 is wound with its printing surface facing outward is rotatably stored in the ribbon storage portion 8. A ribbon take-up spool 12 for winding the ink ribbon by a printing operation is rotatably accommodated in the ribbon take-up storage unit 9, to which the starting end of the ink ribbon 10 is fixed.
[0014]
A ribbon take-up gear 13 is provided at one end of the ribbon take-up spool 12 in the axial direction. The ribbon take-up gear 13 meshes with a drive gear (not shown) on the apparatus side, and the ink ribbon 10 It is driven at the time of winding. The ribbon spool 11 and the ribbon take-up spool 12 are stopped by a clutch means (not shown) in the direction opposite to the take-up direction of the ink ribbon 10.
[0015]
A paper pressing member 14 having a width dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the printing paper 1 is provided at the rear opening edge of the opening 7 of the ribbon cassette 3 so as to extend downstream in the printing paper conveyance direction. It has been. On both side edges of the sheet pressing member 14 in the width direction, protruding sheet pressing sections 14A and 14A that further protrude downstream in the printing sheet conveyance direction are provided. On the upper side of the base portion of the sheet pressing member 14, an ink ribbon outlet 15 for drawing out the ink ribbon 10 from the ribbon storage portion 8 is provided, and a portion facing the opening 7 of the ribbon take-up storage portion 9 is provided. Is provided with a ribbon take-up port 16 for storing the ink ribbon 10 in the ribbon take-up storage unit 9.
[0016]
Corresponding to above the platen 2, the thermal printer device is provided with a thermal head 17 functioning as image forming means. The thermal head 17 includes a support 18 that is long in the width direction of the printing paper 1, and a heating element 19 that is extended in the width direction of the printing paper 1 at a position corresponding to the platen 2 on the lower surface of the support 18. Is configured as the main part. The thermal head 17 is disposed at an operating position that presses the printing paper 1 and the ink ribbon 10 on which the heating elements 19 are superimposed by a spring action when the printing paper 1 is conveyed in the forward direction, and presses the platen 2. When the printing paper 1 is conveyed in the reverse direction, the heating element 19 is moved and arranged at a non-operating position that is spaced upward from the platen 2 against the spring action.
[0017]
The thermal head 17 is provided with a guide member 20 that guides the ink ribbon 10 while promoting the peeling of the ink ribbon 10 from the printing paper 1. The guide member 20 is configured by a flat thin iron plate (or a hard resin plate or the like), and has a width dimension slightly larger than the width dimension of the ink ribbon 10 in the width direction. The upper flat portion 21 of the guide member 20 is fixed to the upper surface portion of the support 18 of the thermal head 17 by appropriate fixing means such as welding. Further, in the vicinity of the platen 2 in the drooping portion 22 that is bent substantially perpendicularly downward from the front end portion of the upper flat portion 21, the platen 2 side is circular as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. An intermediate guide portion that is arcuate and is bent in a substantially U-shaped cross section (may be V-shaped) so that the opposite upper side is open and the open end protrudes downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction. 23, and the outer side of the intermediate guide part 23 is bent substantially in the same shape as the intermediate guide part 23 at positions corresponding to both side parts of the ink ribbon 10 in the width direction, and open ends thereof. Protrusions 24 and 24 that are bent so that the portion opens slightly downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction with respect to the open end of the intermediate guide portion 23 are provided.
[0018]
In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, the open end portion of the intermediate guide portion 23 faces slightly inward rather than upward in parallel with the hanging portion 22. As a result, the intermediate portion in the width direction of the ink ribbon 10 is not in direct contact with the front end edge of the open end, so that conveyance resistance due to contact is not added. Further, as shown in the figure, with respect to the conveyance locus X of the ink ribbon 10 guided by the intermediate guide portion 23, the both sides of the ink ribbon 10 guided by the protrusions 24, 24 on the both sides. The transport locus Y is positioned about 1 mm outside at the position of the open end of each of the protrusions 24, 24, and the transport path on both sides of the ink ribbon 10 is lengthened by that amount. A moderately large tension is generated on both sides of the.
[0019]
It should be noted that the degree of bending of the open end portions of the projecting portions 24, 24 on both sides is appropriate as shown in the figure, and if the degree of bending is reduced, it is appropriate for both sides of the ink ribbon 10. If a large tension cannot be obtained, and if the degree of bending is further increased, an excessively large tension is generated on both sides of the ink ribbon 10, and wrinkles are generated from this portion to the printing position. In addition, there is a risk that the ink ribbon 10 may be cut at each edge on the intermediate guide 23 side of each protrusion 24, 24.
[0020]
Inside the apparatus on the downstream side of the platen 2, there is provided a cutting means (not shown) for cutting the printing paper at the printing end portion.
[0021]
The present embodiment is configured as described above.
[0022]
Therefore, when printing images, characters, or the like according to the print data, the ribbon take-up gear 13 is driven to transport the ink ribbon 10 in the forward direction, and the platen 2 is rotated in the forward direction so that the printing paper 1 is loaded. It is fed out from the roll unit. The ink ribbon 10 and the printing paper 1 are separated by a paper pressing member 14 on the upstream side of the platen 2, but the printing surface of the ink ribbon 10 and the printing surface of the printing paper 1 are located upstream from the upstream side of the platen 2. At the corresponding position between the platen 2 and the heating element 19 of the thermal head 17, the overlapping portion is heated while being pressed against the platen 2 by the heating element 19, and printing is performed with the ink melted by the ink ribbon 10. Transfer printing according to the print data is performed on the paper. The printed portion is conveyed to the downstream side of the platen 2 and the printed portion is cooled.
[0023]
Then, the ink ribbon 10 is guided toward the ribbon take-up port 16 of the ribbon take-up storage portion 9 through the intermediate guide portion 23 of the guide member 20 and the U-shaped bottom portions of the protrusions 24 and 24 on both sides. Is done. At this time, the ink ribbon 10 is reliably separated from the printing paper 1 because the conveyance direction is changed at a steep angle substantially perpendicularly at each U-shaped bottom portion of the guide member 23. As shown in FIG. 6, in particular, both side portions in the width direction of the ink ribbon 10 are slightly outside (front side) than the intermediate portion corresponding to the intermediate guide portion 23 by the open ends of the protrusions 24 and 24. Therefore, a moderately large tension is generated in the middle portion of both side portions, and both side portions are tensed. As a result, even if the ink ribbon 10 is pulled toward the central portion where the ink ribbon 10 is printed or the portion where the width direction is biased, it is possible to reliably prevent wrinkles from occurring at the printing position. For this reason, there is no occurrence of defects such as fading during subsequent printing, and printing with good print quality can always be performed.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, the printing paper 1 can be conveyed in the forward direction and the reverse direction. This is because, for example, color printing can be supported. That is, yellow, red, and blue portions are provided on the ink ribbon 10. Each time this color is changed for printing, the thermal head 17 is once arranged at the non-operating position, and the printing paper 1 is returned to the printing portion corresponding to the first data of the predetermined data in the reverse direction. Thus, the ink ribbon 10 is conveyed to change the color, and the thermal head 17 is arranged at the operating position to repeat printing.
[0025]
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the guide member 23 can be formed very easily by press working using a single metal plate, so that this can be obtained very easily and inexpensively.
[0026]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0027]
That is, for example, the protrusions 24 and 24 on both sides of the guide member 23 are formed as a part of the guide member 23 by bending, but may be separated. That is, the entire guide portion of the ink ribbon 10 is formed into the shape of the intermediate guide portion 23, and is illustrated on the outer side surface of the portion corresponding to both side portions in the width direction of the ink ribbon 1 among the outer side surface on the open end side. 6 may have a protrusion degree and width similar to those of the protrusion 24 shown in FIG. 6, and a small protrusion piece having an inverted triangular cross section in the figure may be fixed by an appropriate fixing means such as an adhesive. According to this configuration, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained in guiding the ink ribbon 10, and it can be manufactured inexpensively and easily.
[0028]
Further, in the embodiment, the protrusions 24 and 24 on both sides of the guide member 23 are bent at the same angle over the entire protrusions to equalize the protrusions. The inner end edge of the direction is arranged at a position substantially equal to the open end of the intermediate guide part 23, and the bending angle is gradually increased from the inner end edge toward the outside, You may comprise so that an outermost edge part may become equal to the protrusion degree shown by FIG. In addition, the protrusions 24 and 24 on both sides are not directed to one, but each of the protrusions is a plurality of two or more protrusions, and each of the protrusions on the outer side of the protrusions on the inner side in the width direction is folded. You may comprise so that a curvature angle may be enlarged sequentially and the protrusion degree of the open end part of an outermost protrusion part may become equal to the protrusion degree shown by FIG. Even in such a configuration, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained in guiding the ink ribbon 10, and the boundary portion between the intermediate portion and both side portions in the width direction of the ink ribbon can be obtained. Can be guided more smoothly.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the thermal printer device of the first aspect of the present invention, the superimposed printing paper and ink ribbon are pressed and heated between the platen and the ink ribbon. A thermal head that prints on the printing paper with ink, and a guide member that engages the ink ribbon that has passed through the platen from the opposite side of the printing paper and guides the ink ribbon while detaching the printing paper from the printing paper. In particular, the portions corresponding to both side portions of the ink ribbon in the width direction of the guide member are slightly smaller than the other intermediate portions. At the print position Protrusions that project downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction and engage with both sides of the ink ribbon are provided.
[0030]
Accordingly, the portions corresponding to both sides of the ink ribbon in the width direction of the guide member are slightly smaller than the other intermediate portions. At the print position Each of the protrusions protruding downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction engages with both sides of the ink ribbon and protrudes and guides the both sides slightly downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction. Appropriately large tension can be generated on both sides to tension both sides. As a result, some mutual arrangement errors of various components such as platen due to assembly errors of the device, various printing, etc. Even if tension is applied to the ink ribbon by the putter, the ink ribbon will not be wrinkled by the tension on both sides. Printing with good quality can be performed.
[0031]
According to the thermal printer apparatus of claim 2, in particular, the take-up spool in which the upstream side of the ink ribbon is wound around the ribbon spool and the downstream side is spaced apart from the platen on the thermal head side. Since the guide member is arranged in the vicinity of the platen, the ink ribbon that has passed through the platen is redirected at a steep angle at the position of the guide member and guided to the take-up spool. Therefore, the ink ribbon can be reliably peeled off from the printing paper, and a large tension can be reliably generated on both sides of the ink ribbon by the protrusions of the guide member. Therefore, the phenomenon that wrinkles occur in the ink ribbon can be eliminated, and printing with good print quality can always be performed.
[0032]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in particular, the guide member is constituted by a plate-like member whose base is fixed to the thermal head, and the protrusions that engage with the ink ribbon are provided. Including guidance part Of the guide member The platen side is arcuate and the opposite side is open and its open end The second guide part Is bent into a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped cross section so that the ink protrudes downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction The bent part is a first guide part, and the second guide part is The open end of each protrusion is slightly different from the open end of the other intermediate part. At the print position The ink ribbon is bent so as to open downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction. Therefore, after guiding the ink ribbon that has passed through the platen by the bent portion of the guide member having a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped cross section, both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon are opened at the open ends of the protruding portions. The side of the ink ribbon slightly At the print position The ink ribbon can be guided to the downstream side in the feeding direction, and a moderately large tension can be generated on both sides of the ink ribbon, thus eliminating the phenomenon of wrinkles on the ink ribbon and always Printing with good print quality can be performed. Moreover, the guide member can be obtained very easily and inexpensively by simple means such as pressing one plate-like member.
[0033]
Furthermore, according to the thermal printer apparatus of claim 4, in particular, The second guide part is The outer surface of the guide member corresponding to both sides of the ink ribbon in the width direction is slightly smaller than the outer surface of each other intermediate portion. At the print position Fixes the protruding piece that protrudes downstream in the ink ribbon feed direction and engages both sides of the ink ribbon. Become Is. Accordingly, the protrusions fixed to the outer side surfaces of the guide member corresponding to the both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon engage the both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon through the platen, and Slightly At the print position It can be guided by projecting to the downstream side of the ink ribbon feeding direction, and a large tension can be generated on both sides of the ink ribbon, so that the phenomenon of wrinkles on the ink ribbon is eliminated, and the print quality is always improved. Good printing can be performed. Moreover, since the extremely small projection pieces are only fixed to the guide member, the guide member can be obtained very easily and inexpensively.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of an essential part of a thermal printer apparatus showing an embodiment embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the ribbon cassette.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lower surface of the ribbon cassette.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the guide member.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a guide member.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the guide member.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printing paper
2 Platen
10 Ink ribbon
11 Ribbon spool
12 Ribbon take-up spool
17 Thermal head
19 Heating element
20 Guide members
23 Intermediate guide
24 Projection

Claims (4)

A thermal head heavy I combined the printing paper and the ink ribbon subjected to pressure and heat between the platen is printed on the printing paper by the ink of the ink ribbon, the opposite of the printing paper in the ink ribbon has passed through the platen In a thermal printer apparatus provided with a guide member that engages from the side and guides the ink ribbon while promoting separation from the printing paper,
The guide member is
A first guide portion that engages the entire width direction of the ink ribbon;
A guide formed after the ink ribbon is bent and guided by the first guide portion and peeled off from the print paper, is formed continuously with the first guide portion and downstream of the first guide portion in the ink ribbon feeding direction. And a second guide part
The first guide portion and the second guide portion are guided on a surface opposite to the ink surface of the ink ribbon,
The second guide portion protrudes slightly downstream of the ink ribbon feeding direction at the printing position at the portion corresponding to both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon of the guide member, and from the other intermediate portion. A thermal printer apparatus, characterized in that protrusions that engage both sides are provided . The upstream side of the ink ribbon is wound around a ribbon spool, and the downstream side is configured to be wound around a take-up spool that is spaced apart from the platen on the thermal head side,
The thermal printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is disposed in the vicinity of the platen. The guide member is constituted by a plate-like member whose base is fixed to the thermal head,
A guide portion including the protrusions engaged with the ink ribbon , wherein the platen side of the guide member is arcuate, the opposite side is open, and the second guide portion, which is the open end, is downstream in the ink ribbon feeding direction. A bent portion formed into a substantially U-shaped to V-shaped cross section so as to protrude to the side is the first guide portion ,
The second guide portion, wherein the open end of each protrusion was formed bent so as to open the ink ribbon feeding direction downstream side in a slightly printing position with respect to the open end of the other of the intermediate section The thermal printer apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The second guide portions protrude on the outer side surfaces of the guide member corresponding to both sides in the width direction of the ink ribbon slightly downstream of the ink ribbon feeding direction at the printing position , respectively, from the outer surfaces of the other intermediate portions. thermal printer apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising a projecting piece fixed to engage the sides of the ink ribbon Te.

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