JP5574681B2 - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly, to a thermal transfer printer characterized by a connection structure between an ink bobbin around which an ink sheet is wound and a drive unit that drives the ink bobbin.

  In a general thermal transfer printer, for example, an ink sheet in which a plurality of color components such as Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are combined, or an ink sheet that includes OP (overcoat) in each color combination. The desired color is printed by superimposing and transferring each color on paper such as photographic paper and sticker paper using heat generated by the thermal head. Further, at the time of printing, a printed matter having a desired length can be created by synchronizing the conveyance speed of the ink sheet and the conveyance speed of the paper and conveying the paper at a constant speed. The ink sheet is a continuous sheet in which each color is repeatedly provided in order, and is held by the ink cartridge while being wound around an ink bobbin.

  When printing, it is necessary to rotate the ink bobbin held in the ink cartridge to supply / rewind the ink sheet with the set tension. To perform such an operation, the ink sheet It is necessary to connect and operate the bobbin and a driving mechanism such as a motor for driving the ink bobbin.

  Further, in the above-described thermal transfer type printer, the ink sheet is a consumable item, so that it must be easily replaceable.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a drawer portion is housed in a housing from a state in which a drawer portion provided with an ink ribbon cassette is pulled out from a printer housing (that is, an ink sheet and an ink bobbin are detachable (replaceable)). In this case, a printer is disclosed in which the ink bobbin and the drive shaft are connected to each other to enable printing by sliding the ink bobbin in the ratchet direction connected to the drive shaft in conjunction with the housing of the drawer portion ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-137225 A

  In Patent Document 1, since the driving shaft receives an axial pressing force from an ink bobbin arranged on the same shaft, there is a problem that a load is generated that impedes the rotational power of the driving shaft due to friction. Further, since the mechanism for connecting / releasing the ink bobbin and the drive shaft is separately provided at both ends of the printer, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and the structure becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer type printer that has a simplified configuration by reducing the number of components while suppressing the load on the rotational power of the drive shaft. And

In order to solve the above problems, a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is detachable at a predetermined mounting position, and is opposed to an ink bobbin around which an ink sheet is wound and one end of the ink bobbin at the mounting position. It has a shaft extending on the central axis of the ink bobbin, and a frame that can move between the first position and the second position within the housing, and is slidable in the extending direction of the shaft around the shaft. And a slide unit that can contact / separate the ink bobbin by sliding along the shaft and that can rotate the ink bobbin at the time of contact, and the frame from the first position. And a pressing member provided on the housing so as to be able to come into contact with the slide unit when moved to the position 2 so that the slide unit and the pressing member are in contact / non-contact with each other. And moving, the slide unit and the ink bobbin contact / apart, slide unit is fitted to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the shaft, first provided on the central axis of the end of the ink bobbin A reel base having a second abutting portion that can abut / separate from the abutting portion, a slide base held on the reel base across the frame so as to be in contact with the pressing member, and the reel base and the slide base A first elastic means provided between the slide base and the frame, and provided between the slide base and the frame, in a direction to separate the slide base and the frame. A second elastic means for applying a force is further provided, and the slide unit, the second elastic means, and the pressing member are provided collectively on one side of the ink bobbin .

According to the present invention, the shaft has a shaft extending on the central axis of the ink bobbin so as to face one end of the ink bobbin at the mounting position, and between the first position and the second position in the housing. A movable frame and a shaft that is slidable in the extending direction of the shaft with the shaft as an axis and straddling the frame can be contacted / separated from the ink bobbin by sliding along the shaft. A slide unit capable of rotationally driving the bobbin, and a pressing member provided in the housing so as to be in contact with the slide unit when the frame is moved from the first position to the second position. in conjunction with the contact / non-contact, and a slide unit and the ink bobbin contact / apart, slide unit, movable in its axial direction relative to the shaft A reel base that is externally fitted and has a second contact portion that can be contacted / separated from the first contact portion provided on the central axis of one end of the ink bobbin, and straddles the frame so as to be able to contact the pressing member A slide base held by the reel base, and a first elastic means provided between the reel base and the slide base for applying a force in a direction to separate the reel base and the slide base; A second elastic means provided between the frame and for applying a force in a direction to separate the slide base and the frame; and the slide unit, the second elastic means, and the pressing member are provided on one side of the ink bobbin. Since they are provided in an integrated manner, it is possible to suppress the load on the rotational power of the drive shaft and to simplify the configuration by reducing the number of parts.

It is sectional drawing in the case where the thermal transfer type printer by Embodiment 1 of this invention is an open state. It is an external view of FIG. 1 by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the case where the thermal transfer type printer by Embodiment 1 of this invention is a closed state. FIG. 4 is an external view of FIG. 3 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing in case the thermal transfer type printer by Embodiment 2 of this invention is an open state. It is sectional drawing in the case of the thermal transfer type printer by Embodiment 2 of this invention being a closed state.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the thermal transfer printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention in an open state, and FIG. 2 is an external view of FIG. In the thermal transfer printer according to the present embodiment, for example, the ink bobbin 1 around which the ink sheet 100 is wound is provided in the ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is held by the door frame 9. Therefore, when the ink sheet 100 is replaced, the positions of the ink bobbin 1 and the ink cartridge with respect to the door frame 9 are roughly determined. Further, the door frame 9 is pushed into the casing 12 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1) to enable printing, and the ink frame 100 is replaceable by pulling the door frame 9 out of the casing 12. In this embodiment, the state (position) in which the door frame 9 is housed in the housing 12 is the closed state (second position), and the state (position) in which the door frame 9 is pulled out from the housing 12 is the open state ( First position).

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the thermal transfer printer according to the first embodiment, the ink cartridge, that is, the ink bobbin 1 is detachable from the door frame 9 at a predetermined mounting position, and the ink sheet 100 is wound thereon. The door frame 9 (frame) has a shaft 8 extending on the central axis of the ink bobbin 1 so as to face one end of the ink bobbin 1 at the mounting position, and is open and closed in the housing 12. It is possible to move between. The unit 7 (slide unit) is provided across the door frame 9 so as to be slidable in the extending direction of the shaft 8 with the shaft 8 as an axis, and abuts / separates the ink bobbin 1 by sliding along the shaft 8. The ink bobbin 1 can be driven to rotate at the time of contact. The spring 10 (second elastic means) is provided between the slide base 3 and the door frame 9 provided in the unit 7 and applies a force in a direction in which the slide base 3 and the door frame 9 are separated from each other. . The pressing member 11 is provided in the housing 12 so as to be in contact with the unit 7 when the door frame 9 moves from the open state to the closed state.

  The unit 7 includes a reel base 2, a slide base 3, a reel disk 4, a spring 5, and a screw 6. The reel base 2 is externally fitted to the shaft 8 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and a contact portion 1A provided on the central axis at one end of the ink bobbin 1 (refer to the first contact portion, see FIG. 3). 2A (second contact portion, see FIG. 3). The slide table 3 is held by the reel base 2 across the door frame 9 so as to be in contact with the pressing member 11. This holding is performed by screws 6 provided at two locations with the central axis removed as shown in FIG. The reel disk 4 is rotatably fitted to the reel base 2 and can be fitted / separated in a fitting portion 1B (first fitting portion, see FIG. 3) provided at one end of the ink bobbin 1. 4A (second fitting portion, see FIG. 3). The spring 5 (first elastic means) is provided between the reel base 2 and the slide table 3 and applies a force in a direction in which the reel base 2 and the slide table 3 are separated from each other. The screw 6 (first holding member) described above is provided by winding a spring 5 between the reel base 2 and the slide base 3, and one end passes through the door frame 9 and is fixed to the reel base 2. The other end holds the slide table 3 so that the slide table 3 and the reel base 2 are not separated from each other by a predetermined distance or more (so that the slide table 3 can approach the predetermined distance or less). It should be noted that a holding member (second holding member, FIG. 5) holds at least one of the reel base 2 and the reel disc 4 so that the outer fit of the reel disc 4 with respect to the reel base 2 is held without being moved in the axial direction. (Not shown) may be provided. For example, the reel disk 4 may be held by a holding member such as a claw so that it does not come off in the axial direction.

  When the thermal transfer type printer is in the open state, the reel base 2 and the slide base 3 are maintained in a state of being separated by the predetermined distance by the spring 5. Further, a force is applied to the door frame 9 and the slide table 3 in a direction away from each other by a spring 10, and the slide table 3 is held integrally with the reel base 2 by a screw 6 having one end fixed to the reel base 2. (The slide base is movable in the extending direction of the reel base 2, but the movement is restricted by the head of the screw 6). Therefore, as the slide base 3 is moved away from the frame 9 by the spring 10, the reel base 2 approaches the door frame 9 along the shaft 8, and finally comes into contact with the door frame 9 and further. It is restricted so that it cannot move (open state shown in FIG. 1). Thus, the position (movement) of the unit 7 is determined according to the position (movement) of the reel base 2 according to the open / close state.

  When the thermal transfer printer is in the open state, the reel base 2 is separated from the ink bobbin 1 by a constant distance, and the reel disk 4 is also separated from the ink bobbin 1 by a constant distance.

  As described above, the unit 7 is integrated, and the reel base 2 is externally fitted to the shaft 8 and part of the reel base 2 is provided through the door frame 9, so that it is fixed to the door frame 9 and the door frame 9. As the shaft 8 moves in the front-rear direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 1 or the opposite direction), the unit 7 also moves in the front-rear direction. When the thermal transfer printer is in the open state, the reel base 2 is in contact with the door frame 9, but when a force from the left side in FIG. 1 is applied, the reel base 2 (unit 7) is the ink bobbin 1. It is possible to slide in the direction.

  3 is a cross-sectional view of the thermal transfer printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a closed state, and FIG. 4 is an external view of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the door frame 9 is housed in the housing 12, the taper portion 11 </ b> A of the pressing member 11 and the inclined portion 3 </ b> A of the slide base 3 start to contact each other, and slide in conjunction with the contact. The table 3 gradually moves toward the door frame 9. As the slide table 3 approaches the door frame 9, the spring 10 contracts, and the unit 7 slides in the direction of the ink bobbin 1 in conjunction with the slide table 3. When the unit 7 slides a predetermined distance, the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 and the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 and the fitting portion 4A of the reel base 2 and the fitting portion 1B of the ink bobbin 1 are placed. Each abut or fit. In this way, the unit 7 and the ink bobbin 1 are brought into contact / separated in conjunction with the contact / non-contact between the unit 7 (more specifically, the slide base 3 of the unit 7) and the pressing portion 11.

  Further, the unit 7 slides in the direction of the ink bobbin 1 so that the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 and the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 come into contact with each other, and at the same time, the slide table 3 and the door frame 9 come close to each other. A force for urging the reel base 2 in the direction of the ink bobbin 1 is applied by the interlocking spring 5, and the contact surfaces of the contact portions 1A and 2A are constant in the direction of the ink bobbin 1 (right arrow direction in FIG. 3). The pressing force is given. Accordingly, the ink bobbin 1 may rotate depending on the tension of the ink sheet 100 depending on the case, but unnecessary rotation is prevented by applying a pressing force to the contact surface. Further, since the end of the ink bobbin 1 opposite to the unit 7 is rotatably supported by another mechanism (not shown), it is supported even when a pressing force from the reel base 2 by the spring 5 is applied. It will not move beyond the position it is in.

  The shape of the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 is conical, and the shape of the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 is spherical. Accordingly, the contact portion 2A and the contact portion 1A are in contact with each other, and at the same time, the axis of the reel base 2 and the axis of the ink bobbin 1 are aligned (coaxial). Further, since the contact portions 2A and 1A have a small contact point, the loss torque of the rotational driving force can be reduced.

  In addition, the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 and the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 are in contact with each other, and the fitting portion 4A of the reel disk 4 and the fitting portion 1B of the ink bobbin 1 are provided in each other member. The ink bobbin 1 can be rotationally driven by being engaged with the convex teeth formed in a staggered manner and being rotated on the reel base 2 by applying a driving force to the reel disk 4. In other words, when the slide table 3 and the door frame 9 approach in conjunction with the contact between the slide table 3 and the pressing member 11, the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 and the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 contact each other. The fitting portion 1B of the reel disk 4 and the fitting portion 4A of the ink bobbin 1 are fitted together. At this time, the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 contacts the contact portion 1A in the axial direction of the ink bobbin 1, and the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 and the fitting portion 4A of the reel disk 4 are mutually connected. There is no contact in the axial direction of the ink bobbin 1. Accordingly, a pressing force is applied to the contact surface between the contact portion 1A and the contact portion 2A, and therefore a load on the rotational power of the ink bobbin 1 fitted to the reel disk 4 is suppressed.

  When the door frame 9 is pulled out from the housing 12 in the closed state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the open state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained. In the open state, for example, the used ink sheet 100 or the like can be replaced.

  When the door frame 9 is pulled out from the housing 12, the slide table 3 is moved to the reel base by the spring 5 in conjunction with the inclined portion 3 </ b> A of the slide table 3 being pulled out while being in contact with the tapered portion 11 </ b> A of the pressing member 11. Move away from 2. Further, in conjunction with the slide table 3 being separated from the door frame 9 by the spring 10, the unit 7 slides to the open position shown in FIGS. Along with this sliding movement, the fitting portion 4A of the reel disk 4 and the fitting portion 1B of the ink bobbin 1 are separated from each other, so that the mutual fitting is naturally released.

  From the above, since the pressing force is applied to the contact surface between the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 and the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2, the ink bobbin 1 fitted to the reel disk 4 (drive shaft). The load applied to the rotational power is suppressed. In addition, since the mechanisms required for attaching and detaching the ink bobbin 1 and the unit 7 are concentrated on one side of the housing 12, the number of parts can be reduced and it can be produced at low cost. Further, the ink bobbin 1 and the unit 7 can be easily brought into contact / separated simply by pushing the door frame 9 into the housing 12 or pulling it out of the housing 12 (changing the open / close state). Exchange of 100 becomes easy.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view when the thermal transfer printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention is in an open state. As shown in FIG. 5, the thermal transfer printer according to the second embodiment is in contact with a support 16 supported by a support 17 that is fixed to the door frame 9 and a rotating lever pressing member 14 (pressing member). A rotating lever 13 is provided that rotates around the support column 16 and biases the slide table 3 that is in contact with the rotation in the direction of the door frame 9. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the thermal transfer printer is in the open state, the rotary lever 13 is maintained in a predetermined state by a coil spring 15. At this time, the unit 7 and the ink bobbin 1 are separated from each other by the spring 10.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when the thermal transfer printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention is in a closed state. As shown in FIG. 6, when the thermal transfer printer is in the closed state, one end of the rotation lever 13 contacts the rotation lever pressing member 14 and rotates around the column 16. The unit 7 is moved in the direction of the ink bobbin 1 by urging the slide base 3 that contacts the other end of the rotation lever 13 in the direction of the ink bobbin 1 (in the direction of the door frame 9) in conjunction with the rotation of the rotation lever 13. And slide to enable contact and mating.

  When the door frame 9 is pulled out, the rotating lever 13 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 5 by the coil spring 15, and the contact / fitting between the ink bobbin 1 and the unit 7 is released.

  From the above, even when the unit 7 and the ink bobbin 1 are contacted / fitted / released using the rotary lever 13, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Embodiment 3>
Embodiment 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the shape of the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 in Embodiments 1 and 2 is spherical, and the shape of the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 is conical. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first or second embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

  Even when the shape of the contact portion 2A of the reel base 2 is spherical and the shape of the contact portion 1A of the ink bobbin 1 is conical, the same effect as in the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

<Embodiment 4>
In Embodiment 4 of the present invention, instead of the screw 6 used in Embodiments 1 to 3, a slide base 3 and a reel base 2 having the same function as the screw 6 such as a T-shaped rod are used. It is characterized in that a holding member (not shown) that is integrated is used. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first to third embodiments, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  From the above, even if a holding member having the same function as that of the screw 6 is used instead of the screw 6 used in the first to third embodiments, the same effects as those of the first to third embodiments can be obtained. .

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink bobbin, 1A contact part, 1B fitting part, 2 reel base, 2A contact part, 3 slide stand, 3A inclination part, 4 reel disk, 4A fitting part, 5 spring, 6 screw, 7 unit, 8 Shaft, 9 Door frame, 10 Spring, 11 Pressing member, 11A Taper, 12 Housing, 13 Rotating lever, 14 Rotating lever pressing member, 15 Coil spring, 16 Strut, 17 Strut supporting member, 100 Ink sheet.

Claims (6)

An ink bobbin which is detachable at a predetermined mounting position and wound with an ink sheet;
It has a shaft extending on the central axis of the ink bobbin so as to face one end of the ink bobbin at the mounting position, and is movable between a first position and a second position within the housing. The frame and
It is provided across the frame so as to be slidable in the extending direction of the shaft around the shaft, and can be contacted / separated from the ink bobbin by sliding along the shaft. A slide unit capable of rotating the ink bobbin;
A pressing member provided on the housing so as to be in contact with the slide unit when the frame is moved from the first position to the second position;
With
In conjunction with the contact / non-contact between the slide unit and the pressing member, the slide unit and the ink bobbin are contacted / separated ,
The slide unit is
A second abutting portion that is externally fitted to the shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction thereof and that can abut / separate with a first abutting portion provided on a central axis of the one end of the ink bobbin; A reel base having,
A slide base held on the reel base across the frame so as to be able to contact the pressing member;
First elastic means that is provided between the reel base and the slide base and applies a force in a direction to separate the reel base and the slide base;
With
A second elastic means provided between the slide base and the frame, and applying a force in a direction to separate the slide base and the frame;
The thermal transfer type printer , wherein the slide unit, the second elastic means, and the pressing member are provided collectively on one side of the ink bobbin . The slide unit,
It is fitted pivotably to the front Symbol reel base, the reel disk having the first second fitting portion fitting / separable to the fitting portion provided on one end of the ink bobbin The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, further comprising: The first elastic means is provided between the reel base and the slide base, one end passes through the frame and is fixed to the reel base, and the other end is the slide base and the reel base. Doo is further comprising a first holding member for holding the slide base so as not separated by more than a predetermined distance, a thermal transfer type printer according to claim 1 or 2. At least one of the reel base and the reel disk further includes a second holding member that holds the outer fit of the reel disk with respect to the reel base so as not to move in the axial direction but to be rotatable. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 2. A column supported by a column support member fixed to the frame;
  A rotation lever that rotates around the support by contacting the pressing member, and that urges the slide base in contact with the rotation in the direction of the frame;
The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, further comprising: The shape of the first contact portion of the ink bobbin is a spherical shape, and the shape of the second contact portion of the reel base is a conical shape, or the shape of the first contact portion is 3. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the shape is a conical shape, and the shape of the second contact portion is a spherical shape. 4.

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