JP6019309B2 - Ink ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Description

The present invention belongs to the technical field of an ink ribbon cassette that contains a pancake-like ink ribbon that is used by being attached to a printer.

  This type of conventional ink ribbon cassette 100E is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the inside of a hollow casing constituted by the cover 1E and the case 2E winds up the feeding core 3E in which the ink ribbon 5E is wound up in a pancake shape and the ink ribbon 5E fed out from the feeding core 3E. A winding core 4E is rotatably provided. In addition, the ink ribbon cassette 100E is formed with a space 10E into which a print head (not shown) of the printer enters when the ink ribbon cassette 100E is attached to the printer. At the time of printing by the printer, the ink ribbon 5E is drawn out from the feeding core 3E and pulled out to the space 10E. After the ink on the ink ribbon 5E is transferred to the transfer medium by the print head, the ink ribbon 5E is wound around the winding core 4E. It is done.

In this kind of ink ribbon cassette, it is required to provide both an ink ribbon cassette having the same outer shape and containing an ink ribbon having a wide ribbon width and an ink ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon having a narrow ribbon width. was there.
Here, the same outer shape indicates that the outer shapes of the ink ribbon cassettes viewed from the six directions X1, X2, Y1, Y2, Z1, and Z2 shown in FIG. 5 are the same. Therefore, for example, when viewed from one of the six directions, even if there are an ink ribbon cassette having a concave shape at a portion that does not affect the outer shape of the ink ribbon cassette and an ink ribbon cassette having no concave shape, the ink ribbon cassette is viewed from the six directions. If the outer shapes are all the same, the two ink ribbon cassettes have the same outer shape.

Conventionally, even if the ink ribbon cassette has the same outer shape, when using an ink ribbon with a different ribbon width, an ink ribbon cassette with all parts such as a case and a cover is provided for each ribbon width. The ink ribbon cassette was manufactured separately, or provided with a case and cover adapted to the larger ribbon width, and only the internal components were provided for each ribbon width.

However, if the former is adopted as a means for manufacturing two types of ink ribbon cassettes having the same outer shape and different ribbon widths, it is necessary to manufacture molds for all parts including cases and covers for each ribbon width. The production of the cover was very laborious and expensive.

On the other hand, when the latter is adopted as a means for manufacturing two types of ink ribbon cassettes having the same outer shape and different ribbon widths, it has been difficult to prevent poor running of the ink ribbon due to printing by a printer.

An ink ribbon cassette 100F in the case where the latter is adopted as means for manufacturing two types of ink ribbon cassettes having the same outer shape and different ribbon widths has a configuration as shown in FIG. The ink ribbon cassette 100F is not an ink ribbon having the largest width that can be accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette but an ink ribbon having a smaller width than that. The ink ribbon cassette 100F is an ink fed from the feeding core 3F and the feeding core 3F in which the ink ribbon 5F is wound up in a pancake shape inside a hollow casing composed of the same cover 1E and case 2E as the ink ribbon cassette 100E. A winding core 4F that winds up the ribbon 5F is rotatably provided. Since the ink ribbon cassette 100F accommodates the ink ribbon 5F having a smaller ribbon width than the ink ribbon cassette 100E, the feeding core 3F and the winding core 4F are separated from each other by a gap slightly wider than the width of the ink ribbon. Flanges 33F and 44F are provided.

However, in the ink ribbon cassette 100F, with respect to the width of the ink ribbon 5F,
The inner height of the ink ribbon cassette is very large. For this reason, even if the ink ribbon 5F fed from the feeding core 3F is skewed in one direction of the ribbon width until being wound on the winding core 4F, the ink ribbon 5F is not in contact with anything other than the flanges 33F and 44F. Drive without anything. Therefore, when the ink ribbon 5F is skewed in one direction of the ribbon width by the action of the print head or the like of the printer, there is nothing to stop this skewing. Since there is nothing to stop the skew, the ink ribbon 5F is largely skewed, and a running failure such as the ink ribbon being broken or cut is likely to occur.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink ribbon cassette having the same outer shape, which is excessive when providing both an ink ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon having a wide ribbon width and an ink ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon having a narrow ribbon width. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon cassette that can prevent poor running due to skew of the ink ribbon without incurring the production cost of the ink ribbon cassette.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least a feeding core in which at least an ink ribbon is wound up in a pancake shape and a winding core that winds up an ink ribbon fed out from the feeding core are rotatably provided in a hollow casing. Ink ribbon cassettes having the following characteristics (a) to (d).
The housing is composed of one case and two covers.
The casing is configured by engaging and fixing covers on both sides of one case.
Engagement fixing means for the case and the two covers are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the two covers and the front and back surfaces of the case.
(D) The height of the cassette of the ink ribbon cassette differs between when the front surface of the cover is engaged and fixed to the case and when the rear surface of the cover is engaged and fixed to the case.

A second invention is the ink ribbon cassette according to the first invention, wherein the two covers have the same shape.

  According to the present invention, the engagement fixing means for the case and the two covers is provided on both the front and back surfaces of the two covers and the front and back surfaces of the case, and the surface of the cover is engaged and fixed to the case; The inside height of the ink ribbon cassette can be changed when the back surface of the cover is engaged and fixed to the case. Moreover, since the cassette height can be changed only by changing the direction of fixing the shape of the two covers to the case, the cassette height can be changed without changing the outer shape of the ink ribbon cassette.

  Therefore, two types of ink ribbon cassettes having the same outer shape and the same height inside the cassette can be provided by combining one case and two covers without producing a case and a cover for each ribbon width.

In addition, since the cassette inner height can be sized to suit the ribbon widths of the two types of ink ribbons, both the two types of ribbon ribbon width ink ribbon cassettes can prevent running defects due to the skew of the ink ribbons. Can do.

The top view seen from one cover of the ink ribbon cassette which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, AA sectional drawing of the top view, BB sectional drawing, and the external appearance perspective view of the state which open | released both covers It is. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ink ribbon cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from one cover of an ink ribbon cassette in which a surface of a cover that is engaged and fixed to a case is a surface on the opposite side of FIG. They are AA sectional drawing, BB sectional drawing, and the external appearance perspective view of the state which open | released both the covers. It is the top view seen from one cover of the ink ribbon cassette which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention, AA sectional drawing of the top view, and the external appearance perspective view of the state which open | released both covers. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ink ribbon cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from one cover of the ink ribbon cassette with the surface of the cover engaged and fixed to the case as the opposite surface of FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of this, and the external appearance perspective view of the state which open | released both the covers. It is the top view seen from the case side of the conventional ink ribbon cassette, AA sectional drawing of the top view, BB sectional drawing, and the external appearance perspective view of the state which open | released the cover. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon having a narrower ribbon width than the ink ribbon cassette of FIG. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. FIG. 1 is a plan view seen from one cover of an ink ribbon cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention, AA sectional view and BB sectional view of the plan view, and a state where both covers are opened. FIG.

  An ink ribbon cassette 100A shown in FIG. 1 includes a feeding core 3A in which an ink ribbon 5A is wound up in a pancake shape inside a hollow casing composed of one case 2A and two covers 1A and 1AA. A winding core 4A that winds up the ink ribbon 5A fed from the feeding core 3A is rotatably provided. In addition, the ink ribbon cassette 100A has a space 10A into which a print head (not shown) of the printer enters when the ink ribbon cassette 100A is mounted on the printer.

  A plurality of fitting pins 6A are provided on both the surface of the case 2A that is engaged and fixed with the cover 1A and the cover 1AA. The cover-1A and the cover 1AA are provided with a plurality of fitting holes 7A at positions corresponding to the fitting pins 6A of the case 2A. The outer diameter dimension of the fitting pin 6A and the inner diameter dimension of the fitting hole 7A are set so that the insertion of the fitting pin 6A into the fitting hole 7A is press-fitted. Therefore, the case 2A, the cover 1A, and the cover 1AA are engaged and fixed by press-fitting the fitting pins 6A into the corresponding fitting holes 7A.

  As shown in the AA cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, when the cover 1A and the cover 1AA are engaged and fixed on both sides of the case 2A, the inner height of the cassette becomes slightly larger than the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 5A. For this reason, even if the ink ribbon 5A is skewed in the width direction, the ink ribbon 5A immediately contacts the inner surface of the cassette. Therefore, even if the ink ribbon 5A is skewed in one direction in the ribbon width direction by the action of the print head of the printer, the skew is immediately stopped and no running failure of the ink ribbon occurs. The difference between the cassette inner height and the ribbon width is preferably 2 to 6 mm, and more preferably 2 to 4 mm.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 1A is provided with a fitting hole 7A on the surface opposite to the surface engaged with the case 2A in FIG. 1 at a position corresponding to the fitting pin 6A of the case 2A. Yes. Further, a fitting hole 7A is provided at a position corresponding to the fitting pin 6A of the case 2A on both the cover 1AA and the surface opposite to the surface engaged with the case 2A in FIG.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, even if the cover 1A and the cover 1AA are exchanged with the case 2A interposed therebetween, the case 2A and the cover 1A and the case 2A and the cover 1AA can be engaged and fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the ink ribbon cassette 100B of FIG. 2, the surfaces of the cassette covers 1A and 1AA exposed to the outside in the ink ribbon cassette 100A of FIG. 1 become the back surface of the ink ribbon cassette. As shown in FIG. 2, in the ink ribbon cassette 100B, the cassette inner height is set to be smaller than that of the ink ribbon cassette 100A. The inner height is a dimension set in accordance with the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 5B used in the ink ribbon cassette 100B, and the cassette inner height is set slightly larger than the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 5B. The difference between the cassette inner height and the ribbon width is preferably 2 to 6 mm, and more preferably 2 to 4 mm.

Therefore, even if the ink ribbon 5B is skewed, the ink ribbon 5B immediately comes into contact with the inner surface of the cassette. Therefore, even if the ink ribbon 5B is skewed in one direction in the ribbon width by the action of the print head of the printer or the like, the skewing is immediately stopped, and the running failure of the ink ribbon does not occur.

  Further, since the ink ribbon cassettes 100A and 100B have the cover 1A and the cover 1AA engaged in different directions with respect to the case, the ink ribbon cassettes 100A and 100B have the same outer shape.

FIG. 3 is a plan view seen from one cover of the ink ribbon cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention, an AA sectional view of the plan view, and an external perspective view in a state where both covers are opened. .

  The ink ribbon cassette 100C of FIG. 3 engages with the engagement hook 8C from the combination of the fitting hole 7A and the fitting pin 6A in FIG. 1 by engaging and fixing the case 2C with the two covers 1C and 1CC. Except for the combination of the protrusions 9C, the shape is the same as that of the ink ribbon cassette 100A in FIG.

  A plurality of hooks 8C are provided on the side surface of the case 2C in FIG. A plurality of engaging projections 9C are provided on the side surfaces of the cover-1C and the cover 1CC at positions corresponding to the engaging hooks 8C of the case 2C. By engaging the engagement protrusion 9C with the engagement hook 8C, the case 2C, the cover 1C, and the cover 1CC are engaged and fixed.

  In the ink ribbon cassette 100C, the case and cover are engaged and fixed only by a combination of a hook and a protrusion. However, in order to facilitate positioning when the case and the cover are assembled, the ink ribbon cassette 100C is fitted with a fitting pin provided on the ink ribbon cassette 100A. A joint hole may be used in combination. However, it is not necessary to press-fit the fitting pin into the fitting hole, and the fitting hole inner diameter may be larger than the fitting pin outer diameter.

The ink ribbon cassette 100D in FIG. 4 is obtained by replacing the cover-1C and the cover 1CC of the ink ribbon cassette 100C in FIG. 3 with the case 2C interposed therebetween. The engaging protrusions 9C provided on the covers 1C and 1CC engage with the engaging hooks 8C even if the covers 1C and 1CC are replaced with the case 2C interposed therebetween. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, even if the covers 1C and 1CC are replaced with the case 2C sandwiched from the state of FIG. 3, the case 2C, the cover 1C, and the cover 1CC are engaged and fixed.

The ink ribbon cassette 100D shown in FIG. 4 engages with the engagement hook 8C from the combination of the fitting hole 7A and the fitting pin 6A shown in FIG. 2 by engaging and fixing the case 2C with the two covers 1C and 1CC. The shape is the same as that of the ink ribbon cassette 100B of FIG. 2 except that the combination of the protrusions 9C is changed.

  Since both the ink ribbon cassettes 100C and 100D can be set to a cassette height corresponding to the ribbon width of the ink ribbon to be stored, even if the ink ribbon is skewed in one direction in the ribbon width, the ink ribbon is skewed immediately. Similarly to the ink ribbon cassettes 100A and 100B, the ink ribbon is stopped on the inner surface of the cassette and no running failure of the ink ribbon occurs.

  Further, since the ink ribbon cassettes 100C and 100D have the engagement directions of the cover 1C and the cover 1CC engaged with the case, the ink ribbon cassettes 100C and 100D have the same outer shape.

In the ink ribbon cassettes 100A and 100B, the covers 1A and 1AA may have the same shape. Further, in the ink ribbon cassettes 100C and 100D, the covers 1C and 1CC may have the same shape. If they have the same shape, there is only one type of mold for molding the cover, so that the labor and cost of manufacturing the cover can be further reduced.

  In the above embodiment of the present invention, the ink ribbon cassette is configured with five parts of the ink ribbon, the case, the cover, the feeding core, and the winding core. However, if necessary, other parts may be appropriately provided. good.

  For example, in order to reduce the running resistance of the ink ribbon, a roller that rotates in contact with the ink ribbon and rotates along with the running of the ink ribbon, an elastic member that touches the ink ribbon and applies the tension of the ink ribbon, etc. May be provided.

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. Moreover, 2nd embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4.

1A, 1AA, 1C, 1CC, 1E: Covers 2A, 2C, 2E: Cases 3A, 3B, 3E, 3F: Feeding cores 4A, 4B, 4E, 4F: Winding cores 5A, 5B, 5E, 5F: Ink ribbon 6A : Fitting pin 7A: Fitting hole 8C: Engagement hook 9C: Engagement protrusions 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F: Space 33F (printer print head enters) Space 33F: Feeding core flange 44F: Winding Core flange 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, 100F: Ink ribbon cassette

Claims (2)

An ink ribbon cassette in which a feeding core in which at least an ink ribbon is wound up in a pancake shape and a winding core that winds up the ink ribbon fed out from the feeding core are rotatably provided in a hollow casing. An ink ribbon cassette having the following features (a) to (d).
(A) The casing is composed of one case and two covers.
(A) The casing is configured by engaging and fixing covers on both sides of one case.
(C) Engaging and fixing means for the case and the two covers are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the two covers and the front and back surfaces of the case.
(D) The height of the cassette of the ink ribbon cassette differs between when the front surface of the cover is engaged and fixed to the case and when the rear surface of the cover is engaged and fixed to the case. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the two covers have the same shape.

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