JP6190717B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer having a winding shaft that winds a continuous belt-like body without using a paper tube.

  2. Description of the Related Art A thermal transfer type printer that prints information such as characters and figures on a printing medium such as a label by applying heat from a thermal head to the ink ribbon and winds the used ink ribbon around a winding shaft is known. . Conventionally, a paper tube has been used for winding an ink ribbon. The paper tube was discarded along with the wound ink ribbon.

  In recent years, printers that take up an ink ribbon directly on a take-up shaft without using a paper tube have been proposed from the viewpoint of resources and environment. In Patent Document 1, a winding shaft is constituted by a fixed shaft portion and a movable shaft portion that are divided in the axial direction, and the sliding direction of the movable shaft portion is set in two stages, an oblique direction and a radial direction. A ribbon take-up device that can change the outer diameter has been proposed. According to Patent Document 1, the outer diameter of the take-up shaft is reduced by sliding the movable shaft portion in the distal direction while grasping the wound ink ribbon from the outside. The ink ribbon is taken out from the take-up shaft having a reduced outer diameter.

  Patent Document 2 proposes a printer including a ribbon take-up shaft, a reel body attached to the ribbon take-up shaft, and a take-up release lever that switches the outer diameter of the reel body between the ribbon take-up state and the ribbon take-out state. Has been. According to Patent Document 2, when the ribbon is pulled out, the reel release body is unlocked to reduce the outer diameter of the reel body. The ink ribbon is taken out from the reel body having a reduced outer diameter.

JP 2004-299862 A JP 2007-229945 A

  In the structures of Patent Documents 1 and 2, when winding the ink ribbon, it is necessary to perform an operation of fixing the take-up shaft or the reel body with the outer diameter being increased, and when pulling out the ink ribbon, the outer diameter is required. In order to reduce the size of the reel, it is necessary to perform an operation for releasing the fixing of the winding shaft or the reel body.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a printer capable of switching between a fixed state when winding an ink ribbon and a fixed release state when removing an ink ribbon with a simpler operation. The purpose is to do.

  The printer according to the present embodiment includes a thermal head that prints on a print medium, a platen roller that is disposed at a position facing the thermal head with respect to the print medium, a supply shaft that supplies a continuous strip, In a printer comprising a winding shaft that winds up the belt-like body supplied from a supply shaft, the winding shaft includes a rotating shaft, an inner peripheral member attached to the rotating shaft, and an inner peripheral member. An outer peripheral member attached to the outside, wherein the outer peripheral member is configured to be reduced in diameter by moving from the proximal end of the inner peripheral member to the distal end, and the outer peripheral member is used as the proximal end of the inner peripheral member. A switching means attached to the tip of the outer peripheral member for switching between a fixed state to be fixed and a fixed release state for releasing the fixation between the inner peripheral member and the outer peripheral member and allowing the outer peripheral member to move; The switching means comprising an urging means operable to move to a position corresponding to the fixed state and the fixed released state, and biased in a direction from the fixed released state to the fixed state. And a locking means for maintaining the position of the fixed release state of the switching means when the switching means is switched from the fixed state to the fixed release state.

  Preferably, the inner peripheral member includes a locking claw at a tip portion, and the engagement claw and the switching unit are engaged to bring the inner peripheral member and the outer peripheral member into the fixed state. The fixed release state is established by releasing the engagement between the pawl and the switching means.

  Preferably, the switching means includes a push button including an elastic body as the biasing means, and the locking means is configured by engaging a part of the push button and a part of the inner peripheral member. .

  Preferably, the inner peripheral member includes an outer diameter reduced diameter portion whose outer diameter is reduced from a proximal end to a distal end, and the outer peripheral member includes a plurality of fitting members divided along the axial direction, The plurality of fitting members are movable and include biasing means for fitting so as to be biased in the diameter reducing direction.

  According to the printer of the present invention, it is possible to switch between a fixed state when winding the belt-like body and a fixed release state when extracting the belt-like body by a simpler operation.

1 is an overall perspective view of the appearance of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the printer of FIG. 1. (A) is the expansion perspective view which looked at the printing part at the time of a closed state of a printing head part from the front, (B) is the expansion perspective view which looked at the printing part at the time of the open state of a printing head part from the front. It is a disassembled perspective view of a winding shaft. It is a perspective view of the push button seen from the base end side. It is a perspective view of a winding shaft for explaining a state when an ink ribbon is wound around the winding shaft. (A) Partial enlarged view of the tip of the winding shaft in a state where the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member are fixed, (B) A portion of the tip of the winding shaft in a state where the fixing of the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member is released It is an enlarged view. (A) Partial cross section of the tip of the winding shaft in a state where the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member are fixed, (B) A portion of the tip of the winding shaft in a state where the fixing of the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member is released It is a cross section. It is a partial cross section of the front-end | tip of the winding shaft in the state which moved the outer peripheral member from the inner peripheral member to the front-end | tip. It is a perspective view of the winding shaft in a state where the outer peripheral member is moved from the inner peripheral member to the tip. It is a partial cross section of the front-end | tip of the winding shaft in the state which moved the outer peripheral member to the base end of the inner peripheral member.

Hereinafter, an embodiment as an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the appearance of the printer according to the present embodiment.

The printer 100 according to the present embodiment includes a label printing function for printing an image such as a character, a symbol, a figure, or a barcode on a label temporarily attached to a mount.
An operation panel unit 103, a power switch 104, and an issue port 105 are provided on the front cover unit 102 in front of the printer 100.

The operation panel unit 103 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying messages and the like, a plurality of keys (line key, feed key, function key, direction instruction key, cancel key, etc.) for operating the printer 100, A plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) indicating the state of the printer 100 are arranged.
On one side surface of the printer 100, an open cover portion 106 is attached in a state that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction by two hinge portions 107.

  Next, the internal structure of the printer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the printer 100 of FIG. In the following description, the front side (front cover unit 102 side) of the printer 100 is the front side (downstream side in the continuous paper transport direction), and the back side (back cover unit side) opposite the back side is the rear side (upstream in the continuous paper transport direction). Side).

  Inside the printer 100, a paper supply unit 110 disposed behind the printer 100, a printing unit 111 disposed forward, and an ink ribbon unit 112 disposed above the printer 100 are installed.

  The paper supply unit 110 is a component that supplies the continuous paper P, which is an example of a print medium, to the printing unit 111, and includes a support shaft 110a and a roll guide unit 110b installed at one end thereof.

  The support shaft 110a is a component that supports the continuous paper P wound up in a roll shape in a rotatable state. The roll guide portion 110b is a component that fixes the roll-shaped continuous paper P, and is installed so as to be movable along the axial direction of the support shaft 110a so that the position can be changed according to the width of the continuous paper P. ing.

  The continuous paper P has, for example, a long mount and a plurality of labels temporarily attached at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. A surface of the mount that contacts the adhesive surface of the label is coated with a release agent such as silicone, so that the label can be easily peeled off. Further, a position detection mark indicating the position of the label is formed on the surface of the mount on which the label is not attached at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The label may be either thermal paper or plain paper. In the case of thermal paper, a thermal coloring layer that forms a specific color (black, red, etc.) when a predetermined temperature range is reached is formed on the surface.

  Further, there are two types of continuous paper P, a front winding label and a back winding label. The front wound label is wound in a state where the label of the continuous paper P is positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the roll-shaped continuous paper P. The continuous paper P is fed out from the center in the height direction of the paper supply unit 110 toward the bottom of the printing unit 111. On the other hand, the back-wrapped label is wound in a state where the label of the continuous paper P is positioned on the inner peripheral surface side of the roll-shaped continuous paper P. The continuous paper P is fed out from the inner bottom surface of the printer 100 toward the bottom of the printing unit 111. Note that the continuous paper P is fed through the printing unit 111 in the front winding and reverse winding. Moreover, the continuous paper P is conveyed with the surface on which the label is temporarily attached facing upward, whether it is a front winding label or a back winding label.

  The printing unit 111 described above is a component that performs printing on a label or the like of the continuous paper P. The printing head unit 113 includes a support base 114 disposed below the print head unit 113 and a damper unit 115 disposed behind them (upstream of the continuous paper P during the printing process).

  The print head unit 113 is installed inside the printer 100 so as to be openable and closable as will be described later. When the print head unit 113 is in the closed state, a sheet passing route is formed between the print head unit 113 and the support base 114. The paper passing route is connected to the above-described issuing port 105 (see FIG. 1).

  A head lock lever portion 116 that maintains the closed state of the print head portion 113 is installed on the support base 114. When the head lock lever portion 116 is operated, the closed state of the print head portion 113 is released, the front portion of the print head portion 113 is lifted, and the print head portion 113 is opened.

  The damper unit 115 is a component that applies tension to the continuous paper P. In the present embodiment, the damper portion 115 includes an outer damper portion 115a and an inner damper portion 115b, and moves up and down (opens and closes) in conjunction with opening and closing of the print head portion 113. . However, when the print head portion 113 is closed, the outer damper portion 115a and the inner damper portion 115b are installed in a swingable state so that tension can be applied to the continuous paper P, respectively.

  The above-described ink ribbon portion 112 is a component that supplies and winds up an ink ribbon coated with printing ink. An ink ribbon is an example of a continuous strip. A ribbon supply shaft 112a and a ribbon take-up shaft 1 disposed on the front side thereof are provided. The ribbon supply shaft 112a is a component that supports the ink ribbon wound in a roll shape in a rotatable state. The ribbon winding shaft 1 is a component that winds and collects the printed ink ribbon RB. When an ink ribbon is used, the ink ribbon drawn out from the ribbon supply shaft 112a is passed under the print head unit 113 and taken up by the take-up shaft 1. Examples of the belt-like body include a label mount in addition to the ink ribbon.

  In such a printer 100, the continuous paper P fed out in a sheet form from the paper supply unit 110 is conveyed to the paper passing route between the print head unit 113 and the support base 114 via the damper unit 115, and in the middle In FIG. 5, after a printing process is performed on a label or the like of the continuous paper P, the label is discharged from the issuing port 105 to the outside of the printer 100.

  Next, the configuration of the printing unit 111 will be described with reference to FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of the print unit when the print head unit is in a closed state as viewed from the front, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged perspective view of the print unit when the print head unit is in an open state as viewed from the front. is there.

  The print head portion 113 is supported by a head support plate 117 on one side surface of the print head portion 113 in a state in which the front portion thereof is swingable in the vertical direction (that is, opened and closed) about the rear rotation axis S1.

  On the lower surface of the print head unit 113 (the surface facing the sheet passing route), the thermal head unit 118 is installed in a state where the print surface is directed toward the sheet passing route. The thermal head unit 118 is a printing unit that prints an image on a label or the like of the continuous paper P by a heating resistor of the thermal head 118L disposed on the printing surface. In the thermal head 118L, a plurality of heating resistors (heat generating elements) that generate heat when energized are arranged side by side along the width direction of the continuous paper P (the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the continuous paper P).

  Concave claw portions 119 and 119 are provided on the lower surface on the front side of the print head portion 113 so as to sandwich the thermal head portion 118. In addition, pins 120, 120 protruding outward from both side surfaces of the print head portion 113 are provided behind the concave claw portion 119 on the lower surface of the print head portion 113.

  When the print head unit 113 is closed, the print surface of the thermal head unit 118 is pressed against the lower platen roller 123, and the concave claw portions 119 and 119 of the print head unit 113 are both ends of the rotation axis S2 of the platen roller 123. It is configured to be fitted to the part. The platen roller 123 is disposed at a position facing the thermal head unit 118 with respect to the continuous paper P.

  The platen roller 123 is a transport unit that transports the continuous paper P fed from the paper supply unit 110 to the issue port 105 (see FIG. 1) along the paper route. The surface of the platen roller 123 is covered with an elastic material such as hard rubber. The platen roller 123 is installed on the upper portion of the support base 114 so as to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions. A gear G1 is connected to one axial end of the rotation axis S2 of the platen roller 123. The gear G1 is engaged with a rotating shaft of a driving body (not shown) such as a stepping motor via a timing belt (not shown), for example. The gear G1 is connected to another gear (not shown) through a plurality of connecting gears (not shown).

  The outer damper portion 115a of the damper portion 115 extends obliquely downward from the front side toward the rear side when the side surface of the printing portion 111 is viewed, and the rear portion is vertically moved around the rotation axis S3 on the front side. It is supported by a damper support member (not shown) so as to be swingable in the direction.

  Further, when the side surface of the printing unit 111 is viewed, the inner damper unit 115b of the damper unit 115 extends obliquely downward from the rear side to the front side, as opposed to the outer damper unit 115a, and rotates rearward. The front part is supported by the rear part of the outer damper part 115a with the shaft S4 as the center so that the front part can swing in the vertical direction.

  In addition, a width adjustment guide portion 127 is installed below the outer damper portion 115a so as to be movable along the axial direction of the rotation axes S3 and S4. The width adjustment guide unit 127 is a component that abuts both ends in the width direction of the continuous paper P conveyed from the paper supply unit 110 and guides the conveyance of the continuous paper P. The width adjustment guide portion 127 is connected to the guide operation portion 128 on the back side of the outer damper portion 115a. The guide operation unit 128 is a knob for moving the width adjustment guide unit 127 according to the width of the continuous paper P and fixing the position of the width adjustment guide unit 127.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the winding shaft of the present embodiment. The winding shaft 1 is attached to the rotating shaft 2, the inner peripheral member 3 attached so as to cover the rotating shaft 2, the outer peripheral member 4 attached so as to cover the inner peripheral member 3, and the tip of the outer peripheral member 4. Switching means 5 provided. The rotating shaft 2 functions as a rotating shaft of the winding shaft 1, and the rotating shaft 2 is made of a metal such as stainless steel.

  The inner peripheral member 3 is configured by combining two members 31 having the same configuration. The member 31 is made of a synthetic resin such as plastic. The two combined members 31 include a flange portion 31a, an outer diameter reduced diameter portion 31b, and two locking claws 31c from the proximal end toward the distal end. The outer diameter reduced portion 31b as a whole has an outer surface shape in which the outer diameter gradually decreases from the proximal end toward the distal end. However, the outer diameter reduced diameter portion 31b may include a portion having a constant outer diameter or a portion having an increased outer diameter between the proximal end and the distal end. The member 31 is provided with a step portion 31d. A plurality of guide protrusions 31 e extending from the base end to the tip end are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the member 31. A through hole 31f is provided at the proximal end and the distal end of the member 31. A screw (not shown) is inserted through the through hole 31f. The two members 31 and the rotating shaft 2 are fixed by this screw, whereby the inner peripheral member 3 is attached to the rotating shaft 2. Each latching claw 31c is configured by a side 31c-1 extending to the tip side and a side 31c-2 extending inward. That is, each latching claw 31c has an L shape and an anti-L shape in plan view, and faces each other inward. A protrusion 31g is formed at the tip of the outer diameter reduced diameter portion 31b so as to connect the two locking claws 31c between the two locking claws 31c. The two locking claws 31c extend to the tip side as compared with the protrusion 31g.

  The outer peripheral member 4 includes two fitting members 41 and 42. The fitting members 41 and 42 have a shape obtained by dividing the cylindrical body into two along the axial direction. The fitting members 41 and 42 are made of a synthetic resin such as plastic. The fitting members 41 and 42 have an outer surface shape provided with a circumferential surface having substantially the same outer diameter from the proximal end to the distal end. The fitting members 41 and 42 are provided with a plurality of ribs 4a from the proximal end to the distal end. By the plurality of ribs 4a, the fitting members 41 and 42 as a whole have an arc-shaped inner surface shape in which the inner diameter gradually decreases from the base end to the tip end. The inner diameter of the arc-shaped inner surface of the rib 4a provided on the fitting members 41, 42 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer diameter reduced-diameter portion 31b, and is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the outer diameter reduced-diameter portion 31b. The diameter is set to be reduced from the proximal end to the distal end at the same rate. In this way, the fitting members 41 and 42 constitute the inner diameter reduced portion formed by the rib 4a whose inner diameter is reduced from the proximal end to the distal end by the inner surface thereof.

  Guide recesses 4b are formed on the inner surfaces of the fitting members 41, 42 from the base ends to the tip ends of the fitting members 41, 42. The guide recess 4b is formed by providing a notch in a part of the rib 4a. When the outer peripheral member 4 is attached so as to cover the inner peripheral member 3, the guide protrusion 31e on the outer peripheral surface of the outer diameter reduced diameter portion 31b is combined with the guide concave portion 4b. Due to the combination of the guide protrusion 31e and the guide recess 4b, the moving positions of the fitting members 41 and 42 when the fitting members 41 and 42 move between the proximal end and the distal end along the outer diameter reduced diameter portion 31b. Is determined. On the outer peripheral surface, the fitting members 41 and 42 respectively include a flat portion 4c configured by flatly forming one end surface and a flat portion 4d configured by forming the other end surface flat. It has a shape. When the fitting members 41, 42 are combined, the flat portion 4 c of the fitting member 41 covers a part of the flat portion 4 d of the fitting member 42, and the flat portion 4 c of the fitting member 42 is It is comprised so that a part of flat part 4d may be covered. At the tips of the fitting members 41, 42, a holding recess 4e is formed along the circumferential direction.

  The fitting member 42 includes a recess 42a formed at the base end, and an anti-slip member 42b that is detachably attached to the recess 42a. The anti-slip member 42b is made of a material having a high friction coefficient such as a rubber material. The anti-slip member 42b is restricted in movement in the axial direction and the rotational direction by being attached to the recess 42a via an adhesive or the like. The anti-slip member 42b is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting member 42 so that when the ink ribbon RB is wound, the ink ribbon RB is less likely to slip due to friction and is easy to wind.

  A plurality of insertion holes 4f are provided at positions at which the base end portions and the tip end portions of the fitting members 41 and 42 face each other. The insertion hole 4f is a hole through which the screw 63 is inserted. A recess 4g is provided around the insertion hole 4f.

A spacer 61 or a screw 63 provided with a spring 62 is inserted into the recess 4g of the fitting members 41 and 42. A female screw is formed on the inner periphery of the spacer 61. The screw 63 passes through the insertion hole 4f, is inserted into the spacer 61, and is screwed. The fitting member 41 and the fitting member 42 are screwed together and fitted together. The fitting member 41 and the fitting member 42 are fitted with a gap. As the distance between the gaps is shortened, the outer peripheral member 4 is reduced in diameter. A force from the outer surface side including an urging force applied from a spring 62 interposed between the spacer 61 and the fitting members 41, 42 is applied to each fitting member 41, 42. By this urging force, the gap formed between the fitting member 41 and the fitting member 42 is reduced. That is, the fitting member 41 and the fitting member 42 are urged in the diameter reducing direction by the urging means constituted by the spacer 61 provided with the spring 62 and the screw 63.
The fitting members 41 and 42 constituting the outer peripheral member 4 are supported by the outer diameter reduced diameter portion 31 b when the inner peripheral members abut on the outer surface of the member 31.

  The switching unit 5 includes a push button holder 51, a push button 52, and a spring 53 that is an elastic body that biases the push button holder 51 and the push button 52 in a direction away from each other. The elastic body that is the urging means is not limited to the spring 53. The push button holder 51 and the push button 52 are made of a synthetic resin such as plastic. The push button holder 51 includes a disc-shaped gripping portion 51a from the distal end to the proximal end, an accommodating recess 51b for accommodating the push button 52, a flange portion 51c, and a cylindrical portion 51d. An inclined surface 51e is formed on the base end side surface of the housing recess 51b. The inclined surface 51e has a shape that gradually protrudes toward the distal end side in the direction in which the push button 52 is inserted.

  The push button holder 51 is formed with a through hole 51f that passes from the cylindrical portion 51d through the flange portion 51c and reaches the housing recess 51b. The through hole 51f of the cylindrical portion 51d has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tip portion of the member 31 so that the portion from the locking claw 31c of the member 31 to the step portion 31d (tip portion of the member 31) can be accommodated. doing.

  When the distal end portion of the member 31 is inserted into the push button holder 51, the end surface on the distal end side of the step portion 31d contacts the end surface on the proximal end side of the cylindrical portion 51d. The positional relationship between the push button holder 51 and the member 31 is determined. The locking claw 31 c of the member 31 reaches the accommodation recess 51 b of the push button holder 51.

  When the fitting member 41 and the fitting member 42 are fitted together, the flange portion 51 c of the push button holder 51 is accommodated in the holding recess 4 e of the fitting member 41 and the fitting member 42. As a result, the switching means 5 is fixedly attached to the tip of the outer peripheral member 4. The outer peripheral member 4 and the switching means 5 are integrally moved from the proximal end side to the distal end side or from the distal end side to the proximal end side.

  The push button 52 and the spring 53 are housed in the housing recess 51 b of the push button holder 51. A hook 52 a is formed on the distal end side of the push button 52. The hook 52 a of the push button 52 is mutually locked by a protrusion (not shown) formed on the proximal end side of the grip portion 51 a of the push button holder 51. By locking the hook 52 a of the push button 52 and the protrusion of the gripping portion 51 a against the urging force of the spring 53, the push button 52 is restricted from jumping out of the push button holder 51. On the other hand, the protrusion of the gripper 51a allows the push button 52 to move in the insertion direction. Accordingly, when an external force (such as a finger) is applied to the push button 52 in the insertion direction, the push button 52 is pushed down toward the bottom surface of the housing recess 51 b of the push button holder 51.

  The push button 52 is formed with notched regions 52b and 52b that are open in the insertion direction and penetrate the push button 52 on both sides of the hook 52a. The push button 52 has a locking piece 52c formed at a position spaced from the hook 52a toward the base end side. A spring 53 is accommodated between the hook 52a and the locking piece 52c.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the push button 52 as viewed from the proximal end side. The locking piece 52 c includes two inclined surfaces 52 d at a position near the center of the push button 52. The inclined surface 52d is configured to incline upward from the proximal end toward the distal end. Further, a protrusion 52e is formed at the center of the push button 52 on the base end side. The flange portions 52f are formed on both sides of the protruding portion 52e and upward. The protrusion 52e and the two flanges 52f protrude toward the base end side so as to form substantially the same surface.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state of the take-up shaft 1 when the ink ribbon is taken up. The winding shaft 1 includes a rotating shaft 2, an inner peripheral member 3 attached to the rotating shaft 2, and an outer peripheral member 4 attached to the outside of the inner peripheral member 3. By the switching means 5 including the push button 52 and the push button holder 51, the outer peripheral member 4 is fixed at a position in contact with the flange portion 31 a that is the base end of the inner peripheral member 3. The push button 52 is maintained at a fixed position where the outer peripheral member 4 and the inner peripheral member 3 are fixed by the biasing force of the spring 53.

  In addition, it is preferable to make the diameter D of the winding shaft 1 relatively large. By making the diameter D of the winding shaft 1 relatively large, it is possible to minimize the difference in torque due to the difference in diameter of the ink ribbon RB wound around the winding shaft 1 and to prevent print shrinkage. This is because by increasing the diameter of the winding shaft 1 itself, the difference between the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter of the ink ribbon RB to be wound can be made relatively small.

  FIG. 7A is a partially enlarged view of the distal end portion of the winding shaft in a state in which the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member are fixed, and FIG. 7B is a diagram where the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member are unlocked. It is the elements on larger scale of the front-end | tip part of the winding shaft in a state.

  FIG. 7A is a partial enlarged view of the distal end portion of the winding shaft 1 in a state where the outer peripheral member 4 shown in FIG. 6 is fixed to the proximal end of the inner peripheral member 3. The push button holder 51 is not shown for ease of explanation. The push button 52 is urged upward by a spring 53. The two locking claws 31 c of the inner peripheral member 3 reach the position of the accommodation recess 51 b (not shown) of the push button holder 51.

  As described above, the fitting members 41 and 42 are applied with a force from the outer surface side including a biasing force applied from the spring 62 interposed between the spacer 61 and the fitting members 41 and 42. Thereby, each fitting member 41 and 42 is attached to the member 31 so that it may move to the diameter reducing direction of the outer diameter reduced diameter part 31b, ie, the front end side. The push button 52 is accommodated in the push button holder 51 held by the fitting members 41 and 42.

  In the fixed state shown in FIG. 7 (A), the distal end side of the locking piece 52c of the push button 52 and the proximal end side of the side 31c-2 of the locking claw 31c of the member 31 are engaged. The members 41 and 42 (outer peripheral member 4) are fixed to the member 31, and as a result, the movement of the fitting members 41 and 42 toward the distal end side is restricted. Engagement refers to a state in which the distal end side of the locking piece 52c is in contact with the proximal end side of the side 31c-2.

  FIG. 7B is a partially enlarged view of the distal end portion of the winding shaft 1 in a state where the push button 52 is pushed down. When a downward external force is applied to the push button 52 with a finger or the like, the push button 52 is pushed down against the biasing force of the spring 53. The engagement relationship between the side 31c-2 of the two locking claws 31c of the member 31 and the locking piece 52c of the push button 52 is released. The two locking claws 31 c of the member 31 are located in the cutout regions 52 b and 52 b of the push button 52. Since the fixation between the inner circumferential member 3 and the outer circumferential member 4 is released, the outer circumferential member 4 is switched to a fixed release state in which the outer circumferential member 4 can move in the distal direction along the inner circumferential member 3.

  FIG. 8A is a partial cross section of the tip of the winding shaft in a state in which the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member are fixed, and FIG. 8B is a state in which the outer peripheral member and the inner peripheral member are unlocked. It is a fragmentary cross section of the front-end | tip part of a winding shaft. As shown in FIG. 8A, the tip portion of the member 31 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 51 d of the push button holder 51. The protrusion 31 g of the member 31 is positioned below the inclined surface 51 e of the push button holder 51. It is in a positional relationship that is substantially flush with the tip of the protrusion 31g and the tip of the inclined surface 51e. The push button 52 is housed in the housing recess 51 b of the push button holder 51. The push button 52 is urged upward by a spring 53. That is, the spring 53 is biased in the direction from the position of the fixed release state to the position of the fixed state. The protrusion 52 e and the two flanges 52 f of the push button 52 are substantially in contact with the inner wall on the base end side of the housing recess 51 b of the push button holder 51.

  FIG. 8B shows a state in which an external force is applied to the push button 52 in the downward direction. When the push button 52 is pushed down, the protrusion 52 e of the push button 52 moves downward along the inclined surface 51 e of the push button holder 51. Further, the protrusion 52 e of the push button 52 is pushed down to a position below the protrusion 31 g of the inner peripheral member 3. When the downward external force is removed, the push button 52 is urged upward by the spring 53. The protrusion 52 e of the push button 52 engages with the protrusion 31 g of the inner peripheral member 3. That is, the protrusion 52e that is a part of the push button 52 and the protrusion 31g that is a part of the inner peripheral member 3 are engaged. The protrusion 52e may be formed integrally with the push button 52 or may be attached to the push button 52 as a separate member. The protruding portion 31g may be formed integrally with the inner peripheral member 3, or may be attached to the inner peripheral member 3 as a separate member. The upward movement of the push button 52 is restricted by the locking means constituted by the protrusion 52e of the push button 52 and the protrusion 31g of the inner peripheral member 3. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the contact relationship between the two locking claws 31c of the member 31 and the locking pieces 52c of the push button 52 is released, so that the solid release state is obtained. Since the protrusion 52e is locked to the protrusion 31g, the push button 52 is maintained at the position of the fixed release state.

  As described above, the fitting members 41 and 42 are applied with force from the outer surface side by the biasing means. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the fitting members 41 and 42 move together with the switching unit 5 in the diameter reducing direction of the member 31, that is, the distal end side. The fitting members 41 and 42 are reduced in diameter by the movement toward the distal end side. When the fitting members 41, 42 move to the distal end side, the locked state between the protrusion 52 e of the push button 52 and the protrusion 31 g of the inner peripheral member 3 is released. Since the spring 53 urges the push button 52 upward, the push button 52 is returned to the solid state position. In the state shown in FIG. 9, the protrusion 31 g of the inner peripheral member 3 and the protrusion 52 e of the push button 52 are not in contact with each other, so that the outer peripheral member 4 and the outer peripheral member 4 are attached to the inner peripheral member 3. The switching means 5 is in a state in which relative movement is possible. Since the fitting members 41 and 42 are reduced in diameter, the ink ribbon can be easily extracted from the take-up shaft 1.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the winding shaft 1 in a state where the outer peripheral member 4 is moved from the inner peripheral member 3 to the tip. Since the force from the outer surface side is applied to the fitting members 41 and 42 by the biasing means, the overlap between the flat portion 4c and the flat portion 4d in the unlocked state is the flat portion 4c and the flat portion in the fixed state. It is larger than the overlap of 4d. That is, the fitting members 41 and 42 are reduced in diameter.

  Next, when the ink ribbon is removed, the outer peripheral member 4 and the switching means 5 are moved to the base end side because they are solid with the base end of the inner peripheral member 3. The locking claw 31 c of the inner peripheral member 3 and the locking piece 52 c of the push button 52 are in positions that interfere with each other in the movement direction of the outer peripheral member 4. Therefore, when the outer peripheral member 4 is fixed to the proximal end of the inner peripheral member 3, it is necessary to avoid interference between the locking claw 31 c of the inner peripheral member 3 and the locking piece 52 c of the push button 52. Two inclined surfaces 52d are formed on the base end side of the push button 52 of the present embodiment. When the outer peripheral member 4 and the switching means 5 are moved, first, the side 31c-2 of the locking claw 31c of the inner peripheral member 3 and the two inclined surfaces 52d of the push button 52 come into contact with each other. Further, when the outer peripheral member 4 and the switching means 5 are moved to the proximal end side, the push button 52 is pushed down against the spring 53 as a whole along the inclined surface 52d. The side 31 c-2 of the locking claw 31 c of the inner peripheral member 3 passes through the cutout region 52 b of the push button 52. When the locking piece 52c of the push button 52 moves to the proximal end side beyond the side 31c-2 of the inner peripheral member 3, the pushed push button 52 is again urged by the spring 53 and moves upward. The push button 52 moves to the fixed position shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the winding shaft 1 in a state where the push button 52 is most depressed by the locking claw 31 c of the inner peripheral member 3. As shown in FIG. 11, the protrusion 52 e of the push button 52 is not positioned below the protrusion 31 g of the inner peripheral member 3. Therefore, the protrusion 52e of the push button 52 and the protrusion 31g of the inner peripheral member 3 are not locked. The push button 52 can be returned to the fixed position. The position of the lowest point when the push button 52 is pushed down is determined by the shape of the inclined surface 52 d of the push button 52 and the locking claw 31 of the inner peripheral member 3.

  The present invention can be modified by many methods without departing from the scope of the present invention, and other embodiments than the present embodiment can be used. Accordingly, all modifications within the scope of the present invention are included in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Winding shaft 2 Rotating shaft 3 Inner peripheral member 31 Member 31a Flange part 31b Outer diameter reduced diameter part 31c Locking claw 31g Projection part 4 Outer peripheral member 41, 42 Fitting member 5 Switching means 51 Push button holder 51e Inclined surface Push button 52a Hook 52b Notch area 52c Locking piece 52d Inclined surface 52e Projection 53 Spring

Claims (4)

A thermal head for printing on a print medium;
A platen roller disposed at a position facing the thermal head with respect to the print medium;
A supply shaft for supplying continuous strips;
In a printer comprising a winding shaft that winds up the belt-like body supplied from the supply shaft,
The winding shaft is
A rotation axis;
An inner peripheral member attached to the rotating shaft;
An outer peripheral member attached to the outer side of the inner peripheral member, the outer peripheral member configured to be reduced in diameter by moving from a proximal end to a distal end of the inner peripheral member;
The outer periphery is switched between a fixed state in which the outer peripheral member is fixed to the base end of the inner peripheral member and a fixed release state in which the inner peripheral member and the outer peripheral member are fixed and the outer peripheral member is movable. Switching means attached to the tip of the member, operable in a position corresponding to the fixed state and the fixed release state, and in a direction from the fixed release state to the fixed state The switching means comprising biasing means for biasing;
When the switching unit is switched from the fixed state to the fixed release state, a locking unit that maintains the position of the fixed release state of the switching unit;
Having a printer.   The inner peripheral member includes a locking claw at a tip portion, and by engaging the locking claw and the switching means, the inner peripheral member and the outer peripheral member are set in the fixed state, and the locking claw and The printer according to claim 1, wherein the fixed release state is established by releasing the engagement with the switching unit. The switching means includes a push button including an elastic body as the biasing means,
The printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking means is configured by engaging a part of the push button and a part of the inner peripheral member. The inner circumferential member includes an outer diameter reduced portion whose outer diameter is reduced from the proximal end to the distal end,
The outer peripheral member includes a plurality of fitting members divided along the axial direction, and includes a biasing unit that fits the plurality of fitting members so as to be movable and biased in the reduced diameter direction. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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