JP6898038B2 - Thermal transfer printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing device.

Conventionally, a thermal printer (thermal transfer printing apparatus) including a printer body that holds a thermal head (printer head), a ribbon holder around which an ink ribbon is wound, and a ribbon cassette that holds the ribbon holder and can be attached to and detached from the printer body. ) Is known (see Patent Document 1). The ribbon cassette is attached to and detached from the printer body when performing maintenance such as replacing the ink ribbon.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-36426

In the thermal printer described in Patent Document 1, maintenance such as replacement of a thermal head may be performed. In the thermal printer described in Patent Document 1, the thermal head is held in the printer body. Therefore, when the thermal head is maintained, the maintenance cannot be performed even if the ribbon cassette is removed, unlike the case where the parts arranged in the ribbon cassette are maintained. Therefore, the thermal head is more difficult to maintain than the parts arranged in the ribbon cassette. Therefore, it is desired to further improve the maintainability of the thermal printer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus capable of further improving maintainability.

The present invention includes a printer main body, a ribbon cassette that holds a ribbon holder around which an ink ribbon is wound and is removable from the printer main body, and a print head that prints a printed portion on a printed matter. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus that is not held by the printer body but is held by the ribbon cassette.

Further, a plurality of printing units including the printer main body, the print head, the ribbon holder, and the ribbon cassette are provided, and the plurality of printing units are in the moving direction when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the printed matter. It is preferable that they are arranged side by side.

Further, it is preferable that the plurality of printing units are configured to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction.

Further, the thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a pressing mechanism capable of pressing the print head toward the ink ribbon side when the ribbon cassette is attached to the printer main body, and the pressing mechanism is arranged on the ribbon cassette. It is preferable to have a first pressing portion capable of pressing the print head, and a second pressing portion arranged on the printer body and capable of pressing the print head.

Further, the print head is formed so as to extend in a width direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the object to be printed, and the first pressing portion presses one end side of the print head in the width direction on the ribbon cassette side. An air output unit provided in the printer main body to output air to the outside of the printer main body and an air input unit provided in the ribbon cassette to input air to the ribbon cassette, and the ribbon cassette is provided in the printer main body. It has an air input unit that is connected to the air output unit when mounted, and a first air drive unit that is provided on the ribbon cassette and is driven by air input from the air input unit. It is preferable that the pressing portion can press the other end side of the print head in the width direction on the printer main body side, and also has a second air driving portion provided on the printer main body and driven by air.

Further, when the main body side substrate provided on the printer main body and having the first contact portion and the ribbon cassette provided on the ribbon cassette are attached to the printer main body, they come into contact with the first contact portion. The ribbon cassette side substrate having the second contact portion electrically connected to the first contact portion and / or the second contact portion is the other side to which the first contact portion and / or the second contact portion comes into contact with each other when they come into contact with each other. It is preferable to have a first contact portion and / or an urging portion that exerts an urging force toward the second contact portion.

Further, a first rotating shaft portion provided on the ribbon cassette to rotate the ribbon holder and a first rotating shaft portion provided on the printer main body and connected to the first rotating shaft portion when the ribbon cassette is attached to the printer main body. A connection mechanism that connects the second rotation shaft portion, the first rotation shaft portion, and the second rotation shaft portion, and has a one-way clutch connection mechanism and a magnet connection mechanism, is provided on the printer main body. It is preferable to further include a rotary drive unit that generates a rotary drive force for rotationally driving the second rotary shaft portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus capable of further improving maintainability.

It is a figure which looked at the thermal printer device 1 which concerns on this embodiment from the upper side. It is a figure which looked at the thermal printer device 1 which concerns on this embodiment from the front side. It is a figure which looked at the thermal printer device 1 which concerns on this embodiment from the arrow A of FIG. It is a figure which looked at the ribbon cassette 30 from the printer main body 20 side. It is a perspective view explaining the drive shaft connection mechanism 100. It is a figure which looked at the printer body 20 from the ribbon cassette 30 side. It is a figure which shows the thermal head pressing mechanism 8. It is a figure which shows the thermal head pressing mechanism 8, (a) is the figure which shows the cassette side pressing part 81 of the ribbon cassette 30 side, (b) is the figure which shows the printer body side pressing part 82 of the printer body 20 side. Is. It is a figure which shows the thermal head pressing mechanism 8, and is the perspective view which shows the cassette side pressing part 81 of the ribbon cassette 30 side. (A) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the two print units 10A and 10B when the first control example to the fourth control example are executed, and (b) is 2 when the fifth control example is executed. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the print unit 10A, 10B of a stand. It is a figure which shows the print content printed by the 1st control example. (A) is a diagram showing the print content printed by the second control example, (b) is a diagram showing the print content printed by the third control example, and (c) is a diagram showing the print content printed by the fourth control example. It is a figure which shows the printed content. It is a figure which shows the print content printed by the 5th control example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view of the thermal printer device 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a view of the thermal printer device 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is a view of the thermal printer device 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the arrow A of FIG. FIG. 4 is a view of the ribbon cassette 30 as viewed from the printer main body 20 side. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the drive shaft connecting mechanism 100. FIG. 6 is a view of the printer main body 20 as viewed from the ribbon cassette 30 side. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a thermal head pressing mechanism 8. 8A and 8B are views showing the thermal head pressing mechanism 8, where FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a cassette-side pressing portion 81 on the ribbon cassette 30 side, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a printer body-side pressing portion 81 on the printer body 20 side. It is a figure which shows 82. FIG. 9 is a view showing the thermal head pressing mechanism 8, and is a perspective view showing a cassette side pressing portion 81 on the ribbon cassette 30 side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal printer device 1 as a thermal transfer printing device prints a print pattern (printing unit) (for example, see FIG. 11 and the like) on a packaging film W as a printed matter moved in the transport direction P1. ..

In the description of this embodiment, the moving direction of the packaging film W is referred to as "transporting direction P1". Further, the width direction which is orthogonal to the transport direction P1 of the packaging film W is referred to as "transport width direction P2".
Further, the front-rear direction of the thermal printer device 1 is referred to as a front-rear direction Y (conveyance width direction P2 of the packaging film W in FIG. 1). In the front-rear direction Y, the front side is referred to as the front side Y1 and the back side is referred to as the back side Y2. Further, the left-right direction of the thermal printer device 1 is referred to as a left-right direction X (conveyance direction P1 of the packaging film W in FIG. 1). In the left-right direction X, the upstream side of the packaging film W in the transport direction P1 (the left side in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 and the right side in FIG. 4) is referred to as the first side X1, and the downstream side of the packaging film W in the transport direction P1. (The right side in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 and the left side in FIG. 4) are referred to as the second side X2. Further, the vertical direction of the thermal printer device 1 is referred to as a vertical direction Z (direction penetrating FIG. 1, see FIGS. 2 and 3). In the vertical direction Z, the upper side is referred to as the upper side Z1 and the lower side is referred to as the lower side Z2. The vertical direction Z is orthogonal to the front-rear direction Y and the left-right direction X.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the thermal printer device 1 moves two print units 10A and 10B (upstream side print unit 10A and downstream side print unit 10B) (printing unit) and two print units 10A and 10B, respectively. The print unit moving mechanism units 5A and 5B, the platen rollers 6A and 6B arranged to face each of the two print units 10A and 10B, the upstream transfer guide roller 71, the downstream transfer guide roller 72, and the rotary encoder. A 73, a mark detection sensor 74, and a control device 9 for controlling two print units 10A and 10B and print unit movement mechanism units 5A and 5B are provided. When it is not necessary to distinguish the upstream side print unit 10A and the downstream side print unit 10B, the print unit moving mechanism parts 5A and 5B, and the platen rollers 6A and 6B, simply "print unit 10 (printing unit)" and "print unit moving". They are called "mechanical unit 5" and "platen roller 6".

The upstream transfer guide roller 71, the downstream transfer guide roller 72, the rotary encoder 73, the mark detection sensor 74, and the control device 9 are commonly used when any of the two print units 10A and 10B operates. It is a configuration. Therefore, the thermal printer device 1 includes one set of the upstream transfer guide roller 71, the downstream transfer guide roller 72, the rotary encoder 73, the mark detection sensor 74, and the control device 9, regardless of the number of print units 10 provided. Be prepared.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the print unit moving mechanism unit 5 and the platen roller 6 are configured to correspond to the print units 10A and 10B, respectively. Therefore, the thermal printer device 1 includes a print unit moving mechanism unit 5 and a platen roller 6 for the number of print units 10 so as to correspond to a plurality of print units 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two print units 10A and 10B are viewed in the transport width direction P2 orthogonal to the transport direction P1 (movement direction) of the packaging film W, and the packaging film W is transported in the transport direction P1. They are arranged side by side. The print unit 10A is arranged on the upstream side (first side X1 in the left-right direction X) of the print unit 10B. Further, the two print units 10A and 10B are arranged so as to be offset from each other on one side and the other side in the transport width direction P2.

The two print units 10A and 10B are configured to be movable in the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W by the print unit moving mechanism unit 5, respectively. The print unit moving mechanism unit 5 is provided corresponding to each of the two print units 10A and 10B. The print unit moving mechanism unit 5 includes a guide rail 51, a moving member 52, and a driving mechanism 53 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the guide rail 51 is formed in a straight line extending in the front-rear direction Y (the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W) of the thermal printer device 1. One end of the back side Y2 of the guide rail 51 in the front-rear direction Y is attached to the moving mechanism support portion 11 extending in the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction X of the thermal printer device 1. The moving mechanism support portion 11 is attached to a frame (not shown) or the like of the thermal printer device 1. The guide rail 51 movably holds the moving member 52, which will be described later, in the transport width direction P2 (front-back direction Y).

As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rail 51 is provided with a drive mechanism 53. The drive mechanism 53 moves the moving member 52 along the guide rail 51 in the transport width direction P2. The drive mechanism 53 includes, for example, a ball screw mechanism and a belt mechanism. The drive mechanism 53 is electrically connected to a control device 9 described later. The control device 9 controls the movement of the moving member 52 by controlling the driving of the driving mechanism 53.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the moving member 52 is formed in an L shape in the present embodiment. The side portion of the moving member 52 is supported by the side portion of the guide rail 51. The moving member 52 is attached to the drive mechanism 53 so as to be movable in the transport width direction P2 while being supported by the guide rail 51. The upper part of the print unit 10 is attached to the lower part of the moving member 52.

The print unit moving mechanism unit 5 configured as described above moves the moving member 52 along the guide rail 51 in the transport width direction P2 by driving the drive mechanism 53. As a result, the print unit 10 attached to the moving member 52 is linearly moved in the transport width direction P2.

The printed units 10A and 10B to be moved can be moved in the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W by the print unit moving mechanism units 5A and 5B, respectively. The print units 10A and 10B can be moved to arbitrary positions in the transport width direction P2 under the control of the control device 9 described later, respectively. For example, the print units 10A and 10B can move to a position where some or all of them overlap when viewed in the transport direction P1 of the packaging film W.

The print unit 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the print unit 10 mainly includes a printer main body 20, a ribbon cassette 30 including a thermal head 33 (see FIG. 4, described later) and a take-up holder 348 (see FIG. 4, described later), respectively. It is configured. The ribbon cassette 30 is configured to be removable from the printer main body 20. That is, the print unit 10 according to the present embodiment has a so-called cassette type structure in which the ribbon cassette 30 (see FIG. 4) can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 20 (see FIG. 6).

First, the ribbon cassette 30 will be described. The ribbon cassette 30 refers to the printer main body 20 in a state where the print unit 10 is moved in the front-rear direction Y under the control of the control device 9 (described later) and is positioned on the front side Y1 (the front side of the transport width direction P2 in FIG. 1). It is removable. Therefore, the ribbon cassette 30 can be easily attached to the printer body 20 on the front side Y1 of the printer body 20 without disturbing the moving mechanism support portion 11 arranged on the back side Y2 in the front-rear direction Y of the thermal printer device 1. Can be attached and detached.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon cassette 30 feeds out the ink ribbon R in synchronization with the movement of the packaging film W, which is the printed matter continuously fed out from the packaging machine (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 3, the ribbon cassette 30 includes a cassette-side case body 31 and a substantially rectangular cassette-side base plate 32.

The cassette side case body 31 is formed in a box shape in which the printer body 20 side opens when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer body 20. A grip portion 311 that is gripped by a human hand when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to or detached from the printer main body 20 is provided on the outside of the front side Y1 of the cassette side case body 31 in the front-rear direction Y.
The cassette side base plate 32 is arranged inside the cassette side case body 31 on the front side Y1 in the front-rear direction Y.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the component mounting surface 32a side of the cassette side base plate 32, a thermal head 33 as a print head, a ribbon transport mechanism 34, two attachment / detachment guide shafts 41 and 41, and a cassette as a ribbon cassette side substrate. A side relay board 42, an air input port 43, and a cassette side pressing portion 81 in the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 are arranged. The air input port 43 is composed of the tip of the air input port shaft 431 of the ribbon transport mechanism 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, the thermal head 33 is attached (held) to the lower side Z2 of the cassette side base plate 32 in the vertical direction Z. The thermal head 33 is not attached (held) to the printer main body 20. The thermal head 33 is arranged so that the tip portion 33a is in contact with the ink ribbon R. The thermal head 33 includes a plurality of heat generating elements at its tip 33a. In the thermal head 33, the heat generating element generates heat when the thermal head 33 is energized. The thermal head 33 prints a print pattern (printing section) (see, for example, FIG. 11) on the packaging film W that is moved in the transport direction P1 when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal head 33 is arranged so as to face the packaging film W that is transported in the transport direction P1 at a predetermined moving speed when the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20. The thermal head 33 is arranged so as to face the platen roller 6 with the ink ribbon R and the packaging film W interposed therebetween. The thermal head 33 is arranged so that the tip portion 33a side protrudes toward the platen roller 6 side.
Further, the thermal head 33 is formed so as to extend in the width direction H (the front-rear direction Y of the thermal printer device 1 and the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W) orthogonal to the transport direction P1 of the packaging film W (see FIG. 7). ..

When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the thermal head 33 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction Z by the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 described later. When the thermal head 33 is pressed by the thermal head pressing mechanism 8, the platen roller 6 is pressed against the platen roller 6 at a standby position separated from the platen roller 6 (see the downstream print unit 10B in FIG. 2) or the platen roller 6. It is configured to be movable to a position (see the upstream print unit 10A in FIG. 2). The details of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink ribbon R is arranged between the thermal head 33 and the printing surface of the packaging film W when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20. From the ink ribbon R, ink is transferred to the wrapping film W when printing is performed on the wrapping film W by the thermal head 33. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink ribbon R is conveyed (moved) by the ribbon conveying mechanism 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ribbon transport mechanism 34 includes a raw fabric holder 341, an original fabric shaft 342, a first guide roller 343, a second guide roller 344, a third guide roller 345, and an air input port shaft. It has a 431, a sensor guide roller 346, a tension arm 347, a take-up holder 348 as a ribbon holder, a take-up rotation shaft 35, and a brake mechanism 36.

The original fabric holder 341 holds the wound unused ink ribbon R. The raw fabric holder 341 is attached (held) to the cassette side base plate 32 via the raw fabric shaft 342 at the upper side Z1 in the vertical direction Z of the cassette side base plate 32. The original shaft 342 is rotatably attached to the cassette side base plate 32 about the first rotation shaft J1. Since the raw fabric shaft 342 is configured to be rotatable about the first rotating shaft J1, the raw fabric holder 341 rotates about the first rotating shaft J1 in synchronization with the rotation of the raw fabric shaft 342.

The ink ribbon R is wound around the take-up holder 348. The take-up holder 348 winds up the ink ribbon R. The take-up holder 348 is attached to the cassette side base plate 32 via the take-up rotation shaft 35 as the first rotation shaft portion at the lower side Z2 in the vertical direction Z from the original fabric holder 341 in the cassette side base plate 32. Be (held). The take-up rotary shaft 35 is rotatably attached to the cassette side base plate 32 about the second rotary shaft J2. The take-up holder 348 rotates the take-up rotation shaft 35. Since the take-up rotation shaft 35 is configured to be rotatable around the second rotation shaft J2, the take-up holder 348 rotates about the second rotation shaft J2 in synchronization with the rotation of the take-up rotation shaft 35. ..

In the take-up holder 348, when the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, the take-up rotary shaft 35 is rotationally driven by the drive of the ribbon drive motor 281 (see FIG. 5, which will be described later) provided on the printer main body 20 side. It rotates by being done. When the take-up holder 348 rotates, the ribbon transport mechanism 34 winds the ink ribbon R used for the thermal head 33 around the take-up holder 348, and at the same time, the unused ink ribbon wound around the original fabric holder 341. Rewind R toward the thermal head 33. The ribbon drive motor 281 is attached to the printer main body 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the take-up rotary shaft 35 has a support cylinder 351, a flange portion 352, a body portion 353, and a protruding portion 354. The support cylinder 351 and the flange portion 352, the body portion 353, and the protruding portion 354 are continuously connected in this order in the back side Y2 direction in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation shaft J2 as the central axis.

The support cylinder 351 is formed in a columnar shape and is rotatably supported on the component mounting surface 32a (see FIG. 4) of the cassette side base plate 32. The flange portion 352 projects radially outward in an annular shape at an end portion of the support cylinder 351 opposite to the component mounting surface 32a.

The body portion 353 is formed in a columnar shape. The body portion 353 is formed with a diameter smaller than that of the flange portion 352. The body portion 353 extends from the side of the flange portion 352 opposite to the support cylinder 351 in the back side Y2 direction in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation axis J2 as the central axis. The take-up rotary shaft 35 holds the take-up holder 348 (see FIG. 4). An end surface 353a is formed at an end of the body portion 353 on the side opposite to the flange portion 352 of the second rotation shaft J2.

The end surface 353a of the body portion 353 is formed in an annular surface shape extending in the radial direction of the body portion 353. A first magnet portion 111 is provided on the end surface 353a of the body portion 353. When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the second magnet portion 112 (described later) of the connecting cylinder portion 242 of the driving force transmission rotating body 24 is connected to the first magnet portion 111 by magnetic force coupling. The first magnet unit 111 and the second magnet unit 112 constitute a magnet connection mechanism 110 of a drive shaft connection mechanism (connection mechanism) 100 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later.

The projecting portion 354 projects from the end surface 353a of the body portion 353 in the back side Y2 direction in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation axis J2 as the central axis. The protruding portion 354 is inserted into the connecting cylinder portion 242 (described later) of the driving force transmission rotating body 24 when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20.

The protruding portion 354 has a columnar portion 354a extending in the back side Y2 direction in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation axis J2 as the central axis, and a tip portion 354b extending from the columnar portion 354a to the tip end side. The tip portion 354b is formed in a substantially conical shape whose diameter decreases toward the tip side. When the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 354a is driven by the clutch coupling of the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120 of the drive shaft connection mechanism (connection mechanism) 100 (see FIG. 5) described later. It is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the connection cylinder portion 242 of the force transmission rotating body 24.

The take-up rotating shaft 35 configured in this way is provided with a driving force transmission rotating body 24 (second rotating shaft portion) provided in the printer main body 20 by a driving shaft connecting mechanism (connecting mechanism) 100 (see FIG. 5) described later. ) Is connected. The details of the drive shaft connecting mechanism 100 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of guide rollers 343, 344, 345, 346 are cylindrical with a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, respectively, and are in a posture of standing up from the component mounting surface 32a of the cassette side base plate 32, and bearings (FIG. It is mounted rotatably via (not shown).

The first guide roller 343 is arranged on the lower side Z2 of the original fabric holder 341 and on the first side X1 of the original fabric holder 341.
The second guide roller 344 is arranged on the upper side Z1 of the first guide roller 343 and between the original fabric holder 341 and the first guide roller 343 in the left-right direction X. The second guide roller 344 is supported by the cassette side base plate 32 so as to be swingable with respect to the raw fabric holder 341, and the first rotating shaft J1 which is the rotation center of the raw fabric shaft 342 by the tension arm 347 described later. It is urged to swing around.

The third guide roller 345 is arranged on the lower side Z2 of the second guide roller 344 and on the first side X1 of the second guide roller 344 and the first guide roller 343.

The air input port shaft 431 is arranged at the end side of the lower side Z2 in the vertical direction Z and the corner portion on the end side of the first side X1 in the horizontal direction X in the cassette side base plate 32. The air input port shaft 431 guides the ink ribbon R.

An air input port 43 (air input portion) is formed at the tip of the air input port shaft 431. When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the air input port 43 is connected to the air output port 26 (air output unit) provided in the printer main body 20. The air input port 43 constitutes a part of the air input mechanism unit 80 for the cassette side air cylinder of the cassette side pressing unit 81 of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 described later. The air supplied to the ribbon cassette 30 via the air input port 43 is supplied to the cassette side pressing portion 81 of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8.

The air input mechanism unit 80 for the cassette side air cylinder is arranged on the ribbon cassette 30 side to input air to the cassette side air cylinder 814 (first air drive unit), which will be described later, from the printer main body 20 side. It is a mechanism for connecting the air supply path of the printer main body 20 and the ribbon cassette 30. As will be described later, as shown in FIG. 8, the cassette side air cylinder air input mechanism unit 80 has an air output port 26 arranged on the printer main body 20 side and an air input port 43 arranged on the ribbon cassette 30 side. And have. On the air input side of the air output port 26 arranged on the printer body 20 side of the cassette side air cylinder air input mechanism 80, air branched by a solenoid valve (not shown) provided in the printer body 20 is supplied. Supplied. A solenoid valve (not shown) provided in the printer body 20 is also provided in the air input mechanism unit (not shown) for the air cylinder on the printer body side that supplies air to the air cylinder 824 (second air drive unit) on the printer body side, which will be described later. Branched air is supplied at (not shown).

The sensor guide roller 346 is a roller that guides the ink ribbon R and rotates according to the amount of movement of the ink ribbon R. The sensor guide roller 346 is located on the end side of the lower side Z2 in the vertical direction Z of the cassette side base plate 32, and is arranged on the end side of the second side X2 in the horizontal direction X.

A cassette-side sensor magnet portion 346b is provided on the tip surface 346a of the sensor guide roller 346. When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the sensor guide roller 346 is magnetically coupled to the sensor magnet portion 25b (see FIG. 6) on the printer main body side of the sensor detection shaft 25 attached to the printer main body 20. Ru.

The first guide roller 343, the second guide roller 344, the third guide roller 345, the air input port shaft 431, and the sensor guide roller 346 configured as described above are conveyed from the original ribbon holder 341 toward the take-up holder 348. The ink ribbon R to be formed is guided, or the ink ribbon R transported from the take-up holder 348 toward the original fabric holder 341 is guided.

The tension arm 347 urges the second guide roller 344 toward the rotation direction C1 (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) about the first rotation axis J1 of the original fabric holder 341, and swings the second guide roller 344. Motivate and support. One end of the tension arm 347 is swingably supported around the first rotation shaft J1 which is the rotation center of the original fabric holder 341. A second guide roller 344 is attached to the other end of the tension arm 347. The tension arm 347 adjusts the tension of the ink ribbon R by urging the second guide roller 344 so as to be swingable.

The brake mechanism 36 regulates the feeding of the ink ribbon R from the original fabric holder 341. The brake mechanism 36 includes a brake arm 361, a brake spring 362 that urges the brake arm 361, and a support block 363.

The brake arm 361 has a plate shape having a predetermined thickness and is formed to have a predetermined width and a predetermined length. The brake arm 361 is supported by the cassette side base plate 32 so as to be swingable around the swing shaft J3 at substantially the center in the longitudinal direction. The upper end of the brake arm 361 comes into contact with the original fabric holder 341. A brake pad as a plate-shaped original fabric stopper portion made of a material having a large friction coefficient and high wear resistance is attached to the upper end portion of the brake arm 361.

The support block 363 is arranged on the lower side Z2 of the original fabric holder 341. The support block 363 is fixed to the cassette side base plate 32.
The brake spring 362 is arranged between the support block 363 and the brake arm 361. The brake spring 362 urges the brake arm 361 in the rotational direction C3.

The brake mechanism 36 regulates the rotation of the original fabric holder 341 by the urging force that urges the brake arm 361 in the brake spring 362 in the rotation direction C3 in a state where no external force acts on the brake arm 361. Then, when the brake arm 361 is swung in the rotation direction C4 against the urging force of the brake spring 362, the rotation restriction of the original fabric holder 341 is released (brake release).

With the configuration of the tension arm 347 and the brake mechanism 36 as described above, the ink ribbon R is moved to the take-up holder 348 side in a state where the extension of the ink ribbon R from the original fabric holder 341 is restricted by the brake operation of the brake mechanism 36. When pulled, the tension arm 347 is oscillated in the rotation direction C2 (clockwise in FIG. 4) by the ink ribbon R, and the brake release operation is performed by the oscillating tension arm 347.

The two attachment / detachment guide shafts 41, 41 are arranged at both ends in the left-right direction X on the end side of the upper side Z1 in the vertical direction Z in the cassette side base plate 32.
The two attachment / detachment guide shafts 41, 41 are inserted while being guided by a pair of guide shaft insertion holes 27, 27 (see FIG. 6) arranged in the printer main body 20 when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached / detached to / from the printer main body 20. Will be done.

The cassette-side relay board 42 is arranged at the end of the cassette-side base plate 32 on the first side X1 side in the left-right direction X. The cassette side relay board 42 is electrically connected to the thermal head 33 via the connection cable 42a. The cassette side relay board 42 has a plurality of second contact portions 421.

Each of the plurality of second contact portions 421 is formed by a planar electrode, and the surface shape is formed into a circular shape. When the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, the plurality of second contact portions 421 of the cassette side relay board 42 come into contact with the plurality of first contact portions 231 of the main body side relay board 23 (described later). , Electrically connected to a plurality of first contact portions 231.
In the present embodiment, the plurality of second contact portions 421 of the cassette side relay board 42 and the plurality of first contact portions 231 of the main body side relay board 23 (described later) are terminals for inputting power to the thermal head 33. This is a terminal used for connecting various signals of the thermal head 33 and the thermal head 33.

The cassette side pressing portion 81 is arranged on the ribbon cassette 30 side. The cassette side pressing portion 81 constitutes a part of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8. When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 presses the thermal head 33 to the lower side Z2 on the ribbon cassette 30 side at the time of printing, and pushes the thermal head 33 to the ink ribbon R side. It is a mechanism that presses against. Details of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 will be described later.

Next, the printer main body 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer main body 20 includes a main body side case body 21 and a main body side base plate 22. The main body side case body 21 is formed in a box shape in which the ribbon cassette 30 side opens when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20. The main body side base plate 22 is arranged at substantially the center of the front-rear direction Y inside the main body side case body 21.

The main body side base plate 22 is formed in a plate shape and has a square notch 22a, a first opening 22b, a second opening 22c, and a third opening 22d, as shown in FIG.
The rectangular cutout portion 22a is formed by being cut out in a rectangular shape from the end portion of the lower side Z2 in the vertical direction Z to the upper side Z1 in the main body side base plate 22.
The first opening 22b opens in a circular shape on the upper side Z1 of the square notch 22a in the main body side base plate 22.
The second opening 22c opens in a circular shape at the second side X2 of the square notch 22a in the main body side base plate 22.
The third opening 22d opens in a circular shape on the end side of the lower side Z2 of the main body side base plate 22 and on the end side of the first side X1.

A main body side relay board 23 (main body side board) is attached to one side 221 (the surface on the ribbon cassette 30 side) of the main body side base plate 22.
As shown in FIG. 6, the other surface (the surface opposite to the ribbon cassette 30) side opposite to one surface 221 of the main body side base plate 22 is exposed to the one surface 221 side through the first opening 22b. The driving force transmission rotating body 24 (second rotating shaft portion), the sensor detection shaft 25 exposed to the one side 221 side through the second opening 22c, and the air exposed to the one side 221 side through the third opening 22d. An output port 26 (air output portion) and a printer main body side pressing portion 82 of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 exposed to the one side 221 side via the rectangular notch portion 22a are arranged.

The main body side relay board 23 is electrically connected to the control device 9. The main body side relay board 23 has a plurality of first contact portions 231. Each of the plurality of first contact portions 231 is formed in a pin shape protruding from the main body side relay board 23, and when the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, a plurality of second contacts of the cassette side relay board 42 are formed. Upon contact with the portion 421, an urging spring (biased portion) (not shown) exerts an urging force toward the plurality of second contact portions 421. As a result, the plurality of first contact portions 231 of the main body side relay board 23 and the plurality of second contact portions 421 of the cassette side relay board 42 are electrically connected in a state where the contact state is secured.

The pair of guide shaft insertion holes 27, 27 are arranged at both ends of the left-right direction X on the end side of the main body side base plate 22 on the upper side Z1 side of the vertical direction Z. The pair of guide shaft insertion holes 27, 27 are formed in a tubular shape extending in the thickness direction of the main body side base plate 22 of the printer main body 20. When the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, the pair of guide shaft insertion holes 27, 27 are inserted into the two attachment / detachment guide shafts 41, 41 provided on the ribbon cassette 30 side. By inserting the two attachment / detachment guide shafts 41, 41 into the pair of guide shaft insertion holes 27, 27, the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, and the position of the ribbon cassette 30 with respect to the printer main body 20 is positioned. ..

The air output port 26 is the end side of the lower side Z2 in the vertical direction Z in the main body side base plate 22, and the third opening of the main body side base plate 22 on the end side of the first side X1 in the left and right direction X. It is exposed on one side 221 side of the main body side base plate 22 via 22d.

The air output port 26 outputs air to the outside of the printer main body 20. The air output port 26 is connected to an air input port 43 provided on the ribbon cassette 30 side when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20. The air output port 26 constitutes a part of the air input mechanism unit 80 for the cassette side air cylinder of the cassette side pressing unit 81 of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 described later.

The printer main body side pressing portion 82 is arranged on the printer main body 20 side as shown in FIG. The printer main body side pressing portion 82 constitutes a part of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8. As shown in FIG. 6, the printer main body side pressing portion 82 of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 is exposed to one side 221 side of the main body side base plate 22 via the square notch 22a. When the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, the printer main body side pressing portion 82 presses the thermal head 33 on the lower side Z2 (ink ribbon R side) on the printer main body 20 side at the time of printing on the thermal head 33. It is a mechanism to do. Details of the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 will be described later.

The sensor detection shaft 25 detects the rotation speed of the sensor detection shaft 25. A sensor magnet portion 25b on the printer body side is provided on the tip surface 25a of the sensor detection shaft 25. When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the sensor magnet portion 25b on the printer body side is magnetically coupled to the sensor magnet portion 346b on the cassette side of the sensor guide roller 346 attached to the ribbon cassette 30. As a result, the sensor detection shaft 25 is connected to the sensor guide roller 346.

The printer main body side sensor magnet portion 25b of the sensor detection shaft 25 provided on the printer main body 20 side and the cassette side sensor magnet portion 346b of the sensor guide roller 346 provided on the ribbon cassette 30 are connected by magnetic force coupling. Therefore, damage or deterioration of the connecting portion can be reduced as compared with the case where the sensor guide roller 346 and the sensor detection shaft 25 are connected by engagement or fitting. Further, since the sensors are joined by magnet coupling, the sensor guide roller 346 and the sensor detection shaft 25 can be easily connected.

When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, it is connected to the sensor guide roller 346. Therefore, when the sensor guide roller 346 rotates due to the movement of the ink ribbon R, the sensor detection shaft 25 rotates in conjunction with the rotation. .. As a result, the sensor detection shaft 25 detects the rotation speed of the sensor detection shaft 25 and transmits a signal regarding the rotation speed of the sensor detection shaft 25 to the control device 9. Based on the rotation speed of the sensor detection shaft 25 transmitted to the control device 9, the control device 9 calculates the amount of movement of the ink ribbon R and calculates the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R wound around the original fabric holder 341. ..

The driving force transmission rotating body 24 is provided on the printer main body 20 side, and transmits the driving force generated by the ribbon driving driving force generating unit 28 (described later) from the printer main body 20 side to the ribbon cassette 30 side. As shown in FIG. 6, the driving force transmission rotating body 24 is exposed to one side 221 side of the main body side base plate 22 through the first opening 22b. As shown in FIG. 5, the driving force transmission rotating body 24 has a transmission shaft portion 241 and a connecting cylinder portion 242. The transmission shaft portion 241 and the connection cylinder portion 242 are connected in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation shaft J2 as the central axis.

As shown in FIG. 5, the transmission shaft portion 241 extends in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation shaft J2 as the central axis. The base end of the transmission shaft portion 241 is connected to the ribbon driving force generating portion 28. The tip of the transmission shaft portion 241 is connected to the end face of the connection cylinder portion 242.

The connection cylinder portion 242 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation shaft J2 as the central axis, and is connected to the end portion on the tip end side of the transmission shaft portion 241. The end surface 242a of the connecting cylinder portion 242 on the side opposite to the transmission shaft portion 241 in the front-rear direction Y with the second rotation shaft J2 as the central axis is formed through the first opening 22b (see FIG. 6) of the main body side base plate 22. It is exposed on one side 221 side of the main body side base plate 22.

The end surface 242a of the connecting cylinder portion 242 is formed in an annular surface shape extending in the radial direction of the connecting cylinder portion 242. A second magnet portion 112 is provided on the end surface 242a of the connecting cylinder portion 242. The second magnet portion 112 is connected to the first magnet portion 111 of the body portion 353 of the take-up rotation shaft 35 by magnet coupling by the magnet connection mechanism 110 of the drive shaft connection mechanism (connection mechanism) 100 (see FIG. 5) described later. Be connected.

A one-way clutch 121 of the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120 of the drive shaft connection mechanism 100 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the connection cylinder portion 242. On the inner peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder portion 242, a one-way clutch connecting mechanism 120 of a drive shaft connecting mechanism (connecting mechanism) 100 (see FIG. 5) described later is used, and a protruding portion of the take-up rotation shaft 35 is provided via the one-way clutch 121. The columnar portion 354a of 354 is connected.

The driving force transmission rotating body 24 (second rotating shaft portion) configured in this way has a driving shaft connecting mechanism (connecting mechanism) 100 (see FIG. 5) described later when the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20. ), It is connected to the take-up rotary shaft 35 (first rotary shaft portion) provided on the ribbon cassette 30. The details of the drive shaft connecting mechanism 100 will be described later.

The ribbon driving driving force generating unit 28 is provided in the printer main body 20. The ribbon driving driving force generating unit 28 generates a rotational driving force for rotationally driving the driving force transmitting rotating body 24, and transmits the rotational driving force to the transmission shaft portion 241. As shown in FIG. 5, the ribbon driving force generating unit 28 includes a ribbon driving motor 281, a first pulley 282, a second pulley 283, and a transmission belt 284.

The first pulley 282 is connected to the rotary shaft member 281a of the ribbon drive motor 281. A transmission shaft portion 241 of the driving force transmission rotating body 24 is connected to the center of the rotation shaft of the second pulley 283. The transmission belt 284 is hung on the first pulley 282 and the second pulley 283.

The ribbon drive motor 281 generates a rotational drive force. The rotational driving force generated by the ribbon drive motor 281 is transmitted to the transmission shaft portion 241 of the driving force transmission rotating body 24 via the first pulley 282, the transmission belt 284, and the second pulley 283.

The ribbon drive motor 281 is connected to the drive force transmission rotating body 24 by rotationally driving the driving force transmission rotating body 24 via the first pulley 282, the transmission belt 284, and the second pulley 283. Is rotationally driven in both the direction of rewinding the ink ribbon R and the direction of winding the ink ribbon R. The ribbon drive motor 281 conveys the ink ribbon R toward the thermal head 33 so as to have the same moving speed as the packaging film W which is continuously moved by the packaging machine or the like. The ribbon drive motor 281 is controlled by a control device 9 described later.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upstream platen roller 6A, the downstream platen roller 6B, the upstream transfer guide roller 71, and the downstream transfer guide roller 72 are arranged below the print units 10A and 10B. The upstream platen roller 6A, the downstream platen roller 6B, the upstream transport guide roller 71, and the downstream transport guide roller 72 guide the movement of the packaging film W in the transport direction P1.

The platen roller 6 can rotate while wrapping at least a part of the packaging film W around the peripheral surface in a state where the packaging film W is arranged between the platen roller 6 and the thermal head 33. In the upstream platen roller 6A and the downstream platen roller 6B, an elastic layer made of a material having a predetermined elasticity such as silicone rubber is formed on the peripheral surface of a metal core metal having a predetermined diameter, respectively, to form a columnar shape having a predetermined outer diameter. It is a formed roller.

In the present embodiment, the rotary encoder 73 is arranged so as to face the upstream platen roller 6A with the packaging film W interposed therebetween. The rotary encoder 73 rotates as the packaging film W moves, detects the amount of movement of the packaging film W as the amount of rotation, and outputs it as a pulse signal. As a result, the control device 9 (described later) calculates the position of the packaging film W in the transport direction P1 from the reference position. The reference position is, for example, a plurality of marks M (see FIGS. 3 and 11) printed at predetermined intervals on the packaging film W.

The upstream side transport guide roller 71 is arranged on the upstream side of the upstream side platen roller 6A in the transport direction P1 of the packaging film W. The downstream transfer guide roller 72 is arranged on the downstream side of the downstream platen roller 6B in the transport direction P1 of the packaging film W.

The mark detection sensor 74 is arranged on the moving path of the packaging film W on the upstream side of the upstream transport guide roller 71. When the mark detection sensor 74 detects a plurality of marks M (reference positions) printed at predetermined intervals on the packaging film W, the mark detection sensor 74 outputs a detection signal indicating that the marks M have been detected. The detection signal for detecting the mark M output from the mark detection sensor 74 is input to the control device 9 (described later).

Next, the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 will be described.
When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 can press the thermal head 33 toward the lower side Z2 (ink ribbon R side). As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 includes a cassette side pressing portion 81 (first pressing portion) and a printer main body side pressing portion 82 (second pressing portion).

The cassette side pressing portion 81 will be described.
The cassette side pressing portion 81 (first pressing portion) presses one end side H1 (front side Y1) of the thermal head 33 in the width direction H (front-back direction Y of the thermal printer device 1) on the ribbon cassette 30 side.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the cassette side pressing unit 81 includes a head bracket 811, a cassette side head pressing member 812, a cassette side slide member 813, and a cassette side air cylinder 814 (first air driving unit). , And an air input mechanism unit 80 for a cassette side air cylinder. The head bracket 811, the cassette side head pressing member 812, the cassette side slide member 813, the cassette side air cylinder 814, and the air input port 43 (described later) of the cassette side air cylinder air input mechanism unit 80 are provided in the ribbon cassette 30. .. The air output port 26 (described later) of the air input mechanism unit 80 for the cassette side air cylinder is provided in the printer main body.

A thermal head 33 is attached to the head bracket 811. In the present embodiment, the thermal head 33 is formed on the head bracket 811 in a state where the thermal head 33 is formed so as to extend in the width direction H (the front-rear direction Y of the thermal printer device 1) and the tip portion 33a is inclined so as to be located on the lower side. It is attached.

The cassette-side head pressing member 812 is formed so as to extend in the width direction H (front-rear direction Y of the thermal printer device 1) of the thermal head 33. A thermal head 33 is attached to the cassette side head pressing member 812 via a head bracket 811. The end of the front side Y1 of the cassette side head pressing member 812 in the front-rear direction Y is connected to the cassette side slide member 813.

The cassette side air cylinder 814 is provided in the ribbon cassette 30. The cassette side air cylinder 814 is driven by the air input from the air input port 43 (described later) of the cassette side air cylinder air input mechanism unit 80.

The cassette side air cylinder air input mechanism unit 80 is used to input air from the printer body 20 side to the cassette side air cylinder 814 (first air drive unit) arranged on the ribbon cassette 30 side. It is a mechanism for connecting the air supply path of the ribbon cassette 30. As shown in FIG. 8, the cassette-side air cylinder air input mechanism unit 80 has an air output port 26 arranged on the printer main body 20 side and an air input port 43 arranged on the ribbon cassette 30 side.
The air output port 26 is provided in the printer main body 20. The air output port 26 outputs air to the outside of the printer main body 20.
The air input port 43 is provided in the ribbon cassette 30. The air input port 43 is connected to the air output unit 26 when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20. The air input port 43 inputs air to the ribbon cassette 30.

In the above-mentioned air input mechanism unit 80 for a cassette side air cylinder, when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the air input port 43 provided in the ribbon cassette 30 and the air output port provided in the printer main body 20 26 and are connected. In this connected state, the air output from the air output port 26 is supplied to the ribbon cassette 30 via the air input port 43. The air supplied to the ribbon cassette 30 drives the cassette side air cylinder 814.

The cassette side slide member 813 is connected to the cassette side air cylinder 814. The cassette side slide member 813 can be moved in the vertical direction Z by the cassette side air cylinder 814. As a result, the cassette side air cylinder 814 operates, so that the cassette side slide member 813 moves in the vertical direction Z. When the cassette side slide member 813 moves to the lower side Z2, the thermal head 33 is pressed against the lower side Z2 via the cassette side head pressing member 812 and the head bracket 811. The cassette side slide member 813 is urged upward by an urging member (not shown).

The end of the front side Y1 of the cassette side head pressing member 812 in the front-rear direction Y is connected to the cassette side slide member 813. Therefore, the cassette side slide member 813 is located at the end side of the front side Y1 of the cassette side head pressing member 812 in the front-rear direction Y, and is located at one end side H1 of the thermal head 33 in the width direction H (front-rear direction Y of the thermal printer device 1). (Front side Y1) is pressed on the ribbon cassette 30 side.

The printer main body side pressing portion 82 will be described.
The printer main body side pressing portion 82 (second pressing portion) presses the other end side H2 (back side Y2) of the thermal head 33 in the width direction H (front-back direction Y of the thermal printer device 1) on the printer main body 20 side. ..

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the printer main body side pressing unit 82 includes a printer main body side head pressing member 822, a printer main body side slide member 823, a printer main body side air cylinder 824 (second air driving unit), and the printer main body side pressing member 82. It has an air input mechanism for an air cylinder on the printer body side (not shown). The printer main body side head pressing member 822, the printer main body side slide member 823, the printer main body side air cylinder 824, and the printer main body side air cylinder air input mechanism unit (not shown) are provided in the printer main body 20. As described above, the air branched by the solenoid valve (not shown) provided in the printer main body 20 is supplied to the air input mechanism unit (not shown) for the air cylinder on the printer main body side.

The printer body side head pressing member 822 is connected to the printer body side slide member 823. The printer body side head pressing member 822 is formed so as to project toward the ribbon cassette 30 side when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer body 20. The printer body-side head pressing member 822 is configured to press the end of the cassette-side head pressing member 812 on the back side Y2 in the front-rear direction Y when the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer body 20.

The printer main body side air cylinder 824 is provided in the printer main body 20. The printer main body side air cylinder 824 is driven by air supplied from an air input mechanism unit (not shown) for the printer main body side air cylinder.

The printer body side slide member 823 is connected to the printer body side air cylinder 824. The printer main body side slide member 823 can be moved in the vertical direction Z by the printer main body side air cylinder 824. As a result, the printer main body side air cylinder 824 operates, so that the printer main body side slide member 823 moves in the vertical direction Z, and the printer main body side head pressing member 822 moves to the lower side Z2. Then, the end of the back side Y2 of the thermal head 33 in the front-rear direction Y is pressed against the lower side Z2 via the head bracket 811. The slide member 823 on the printer body side is urged upward by an urging member (not shown).

In the printer body side slide member 823, the printer body side head pressing member 822 presses the end of the cassette side head pressing member 812 on the other side (back side Y2 in the front-rear direction Y), so that the width direction H of the thermal head 33 ( The other end side H2 (back side Y2) of the thermal printer device 1 in the front-rear direction Y) is pressed on the printer body 20 side.

When the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 configured as described above is provided on the ribbon cassette 30 by the cassette side pressing portion 81 and the printer main body side pressing portion 82. The thermal head 33 can be pressed against the lower side Z2, and the thermal head 33 can be pressed against the ink ribbon R side. Here, in the center of the width direction H of the thermal head 33 (the front-rear direction Y of the thermal printer device 1), the width direction H of the thermal head 33 (see FIG. 4) is secured while securing a space for arranging the take-up holder 348 (see FIG. 4). The thermal head 33 is pressed on both sides H1 and H2 (front side Y1 and back side Y2) of the thermal printer device 1 in the front-rear direction Y). As a result, the thermal head 33 can be pressed evenly downward in the width direction H (the front-rear direction Y of the thermal printer device 1).

Next, the drive shaft connecting mechanism 100 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the drive shaft connecting mechanism 100 connects the take-up rotating shaft 35 and the driving force transmitting rotating body 24. The drive shaft connecting mechanism 100 includes a magnet connecting mechanism 110 and a one-way clutch connecting mechanism 120.

The one-way clutch connection mechanism 120 has a one-way clutch 121 as shown in FIG. The one-way clutch 121 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder portion 242 of the driving force transmission rotating body 24 (second rotating shaft portion). When the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the printer main body 20, the one-way clutch 121 is wound by inserting the protruding portion 354 of the take-up rotating shaft 35 into the connecting cylinder portion 242 of the driving force transmission rotating body 24. It is arranged between the protruding portion 354 of the rotating shaft 35 (first rotating shaft portion) and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder portion 242 of the driving force transmission rotating body 24 (second rotating shaft portion).

When the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the first rotation direction D1, the one-way clutch 121 is in a coupled state in which the driving force transmission rotating body 24 and the take-up rotation shaft 35 are engaged by clutch coupling, and the driving force transmission rotation When the body 24 rotates in the second rotation direction D2, which is the rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction D1, the driving force transmission rotating body 24 and the take-up rotation shaft 35 are not coupled to each other, resulting in a non-coupling state.

As shown in FIG. 5, the magnet connecting mechanism 110 includes a first magnet portion 111 provided on the take-up rotating shaft 35 and a second magnet portion 112 provided on the driving force transmission rotating body 24.

The first magnet portion 111 is provided on the end surface 353a of the body portion 353 of the take-up rotation shaft 35. In the present embodiment, the first magnet portion 111 is composed of a plurality of permanent magnet pieces 111a having a circular surface. The plurality of circular permanent magnet pieces 111a are embedded in an annular shape in the end surface 353a of the body portion 353 so that the north and south poles alternate.

The second magnet portion 112 is provided on the end surface 242a of the connecting cylinder portion 242 of the driving force transmission rotating body 24. In the present embodiment, the second magnet portion 112 is composed of a plurality of permanent magnet pieces 112a having a circular surface. The plurality of circular permanent magnet pieces 112a of the second magnet portion 112 have N poles at the same intervals as the intervals of the circular permanent magnet pieces 111a in the first magnet portion 111 so as to be attracted to the first magnet portion 111. And S poles are alternately embedded in the end surface 242a of the connecting cylinder portion 242 so as to be arranged in an annular shape. When the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the printer main body 20, the second magnet portion 112 is magnetically coupled to the first magnet portion 111.

Examples of the permanent magnets used in the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 include alnico magnets, ferrite magnets, neodymium magnets, and the like. In this embodiment, for example, a neodymium magnet is used as a permanent magnet because it is easy to sufficiently obtain an attractive force due to magnetic force. The permanent magnet is not limited to this.

The magnet connecting mechanism 110 configured as described above is coupled by magnetic coupling by the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 in the connected state between the take-up rotating shaft 35 and the driving force transmitting rotating body 24. As a result, when the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the first rotation direction D1 or the second rotation direction D2, the take-up rotation shaft 35 can rotate in the first rotation direction D1 or the second rotation direction D2. Further, the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 have a constant relative rotational force between the take-up rotating shaft 35 and the driving force transmitting rotating body 24 so as to exceed the limit of attraction by magnetic force. When acted, the magnetic coupling is disengaged and separated.

In the above-mentioned one-way clutch connecting mechanism 120 and magnet connecting mechanism 110, the clutch coupling of the one-way clutch connecting mechanism 120 is larger than the coupling force of the magnetic force coupling of the magnet connecting mechanism 110.
Here, the clutch engagement of the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120 (one-way clutch 121) has a structure in which, for example, mechanically meshes with each other when the clutch is engaged when rotating in one direction. Therefore, the clutch coupling is in a strong coupling state. In addition, when it is rotated in the other direction, it becomes a non-bonded state.
On the other hand, since the magnet connection mechanism 110 is magnetically coupled, when a rotational force that does not exceed the limit of magnetic force coupling acts, the magnets are coupled by magnetic force coupling, and when a rotational force that exceeds the limit of magnetic force coupling acts. Is released from the combined state.

In the drive shaft connecting mechanism 100 configured as described above, the case where the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the first rotation direction D1 and the case where the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the second rotation direction D2 will be described. To do.

In the present embodiment, the first rotation direction D1 is, as shown by an arrow D1 in FIG. 4, when the thermal head 33 prints a print pattern on the packaging film W in the rotation direction of the take-up rotation shaft 35. This is the rotation direction (forward rotation direction) in which the ink ribbon R is fed out from the take holder 348.

When the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the first rotation direction D1, the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 are magnetically coupled in the magnet connection mechanism 110, and the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120 As a result, the clutch is engaged. In this state, since the clutch is engaged by the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120, the driving force transmission rotating body 24 and the take-up rotating shaft 35 are firmly connected.

In the first rotation direction D1, since the thermal head 33 is lowered to press the ink ribbon R and the platen roller, it is necessary to be able to transmit a strong rotation torque. Therefore, in the first rotation direction D1, a strong rotational torque is transmitted by engaging with the clutch by the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120.

On the other hand, the second rotation direction D2 is the direction in which the ink ribbon R is rewound (reverse rotation direction) in the rotation direction of the take-up rotation shaft 35, as shown by the arrow D2 in FIG. For example, when the take-up rotation shaft 35 is rotated in the second rotation direction D2, the ink ribbon R may be rewound in order to reduce wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon R after printing on the thermal head 33.

When the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the second rotation direction D2, the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 are magnetically coupled in the magnet connection mechanism 110, and the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120 In, the one-way clutch 121 is in a non-coupling state, and is in a state of being connected only by magnetic force coupling between the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112. In this state, the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 are connected only by magnetic force coupling. Further, when a constant relative rotational torque that exceeds the limit of magnetic force coupling acts between the winding rotary shaft 35 and the driving force transmission rotating body 24, the magnetic force coupling is released and the first magnet The portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 are separated from each other.

Here, if both the first rotation direction D1 and the second rotation direction D2 in the connected state between the take-up rotation shaft 35 and the driving force transmission rotating body 24 are clutch-engaged, the driving force transmission rotating body 24 and the driving force transmission rotating body 24 The take-up rotating shaft 35 may be firmly engaged with the winding rotation shaft 35 and may not come off. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the first rotation direction D1, it is a clutch engagement and the driving force transmission rotating body 24 rotates in the second rotation direction D2. If so, it is a magnet coupling. As a result, by providing a difference in coupling force between the first rotation direction D1 and the second rotation direction D2, the take-up rotation shaft 35 and the driving force are provided in both the first rotation direction D1 and the second rotation direction D2. It is suppressed that the transmission rotating body 24 and the transmission rotating body 24 are firmly engaged with each other. Therefore, when the ribbon cassette 30 is removed from the printer main body 20, both the first rotation direction D1 and the second rotation direction D2 in the connected state between the take-up rotation shaft 35 and the driving force transmission rotation body 24 are clutch-coupled. More easily than in the case, the take-up rotary shaft 35 can be removed from the driving force transmission rotating body 24. Further, since it is suppressed that the winding rotary shaft 35 and the driving force transmitting rotating body 24 are firmly meshed in both the rotating directions of the first rotating direction D1 and the second rotating direction D2, the driving force transmitting rotating body 24 When removing the take-up rotary shaft 35, the take-up rotary shaft 35 can be easily attached and detached.

Next, the control device 9 will be described. The control device 9 is electrically connected to the print units 10A and 10B and the drive mechanism 53. The control device 9 controls a plurality of print units 10A and 10B in an integrated manner.
The control device 9 controls the drive of the drive mechanism 53 so as to move each of the plurality of print units 10A and 10B in the transport width direction P2. The control device 9 controls the thermal heads 33 provided on the print units 10A and 10B, respectively, and controls the movement of the ink ribbon R.

(Control example)
A control example of the thermal printer device 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the two print units 10A and 10B when the first control example to the fourth control example are executed, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the positional relationship of the two print units 10A and 10B, and FIG. 10B is the execution of the fifth control example. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of two print units 10A, 10B in the case of this. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the printed contents printed by the first control example. FIG. 12 (a) is a diagram showing the print content printed by the second control example, FIG. 12 (b) is a diagram showing the print content printed by the third control example, and FIG. 12 (c) is a diagram showing the print content printed by the third control example. It is a figure which shows the print content printed by the 4th control example. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the printed contents printed by the fifth control example.

For example, in the control device 9, the print units 10A and 10B are arranged side by side in the transport direction (movement direction) P1 of the packaging film W as shown in FIG. 10A, or as shown in FIG. 10B. The print units 10A and 10B are controlled to move to a position shifted in the transport width direction P2 so as to cover the entire area in the transport width direction P2. Further, the control device 9 controls the print units 10A and 10B so as to print the print pattern on the packaging film W. Further, the control device 9 moves the print units 10A and 10B from the position of FIG. 10A to the position of FIG. 10B, or moves from the position of FIG. 10B to the position of FIG. 10A. It is also possible to let it.

The positions of the two print units 10A and 10B are, for example, the following positions with respect to the following control examples 1 to 5.
In Control Examples 1 to 4, as shown in FIG. 10A, the print units 10A and 10B are arranged in the transport direction P1 in a state where the print units 10A and 10B are, for example, closer to one side of the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W. Deploy. As a result, the print area of the print units 10A and 10B in the transport width direction P2 becomes the same range when viewed in the transport direction P1.
In control example 5, as shown in FIG. 10B, the print units 10A and 10B are positioned on one side and the other side of the packaging film W in the transport width direction P2, for example. As a result, the entire area of the print units 10A and 10B in the transport width direction P2 can be set as the print area.

(Control example 1)
In control example 1, for example, in a production line (packaging line) for packaging a product such as food with a packaging film W, when the thermal printer device 1 of the present invention is incorporated in a part of the production line, the packaging film W This is a control example in which control is performed so that the transport of the film is not stopped.
For example, in a production line, it is important not to stop the production line in order not to reduce the number of products such as foods produced. Therefore, the control example 1 is a control example in which the production line of a product such as food is controlled so as not to be stopped.

In control example 1, the print operation is executed by either one of the print units 10A and 10B in a state where the print units 10A and 10B are arranged side by side in the transport direction P1 (see FIG. 10A). The print unit 10 that does not execute the printing operation is made to stand by as a spare of the printing unit 10 that is executing the printing operation.

Here, in the print unit 10A executing the printing operation, maintenance may be required because, for example, the ink ribbon R ends or is cut, or the thermal head 33 of the print unit 10A becomes dirty or breaks down. is there. In such a case, in the control example 1, the print unit 10B which has been waiting without executing the printing operation is operated instead of the printing unit 10A which is executing the printing operation without stopping the transportation of the packaging film W. Can be made to.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when printing is executed by the upstream print unit 10A in the section “A”, for example, the ink ribbon R ends or is cut in the upstream print unit 10A. Maintenance may be required because the thermal head 33 becomes dirty or breaks down. In this case, the control device 9 stops the upstream print unit 10A, switches the upstream print unit 10A to the downstream print unit 10B, and executes printing by the downstream print unit 10B in the section "B". Control. As a result, the printing operation can be continued without stopping the movement of the packaging film W.
Further, in the stopped print unit 10A, by replacing the ribbon cassette 30, the print unit 10A can be quickly restored and used, or can be made to stand by as a spare for the print unit 10B currently in operation.

In particular, in the present invention, the thermal head 33 is held in the ribbon cassette 30. Therefore, even if the thermal head 33 becomes dirty or malfunctions and maintenance is required, maintenance such as repair, replacement, or cleaning of the thermal head 33 can be performed on the ribbon cassette 30 side, or maintenance such as replacement of the ribbon cassette 30 can be performed. You can go. Therefore, the maintainability can be improved as compared with the case where the thermal head 33 is held on the printer main body 20 side.

In this way, when the printing operation is being executed by the upstream printing unit 10A and it is necessary to perform maintenance on the upstream printing unit 10A, the printing operation is executed without stopping the transportation of the packaging film W. By operating the print unit 10 that has been on standby without executing the printing operation instead of the printing unit 10, it is possible to suppress the stoppage of the production line. Further, even when the downstream side print unit 10B reaches the ribbon replacement time or maintenance is required, the control device 9 makes it possible to operate the upstream side print unit 10A without missing the print.

(Control example 2)
The control example 2 is a control example in which a print pattern of a plurality of character strings is printed at a short pitch. As shown in FIG. 12A, one pitch is the distance between two adjacent marks M (reference positions) on the packaging film W. In this embodiment, the printing operation is executed based on the mark M (reference position).

Conventionally, in a thermal printer device, after printing a print pattern of a character string, in order to reduce an unused portion of the ink ribbon R and reduce wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon R, every printing operation is performed. The control for rewinding the ink ribbon R after printing is executed. Therefore, when printing a character string print pattern at a short pitch using one print unit 10, when the control for rewinding the ink ribbon R is executed in order to reduce the unused portion of the ink ribbon R, the next print is performed. I can't move to operation immediately. Therefore, there is a limit in printing a print pattern of a plurality of character strings at a short pitch. Further, printing could not be started until the film speed and the winding speed of the ink ribbon R were synchronized.

On the other hand, in the control example 2, when one pitch for printing (the interval between adjacent marks M (reference positions)) is short, the print units 10A and 10B are arranged side by side in the transport direction P1 (FIG. 10 (FIG. 10). a)), the upstream side print unit 10A and the downstream side print unit 10B alternately execute the printing operation. As a result, the print pattern of the character string can be printed at a short pitch. Further, since the ink ribbon R has twice the winding amount, there is an advantage that the interval between replacement periods is doubled.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12A, a printing operation is executed by the upstream print unit 10A at the timing of “A” within a short one-pitch range, and the downstream print unit 10B is executed at the timing of “B”. Print operation is executed by. As a result, the upstream side print unit 10A and the downstream side print unit 10B can alternately execute the printing operation. Therefore, even if the control for rewinding the ink ribbon is executed in one print unit 10, the printing may be executed in the other print unit 10, so that the print pattern of the character string can be printed at a short pitch.

(Control example 3)
As shown in FIG. 12B, control example 3 is a control example in which printing patterns of different types of character strings are printed at two locations in the range of one pitch. One pitch is, for example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the distance between two adjacent marks M (reference positions) on the packaging film W. In this embodiment, the printing operation is executed based on the mark M (reference position).

Conventionally, the packaging film W has been packaged so as to move one pitch between the marks M provided at predetermined intervals in the transport direction P1 of the packaging film W and the next mark M, for example, in one feeding operation. It is controlled by a machine (not shown). Then, it is controlled so that only one printing operation can be executed in the one-pitch printing range that moves by one feeding operation of the packaging film W. Therefore, it is difficult to print a plurality of printing patterns in a range of one pitch between two marks M on the packaging film W.
It was also possible to print at two locations in a print range of one pitch using one print unit. However, when the two printing points are separated from each other, the ink ribbon is wasted because the printing is performed without executing the control for rewinding the ink ribbon R after printing.

On the other hand, in the control example 3, when printing the print patterns of different types of character strings at two places in the range of one pitch, the print units 10A and 10B are arranged side by side in the transport direction P1 ( As shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 12 (b), the upstream side print unit 10A executes the printing operation at the timing of “A” within the range of one pitch, and the downstream side at the timing of “B”. By executing the printing operation by the print unit 10B, the printing operation is alternately executed at two places in the range of one pitch. As a result, it is possible to print two types of character string print patterns at two locations within the range of one pitch.
Further, since each of the upstream side print unit 10A and the downstream side print unit 10B executes the control of rewinding the ink ribbon R after printing, waste of the ink ribbon can be suppressed.

(Control example 4)
As shown in FIG. 12C, the control example 4 is a control example in which printing patterns of character strings of different colors are printed at two locations in the range of one pitch in a continuous pitch.
In control example 4, in order to print print patterns of character strings of different colors at two locations in the range of one pitch, for example, a blue ink ribbon is set in the ribbon cassette of the upstream print unit 10A, and the downstream print unit 10B is set. Set the red ink ribbon in the ribbon cassette. Then, in a state where the print units 10A and 10B are arranged side by side in the transport direction P1 (see FIG. 10A), as shown in FIG. A printing operation of printing with a red character printing pattern is executed at the timing of "A", and a printing operation of printing with a blue character printing pattern is executed by the downstream print unit 10B at the timing of "B". As a result, printing patterns of different colors can be printed at two locations in the range of one pitch.
In this way, in Control Example 4, multicolor printing, which was not possible with one print unit 10, was made possible by printing with a plurality of print units 10.

(Control example 5)
As shown in FIG. 13, control example 5 is a control example in which printing patterns of different character strings are printed at positions separated from each other in the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W.

Conventionally, when the length of the packaging film W in the transport width direction P2 is long, for example, there is a case where it is desired to print a print pattern of a different character string at a position separated from one side and the other side in the transport width direction P2. ..

In such a case, when printing with one print unit 10, the length of the thermal head 33 and the ink ribbon R in the transport width direction P2 may be shorter than the length of the packaging film W in the transport width direction P2. .. In this case, it is conceivable to move one print unit 10 in the transport width direction P2 to print the print pattern. However, even if the print unit 10 is moved to the other side of the wrapping film W in the transport width direction P2 after printing on one side of the wrapping film W in the transport width direction P2, the moving speed of the print unit 10 is limited. Therefore, even when it is desired to print a plurality of print patterns arranged in the transport width direction P2, the packaging film W moves in the transport direction P1 while the print unit 10 moves, and the print positions of the plurality of print patterns are changed. It was difficult to print a plurality of print patterns arranged in the transport width direction P2 because the print pattern was displaced in the transport direction P1.

Further, when printing with one print unit 10, the length of the thermal head 33 and the ink ribbon R in the transport width direction P2 is about the same as the length of the packaging film W in the transport width direction P2. is there. In this case, since the ink ribbon R is not used in the blank portion between the two character strings separated from each other on one side and the other side of the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W, the ink ribbon R is wasted.

On the other hand, in the control example 5, the upstream side print unit 10A and the downstream side print unit 10B are separated from each other in the transport width direction P2 (see FIG. 10B), and as shown in FIG. 13, in the transport width direction. It is controlled to print a print pattern of character strings arranged at positions separated from each other on one side and the other side of P2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the upstream side print unit 10A performs a printing operation so as to print at the position "A" on one side of the transport width direction P2, and "B" on the other side of the transport width direction P2. The print operation is performed by the downstream print unit 10B so as to print at the position of. As a result, it is possible to print different character string printing patterns at positions separated from each other in the transport width direction P2 of the packaging film W.

According to the thermal printer device 1 of the present embodiment, for example, the following effects are achieved.
In the thermal printer device 1 of the present embodiment, the printer main body 20, the ribbon cassette 30 that holds the take-up holder 348 around which the ink ribbon R is wound and is detachable from the printer main body 20, and the printing unit on the packaging film W. The thermal head 33 is provided with a thermal head 33 for printing the printer, and the thermal head 33 is not held by the printer main body 20 but is held by the ribbon cassette 30.

Therefore, the ribbon cassette 30 can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 20, and maintenance such as repair, replacement, and cleaning of the thermal head 33 held by the ribbon cassette 30 can be performed. This makes maintenance even easier. Therefore, maintainability can be further improved.

Further, when the thermal printer device 1 of the present invention is incorporated in the production line, maintenance is required because the ink ribbon R ends or is cut, the thermal head 33 becomes dirty or breaks down, and the like. In some cases. In such a case, the ribbon cassette 30 holding the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 33 can be removed from the printer main body 20 and replaced with another ribbon cassette 30. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time for stopping the production line of the product at the time of maintenance.

Further, in the present embodiment, the two (plurality) print units 10A and 10B including the printer main body 20, the thermal head 33, the take-up holder 348, and the ribbon cassette 30 are provided, and the two (plurality) print units 10A and 10B are provided. The packaging film W is arranged side by side in the transport direction P when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction P.
Therefore, in the printing process on the packaging line, the ribbon cassette 30 is repaired without stopping the product production line (packaging line) by executing the printing operation on one print unit 10 and using the other print unit 10 as a spare. Maintenance such as replacement and cleaning can be performed. The ink ribbon R and the thermal head 33 are held in the ribbon cassette 30. Therefore, maintenance such as replenishment of the ink ribbon R and repair, replacement, and cleaning of the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 33 is possible.

Further, when two (plurality) print units 10A and 10B are used at the same time, it is possible to print at a shorter pitch than when the printing operation is performed by one unit. The reason is as follows. In order to reduce the wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon R when the printing operation is performed by one unit, the control of rewinding the ink ribbon R after printing is executed for each printing operation. If the control for rewinding the ink ribbon R is not performed, printing can be performed at a short pitch, but since the unused portion of the ink ribbon R is sent as it is, the ink ribbon R is wasted. Therefore, by using the two print units 10A and 10B arranged in the transport direction P, even if the control for rewinding the ink ribbon R is executed after printing, the printing operation can be executed by another print unit 10. As a result, while reducing the consumption of the ink ribbon R, it is possible to print at a shorter pitch than when the printing operation is performed by one unit.

Further, in the present embodiment, the two (plurality) print units 10A and 10B are configured to be movable in the transport width direction P2 orthogonal to the transport direction P1, respectively.
Since the two (plural) print units 10A and 10B can be moved in the transport width direction P2, by arranging the two (plural) print units 10A and 10B at positions shifted in the transport direction P, different character string printing patterns can be printed. Can be printed at positions separated from each other in the transport width direction P2.

Further, in the present embodiment, the thermal head pressing mechanism 8 having the cassette side pressing portion 81 arranged on the ribbon cassette 30 side and the printer main body side pressing portion 82 arranged on the printer main body 20 side is provided (FIG. 7). As a result, the thermal head 33 can be pressed by the cassette side pressing portion 81 and the printer main body side pressing portion 82, so that the thermal head 33 can be pressed toward the ink ribbon R side in a stable state.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cassette side pressing portion 81 that presses the one end side H1 of the thermal head in the width direction H on the ribbon cassette 30 side and the other end portion of the thermal head 33 in the width direction H on the printer body 20 side. A thermal head pressing mechanism 8 having a printer body side pressing portion 82 capable of pressing the side H2 is provided. As a result, when the thermal head 33 is pressed against the ink ribbon R side, while securing a space for arranging the take-up holder in the center of the thermal head 33 in the width direction H, both sides H1 of the thermal head 33 in the width direction H1 The thermal head 33 can be pressed in H2. As a result, the thermal head 33 can be pressed evenly downward in the width direction H.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the first contact portion 231 and / or the second contact portion 421 comes into contact with each other, the first contact portion 231 and / or the second contact portion 421 on the other side in contact with each other. It has an urging part (not shown) that exerts an urging force toward it.
The present invention has a structure in which the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to and detached from the printer main body 20. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by making the connection portion in the connection structure a contact type, damage or deterioration of the connection portion can be reduced as compared with the case where the connection portion is composed of a connector or the like. Further, since the first contact portion 231 and the second contact portion 421 can be connected only by contacting them, they can be easily connected. Further, since the urging force of the urging portion urges and contacts the first contact portion 231 and the second contact portion 421, the first contact portion 231 and the second contact portion 421 can be brought into contact with each other more reliably.

Further, in the present embodiment, a drive shaft connecting mechanism 100 having a one-way clutch connecting mechanism 120 and a magnet connecting mechanism 110, and a ribbon drive for generating a rotational driving force for rotationally driving the driving force transmission rotating body 24 A motor 281 is further provided.

Therefore, by adopting the one-way clutch connection mechanism 120 and the magnet connection mechanism 110 in combination, the take-up rotary shaft that rotates the take-up holder 348 more than when the take-up rotary shaft 35 is connected by engagement or fitting. The 35 can be easily attached and detached.

Further, in the present embodiment, the coupling force of the clutch coupling is larger than the coupling force of the magnetic coupling. Here, in the first rotation direction D1, the clutch is engaged by the coupling force of the clutch engagement. In the second rotation direction D2, they are coupled by the coupling force of the magnetic force coupling. As a result, it is possible to realize an integrated mechanism in which the transmission force of the rotational torque is different between the first rotational direction D1 and the second rotational direction D2, which is the rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction D1.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to the above-described embodiment.
For example, in the above embodiment, the thermal printer device 1 is configured to include two print units 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be configured to include three or more print units 10.

Further, in the above embodiment, the first contact portion 231 is formed in a pin shape and is configured to be urged toward the second contact portion 421, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first contact portion 231 and the second contact portion 421 may be configured in a shape opposite to that of the present embodiment, and the urging direction may be reversed.

In the above embodiment, the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 are permanent magnets, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first magnet portion 111 and the second magnet portion 112 may be used as electromagnets.

1 Thermal printer device (thermal transfer printing device)
8 Thermal head pressing mechanism (pressing mechanism)
10, 10A, 10B print unit (printing unit)
20 Printer main body 23 Main body side relay board (main body side board)
24 Driving force transmission rotating body (second rotating shaft)
26 Air output port (air output section)
30 Ribbon cassette 33 Thermal head (print head)
35 Take-up rotary shaft (1st rotary shaft)
42 Cassette side relay board (ribbon cassette side board)
43 Air input port (air input section)
81 Cassette side pressing part (first pressing part)
82 Printer body side pressing part (second pressing part)
100 Drive shaft connection mechanism (connection mechanism)
111 1st magnet part 112 2nd magnet part 110 Magnet connection mechanism 120 One-way clutch connection mechanism 231 1st contact part 281 Ribbon drive motor 348 Winding holder (ribbon holder)
421 2nd contact part 814 Cassette side air cylinder (1st air drive part)
824 Printer body side air cylinder (second air drive unit)
H width direction H1 one end side H2 other end side P1 transport direction (movement direction)
P2 Transport width direction (direction orthogonal to the moving direction)
R Ink Ribbon W Packaging film (printed matter)

Claims (6)

With the printer body
A ribbon cassette that holds the ribbon holder around which the ink ribbon is wound and that can be attached to and detached from the printer body,
A print head that prints the printed part on the printed matter,
A pressing mechanism capable of pressing the print head toward the ink ribbon side when the ribbon cassette is attached to the printer body is provided.
The print head is not held by the printer body, but is held by the ribbon cassette.
The pressing mechanism includes a first pressing portion arranged on the ribbon cassette and capable of pressing the print head, and a second pressing portion arranged on the printer body and capable of pressing the print head .
Thermal transfer printing apparatus. With the printer body
A ribbon cassette that holds the ribbon holder around which the ink ribbon is wound and that can be attached to and detached from the printer body,
Equipped with a print head that prints the printed part on the printed matter,
The print head is not held by the printer body, but is held by the ribbon cassette.
A first rotating shaft portion provided on the ribbon cassette and rotating the ribbon holder,
A second rotating shaft portion provided on the printer main body and connected to the first rotating shaft portion when the ribbon cassette is attached to the printer main body.
A connection mechanism that connects the first rotation shaft portion and the second rotation shaft portion and has a one-way clutch connection mechanism and a magnet connection mechanism.
A rotary drive unit provided in the printer main body and generating a rotary drive force for rotationally driving the second rotary shaft portion is further provided .
Thermal transfer printing apparatus. A plurality of printing units including the printer body, the print head, the ribbon holder, and the ribbon cassette are provided.
The plurality of printing units are arranged side by side in the moving direction when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the printed matter.
The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Each of the plurality of printing units is configured to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction.
The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 3. The print head is formed so as to extend in the width direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the printed matter.
The first pressing unit presses one end side of the print head in the width direction on the ribbon cassette side, and is provided on the printer main body to output air to the outside of the printer main body, and the air output unit. An air input unit provided on the ribbon cassette for inputting air to the ribbon cassette, which is connected to the air output unit when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the printer body, and an air input unit provided on the ribbon cassette. It has a first air drive unit that is driven by the air input from the air input unit.
The claim that the second pressing portion can press the other end side of the print head in the width direction on the printer main body side, and has a second air driving portion provided in the printer main body and driven by air. thermal transfer printing apparatus according to 1. A main body-side substrate provided on the printer main body and having a first contact portion,
A ribbon cassette-side substrate provided on the ribbon cassette and having a second contact portion that is electrically connected by contacting the first contact portion when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the printer main body. Prepare,
When the first contact portion and / or the second contact portion comes into contact with each other, the first contact portion and / or the second contact portion exerts an urging force toward the first contact portion and / or the second contact portion on the contacting side. Have a part,
The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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