JP7188162B2 - Heating element holding device, Winding device, Thermal transfer system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer system for transferring ink to a transfer target using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, particularly a heating element holding device for holding and moving a heating element, and the heating element holding apparatus. It relates to an ink ribbon winding device having

2. Description of the Related Art A transfer system for printing an image such as characters on a transfer medium such as a card using an ink ribbon is widely used. The ink ribbon has a ribbon (supporting layer) extending in a strip shape, and an ink layer formed on the ribbon and containing a dye or the like. In printing using an ink ribbon, ink is transferred to a substrate in a pattern corresponding to the desired image to be printed. In this case, the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred has a pattern corresponding to the printed image, where the ink has been removed due to the transfer to the transfer medium. Therefore, it is possible to identify the printed image from the ink ribbon on which the ink has been transferred. Therefore, when using an ink ribbon to print confidential information such as ID information on an object to be transferred, care must be taken in handling the ink ribbon to which ink has been transferred.

In order to address such a problem, for example, in Patent Document 1, a heating member is brought into contact with the outermost ink ribbon wound around the winding portion of the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred in the first pattern. Thermal transfer systems have been proposed to transfer a disturbance pattern to a support layer of an ink ribbon located inside the ink ribbon.

JP 2013-111866 A

However, in the winding section, as the winding progresses, the outer diameter of the roll formed by the ink ribbon wound by the winding section increases. It is necessary to appropriately adjust the relative position of the heating element with respect to the ribbon and the pressing force.

An object of the present invention is to provide a heating element holding device, a winding device, and a thermal transfer system that can effectively solve such problems.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a heating body holding device of the present invention is a heating body holding device for holding and moving a heating body, in which a rotating body rotating around a first rotating shaft and a rotating body perpendicular to the first rotating shaft are provided. A heating body holder that slides in a first direction and holds the heating body is rotatably connected to the rotating body via a first connecting shaft on one side, and the heating body holder and a second connecting shaft on the other side. and an arm body rotatably connected via In the heating element holding device, an urging member whose length in the first direction changes according to the magnitude of the force opposing the urging force is interposed between the heating element holder and the second connecting shaft. may be

Further, the heating member holding device may further include a first detection unit that detects whether or not the rotating member has rotated from the standby position by a predetermined angle or more. The heating body holding device further includes a control section for controlling the heating body holding device, wherein the first detection section detects that the rotating body is rotated from the standby position by the predetermined angle or more. Then, the rotating body may be stopped, or stopped and rotated in reverse to return to the standby position.

Further, the heating element holding device further includes a second detection unit that detects whether or not the second connecting shaft has moved relative to the heating element holder from the standby position by a predetermined distance or more in the first direction. may The heating body holding device further includes a control section for controlling the heating body holding device, and the control section moves the second connecting shaft relative to the heating body holder in the first direction by the predetermined distance or more. When the second detector detects that the heating element is being heated, the rotation of the rotating body may be stopped, and the pressing force applied from the heating element holder to the heating element may be set to a predetermined magnitude.

A take-up device of the present invention includes a support layer and an ink layer, and is a take-up device for winding an ink ribbon to which ink has been transferred in a first pattern, wherein the heater holding device and the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred are provided. and a winding unit for winding the ink layer of the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred by heating the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred from the support layer side. onto the support layer of the ink ribbon located inside the ink-transferred ink ribbon in a second pattern different from the first pattern.

The thermal transfer system of the present invention includes the winding device, a supply section that supplies the ink ribbon, and is arranged upstream of the winding device and downstream of the supply section, and the ink layer of the ink ribbon is arranged on the upstream side of the winding device and the supply section. onto a transferred object in the first pattern.

According to the present invention, it becomes easy to adjust the relative position and pressing force of the heating element with respect to the ink ribbon on the outermost circumference of the winding section.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a thermal transfer system of this embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an ink ribbon to which ink has been transferred, showing the A region in FIG. 1; It is a figure which shows roughly the winding device of this embodiment. It is a perspective view showing a heating element holding device of the present embodiment. It is a top view which shows the heating element holding|maintenance apparatus of this embodiment. It is a side view which shows roughly the heating element holding|maintenance apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a control section, a drive section, a rotating body, a guide plate, a first connecting shaft, and a first detection section of the heating body holding device of the present embodiment; 4 is a perspective view showing a heating body holder, a second connecting shaft, a first biasing member and a second detection part of the heating body holding device of the present embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an arm body of the heating body holding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mode in which a heating body is moved by the heating body holding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mode in which a heating body is moved by the heating body holding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 10B is a side view showing a mode in which the heating body is moved by the heating body holding device of the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 10A. FIG. 10B is a side view showing a mode in which the heating body is moved by the heating body holding device of the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 10B. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heating element held by the heating element holding device of the present embodiment presses the outer ink ribbon with a predetermined pressing force; FIG. 13 is a side view showing a state in which the heating element held by the heating element holding device of the present embodiment presses the outer ink ribbon with a predetermined pressing force, and corresponds to FIG. 12;

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "this embodiment") will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall structure of the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment.

This thermal transfer system 10 is a system for transferring ink 12a in a desired pattern onto a transfer material 14 using an ink ribbon 13 having a support layer 11 and an ink layer 12. The ink ribbon 13 is supplied in the direction indicated by an arrow R1. a supply unit 16, a transfer device 17 arranged downstream of the supply unit 16, and a winding unit arranged downstream of the transfer device 17 and winding up the ink ribbon 13 to which ink has been transferred in the direction indicated by an arrow R2. 21 and a heating element holding device 30 having a second heating element 22 provided near the winding unit 21 . The ink ribbon 13 is conveyed along a plurality of guide rolls 15 . Here, the winding device 20 is configured by the winding section 21 and the heating body holding device 30 having the second heating body 22 .

The transfer device 17 has a platen roll 19 that supports the transfer-receiving body 14, and a first heating body 18 provided to face the platen roll 19 with the ink ribbon 13 and the transfer-receiving body 14 interposed therebetween. . The first heating body 18 is, for example, a print head. As shown in the enlarged view at the bottom of FIG. 1, the first heating element 18 is provided on the support layer 11 side of the ink ribbon 13 . The first heater 18 heats the ink 12a of the ink layer 12 of the ink ribbon 13 in a predetermined pattern (first pattern) corresponding to the ID information, thereby heating the ink 12a of the ink layer 12 of the ink ribbon 13. The first pattern is transferred onto the transferred body 14 .

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink ribbon 13 to which ink has been transferred, showing the A region in FIG.

In the ink ribbon 13 to which the ink has been transferred, the ink layer 12 consists of ink 12a remaining without being transferred onto the transfer medium 14, an ink missing portion 12b corresponding to the ID information printed on the transfer medium 14, consists of In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the pattern of the ink missing portions 12b on the ink ribbon 13 to which the ink has been transferred corresponds to the first pattern on the first heater 18 described above. Therefore, it is possible to specify the ID information printed on the transfer-receiving body 14 based on the pattern of the ink missing portion 12b.

Next, the winding device 20 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the winding device 20 of this embodiment.

The winding device 20 includes a roll-shaped winding unit 21 for winding the ink ribbon 13 to which ink has been transferred, and a heating element holding device 30 having a second heating element 22 . The second heating element 22 is provided in the vicinity of the winding section 21, and is brought into contact with the ink ribbon 13 to which the ink has been transferred, which is wound up on the winding section 21, from the support layer 11 side, thereby moving the ink ribbon 13 toward the support layer 11 side. heat from

As shown in FIG. 3 , in the winding section 21 , the ink ribbon 13 is wound such that the support layer 11 of the ink ribbon 13 is positioned outside the ink layer 12 . In this specification, of the ink ribbons 13 wound around the winding section 21, the outermost ink ribbon 13 is referred to as the outer ink ribbon 13A, and is wound around the winding section 21 inside the outer ink ribbon 13A. The ink ribbon 13 that is taken and is adjacent to the outer ink ribbon 13A will be referred to as the inner ink ribbon 13B.

The second heating element 22 heats the outer ink ribbon 13A from the support layer 11 side to transfer the disturbance pattern (second pattern) to the support layer 11 of the inner ink ribbon 13B. The first pattern and the second pattern are mixed in the ink layer 12 of the outer ink ribbon 13A. Also, a mixed pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern is transferred to the support layer 11 of the inner ink ribbon 13B. Therefore, the pattern of the ink missing portion 12b, which is the first pattern corresponding to the ID information, is destroyed to the extent that it cannot be recognized.

The second heating element 22 is composed of, for example, a thermal head generally called an end face head. The second heating element 22 may include a plurality of heat generating sections configured to be driven independently, or may have a single heat generating pattern. However, in order to effectively destroy the pattern of the ink missing portion 12b, it is preferable that the second pattern can be changed according to the aspect of the first pattern. From that point of view, it is preferable that the second heating element of the present invention include a plurality of heat generation sections configured to be driven independently.

Next, the configuration of the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a top view showing the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment.

In the drawings including FIG. 4 and the description below, for ease of understanding, the two directions perpendicular to each other in the horizontal plane are the X direction and the Y direction, and the vertical direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. be the Z direction. The X direction is a direction parallel to the plate surface of a guide plate 33 (a plate-shaped member arranged at the innermost side in FIG. 4) described later, the right direction in FIG. 4 is the +X direction, and the left direction is -. Let it be the X direction. The Y direction is the direction normal to the plate surface of the guide plate 33, the direction from the front to the back in FIG. 4 is the +Y direction, and the direction from the back to the front is the -Y direction. The Z direction is the vertical direction in FIG. 4, with the +Z direction being the upward direction and the −Z direction being the downward direction. Also, in the following description, the Z direction may be referred to as the vertical direction or the vertical direction, and the direction in the XY plane may be referred to as the horizontal direction or the horizontal direction. The front side of the heating element holding device 30 in FIG. 4 is the front side, the opposite side is the rear side, the right side as seen from the front side (that is, the right side in FIG. 4) is the right side, and the left side is the left side as seen from the front side. (that is, the left side of FIG. 4) is the left side.

The heating body holding device 30 includes a control unit 301 that controls the heating body holding device 30, a driving unit 302 that generates a driving force, and a rotating body 31 that receives the driving force of the driving unit 302 and rotates around a rotating shaft 31a. , a heating body holder 32 that holds the second heating body 22 and slides in the vertical direction, a guide plate 33 that regulates movement of the heating body holder 32 in directions other than the vertical direction, and a heating body holder 32 that controls the rotational movement of the rotating body 31. a first connecting shaft 35 connecting the arm body 34 and the rotating body 31, and the arm body 34 and the heater holder 32 (via the first biasing member 37). A second connecting shaft 36 that connects, and a first biasing member 37 that connects the heating body holder 32 and the second connecting shaft 36 and biases the second connecting shaft 36 upward from the heating body holder 32. I have.

In addition, the heating element holding device 30 is arranged such that the rotating body 31 is tilted by a predetermined angle or more from the standby position (the position when the heating element holder 32 is in the uppermost position, that is, the position when the heating element holder 32 is in the state shown in FIG. 4). A first detection unit 38 for detecting whether or not it is rotating, and a second detection unit 38 for detecting whether or not the pressing force of the heating element 22 held by the heating element holder 32 against the outer ink ribbon 13A is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. and a detection unit 39 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the control section 301, the drive section 302, the rotating body 31, the guide plate 33, the first connecting shaft 35 and the first detection section 38 of the heating body holding device 30 of this embodiment.

The control unit 301 receives a signal from the winding device 20 or the thermal transfer system 10 and signals from the first detection unit 38 and the second detection unit 39, and controls the driving unit 302 to operate the heating element holding device. 30. The control unit 301 of the winding device 20 or the thermal transfer system 10 may also serve as the control unit 301 of the heating element holding device 30 .

The driving section 302 has driving means 302 a controlled by the control section 301 and transmission means 302 b for transmitting the driving force of the driving means 302 a to the rotating body 31 . The drive means 302a is composed of, for example, an electric motor, and the transmission means 302b is composed of, for example, gears.

The rotating body 31 is a plate-like member fixed to a rod-like rotating shaft 31a and rotates around the rotating shaft 31a. In the illustrated example, a pair of disk-shaped rotating bodies 31 are fixed to both ends of a rotating shaft 31a. The rotating shaft 31a is supported by a bearing fixed to the base (not shown) of the heating element holding device 30. As shown in FIG. The base of the heating element holding device 30 is, for example, the housing of the heating element holding device 30 . Further, the base may be a housing of the winding device 20 or the thermal transfer system 10 or may be an installation member of the heating element holding device 30 provided in the winding device 20 or the thermal transfer system 10 . The rotating body 31 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R3 in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 when moving the second heating body 22 downward, and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R3 when moving the second heating body 22 upward. Rotate in the direction opposite to the direction shown.

The guide plate 33 is a plate-like member fixed to the base of the heating element holding device 30 . The guide plate 33 has a guide portion 33a that guides a guide receiving portion 32a provided on the heater holder 32, which will be described later. The guide portion 33a regulates movement of the guide receiving portion 32a of the heating element holder 32 in directions other than the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, the guide portion 33a is configured as two vertically extending guide grooves arranged side by side. Guide projections constituting the guide receiving portion 32a of the heating element holder 32 are fitted into the two guide grooves, respectively. Thereby, the guide portion 33a restricts movement of the heating element holder 32 in directions other than the vertical direction. The guide plate 33 may be integrated with the base of the heating element holding device 30 .

The first connecting shaft 35 is a rod-shaped member that connects the peripheral edge of the rotating body 31 and the upper end of the arm body 34 so that the arm body 34 is rotatable around the first connecting shaft 35 . That is, the first connecting shaft 35 is a member that connects the peripheral edge of the rotating body 31 and the upper end of the arm body 34 and serves as the center of the rotational movement of the arm body 34 . The first connecting shaft 35 is arranged to extend in a direction parallel to the rotating shaft 31 a of the rotating body 31 . Also, the first connecting shaft 35 is received in a first connecting bearing portion 34a provided at the upper end of an arm body 34, which will be described later. In the illustrated example, the first connecting shaft 35 is fixed so as to connect the peripheral edges of the pair of rotating bodies 31, and is inserted into a pair of circular bearing holes forming the first connecting bearing portion 34a of the arm body 34. It is Note that the first connecting shaft 35 may be fixed to the upper end of the arm body 34 and received in a bearing portion provided on the periphery of the rotating body 31 .

The first detection unit 38 detects whether or not the rotating body 31 has rotated by a predetermined angle or more in the direction indicated by the arrow R3 in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 from the standby position. It has a fixed first shielding portion 38a and a first sensor 38b that detects whether or not the first shielding portion 38a shields between two specific points. The first shielding portion 38a is a fan plate-shaped member extending in a fan shape within a certain angular range around the rotating shaft 31a. The first sensor 38b is a sensor that detects whether or not the first shielding portion 38a shields between two points arranged to sandwich the first shielding portion 38a in the direction parallel to the rotating shaft 31a. The first sensor 38b is, for example, a photointerrupter that detects the presence or absence of a shield that blocks light between a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that are arranged to face each other.

In the illustrated example, the first shielding portion 38a is a semi-disc-shaped member extending toward the upper semicircular side of the rotating shaft 31a in the standby position, and the first sensor 38b (that is, the shielding by the first shielding portion 38a) ) is arranged on the back side of the rotating shaft 31a. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 31a rotates 180 degrees or more from the standby position, the first shielding portion 38a shields the two points where the presence or absence of shielding by the first shielding portion 38a is detected in the first sensor 38b. That is, in the illustrated example, the first detection unit 38 detects whether or not the rotating body 31 has rotated 180 degrees or more. Note that the first detection unit 38 of the present invention is not limited to the configuration described above as long as it detects whether or not the rotating body 31 has rotated by a predetermined angle or more from the standby position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the heating element holder 32, the second connecting shaft 36, the first biasing member 37, and the second detecting section 39 of the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment.

The heating element holder 32 includes a holder main body 32A, a heating element holding portion 32d that holds the second heating element 22, a guide receiving portion 32a that receives the guide portion 33a of the guide plate 33, and a second connecting shaft 36 that receives the second connecting shaft 36. It has a connecting bearing portion 32 b and a first biasing member fixing portion 32 c that fixes one end of the first biasing member 37 .

The holder main body 32A has a rear plate 32AB, a left plate 32AL extending frontward from the left end of the rear plate 32AB, and a right plate 32AR extending frontward from the right end of the rear plate 32AB.

The heating element holding part 32 d holds the second heating element 22 so that the head of the second heating element 22 is positioned at the lower end of the heating element holder 32 . In addition, the heating element holding part 32d is configured such that the head of the second heating element 22 is wound by the winding part 21 so that the head of the second heating element 22 contacts the outer ink ribbon 13A at an appropriate angle. The second heating element 22 is held so that the second heating element 22 can be slightly inclined to the front side or the back side when in contact with the outer ink ribbon 13A.

The guide receiving portion 32a is provided on the back side plate surface of the back plate 32AB of the heater holder 32, and movement in directions other than the vertical direction is restricted by the guide portion 33a of the guide plate 33. As shown in FIG. Therefore, movement of the heater holder 32 in directions other than the vertical direction is also restricted. In the illustrated example, the guide receiving portion 32a is configured as four guide projections that are arranged horizontally and vertically. One of the pair of two guide projections arranged vertically is fitted into one of the guide grooves of the guide plate 33, and the other of the pair of two guide projections arranged vertically is inserted into the guide plate. It is fitted in the other of the guide grooves of 33.

The second connecting bearing portion 32b receives a second connecting shaft 36 extending in a direction parallel to the rotating shaft 31a of the rotating body 31. As shown in FIG. Further, the second connection bearing portion 32b receives the second connection shaft 36 so that the second connection shaft 36 can move relative to the heating element holder 32 in the vertical direction over a predetermined distance. In the illustrated example, the second connecting bearing portion 32b is configured as a pair of elongated bearing holes having long sides in the vertical direction provided in the left side plate 32AL and the right side plate 32AR of the heating element holder 32. . The second connecting bearing portion 32b supports the second connecting shaft 36 with two long sides extending in the vertical direction of the elongated bearing hole, and the upper side of the elongated bearing hole supports the first biasing member 37. It receives an upward force from the second connecting shaft 36 that is urged upward by . The first biasing member 37 may have a zero biasing force at the standby position. The force from the two connecting shafts 36 is not received.

The first biasing member fixing portion 32 c fixes one end of a first biasing member 37 that biases the second connecting shaft 36 upward from the heating element holder 32 . In the illustrated example, the first biasing member 37 is composed of a compression spring that receives a compressive load, and the first biasing member fixing portion 32c is located below the second connection bearing portion 32b (that is, the second connection below the shaft 36), it is configured by a rod-shaped member that connects the left side plate 32AL and the right side plate 32AR. The first biasing member fixing portion 32 c receives the downward force from the second connecting shaft 36 via the first biasing member 37 . The first biasing member 37 is configured by a tension spring that receives a tensile load, and the first biasing member fixing portion 32c is positioned above the second connection bearing portion 32b (that is, above the second connection shaft 36). may be provided.

One end of the first biasing member 37 is fixed to the first biasing member fixing portion 32c of the heating element holder 32, and the other end is fixed to the first biasing member fixing portion 36c of the second connecting shaft 36, which will be described later. It is a member that urges the second connecting shaft 36 upward from the heating element holder 32 . The first biasing member 37 is also a member that connects the heating element holder 32 and the second connecting shaft 36 . The first biasing member 37 biases the second connecting shaft 36 upward from the heating body holder 32 and transmits downward force received from the second connecting shaft 36 to the heating body holder 32 . Furthermore, the first biasing member 37 has a force that opposes the biasing force acting on the first biasing member 37 (normally, the force that the heating element 22 held by the heating element holding portion 32d presses the outer ink ribbon 13A). The second connecting shaft 36 is configured to move downward relative to the heating element holder 32 according to the magnitude of the reaction force). That is, the first biasing member 37 is configured such that its length in the vertical direction changes according to the magnitude of the force opposing the biasing force acting on the first biasing member 37 . The first biasing member 37 is configured by a spring, for example.

In the illustrated example, the first biasing member 37 is composed of a pair of compression springs arranged below near both ends of the second connecting shaft 36, and exerts a force (compression force) against the biasing force of the compression springs. When receiving a force in the direction of compressing the spring, the length in the vertical direction is shortened according to the magnitude of the force. The first biasing member 37 is composed of a tension spring arranged above the second connecting shaft 36, and when it receives a force opposing the biasing force of the tension spring (a force in a direction that pulls the tension spring), it The length in the vertical direction may be increased according to the magnitude of the force.

The second connecting shaft 36 is a rod-shaped member that extends in a direction parallel to the rotating shaft 31 a of the rotating body 31 and connects the lower end of the arm body 34 and the heating body holder 32 . Especially, in the illustrated example, the second connecting shaft 36 is connected to the heating element holder 32 via the biasing member 37 . The second connecting shaft 36 connects the lower end of the arm body 34 and the heater holder 32 so that the arm body 34 can rotate freely around the second connecting shaft 36 . That is, the second connecting shaft 36 is a member that connects the lower end of the arm body 34 and the heating body holder 32 and serves as the center of the rotational movement of the arm body 34 . The second connecting shaft 36 receives downward force from the arm body 34 .

The second connecting shaft 36 is connected to the heating body holder 32 via a biasing member 37, is received in the second connecting bearing portion 32b of the heating body holder 32, and extends vertically with respect to the heating body holder 32 in a predetermined manner. are arranged for relative movement over a distance of In the illustrated example, the second connecting shaft 36 is inserted into a pair of elongated bearing holes having long sides extending in the vertical direction, which constitute the second connecting bearing portion 32b of the heating element holder 32. It is supported by the top side and two long sides of the hole.

Further, the second connecting shaft 36 has a first biasing member fixing portion 36c that fixes one end of the first biasing member 37, and the first biasing member 37 fixed to the first biasing member fixing portion 36c. , the heating element holder 32 is urged upward. The second connecting shaft 36 transmits downward force received from the arm body 34 to the heater holder 32 via the first biasing member 37 .

When the heating element 22 held by the heating element holder 32 presses the outer ink ribbon 13A, a reaction force of the pressing force acts on the heating element holder 32 . Along with this, a force having the same magnitude as the pressing force of the second heating body 22 acts against the biasing force of the first biasing member 37 fixed to the heating body holder 32 and the second connecting shaft 36. will do. The vertical length of the first biasing member 37 changes according to the magnitude of the pressing force of the second heating element 22 . In the illustrated example, since the first biasing member 37 is composed of a compression spring, the length in the vertical direction is shortened according to the magnitude of the pressing force of the second heating body 22 . As a result, the second connecting shaft 36 moves downward relative to the heating element holder 32 by a distance corresponding to the magnitude of the pressing force of the second heating element 22 . That is, the second connecting shaft 36 moves downward relative to the heating element holder 32 by a distance corresponding to the magnitude of the pressing force of the second heating element 22 .

The second detection unit 39 detects whether or not the second connecting shaft 36 has moved downward relative to the heating body holder 32 by a predetermined distance or more, thereby detecting whether the heating body held by the heating body holder 32 is detected. 22 to the outer ink ribbon 13A is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and furthermore, it is detected whether or not the pressing force of the heating element holder 32 to the second heating element 22 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

The second detection portion 39 includes a detection lever 39a, which is a long plate-shaped member having a second shielding portion 39ab at one end and a second connecting shaft contact portion 39ac at the other end, and a detection lever 39a having two specific points. It has a second sensor 39b that detects whether or not the second shielding part 39ab blocks the space, and a second biasing member 39c that biases the detection lever 39a to move in a specific direction. there is

The detection lever 39a has a pivot portion 39aa provided near the center, a second shielding portion 39ab provided at the left end, and a second connecting shaft contact portion 39ac provided at the right end. The second connecting shaft contact portion 39ac is a portion that contacts the upper outer peripheral surface of the right end of the second connecting shaft 36 .

The detection lever 39a is pivotally attached to the back plate 32AB of the heating element holder 32 at a pivot portion 39aa so as to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the back plate 32AB. The detection lever 39a is urged by a second urging member 39c so that the left side of the pivot portion 39aa moves upward and the right side of the pivot portion 39aa moves downward. In the illustrated example, one end of the second biasing member 39c is fixed to a portion of the detection lever 39a on the left side of the pivot portion 39aa, and the other end is fixed to a portion of the back plate 32AB above the detection lever 39a. It consists of a tension spring.

With this configuration, when the second connecting shaft 36 moves downward relative to the heating element holder 32, the second connecting shaft abutting portion 39ac of the detection lever 39a is moved by the biasing force of the second biasing member 39c. The two-connection shaft contact portion 39ac also moves downward. When the second connecting shaft contact portion 39ac moves downward, the second shielding portion 39ab on the side opposite to the second connecting shaft contact portion 39ac across the pivot portion 39aa moves upward. . The distance over which the second shielding portion 39ab moves upward corresponds to the distance over which the second connecting shaft 36 relatively moves downward with respect to the heater holder 32 .

The second sensor 39b is located above the second shielding portion 39ab and detects whether or not the second shielding portion 39ab shields two points arranged to sandwich the second shielding portion 39ab in a top view. It is a sensor that The second sensor 39b is, for example, a photointerrupter that detects the presence or absence of a shield that blocks light between a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that are arranged to face each other. The second sensor 39b is in a state in which the second connecting shaft 36 moves downward relative to the heating element holder 32 by a predetermined distance or more, and the second shielding portion 39ab Shielding is performed between two points where presence or absence of shielding by 39ab is detected. Thereby, the second detection unit 39 can detect whether or not the second connecting shaft 36 has moved downward relative to the heating element holder 32 by a predetermined distance or more.

The second detection unit 39 of the present invention may detect whether or not the second connecting shaft 36 has moved downward relative to the heating element holder 32 by a predetermined distance or more. Not limited to configuration. For example, a configuration in which relative movement of the second connecting shaft 36 with respect to the heating element holder 32 is detected by a shielding member provided below the second connecting shaft 36 and a photointerrupter disposed therebelow is also conceivable. However, from the viewpoint of detection accuracy, the above configuration is preferable.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the arm body 34 of the heating body holding device 30 of this embodiment.

The upper end (one side) of the arm body 34 is connected to the peripheral edge of the rotating body 31 by a first connecting shaft 35 so as to be rotatable about the first connecting shaft 35, and the lower end (other side) is connected to the second connecting shaft 35. It is connected to the heating element holder 32 by the connecting shaft 36 so as to be rotatable around the second connecting shaft 36 .

The arm body 34 has an arm body 34A, a first connection bearing portion 34a that receives the first connection shaft 35, and a second connection bearing portion 34b that receives the second connection shaft 36. As shown in FIG.

The arm main body 34A has a plate-like member having a plate surface perpendicular to the rotating shaft 31a of the rotating body 31. As shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the arm main body 34A includes a left plate member 34AL and a right plate member 34AR, which are a pair of plate-like members arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and a connection that connects the left plate member 34AL and the right plate member 34AR. and a member 34AF.

The first connection bearing portion 34 a is provided at the upper end of the arm body 34 A and receives the first connection shaft 35 . In the illustrated example, the first connecting bearing portion 34a is configured as a pair of circular bearing holes provided in the upper ends of the left plate member 34AL and the right plate member 34AR. 1 connecting shaft 35 is inserted. In addition, as described above, the first connecting shaft 35 may be fixed to the upper end of the arm body 34 and received in a bearing portion provided on the peripheral edge of the rotating body 31 .

The second connection bearing portion 34b is provided at the lower end of the arm body 34A and receives the second connection shaft 36. As shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the second connecting bearing portion 34b is configured as a pair of circular bearing holes provided at the lower ends of the left plate member 34AL and the right plate member 34AR. Two connecting shafts 36 are inserted. In addition, the second connecting shaft 36 may be fixed to the lower end of the arm body 34 . In this case, since the second connecting shaft 36 also rotates as the lower end of the arm body 34 rotates around the second connecting shaft 36, the first biasing member fixing portion 36c of the second connecting shaft 36 is , to the second connecting shaft 36 so as to be rotatable around the second connecting shaft 36 .

Next, the operation of the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment will be described.

10A and 10B are perspective views showing how the second heating element 22 is moved by the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment. 11A and 11B are side views showing how the second heating element 22 is moved by the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment, and correspond to FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively. In these figures, illustration of the control unit 301, the driving unit 302, the winding unit 21, and the ink ribbon 13 is omitted.

When rotating body 31 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow R3 from the standby position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, as shown in FIGS. 35 moves obliquely downward on the front side. By this movement of the first connecting shaft 35 obliquely downward on the front side, the upper end of the arm body 34 rotates around the first connecting shaft 35 and the lower end thereof rotates around the second connecting shaft 36 downward. Moving. The downward movement of the arm body 34 causes the second connecting shaft 36 to move downward. This downward movement of the second connecting shaft 36 causes the first biasing member 37 fixed to the second connecting shaft 36 to move downward. The downward movement of the first biasing member 37 causes the heater holder 32 fixed to the first biasing member 37 to move downward.

At this time, if the heating element 22 held by the heating element holder 32 is not in contact with the outer ink ribbon 13A, no force countering the urging force acts on the first urging member 37. The vertical length of the force member 37 does not change, and the second connecting shaft 36 also does not move downward relative to the heater holder 32 .

When the rotating body 31 is further rotated, if the second heating body 22 held by the heating body holder 32 is not in contact with the outer ink ribbon 13A, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B, the second heating body 22 has moved to the bottom. The example shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B is a state in which the rotating body 31 is rotated 180 degrees, but the rotation angle of the rotating body 31 when the second heating body 22 is moved to the bottom is arbitrary. can be set.

The first detection unit 38 described above detects whether or not the rotating body 31 is rotating beyond the rotation angle when the second heating body 22 is moved to the lowest position. Then, when the first detector 38 detects that the rotating body 31 is rotating beyond the rotation angle at which the second heating body 22 moves to the lowest position, the controller 301 of the heating body holding device 30 stops the rotating body 31 from rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow R3, and then rotates the rotating body 31 in the opposite direction.

Then, the rotating body 31, the first connecting shaft 35, the arm body 34, the second connecting shaft 36, and the heating body holder 32 move in the opposite direction to when the rotating body 31 rotates from the standby position in the direction indicated by the arrow R3. It will return to the same arrangement as the standby position. When the angle of the rotating body 31 from the standby position returns to 0 degrees, the controller 301 stops the reverse rotation of the rotating body 31 and brings the heating body holding device 30 to the standby position.

As described above, the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment automatically moves to the standby position when the heating element 22 held by the heating element holder 32 moves to the lowest position without coming into contact with the outer ink ribbon 13A. to return to.

Next, the operation when the heating element 22 held by the heating element holder 32 of the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment presses the outer ink ribbon 13A will be described.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second heating element 22 held by the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment presses the outer ink ribbon 13A with a predetermined pressing force. FIG. 13 is a side view showing a state in which the second heating element 22 held by the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment presses the outer ink ribbon 13A with a predetermined pressing force, and corresponds to FIG. It is a thing. Note that illustration of the control unit 301 and the driving unit 302 is omitted in these figures.

The rotating body 31 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow R3 from the standby position, and the second heating body 22 held by the heating body holder 32 moves downward. 12 and 13, the reaction force of the pressing force of the second heating element 22 to the outer ink ribbon 13A acts on the first biasing member 37 and the first biasing member 37 is pressed. The length of 37 changes, and the second connecting shaft 36 moves downward relative to the heater holder 32 . As described above, the distance of relative movement of the second connecting shaft 36 with respect to the heater holder 32 corresponds to the pressing force of the second heater 22 onto the outer ink ribbon 13A.

In addition, since the reaction force of the pressing force of the second heating element 22 to the outer ink ribbon 13A acts on the first biasing member 37, the first biasing member 37 causes the second heating element 22 to move outward. It also has a function as a cushioning member when in contact with the ink ribbon 13A.

The second detection unit 39 described above detects whether or not the second connecting shaft 36 has moved downward relative to the heating element holder 32 by a predetermined distance or more. When the second detection unit 39 detects that the second connecting shaft 36 has moved downward relative to the heating element holder 32 by a predetermined distance or more, the control unit 301 of the heating element holding device 30 rotates. The rotation of body 31 in the direction indicated by arrow R3 is stopped.

In this state, the second heating element 22 held by the heating element holder 32 heats the outer ink ribbon 13A transferred by the transfer device 17 and wound by the winding unit 21 from the support layer 11 side. , the disturbance pattern (second pattern) is continuously transferred to the support layer 11 of the inner ink ribbon 13B.

Then, when the transfer by the transfer device 17 is completed and the winding of the ink ribbon 13 by the winding unit 21 is stopped, the control unit 301 rotates the rotating body 31 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow R3. 2 Move the heating element 22 upward. When the angle of the rotor 31 from the standby position returns to 0 degrees, the controller 301 stops the rotation of the rotor 31 and brings the heating body holder 30 to the standby position.

As described above, in the heating element holding device 30 of the present embodiment, when the second heating element 22 held by the heating element holder 32 moving downward presses the outer ink ribbon 13A with a predetermined pressing force, It will stop automatically. In other words, the heating element holding device 30 of the present embodiment automatically sets the pressing force of the second heating element 22 against the outer ink ribbon 13A and the pressing force of the heating element holder 32 against the second heating element 22 automatically. is set to the value of In addition, in the heating element holding device 30 of the present embodiment, the first biasing member 37 reduces the impact when the second heating element 22 comes into contact with the outer ink ribbon 13A.

As described above, according to the heating element holding device 30, the winding device 20, and the thermal transfer system 10 of the present embodiment, the relative position and pressing force of the second heating element 22 with respect to the outer ink ribbon 13A of the winding section 21 are Adjustments can be made appropriately.

Although one example of the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, in the heating element holding device 30 of the present embodiment, the second heating element 22 moves vertically and presses the outer ink ribbon 13A from above downward. is not limited to this, the second heating element 22 moves in an oblique direction and presses the outer ink ribbon 13A from obliquely upward to obliquely downward, or the second heating element 22 moves in a horizontal direction, The outer ink ribbon 13A may be pressed horizontally. Further, the heating element holding device 30 of the present invention has the second heating element 22 that moves vertically and presses the outer ink ribbon 13A from below upward, or the second heating element 22 that moves obliquely. Alternatively, the outer ink ribbon 13A may be pressed obliquely downward from obliquely upward. At this time, the second heating body holder 32 is configured to slide in a direction (first direction) perpendicular to the rotating shaft 31 a of the rotating body 31 .

Further, in the heating body holding device 30 of the present embodiment, the lower end of the arm body 34 is connected to the heating body holder 32 by the second connecting shaft 36, but the heating body holding device 30 of the present invention has this configuration. The lower end of the arm body 34 may be connected to the heater holder 32 so as to be rotatable and slidable in the vertical direction.

Further, the heating element holding device 30 of this embodiment has a first biasing member 37, and is arranged so that the second connecting shaft 36 can move relative to the heating element holder 32 in the vertical direction over a predetermined distance. However, the heating element holding device 30 of the present invention does not have the first biasing member 37 and the second connecting shaft 36 is not slidably connected to the heating element holder 32. good. However, the heating element holding device 30 of the present invention has a first biasing member 37 from the viewpoint of reducing the impact and adjusting the pressing force when the second heating element 22 comes into contact with the outer ink ribbon 13A. , the second connecting shaft 36 is preferably arranged so as to be able to move relative to the heater holder 32 in the vertical direction over a predetermined distance.

10 Thermal Transfer System 11 Support Layer 12 Ink Layer 12a Ink 12b Ink Missing Portion 13 Ink Ribbon 13A Outer Ink Ribbon 13B Inner Ink Ribbon 14 Transferred Material 15 Guide Roll 16 Supply Section 17 Transfer Device 18 First Heating Body 19 Platen Roll 20 Winding Device 21 winding section 22 second heating element 30 heating element holding device 301 control section 302 driving section 302a driving means 302b transmission means 31 rotating body 32 heating element holder 32A holder main body 32AB rear plate 32AL left side plate 32AR right side plate 32a guide receiving portion 32b second connection bearing portion 32c first biasing member fixing portion 32d heating element holding portion 33 guide plate 33a guide portion 34 arm body 34A arm main body 34AL left plate member 34AR right plate member 34AF connection member 34a first connection bearing portion 34b second 2 connection bearing portion 35 first connection shaft 36 second connection shaft 36c first biasing member fixing portion 37 first biasing member 38 first detection portion 38a first shielding portion 38b first sensor 39 second detection portion 39a detection lever 39aa Pivot portion 39ab Second shielding portion 39ac Second connecting shaft contact portion 39b Second sensor 39c Second biasing member

Claims (7)

In a heating element holding device that holds and moves a heating element,
a rotating body that rotates around a first rotation axis;
a heating element holder that slides in a first direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis and holds the heating element;
an arm rotatably connected to the rotating body via a first connecting shaft on one side, and rotatably connected to the heating body holder on the other side via a second connecting shaft ;
An urging member whose length in the first direction changes according to the magnitude of the force opposing the urging force is interposed between the heating element holder and the second connecting shaft.
heating element holding device; The heating element holding device according to claim 1,
The heating member holding device further includes a first detection unit that detects whether or not the rotating member has rotated by a predetermined angle or more from the standby position. The heating element holding device according to claim 2,
further comprising a control unit that controls the heating element holding device,
When the first detection unit detects that the rotating body is rotated by the predetermined angle or more from the standby position, the control unit stops the rotating body, or stops and reversely rotates the rotating body to wait. return to position,
heating element holding device; The heating element holding device according to claim 1,
The heating body holding device further includes a second detection unit that detects whether or not the second connecting shaft has moved relative to the heating body holder from the standby position by a predetermined distance or more in the first direction. The heating element holding device according to claim 4,
further comprising a control unit that controls the heating element holding device,
The controller controls the rotation of the rotating body when the second detecting section detects that the second connecting shaft moves relative to the heating body holder in the first direction by the predetermined distance or more. A heating body holding device that stops the heating body holder and sets the pressing force applied to the heating body from the heating body holder to a predetermined magnitude. A winding device that has a support layer and an ink layer and winds up an ink ribbon to which ink has been transferred in a first pattern,
A heating element holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
a winding unit for winding the ink ribbon on which the ink has been transferred;
The heating body of the heating body holding device heats the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred from the support layer side, thereby changing the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred to a pattern different from the first pattern. A winding device that transfers a second pattern to the support layer of the ink ribbon located inside the ink ribbon to which the ink has been transferred. In a thermal transfer system,
A winding device according to claim 6;
a supply unit that supplies the ink ribbon;
a transfer device disposed upstream of the winding device and downstream of the supply unit, the transfer device transferring the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon onto a transfer target in the first pattern.

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