JPH0123821Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fixing mechanism for fixing a ribbon cartridge to a printer body.

Conventionally, a mechanism for fixing a ribbon cartridge to a printer body has two holes for fixing a ribbon cartridge in a substantially circular fixing hole 1 in the printer body, as shown in FIG.
There are devices that fix by elastically deforming fixing members having shapes such as a and 2b. In the fixing mechanism having such a configuration, it is important to ensure a sufficient length for elastic deformation of the fixing members 2a and 2b because the length protruding from the fixing hole 1 becomes too large, which may cause problems in the layout and external dimensions of the printer. It was difficult because of the restrictions. As a result, plastic deformation and wear occur during attachment and detachment for maintenance, and the fixation gradually becomes unstable, resulting in disadvantages such as impairing the stable running of the ribbon.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate these drawbacks and provide a highly durable fixing mechanism that allows ribbon cartridges to be easily attached and detached, securely fixed.

In the present invention, the ribbon cartridge is provided with a guide member so that it can be inserted into a predetermined position in the printer body, and a fixing member so as to be securely fixed to the printer body, and a guide member in which the guide member is inserted into the printer body. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a groove and a fixing portion that engages with the fixing member.

This will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view. ribbon cartridge 4
The ribbon cartridge 4 has an "L"-shaped guide member 5 on the bottom surface thereof that guides insertion into the printer body, and engages with the printer body on both left and right sides.
A pair of elastic arm-shaped fixing members 8a and 8b whose tips are almost dogleg-shaped for fixing the ink ribbon 17 are integrally molded, and a pair of ribbon guide members 19 guide the ink ribbon 17 to a predetermined printing position.
a, 19b, a ribbon drive section 20 that engages with an external drive source, and a protrusion 15 that prevents contact between the ribbon drive section 20 and the main body of the printer.

The printer body also has arm-shaped fixing members 8a and 8b.
It has a fixing part 7 that engages with the guide member, and a guide groove 6 into which the guide member is inserted. The recording paper 18 is located below the ink ribbon 17.

Next, the operation of inserting the ribbon cartridge 4 into the printer body will be explained.

When the ribbon cartridge 4 is inserted into the printer body in the direction of the arrow, the guide member 5 on the bottom of the ribbon cartridge 4 slides into the guide groove 6 of the printer body.
The arm-shaped fixing members 8a and 8b engage with the printer main body fixing portion 7 while being naturally set at a predetermined position along the printer main body fixing portion 7. At this time, since the guide groove 6 has a groove shape that widens toward the tip, the tip of the guide member 5 can be easily inserted. Further, since the guide member has an "L"-shaped cross-section, it can catch on the engaging surface 30 perpendicular to the printer main body fixing part 7, thereby preventing the ribbon cartridge 4 from floating up.

The cross-sectional shape of the guide member is not particularly limited, and may be a shape that can be inserted into the guide groove 6 and prevent floating, such as an "L" cross-sectional shape. The ends of the fixing members 8a and 8b are substantially dogleg-shaped and have elasticity.They ride over the end face of the printer fixing part 7 on the slope of the tip and lock with the fixing part 7 on the next reverse slope, and the frictional force and The cartridge 4 is fixed to the printer main body by pressing the fixing members 8a and 8b.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the ribbon cartridge has been completely fixed to the printer body by the fixing mechanism of the present invention. 16 is a print head. Printer fixing part 7
The fixing members 8a and 8b are sandwiched in such a way that the opposite ends thereof are held from both sides. When the ribbon cartridge 4 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow, the slopes of the fixing members 8a and 8b reversely climb over the fixing part 7.

As described above, in the ribbon cartridge fixing mechanism of the present invention, since the length of the fixing member itself can be made sufficiently long, it is difficult to be plastically deformed, and a sufficient amount of deformation can be ensured, resulting in excellent durability. In order to improve durability, the fixing members 8a and 8b have doglegged portions at the tips having arcuate corners, as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the present invention has the following remarkable effects.
That is, the ribbon cartridge of the present invention has an L that engages with a guide groove provided on the engagement surface of the printer body and prevents it from coming off in a direction perpendicular to the engagement surface.
A guide member in the shape of a letter, a fixing member that extends from both sides in the attachment/detachment direction and engages with both ends of a fixing part provided on the printer body to restrict movement of the ribbon cartridge in the parallel direction, and a fixing member that is perpendicular to the attachment/detachment direction. In a printer that has a ribbon guide member that projects in the direction and stretches the ribbon parallel to the engagement surface, and in which the recording paper of the printing section is arranged approximately parallel to the engagement surface of the ribbon cartridge, Since the ribbon near the printing section is supported parallel to the loading/unloading direction, the ribbon in this area is less likely to get tangled with the printing mechanism etc. when loading/unloading, making loading/unloading operations extremely easy.Moreover, the ribbon cartridge is reliably stable during loading/unloading. is retained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the ribbon cartridge fixing mechanism according to the present invention before the ribbon cartridge is inserted, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ribbon cartridge after it is installed. FIG. 3 is a partial detailed view of the ribbon cartridge fixing mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional ribbon cartridge fixing mechanism. 1...Fixing hole, 2a, 2b...Fixing member, 5
...Guide member, 6...Guide groove, 7...Fixing part, 8a, 8b...Fixing member, 9...Guide member, 10...Guide groove, 11...Fixing member, 12
……Fixed part.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] In a ribbon cartridge fixing mechanism for removably fixing a ribbon cartridge to a printer body, the printer body has an engaging surface 30 on which the ribbon cartridge 4 is attached, and an engagement surface 30 on which the ribbon cartridge 4 is attached. It has a fixing part 7 provided in a direction perpendicular to the mating surface, and a guide groove 6 provided in the engagement surface in a direction perpendicular to the fixing part, and the ribbon cartridge is arranged in the guide groove. An L-shaped guide member 5 is formed on the lower surface so as to engage and prevent disengagement in a direction perpendicular to the engagement surface, and an L-shaped guide member 5 extends from both sides in the attachment/detachment direction and engages with both ends of the fixing part. A fixing member 8 that together restricts movement of the ribbon cartridge in a planar direction, and a ribbon guide member 19 that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the attachment/detachment direction and stretches the ribbon parallel to the engagement surface. Ribbon cartridge fixing mechanism.