JPH0129098Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention uses a drive mechanism to send out the transfer ribbon before recording, which is wound around a stock reel, and performs recording by transferring ink from the transfer ribbon onto a recording medium using a recording head. The present invention relates to a transfer printer that winds a ribbon onto a take-up reel.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional configuration of such a transfer printer. In Figure 1,
1 is a main body, and 2 is a transfer ribbon. 3 is a stock reel around which the transfer ribbon 2 is wound before recording;
is a take-up reel that winds up the transfer ribbon 2 after recording. A stock reel 3 and a take-up reel 4 are attached to a stock reel shaft 5 and a take-up shaft 6. A recording medium 7 is placed close to the transfer ribbon 2 and is sent in the direction A by a platen 8.
A recording head 9 transfers the ink from the transfer ribbon 2 onto the recording medium 7 to perform recording. A ribbon catch 10 is attached to the recording head 9 and holds the transfer ribbon 2 therebetween. 11 is a drive mechanism which transmits the power of the motor 12 and the recording head 9;
B- along the guide shaft 15 fixed to the main body 1
Wire 13 and motor 1 to move in direction B'
It consists of a gear train 14 that transmits the power of 2 to the winding shaft 6. 16, 16' is a one-way clutch,
It is attached to the winding shaft 6. In addition, the gear train 14
The transfer ribbon 2 is placed between the gear 14' and the take-up shaft 6.
A friction mechanism (not shown) is installed to absorb changes in the ribbon winding amount due to changes in the winding diameter.

In a transfer printer having such a configuration, the recording head 9 is driven by the motor 12 during recording.
It moves in the B' direction and transfers the ink on the transfer ribbon 2 onto the recording medium 7. In the direction of rotation of the motor 12 at this time, the power of the motor 12 is not transmitted to the take-up reel 4 by the one-way clutch 16, and the take-up reel 4 is prevented from reversing by the one-way clutch 16'. Further, since the ribbon catch 10 is open, the transfer ribbon 2 is not fed.

On the other hand, when the recording head returns, the ribbon catch 10 closes and traps the transfer ribbon 2, the recording head 9 moves in the C direction to separate the transfer ribbon 2 from the recording medium 7, and the motor 12 reverses to move the recording head 9
moves in the B direction, so the transfer ribbon 2 is sent in the B direction. In synchronization with this, the power of the motor 12 is transmitted by the one-way clutch 16 in its rotational direction, and the take-up reel 4 is rotationally driven in the D direction, so that the transfer ribbon 2 is taken up on the take-up reel 4. . Here, the recording head 9 moves in the C' direction and returns to its original position, and a new unrecorded transfer ribbon 2 is placed at a position opposite the recording medium 7.

However, in such a transfer printer, play occurs between the one-way clutch 16' and the take-up shaft 6. Even if this play is minute, it is magnified by the winding diameter of the transfer ribbon 2 on the take-up reel 4, causing slack in the transfer ribbon 2, causing the transfer ribbon 2 to come off from the position facing the recording head 9 and recording. Also, there was a problem that malfunction occurred during winding.

To solve these problems, we have developed a sagging prevention mechanism that applies rotational force to the reel in the winding direction, and a friction mechanism that creates rotational friction between the reel and the reel shaft to prevent the transfer ribbon from being fed out too much. There is a mechanism.

However, when attempting to install a combination of these mechanisms in a printer, a means for appropriately using each mechanism is required.

The present invention satisfies these needs and aims to realize a transfer printer that is devised to appropriately use a sag prevention mechanism and a friction mechanism.

In the present invention, a transfer ribbon before recording, which is wound around a stock reel, is sent out by a rotational drive of a take-up reel, and is transferred onto a recording medium by a recording head to perform recording, and the transfer ribbon after recording is wound onto the take-up reel. In the printer, a reel shaft provided on a take-up side and a stock reel, respectively, and to which the take-up reel and the stock reel are rotatably attached, a first friction plate fixed to the stock reel, and a first friction plate rotatably attached to the stock reel. a friction mechanism consisting of an attached second friction plate and a friction that generates rotational friction between these friction plates; and a friction mechanism fixed to the reel shaft and on the stock side, the second friction plate rotates by a predetermined angle. A cam disc that regulates the rotation when the take-up reel rotates by a predetermined angle on the take-up side; A spring that applies a rotational force in the direction of winding up the ribbon, and the generated spring force is set to be smaller than the frictional force of the friction mechanism, is attached to the recording head, and in the ribbon feeding operation, the recording head is moved by sandwiching the transfer ribbon. a ribbon catch for feeding the transfer ribbon at a speed, and the stock reel applies a spring force in the winding direction to the transfer ribbon when the transfer ribbon is not pulled, and when the transfer ribbon is pulled, a spring force is initially applied; When the rotation of the friction plate is regulated by the cam disk, a rotational friction force from the friction mechanism acts, and when this rotation friction force is exceeded, the reel begins to slide and rotate, and the ribbon feeding operation is driven by the rotation of the take-up reel. When the amount of ribbon fed by the ribbon catch is larger than the amount of ribbon fed by the take-up reel due to the ribbon diameter of the take-up reel, the spring on the take-up reel side absorbs the slack in the transfer ribbon. This is a transfer printer characterized by absorption.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a transfer printer according to the present invention. In Figure 2,
Components that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanation will be omitted. The same applies to each figure below.

In FIG. 2, 20 and 30 are slack prevention mechanisms attached to the take-up shaft 6 and the stock reel shaft 5.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the essential parts of the sagging prevention mechanism 20, in which (a) shows the state when the recording head returns, and (b) shows the state during recording.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a reel mount rotatably attached to the winding shaft 6. The reel mounting base 21 includes a disk portion 22 and a convex portion 23. Pins 24 and 2 are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the disc portion 22.
5 are planted in each. The convex portion 23 and the pin 24 are fitted into the holes 4' and 4'' of the take-up reel 4, so that the take-up reel 4 is attached to the reel mounting base 21.
It is attached so that it rotates together with the 26 is a cam disk fixed to the winding shaft 6. Cam disk 2
One end of the pin 25 is inserted into a notch 27 provided in the pin 6 . A torsion coil spring 28 is wound around the take-up shaft 6 and placed between the reel mounting base 21 and the cam disc 26. Torsion coil spring 2
One end 28' of 8 is connected to the hole 2 provided in the cam disk 26.
9, and the other end 28'' is in contact with the pin 26.The torsion coil spring 28 is attached to the reel mounting base 2.
A spring force is applied so that 1 rotates in the D direction.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the slack prevention mechanism 30, and FIG.
Figures A to D are explanatory diagrams of the structure of the slack prevention mechanism 30.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 31 is a reel mounting base rotatably attached to the stock reel shaft 5. In FIGS. The reel mounting base 31 consists of a disk portion 32 and convex portions 33 and 34. A pin 35 is implanted on the upper surface of the disc portion 32. The protrusions 33 and pins 34 are fitted into the holes 3' and 3'' of the stock reel 3, whereby the stock reel 3 is mounted to rotate together with the reel mounting base 31. 36
is a friction mechanism, and the friction plate 3
It consists of 7, 38 and friction 39. The friction plate 37 is rotatably attached to the convex portion 34 of the reel mount 31, and has a pin 40 implanted in its lower surface. The friction plate 38 is the reel mounting base 31
It is fixed to the convex part 34 of. frixion 39
is arranged between the friction plates 37 and 38. 41 is a cam disk fixed to the stock reel shaft 5. The tip of the pin 40 is inserted into a notch 42 provided in the cam disk 71. 43
is a torsion coil spring, which is wound around the stock reel shaft 5 and disposed between the friction plate 37 and the cam disc 41. One end 43' of the torsion coil spring 43 is attached to a hole 44 provided in the cam disk 41, and the other end 43'' is in contact with the pin 40.
The torsion coil spring 43 is arranged so that the reel mounting base 31 is
A spring force is applied so that it rotates in the direction.

Here, the first friction plate in the claims corresponds to the friction plate 38, and the second friction plate corresponds to the friction plate 37.

In a transfer printer having such a configuration, deflection occurring in the transfer ribbon is absorbed in the following manner.

In the deflection prevention mechanism 20 attached to the take-up shaft 6, when the recording head returns, the ribbon catch 10 moves the transfer ribbon 2 as shown in FIG.
The recording head 9 is moved in the direction B along the guide shaft 15 by the drive of the motor 12. In synchronization with this, the cam disk 26 is rotationally driven in the D direction by the motor 12, so the pin 25 is pressed against the end surface 27' of the notch 27, and the reel mounting base 21 is rotated in the D direction together with the cam disk 26. Rotationally driven. Thereby, the transfer ribbon 2 is wound onto the take-up reel 4. During recording, as shown in FIG. 3B, the ribbon catch 10 opens to release the transfer ribbon 2, the motor 12 is reversed, and the power of the motor 12 is no longer transmitted to the cam disc 26 by the one-way clutch 16, so that the transfer is not performed. Ribbon 2 remains stationary. At this time, the play that occurs between the one-way clutch 16 and the take-up shaft 6 is magnified by the winding diameter of the transfer ribbon 2, causing slack in the transfer ribbon 2, but this slack is absorbed by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 28. It is absorbed by rotating the mounting base 21 in the D direction. The reel mounting base 21 is attached to the pin 2 as shown in the figure.
5 can be rotated in the D direction until it comes into contact with the end surface 27'' of the notch 27.

On the other hand, the operation of absorbing the deflection of the transfer ribbon 2 by the deflection prevention mechanism 30 attached to the stock reel shaft 5 will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, A is a diagram showing the state of the deflection prevention mechanism 30 during recording. When the recording head is returned from this state and the transfer ribbon 2 is sent in the direction B, the spring force of the torsion coil spring 43 is set to be smaller than the rotational friction force of the friction mechanism 36. 31 and friction plate 37 rotate in the E' direction against the spring force of the torsion coil spring 43, and as shown in Fig.
is pressed against the end surface 42' of the notch 42. As a result, rotation of the friction plate 37 in the E' direction is stopped. When the transfer ribbon 2 is further fed in the direction B, the reel mounting base 31 overcomes the rotational frictional force with the friction plate 37 as shown in Figure C.
Rotate in the E′ direction. When the recording head return is completed, the ribbon catch 10 opens and transfer ribbon 2 is removed.
is released and the take-up reel 4 no longer winds up the transfer ribbon 2, so the transfer ribbon 2 stands still. At this time, the reel mounting base 31 and the friction plate 37 are rotated in the E direction by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 43, so that the slack of the transfer ribbon 2 is absorbed. The reel mounting base 31 can be rotated in the E direction until the pin 40 comes into contact with the end surface 42'' of the notch 42, as shown in FIG.

Ribbon feeding is carried out using both the rotational drive of the take-up reel 4 and the movement of the ribbon catch 10. When feeding the ribbon, the ribbon diameter of the take-up reel 4 is small and the amount of ribbon fed by the take-up reel 4 is less than the ribbon catch 1.
When the ribbon feed amount is less than the ribbon feed amount determined by 0, slack occurs in the ribbon between the take-up reel 4 and the ribbon catch 10, but this slack is absorbed by the slack prevention mechanism 20.

Such a transfer printer provides the following effects.

On the stock reel side, a sag prevention mechanism and a friction mechanism are provided, and the spring force of the sag prevention mechanism is set to be smaller than the rotational friction force of the friction mechanism, and a cam mechanism is provided between the reel and the reel shaft to restrict the rotation of the reel. It has a similar structure.

As a result, when the transfer ribbon is not pulled, a spring force is applied to the transfer ribbon in the winding direction, and when the transfer ribbon is pulled, the spring force is initially applied, and the cam mechanism restricts the rotation of the reel. At this point, the rotational frictional force from the friction mechanism acts, and once the rotational frictional force is exceeded, all the reels begin to rotate.

With such a configuration, the slack prevention mechanism and the friction mechanism can be appropriately used.

Furthermore, since a slack prevention mechanism is provided on the take-up reel side, it is possible to remove slack that occurs in the ribbon when the ribbon feed amount due to the movement of the ribbon catch is greater than the ribbon feed amount due to the rotational drive of the take-up reel.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a transfer printer that can reliably transport the transfer ribbon by appropriately using the friction mechanism and the slack prevention mechanism on the stock reel side and the take-up reel side.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a conventional configuration example of a transfer printer, Figure 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transfer printer according to the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing sagging on the winding side of the transfer printer shown in Figure 2. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sag prevention mechanism on the stock side of the transfer printer shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the sag prevention mechanism shown in FIG. 4. 2... Transfer ribbon, 3... Stock reel, 4... Take-up reel, 5... Stock reel shaft, 6... Take-up shaft,
7... Recording medium, 9... Recording head, 11... Drive mechanism, 20, 30... Slack prevention mechanism, 25, 40...
Pin, 26, 41...Cam disc, 28, 43...Torsion coil spring, 36...Friction mechanism, 37,
38... Frixion board, 39... Frixion.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] The transfer ribbon before recording, which is wound around a stock reel, is sent out by the rotational drive of a take-up reel, and is transferred onto a recording medium by a recording head to perform recording, and the transfer ribbon after recording is transferred to the take-up reel. A transfer printer for winding a stock reel, which is provided on a take-up side and a stock side, respectively, and has the take-up reel and the stock reel rotatably attached thereto, a first friction plate fixed to the stock reel, and a stock reel. a friction mechanism consisting of a second friction plate rotatably attached to the reel shaft and a friction that generates rotational friction between these friction plates; a cam disc that regulates rotation when the take-up reel rotates by a predetermined angle; and a cam disc that regulates rotation when the take-up reel rotates by a predetermined angle on the take-up side; A spring that applies rotational force in the direction of winding the ribbon to the take-up reel, and the generated spring force is set to be smaller than the frictional force of the friction mechanism, is attached to the recording head and pinches the transfer ribbon during the ribbon feeding operation. a ribbon catch that feeds the transfer ribbon by movement of the recording head; the stock reel applies a spring force in the winding direction to the transfer ribbon when the transfer ribbon is not pulled; and when the transfer ribbon is pulled, the stock reel initially When the force is applied and the rotation of the friction plate is restricted by the cam disk, the rotational friction force of the friction mechanism acts, and when this rotational friction force is exceeded, the reel begins to slide and rotate, and the ribbon feeding operation is stopped. The rotation of the reel and the movement of the ribbon catch are used together, and when the amount of ribbon fed by the ribbon catch is larger than the amount of ribbon fed by the take-up reel due to the ribbon diameter of the take-up reel, the spring on the take-up reel side is transferred. A transfer printer that absorbs ribbon slack.