JPH02200466A - Ink cartridge and recorder using the same ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid the exposure of an ink sheet from an open part to prevent the adhesion of dust and others to the ink sheet by providing the open part for inserting a recording head thereto in a predetermined position of an ink cartridge and providing a lid on the open part. CONSTITUTION:An ink cartridge A is provided with a lid 4g on an open part 4f for inserting a recording head thereto. In this manner, in the transportation and storage of the ink cartridge A, the invasion of dust and others from the open part 4f into the cartridge A and the damage of an ink sheet 1 can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an ink cartridge used in a thermal transfer recording method and a recording apparatus using the ink cartridge.

<Prior Art> Today, facsimile machines are widely used not only in offices but also in ordinary homes.

In order to facilitate miniaturization of these facsimile machines, a so-called heat-sensitive recording method using a heat-sensitive sheet that develops color when heated is generally used.

However, in recent years, facsimile devices using a so-called thermal transfer recording method using an ink sheet have also been developed.

The thermal transfer recording type facsimile apparatus has the advantage that plain paper or the like can be used as the recording sheet, and images can also be recorded clearly.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Since the ink sheet is an extremely thin sheet, wrinkles are likely to occur. Therefore, it takes time and effort to load the ink sheet into the main body of a recording apparatus without causing wrinkles in the ink sheet. It was hanging. Therefore, in recent years, a method has been proposed in which the ink sheet is stored in a cartridge and the cartridge is loaded into the main body of the apparatus or replaced.

However, since an opening for inserting the recording head must be provided at a predetermined position of the cartridge container, the ink sheet is exposed from the opening. For this reason, there are problems in that dust or the like that enters through the openings may adhere to the ink sheet or damage the exposed ink sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide an ink cartridge in which an ink sheet can be easily loaded and there is no risk of damaging the ink sheet, and a recording apparatus using the ink cartridge.

<Means for Solving the Problems> A typical means of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a supply reel for supplying an ink sheet, a take-up reel for winding up the ink sheet, and a The ink cartridge comprises a container for holding a supply reel and a take-up reel, an opening for inserting a recording head into a predetermined position of the container, and a cover that can be opened and closed provided in the opening. It is characterized by its composition.

<Function> According to the above means, since the ink sheet is not exposed from the opening for inserting the recording head, the ink sheet is not damaged, and furthermore, there is no possibility of dust etc. adhering to the ink sheet. be.

<Embodiment> Next, an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention to which the above means is applied and a recording apparatus using the ink cartridge will be described.

[First embodiment]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an ink cartridge A, and FIG. 2 is a recording apparatus B loaded with the ink cartridge A.
FIG.

First, the overall structure of the ink cartridge A will be described. In the ink cartridge A, a long ink sheet 1 is wound around a supply reel 2 and a take-up reel 3, and both reels 2.3 are rotatably housed in a container 4. It is configured. This ink cartridge A is configured to be positioned and loaded into the loading section 5 of the recording apparatus B, and includes a recording head 6a and a platen roller 6.
When the ink sheet 1 and the recording sheet 7 are overlapped and conveyed in the recording section consisting of b, the ink of the ink sheet 1 is transferred and recorded on the recording sheet 7 in the form of an image pattern.

Next, the structure of the ink cartridge A will be specifically explained.

The ink sheet 1 according to this embodiment is made by applying thermally transferable (heat-melting, heat-sublimating, etc.) ink onto a long support sheet with an 84 width or A4 width, and when the support sheet is heated, it forms a heated pattern. The ink is melted accordingly, and this ink sheet 1 itself is a known one. This elongated ink sheet 1 has one end wound around a supply reel 2 and the other end wound around a take-up reel 3.

Both the supply reel 2 and the take-up reel 3 have flanges 2b+, 2b at both ends of the reel shafts 2a, 3a, as shown in FIG.
t, 3b+, 3bi are formed, and both reels 2
．． Reel gears 2c and 3c are integrally formed on one of the collars 2k1)+3b+ of 3.

Further, both ends of the reel shafts 2a, 3a are connected to the gears 2c, 3.
The reel shafts 2a and 3b are formed to protrude outward, and bearings 8 are rotatably fitted to both ends of the reel shafts 2a and 3a, respectively. The reel 2.3 around which the ink sheet 1 is wound is stored in a container 4. Next, the structure of this container 4 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, this container 4 is configured such that a first casing 4a and a second casing 4b are rotatably connected by a hinge (not shown), thereby being able to be opened and closed.

The first casing 4a has side plates 4a8 upright on both sides of a substrate 4M+ whose ends are arcuate, and these side plates 4a8
Two pairs of left and right U grooves 4C and 4d are formed at predetermined positions at regular intervals. The bearing 8 of the supply reel 2 fits into the one U groove 4C, and the other υ groove 4d
The supply reel 2 and the take-up reel 3 are configured to be loaded into the first housing 4a by fitting the bearing 8 of the take-up reel 3 into the first housing 4a.

Further, the ink cartridge A is located on the extension line connecting the U grooves 4C and 4d, and is located on the hinge side end of the both side plates 4ag.
A guide bin 4e for attaching the recording device B to the recording device B is provided in a protruding manner. This guide pin 4e serves as the center of rotation when loading the ink cartridge A into the recording apparatus B, as will be described later.

Furthermore, a predetermined position of the substrate 4a+, specifically, the U groove 4
An opening 4f for inserting the recording head 6a is formed approximately in the center between C and 4d, and a double-folding lid 4g is attached to this opening 4f. Its composition is two lids 4
g are rotatably attached to the base plate 4a by hinges 4h, and a torsion coil spring 41 is attached to the end of each lid 4g, and this spring 41 causes the lid 4g to be pulled outward from the inside of the container. is under pressure. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a regulating plate 4j for regulating the biasing of the lid 4g by the torsion coil spring 41 is provided at a predetermined position on the substrate 4a.

Further, an upright piece 4kl is provided protrudingly on the inner wall side of the both side plates 4am near the position where the take-up reel 3 is loaded, and between the two upright pieces 4h, there is a space for transporting the ink sheet l as described later. A guide shaft 4k is provided for guiding.

On the other hand, the second housing 4b also has a board 4b whose ends are arcuate, and side plates 4km long are formed upright on both sides, and the ink cartridge A is mounted approximately in the center of the board 4b+. A window 41) for inserting the platen roller 6b is formed when the platen roller 6b is loaded into the platen B, and
The both side plates 4bg have a notch 41.continuous to the window 4II+ for allowing the platen roller wheel to escape. is formed.

Further, gears 2c of the supply reel 2 and take-up reel 3 housed in the container 4 are provided at predetermined positions on the substrate 4bt.

An opening 4m for exposing 3C is formed. The gear 2c is exposed from this opening 4m.

3C is connected to a motor attached to the recording device B as described later, and rotational force is transmitted to the supply reel 2 and the take-up reel 3.

Furthermore, a locking protrusion 4n is protruded at a predetermined position on the open end of the second housing 4b, and the ink cartridge is secured by locking the locking protrusion 4n to a locking spring of the loading section 5, which will be described later. A is configured to be loaded into a recording device B.

A handle 40 is provided on the side plate 4b of the second housing 4b so as to protrude outward, and when removing the ink cartridge A loaded in the recording apparatus B, the handle 40
The locking projection 4n and the locking spring can be released from the locked state by holding the locking protrusion 4n.

Further, an engagement recess 4p is provided at the open end of the first housing 4a, and a locking recess 4p is provided at the open end of the second housing 4b.
A locking protrusion 4q is provided which engages with both cylinders 4a.
, 4b are closed, the engagement recess 4P and the engagement protrusion 4q are engaged to maintain the closed state.

Next, the case where the ink sheet 1 is stored in the container 4 having the above structure will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, bearings 8 are fitted to both ends of the supply reel 2 and take-up reel 3 around which the ink sheet 1 is wound, and the bearings 8 are inserted into the U groove 4c of the first housing 4a.

4d respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the ink sheet 1 is set so that it is wound from the top to the bottom of the take-up reel 3. )

If you set the ink sheet l as described above,
For example, if the ink sheet 1 is cut, when attaching the cut end of the ink sheet 1 to the take-up reel shaft 3a, use tape 9 or the like to attach the end of the ink sheet to the top of the take-up reel shaft 3a as shown in FIG. You can paste it directly
If this is set so that the ink sheet 1 is wound up from the bottom to the top of the take-up reel 3, when pasting the cut ink sheet L, the tip of the ink sheet is wound from the bottom of the take-up reel 3, and the tip Take-up reel 3
After reaching the top of the screen, it must be attached with tape 9 or the like.

Therefore, as in this embodiment, the ink sheet 1 is placed in the first housing 4a.
Cutting and repair work can be facilitated by using cents. Further, in this embodiment, the U for fitting the bearing 8 is
Since the grooves 4c and 4d are provided only in the first housing 4a and the ink sheet 1 cannot be set on the second housing 4b side, for example, during maintenance, the ink sheet 1 cannot be set in the second housing. This prevents a situation such as being attached backwards to 4b.

The supply reel 2 and take-up reel 3 with the ink sheet 1 wound thereon as described above are set in the first housing 4a, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second housing 4b is rotated. The engaging recesses 4p and the engaging protrusions 4q of both the casings 4a and 4b are engaged.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ink cartridge A having the above structure is provided with a lid 4g at the opening 4f for inserting the recording head, so when transporting or storing the ink cartridge A, the opening 4 is closed.
It is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the cartridge A from the ink cartridge A, and also to prevent scratches on the cartridge A, and since the inside is hidden, it can give a sense of luxury.

Next, the configuration of the recording apparatus B for carrying out thermal transfer recording by loading the ink cartridge A will be described.

The recording apparatus B according to this embodiment is configured as a recording system of a facsimile machine having an image reading system C, as shown in FIG. This recording device B is configured so that it can be opened and closed by rotating the device main body 10 and the recording cover 1) around a hinge shaft 12, and the ink cartridge A is loaded into the recording cover 1). has been done.

On the apparatus main body IO side, there are a roll holder 13 for loading a sheet roll 7a in which a long recording sheet 7 is wound into a roll, a platen roller 6b serving as a conveying means for conveying the recording sheet 7, and a recording device. A cutter 14 for cutting the subsequent recording sheet 7 and a discharge roller 15 for discharging the sheet 7 are provided.

On the other hand, on the side of the recording cover 1), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 (^), a line-type recording head 6a is attached, which is formed by arranging heating elements 6a1 that generate heat in accordance with image signals in a line. When the recording cover 1) is closed, the rad 6
a is configured to press the platen roller 6b by a pressing spring 6C. In addition, the recording cover 1
), the fork members 6d attached to both ends of the recording head 6a sandwich and position the shaft 6b+ of the platen roller 6b.

Furthermore, the configuration of the image reading system C is such that a plurality of originals 17 are stacked and stacked on an original placing table 16 formed on the upper surface of the recording cover 1), and the originals 17 are preliminary transported by preliminary transport rollers 18a and pressing rollers 18b. At the same time, the original document 17 is separated and fed one by one by a separation roller 19a and a pressure contact piece 19b that is in pressure contact with the separation roller 19a, and the document 17 is transported by a pair of transport rollers 20a and 20b and discharged onto a discharge tray 21. While the original 17 is being conveyed, a light source 22 irradiates the original surface with light, and the reflected light is reflected by a mirror 23 and a lens 2.
4 to a photoelectric conversion element 25 such as a CCD, and in the case of copy mode, transmits the image signal to its own recording system,
In the case of the transmission mode, the configuration is such that the data is transmitted to the recording system of another device.

In FIG. 2, 26 is an electrical board, and 27 is a power source for driving members such as a motor, which will be described later.

A control system for driving and controlling the device is constructed as shown in the block diagram of FIG.

To explain its configuration in detail, in FIG.
It is equipped with 6. Line memory 50a in the control unit 50
is used to store image data for each line of image data; when transmitting or copying the original 17, one line of image data from the reading system C is stored; when receiving image data, it stores the combined received image data. Image data 1
Data for a line is stored. Then, image recording is performed by outputting the data stored in the line memory 50a to the recording head 6a. 5
0b is an encoding/decoding unit that encodes the image information to be transmitted by MH encoding or the like, and decodes the received encoded image data to convert it into image data. 50 again
c is a buffer memory that stores transmitted or received encoded re-examination data. Each part of the control unit 50 is controlled by a CPU 50d such as a microprocessor. In addition to the CPU 50d, the control unit 50 includes a ROM 50e that stores control programs and various data for the CPU 50d, and a RAM 2Of that temporarily stores various data as a work area for the CPU 50d.

The recording system 51 includes the recording head 6a described above and motors (reel drive motor 32 and platen motor 3, which will be described later).
7) and is driven by a signal from the CPU 50d. Reference numeral 52 denotes an operation section including various function instruction keys such as starting transmission, telephone number input keys, and the like. 5 more
Reference numeral 3 denotes a display section for displaying various functions provided in the operation section 52, the status of the device, and the like.

Further, 54 is a modem (modulator/demodulator), and 55 is a network control unit (NCU).

Next, the configuration of the loading section 5 for loading the ink cartridge A will be explained.

As shown in Figure 7(A), on both sides of the recording cover 1),
A positioning member 28 formed laterally symmetrically is attached. This positioning member 2B is the ink cartridge A.
a key-shaped groove 28a for locking the guide pin 4e;
U-grooves 28b and 28c are provided at a predetermined interval on the same extension line to fit and position the bearings 8 fitted to both ends of the reel 2.3. Further, a locking spring 29 for locking with the locking protrusion 4n of the ink cartridge A is provided near the open end of the recording cover 1).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7(A), the guide pin 4e of the ink cartridge A is fitted into the key-shaped groove 28a, and the ink cartridge A is rotated around the guide pin 4e. As shown in (B), the locking protrusion 4n
The ink cartridge A is loaded into the recording cover 1) by being locked to the locking spring 29. At this time, bearing 8
are the respective U grooves 28b.

28c.

When loading the ink cartridge A, the guide pin 4 of the ink cartridge A is
Since the U grooves 4c and 4d into which the bearings 8 and the bearings 8 are fitted are arranged in a straight line, when the ink cartridge A is rotated around the guide pin 4e, the bearings of the supply reel 2 and the take-up reel 3 8 is the U groove 28b of the positioning member 28, 2
They are positioned substantially simultaneously with respect to 8c. Therefore, the bearing 8 is reliably positioned and fitted into the U grooves 28b and 28c of the positioning member 28.

Furthermore, a U groove 4c into which the guide pin 4e and the bearing 8 are fitted;
4d are both provided on the first housing 4a side, and are arranged in a straight line, so that the key-shaped groove 28a and the U-groove 28b are formed in the member 28 for positioning these.
, 28c are also arranged in a straight line, so that the bearing 8 is accurately positioned with respect to the guide pin 4e. That is, high positional accuracy can be obtained when positioning the bearing 8 simply by arranging the key-shaped groove 28a and the U-grooves 28b, 28c in a straight line on the positioning member 28, which is one member.

Incidentally, the positioning member 28 of this embodiment has, in the thickness direction,
As shown in FIG. 9(^), the inner surface 28d is tapered so that the space between the two positioning members 28 is wide at the bottom and gradually narrows toward the top. As a result, when the ink cartridge A is rotated around the guide pin 4e, it is guided along the taper, making it easy to load. This prevents wobbling in the direction of arrow Y).

Furthermore, when loading the ink cartridge A as described above, as shown in FIGS. The recording head 6a is inserted into the ink cartridge A from the opening 4f of the ink cartridge A by pushing it open against the force.

Note that when inserting the recording head 6a into the opening 4r,
The guide pin 4e is provided at the extreme end of the cartridge A, and since there is a certain distance from the guide pin 4e, which is the center of rotation, to the opening 4f, the opening 4f is large enough to insert the recording head 6a. It is possible to make the recording head 6a the minimum size necessary for this purpose.

In addition, the biasing force of the lid 4g due to the torsion coil spring 41 (
The force that attempts to return the lid 4g to the closed state) is shown in Figure 10 (B
), insert the head 6a into the recording head 6.
The force is such that it does not affect the pressing force when a is pressed against the platen roller 6b. Therefore,
In this embodiment, the recording pad 6a is operated by the pressing spring 6C.
The pressing force between the platen roller 6b and the platen roller 6b is approximately 150gf/c+
s, whereas the torsion coil spring 41
The biasing force of the lid 4g is set to approximately 601 f/cm.

When the ink cartridge A is loaded as described above, the recording head 6a automatically opens the M4g and is inserted into the cartridge A, so that the cartridge can be easily loaded. Further, since the lid 4g opens in a double-door manner by the pressure of the recording head 6a, the radius of rotation of each 14g is small, and the length of the ink cartridge A in the height direction can be shortened.

As described above, attach the ink cartridge A to the recording cover 1).
(the state shown in FIG. 7(B)), the cover 1) is closed, and the hook 30a of the apparatus main body 10 and the hook 30b of the recording cover 1) are engaged.

At this time, reel gears 2c and 3c integrally formed with the supply reel 2 and take-up reel 3 are configured to mesh with a driving force transmission gear 31 attached to the apparatus main body 10 side.

To explain this specifically, as shown in FIG. 7(B), a reel drive motor 32 for driving and rotating each reel 2.3 is attached to the main body IO side of the recording apparatus B. The driving force from 32 is transmitted to gear trains 33a to 33.
The driving force is transmitted to the driving force transmission gear 31 via e. The gear 33e is attached to an arm 34 that is rotatable around the gear shaft of the gear 33d, and is configured as a so-called pendulum gear that can swing around the gear 33d while remaining in mesh with the gear 33d. ing. The driving force transmission gear 31 can swing integrally with the pendulum gear 33e, and is configured such that the rotational force from the pendulum gear 33e is transmitted via the slip clutch 35.

Note that 36 in FIG. 7(B) is a tension spring for pulling the arm 34 upward. Further, 37 is a platen motor for rotating the platen roller 6b, and the driving force of this motor 37 is transmitted to the platen roller 6b via gear trains 38a to 38c.

In the above configuration, when the recording cover 1) is closed, the reel gear 2 is exposed from the opening 4m of the ink cartridge A.
c and 3c come to mesh with the driving force transmission gear 31, but in this embodiment, the opening 4m is the first one shown in FIG.
, As shown in (B), the hinge shaft 1 of the recording cover 1)
It is provided so as to be located on the rotation locus circle of reel gear 2C23C centered on reel gear 2C23C, and driving force transmission gear 3
1 is also provided so as to be located on the trajectory circle. Therefore, when the recording cover 1) is closed, the gears 2c and 3c exposed from the opening 4m press the driving force transmission gear 31 and are securely engaged. At this time, even if the parent gear 33d connected to the motor 32 is in the locked state, the pendulum gear 33e that swings integrally with the driving force transmission gear 31 will not be connected to the parent gear 33.
In order to smoothly swing around the recording cover 1)
can be closed smoothly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7(B), on the side of the apparatus main body 10, leaf springs 39 serving as pressing members are installed at positions facing the bearings 8 for the ink cartridges attached to the recording cover 1).
is attached to the U groove 28b of the positioning member 28.

28c side. For this reason, the bearing 8 is shown in FIG.
As shown in B), the height direction (direction of arrow Z in Fig. 7 (B))
positioning is performed reliably. The plate spring 39 is inserted into the U groove 28b of the positioning member 28 as shown in FIG. 9(B).
, 28c in the reel axial direction. For example, if the plate spring 39 and the positioning member 28 do not match in the reel axial direction, the bearing 8
A twisting force is applied to the reels 2 and 3, and an unnecessary frictional force is applied to the rotation of the reels 2 and 3. However, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned disadvantage does not occur.

As described above, the bearing 8 is inserted into the U groove 28b of the positioning member 28.
, 28c, and the positioning when loading the ink cartridge A into the recording cover 1) and the positioning of the bearing 8 are configured independently.

That is, by directly positioning the bearing 8 to the recording apparatus B without using the ink cartridge A, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the parallelism between the reel 2.3 and the platen roller 6b. Further, since the ink cartridge A does not require strict positional accuracy of the bearing 8, there is no need to require rigidity or accuracy in the cartridge A, and therefore the cartridge A can be manufactured at low cost.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the recording cover 1) is closed,
As shown in FIG. 1.theta.(B), the pressure contact portion between the recording head 6a and the platen roller 6b is configured to be located approximately in the middle of the ink cartridge A in the height direction. When the pressure contact portion is located above the ink cartridge A, a notch 4 for escaping the shaft of the platen roller 6b shown in FIG.
12 has to be made deeper, the strength of the second housing 4b is weakened, and conversely, the pressure contact portion is closer to the ink cartridge A.
If the opening 4f is located at the lower part of the inner part, the opening 4f for inserting the recording head 6a must be made larger.
In this embodiment, since the press-contact portion is located approximately at the center, the strength of the second housing 4b is not weakened, and the opening 4f can be minimized.

Next, a case will be described in which printing is performed using the printing apparatus B loaded with the ink cartridge A.

During recording, the platen motor 37 and the reel drive motor 32 on the take-up reel side are driven, and the reel drive motor 32 on the supply reel side is locked. When the platen motor 37 is driven, the platen roller 6b
rotates in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 12, and conveys the recording sheet 7 and the ink sheet 1 superposed thereon in the directions of arrows a and c, respectively. In synchronization with this, the heating element 6a of the recording hesid 6a
+ generates heat in response to an image signal to heat the ink sheet 1 in an image pattern, and the ink melted by this heating is transferred to the recording sheet 7.

During the recording, the motor for driving the take-up reel 3 operates so that the circumferential rotational speed of the take-up reel 3 is slightly smaller than the circumferential rotational speed of the platen roller ab so that the ink sheet l conveyed by the platen roller 6b does not slacken. The slip clutch 35 absorbs the faster speed. As a result, the ink sheet 1 is wound onto the take-up reel 3 while being given a front tension run. On the other hand, since the reel drive motor 32 on the supply reel 2 side is locked, the supply reel 2 is
5 and rotates as the ink sheet 1 is fed out. This sliding load applies back tension to the ink sheet 1.

In addition, in FIG. 12, the ink sheet 1 is placed on the take-up reel 3.
If the sheet 1 presses the recording head 6a upwards with a strong force due to the front tension run when it is wound up,
The pressing force of the recording pad 6a against the platen roller 6b changes, and in extreme cases there is a possibility that image waves may be caused. However, in this embodiment, the ink sheet 1 is guided by the guide shaft 4. Therefore, even if the front tension of the ink sheet l is strong, the recording head 6a will not be pressed upward by the ink sheet l.

Therefore, the platen roller 6b by the recording head 6a
The pressing force is always constant, and there is no fear that the image wave will cause distortion.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the gear 2c on the supply reel 2 side receives an upward force due to the driven rotation of the driving force transmission gear 31 which is subjected to a sliding load, but the bearing 8 is inserted from above into the U groove 28b, Since the bearing 8 is supported by 28c, the U grooves 28b and 28C are attached so as to prevent the bearing 8 from moving upward, that is, to restrict the direction in which the reel gears 2c and 3c are urged by the driving force transmission gear 31. Since the reel gears 2c, 3c do not move, so-called tooth skipping between the reel gears 2c, 3c and the driving force transmission gear 31 is prevented.

Next, the case where the ink cartridge 8 is replaced or removed from the recording cover 1) will be explained.

In this case, as shown in Figure 7 (B), the recording cover 1)
When the handle 4n of the ink cartridge A is released and the grip 4n of the ink cartridge A is grasped and pulled, the engagement between the locking protrusion 4n of the ink cartridge A and the locking spring 29 is released, and the ink cartridge is opened as shown in FIG. 7(A). A rotates around the guide pin 4e and can be easily removed from the recording cover II.

At this time, since the handle 4o and the locking protrusion 4n are both provided on the second housing 4b side, even if the handle 40 is pulled, the engagement portion between the first housing 4a and the second housing 4b, that is, the engagement No force is applied to the engagement portion between the recess 4p and the engagement protrusion 4q. Therefore, when the locking protrusion 4n is removed from the locking spring 29, the first housing 4a and the second housing 4b are It will never open.

As mentioned above, the ink cartridge A according to this embodiment can be easily loaded into the recording apparatus B to which the recording head 6a is attached, with high positioning accuracy, and can be easily loaded into the drive transmission system. It is possible to prevent gear tooth skipping and the like and perform high-quality recording.

[Other Examples]

In the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the ink sheet 1 was conveyed in the same direction as the recording sheet 7 when recording.
As shown in FIG. 13, the ink sheet 1 may be transported in the opposite direction (direction of arrow d) to the transport direction of recording sheet 7 (direction of arrow d).

In this case, the structure of the ink cartridge is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the supply reel 2 and take-up reel 3 are reversed.

In addition, in this configuration, the extra volume reel 3
C is configured to be connected to the reel drive motor via a gear train without using a slip clutch. In this configuration, during recording, the recording sheet 7 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow a by the rotation of the platen roller 6b, and the ink sheet 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow d by the drive of the reel drive motor on the take-up reel side. be.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the U grooves 28b and 28c for positioning the reel bearing 8 were provided on the recording cover 1) side, but the U grooves may also be provided on the device main body 10 side. good.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, U grooves 40a, 40 for positioning the bearings 8 of the supply reel 2 and take-up reel 3
b is provided at a predetermined position on the apparatus main body 10, and a guide pin 4e for holding the ink cartridge A described above is provided on the recording cover 1) side.
A positioning member 41 having only a key-shaped groove 41a for positioning is provided, and a locking spring 29 for locking with the locking protrusion 4n of the ink cartridge A is provided.

Therefore, the ink cartridge A is attached to the recording cover 1) by fitting the guide pin 4e into the key-shaped groove 41a and locking the locking protrusion 4n with the locking spring 29, as in the previous embodiment. Next, when the recording cover 1) is closed, the bearings 8 are fitted into the U grooves 40a, 40b provided in the main body 10 and positioned, as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 15, reference numeral 42 indicates a pressing spring attached to the U grooves 40a and 40b, and when the recording cover 1) is closed, the upper end of the bearing 8 is pressed against the contact portion 41b of the positioning member 41.
It is brought into contact with the

If the means for positioning the bearing 8 is provided on the apparatus main body 10 side to which the platen roller 6b is attached as described above, the reel 2.3 positioned by the U grooves 40a, 40b and the platen roller 6b It is easy to achieve parallelism with high accuracy.

Further, as in the first embodiment described above, even if the reel gears 2c and 3c are pressed upward as shown in FIG. 15 by the driving force transmission gear 31 when transmitting the driving force to the reel 2. Since the tooth contacts the contact portion 41b and does not move in the height direction, so-called tooth skipping does not occur.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention provides an opening for inserting the recording head at a predetermined position of the ink cartridge, and a cover is provided on the opening, so that the ink sheet is not exposed from the opening. (It is possible to prevent dust etc. from adhering to the ink sheet, and the ink sheet will not be damaged.

Furthermore, since the lid is openable and closable, when loading the ink cartridge into the recording device, the recording head opens the lid and is smoothly inserted into the ink cartridge through the opening, eliminating the hassle of loading the ink cartridge. It is something.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the parts of an ink cartridge, Fig. 2 is an overall explanatory diagram of the recording device with the ink cartridge loaded, Fig. 3 is a perspective explanatory diagram of the ink cartridge loaded with an ink sheet, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the ink sheet. An explanatory diagram of the state in which the ink cartridge is attached to the take-up reel, Figures 5 and 6 are perspective explanatory diagrams of the external appearance of the ink cartridge, and Figures 7 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of the state in which the ink cartridge is loaded into the recording device. 8th
The figure is a block diagram of the control system, Figure 9 (^), (B) is a cross-sectional explanatory view with the ink cartridge attached to the positioning member and the recording cover closed, Figure 10 (A),
(B) is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the recording head and the lid when loading the ink cartridge, Figure 1) (A) and (B)
12 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the reel gear and the pendulum gear when the recording cover is closed, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional diagram of the recording state, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the conveying direction of the ink sheet is reversed, and FIGS. 14 and 15 are explanatory diagrams of an embodiment in which a U-groove for positioning the reel bearing is provided on the apparatus main body side. A is an ink cartridge, B is a recording device, C is an image reading system, l is an ink sheet, 2 is a supply reel, 2a is a reel shaft, 2b+, 2bx are collars, 2C is a gear, 3 is a take-up reel, 3a is a reel Axis, 3b1°3b, flange, 3c gear, 4 container, 4a first casing, 4a+ board, 4at
is a side plate, 4b is a second housing, 4b+ is a substrate, 4bz is a side plate, 4c, 4d are U grooves, 4e is a guide bin, 4f is an opening, 4g is a lid, 4h is a hinge, 41 is a torsion coil spring, 4
j is a regulation plate, 4 is a guide shaft, 4 is a + standing piece,
4Il is a window, 41. is a notch, 4m is an opening, 4n is a locking projection, 4o is a handle, 4p is an engaging recess, 4q is an engaging projection, 5 is a loading section, 6a is a recording head, 6a is a heating element,
6b is the platen roller, 6b+ is the platen roller shaft, 6
c is a pressing spring, 6d is a fork member, 7 is a recording sheet, 8 is a bearing, 9 is a tape, 10 is a recording device main body, 1
) is a recording cover, 12 is a hinge shaft, 13 is a roll holder, 14 is a cutter, 15 is an ejection roller, 16 is a document mounting table, 17 is a document, 18a is a preliminary conveyance roller, 18b is a pressure roller, 19a is a separation roller, 19b is a pressure welding piece, 20
a and 20b are a pair of transport rollers, 21 is a discharge tray, 22 is a light source, 23 is a mirror, 24 is a lens, 25 is a charge conversion element, 26 is an electrical board, 27 is a power source, 28 is a positioning member, and 28a is a key-shaped groove , 28b and 28c are υ grooves, 28d is an inner wall surface, 29 is a locking spring, 30a and 30b are hooks, 3
1 is a driving force transmission gear, 32 is a reel drive motor, 33a
33e is a gear, 34 is an arm, 35 is a slip clutch, 36 is a tension spring, 37 is a platen motor, 38a to 38c are gear trains, 39 is a leaf spring, 40a,
40b is a U groove, 41 is a positioning member, 41a is a key-shaped groove, 41b is a contact portion, 42 is a pressing spring, 50 is a control portion, 5
0a is a line memory, 50b is an encoding/decoding unit, 5
0c is a buffer memory, 50d is a CPU. 50e is ROM, 50f is RAM, 51 is recording system, 52
53 is a display, 54 is a modem, 55 is a network control unit, and 56 is a motor.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A supply reel for supplying an ink sheet, a take-up reel for winding up the ink sheet, and a container for holding the supply reel and the take-up reel, and a predetermined position of the container An ink cartridge characterized in that an opening for inserting a recording head is formed in the ink cartridge, and a lid that can be opened and closed is provided in the opening. (2) The ink cartridge according to claim (1), wherein the lid is configured to have double doors. (3) The ink cartridge according to claim (1) or claim (2), wherein the lid is configured to be pushed open by pressure. (4) a conveying means for conveying a recording sheet; a loading means for loading the ink cartridge according to claim (1); and heating the ink sheet housed in the ink cartridge in accordance with an image signal. A recording device comprising: a recording head for;