JPH0281661A - Transfer paper cartridge and thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a cartridge from being inadvertently extracted from a thermal printer by engaging an engaging protrusion of said thermal printer with a stepped portion of said transfer paper cartridge provided for locking purpose. CONSTITUTION:A thermal printer interlocked with a loading arm 64 is provided with an engaging member 66 for fixing an inserted transfer paper cartridge 23. The engaging member 66 is urged in a clockwise direction by a twisting spring 67 which is fitted into a shaft 66b, so that a base end side of the engaging member 66 is pressed into contact with a lateral edge of the loading arm 64. When the loading arm 64 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the engaging member 66 is rotated in the clockwise direction in association with the rotation of the loading arm 64, and therefore an engaging protrusion 66a is moved upwards. Consequently, the engaging protrusion 66a is engaged with a stepped portion 48 of the cartridge 23 which is formed so as to lock the transfer paper cartridge.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a transfer paper cartridge for use in a thermal printer, in which a transfer paper and a recording paper are integrated, and a thermal printer to which this transfer paper cartridge is installed. .

(Conventional Technique #4) Traditionally, thermal printers have generally used heat from a thermal head to melt or sublimate the color ink applied to the base film that makes up the transfer paper, thereby transferring a predetermined color ink onto the recording paper. This is known, and in such a thermal printer, a recolor image is printed by repeating the above-described transfer operation for each color (for example, yellow magenta, cyan).

In such a thermal printer, the recording paper is stored in a recording paper supply tray inside the main body of the device, and the transfer paper is wound around a pair of cores inside the main body of the device. The recording paper and the transfer paper are each set independently in the main body of the apparatus.

On the other hand, the present applicant previously filed Utility Application No. 62-16965.
According to applications such as No. 5 or 1, Utility Model Application No. 63-31345, the above-mentioned recording paper and transfer paper are housed in one transfer paper cartridge, and by installing this transfer paper cartridge into the main body of the apparatus, the recording paper can be transferred. We have proposed a thermal printer and a transfer paper cartridge that allow you to set a printer and transfer paper at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 13, the transfer paper cartridge is constructed by integrally forming a recording paper storage section 1 for storing the recording paper K and a transfer paper storage section 2 for storing the transfer paper T. The transfer paper storage section 2 is designed to hold and store a pair of supply rolls 3 and a take-up roll 4, on which the transfer paper T is wound, at a bearing (not shown) formed on the side wall. There is.

The recording paper storage section 1 includes a tray 5 on which the stored recording paper K is placed, a spring 6 that biases the tray 5 upward in the figure, and a separation claw that separates the recording paper K one by one. 7 and a cover 8 that opens and closes the recording paper storage section 1 when replenishing the recording paper K.

On the other hand, in a thermal printer, when a transfer paper cartridge having the above-mentioned configuration is installed, an arm (not shown) removes the winding roll 4 from the bearing inside the transfer paper cartridge and places it in a predetermined position within the main body of the apparatus. By moving the transfer paper T, the transfer paper T is loaded and engaged with a drive shaft that rotationally drives these rolls 3 and 4.

When the loading of the transfer paper T is completed and printing is started, the supply port 59 is brought into contact with the recording paper K through the supply port 10, and the recording paper K is transferred from the supply port 10 into the main body of the apparatus. The sheets are fed onto the platen roller one by one.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional transfer paper cartridge as described above, when printing is completed, the take-up roll around which the transfer paper is wound is pulled out into the thermal head. Even so, I was able to pull out the transfer paper cartridge.

For this reason, an accident occurred in which an attempt was made to pull out the transfer paper cartridge with the transfer paper T still loaded, and the transfer paper became tangled inside the thermal printer.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned actual situation, and when the take-up roll on which the transfer paper is wound is pulled out into the inside of the thermal printer, the transfer paper will never be removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer paper cartridge and a thermal printer that can prevent the above-mentioned accidents from occurring by preventing the paper cartridge from being removed from the thermal printer.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a transfer paper storage section that stores a pair of rolls of transfer paper wrapped around it, and a recording paper storage section that stores the recording paper inside a cartridge body. The paper cartridge has a locking stepped portion on the cartridge main body that is engaged with a locking protrusion of the thermal printer that protrudes as long as the roll is pulled out when the transfer paper cartridge is installed in the thermal printer. The transfer paper cartridge is characterized in that the transfer paper cartridge is fixed in the thermal printer by the engagement of the locking protrusion with the lock step, and the transfer paper is hung around the transfer paper cartridge. A thermal printer in which a transfer paper cartridge is integrally formed with a transfer paper storage section and a recording paper storage section for storing a pair of supply rolls and take-up rolls, and is capable of being inserted and removed from the transfer paper storage section. The present invention provides a thermal printer characterized by comprising a loading arm that pulls out a take-up roll, and a locking member that can fix the transfer paper cartridge in conjunction with the operation of the loading arm.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a transfer paper cartridge and a thermal printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

The transfer paper cartridge according to this embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.
As shown in the figure, it is generally composed of various members such as a cartridge main body 20, a lid part 22 of a transfer paper storage section 21, and a bottom plate 24 of a recording paper storage section 23.

In this transfer paper cartridge, the transfer paper is stored inside the fixing part 25 formed at the front part (right side in the figure) of the cartridge main body 20 and the lid part 22 facing the fixing part 25. The transfer paper storage section 21 stores the transfer paper T in a state where it is wound around a take-up roll 32 and a supply roll 33.

Therefore, as long as the lid section 22 is closed, it is possible to prevent the transfer paper T stored in the transfer paper storage section 21 from being touched inadvertently.

Note that the take-up roll 32 in this embodiment is arranged so as to be located in front of the cartridge main body 20 with respect to the supply roll 33.

Further, the lid portion 22 is pivotally supported on the cartridge main body 20 by a general hinge mechanism 26 on its − side,
As a result, this lid portion 22 has a side 22a parallel to the front surface of the cartridge main body 20, as shown in FIG. 2 or 3.
It is designed to open and open with the center of rotation as the center of rotation.

That is, the lid portion 22 expands on its front side.

A spring 26a is used in this hinge mechanism 26,
The spring 26a constantly biases the lid portion 22 in the closing direction.

Further, the height dimension H1 of the lid portion 22 in this embodiment is set to approximately half the height dimension 1''2 of the transfer paper cartridge.

When the lid part 22 is opened from the fixed part 25, an opening 37 is formed on the front surface of the cartridge for pulling out the winding roll 32, and this opening 37 is opened by a thermal printer to be described later. Take roll 32
It is expanded by an opening amount sufficient to draw out the material to the outside, that is, an amount slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the winding roll 32.

Further, semicircular notches 27 and 28 are formed on both side walls of the fixing part 25 and the lid part 22 of the transfer paper storage part 21, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. , these notches 27, 27, 28, and 28 are formed when the lid 22 is opened, that is, as shown in FIG.
When the two are brought into contact with each other, substantially circular holes, that is, bearing portions, are formed on the side surface of the transfer paper storage portion 21 in correspondence with each other.

In this transfer paper storage section 21, the bearings constituted by such notches 27 and 28 are divided into different parts depending on the part.
The transfer paper T is stored by supporting both ends of the supply roll 33 and the take-up roll 32, on which the transfer paper T is wound. It is designed to be visible to the outside world through.

Furthermore, when the lid section 22 is opened, the bearing section is divided into notches 27 and 27. as shown in FIG. 2 or 3.
28 and 28 are divided so that the supported state of each roll 32, 33 is released.

Incidentally, on both end surfaces of the core 34.35 of each of the rolls 32.33, recesses 34a and 35a are formed, respectively, to engage with a convex portion of a rotating shaft or a drive shaft, which will be described later.

Further, a tongue piece 36 formed of flexible soft plastic is suspended from the inner surface of the lid part 22, and this tongue piece 36 is attached to the inner surface of the lid part 22 when the lid part 22 is closed. As shown by the dotted chain line in FIG. 2, it is disposed between the supply roll 33 and the take-up roll 34.

Roughly speaking, the tongues 3 and 6 are arranged parallel to the front surface of the cartridge main body 20, and are set to have a width slightly longer than the width of the transfer paper.

As a result, when the lid part 22 is closed, each of the above circles 3
3.34 are separated from each other by the tongue piece 36, so even if one of the rolls were to fall out of the marking notch 2728, the transfer paper wound on each roll 32.33 would be Contact with each other can be reliably prevented.

Furthermore, the tongue piece 36 causes the transfer paper T to slacken between the rolls 32 and 33, thereby causing an unnecessary load on the transfer paper T.
It is possible to prevent the rolls 32 and 33 from being applied with tension, and to prevent the rolls 32 and 33 from rotating inadvertently.

Note that since the tip of this tongue piece 36 is formed in a semicircular shape, it is possible to prevent the transfer paper T from being damaged by this tongue piece 36.

Further, in the transfer paper cartridge of this embodiment, a locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 4 is provided to prevent the lid portion 22 from being opened carelessly when the transfer paper cartridge is removed from the thermal printer. ing.

That is, this lock-like structure is composed of a lock member 45, a spring 46 that biases the lock member, and protrusions 22b formed at both ends of the side 22a of the lid portion 22. is pivotally supported at one end by a shaft 47, and has a lock piece 45a and a lock release piece 45b formed at the other end.

This locking member 45 is secured to the shaft 47 by the spring 46.
When the transfer paper cartridge is removed from the thermal printer, the lock piece 45a is pressed against the protrusion of the lid 22 as shown by the dotted chain line in FIG. It sneaks under the piece 22b and comes into contact with the protruding piece 22b of the lid portion 22.

As a result, the rotation of the lid portion 22 is restricted by the engagement between the projecting piece 22b and the locking piece 45a, and the lid cannot be opened.

Also, at this time, the lock release piece 45 of this lock member 45
b is elastically fitted into an opening 20b formed in a guide groove 20a formed in the side wall of the cartridge main body 20.

Such a locked state of the lid portion 22 is achieved by the guide rib on the printer side that fits into the guide groove 20a when the transfer paper cartridge is installed in the thermal printer, as shown by the solid line in FIG. Release piece 4
It is released by pressing and moving 5b counterclockwise.

In this way, according to the transfer paper cartridge of this embodiment,
It is possible to reliably prevent the lid portion 22 from being opened when the transfer paper cartridge is removed from the thermal printer, and the stored transfer paper T can be reliably protected.

Further, each corner in the vertical direction facing the front of the lid part 22 and fixing part 25 of the transfer paper storage section 21 is chamfered as shown in FIG. 1, and this transfer paper cartridge will be described later. It is designed to be easily inserted into the insertion slot of a thermal printer.

Furthermore, by chamfering the front corner of the lid 22, the height of the tip of the lid 22 of the transfer paper cartridge when the lid 22 is opened can be kept low, as described above. The dead space inside the thermal printer to which this transfer paper cartridge is installed can be reduced.

Further, slits 38 and 39 are formed on both sides of the front surface of the transfer paper storage section 21, and extend between the lid section 22 and the fixing section 25. A loading arm for pulling out is inserted into the transfer paper storage section 21.

On the other hand, a pair of ribs 40.40 are formed on the bottom surface (outer surface) of the fixing section 25 of the transfer paper storage section 21, as shown in FIG. The printed surface of the recording paper being sent out and this transfer paper storage section 2
1 and the bottom surface of 1 to prevent them from coming into direct contact with each other.

These ribs 40, 40 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the cartridge body 20 (a direction parallel to the direction in which the cartridge body 20 is inserted), that is, in the direction in which the recording paper is fed out, and have a cross-sectional shape. The ribs 40, 40 are arranged in a kamabot shape, and the positions of the ribs 40, 40 are set so as to correspond to the margins 1 on both sides of the stamp part of the supplied recording paper.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent these ribs 40, 40 from scratching and damaging the printed portion of the recording paper.

Further, at predetermined positions on both sides of the bottom plate of the fixing portion 25, a device is provided to prevent the transfer paper cartridge from being handled when the transfer paper cartridge is attached to a thermal printer and the winding roll 32 is pulled out. A locking step 48 is formed for this purpose.

That is, this lock step 48 is adapted to engage with a locking protrusion of a thermal printer, which will be described later.
This locking protrusion engages with the lock step 48 in conjunction with the operation of the loading arm that pulls out the take-up roll 32.

As a result, when the take-up roll 32 is not stored in the transfer paper storage section 21 of the transfer paper cartridge, that is, when the take-up roll 32 is pulled out into the thermal printer by the loading arm, the transfer paper cartridge can be removed. It is possible to prevent accidents such as taking the printer out of the thermal printer.

Further, a recording paper storage section 23 located on the rear side of the transfer paper storage section 21 is formed continuously with the transfer paper storage section 21 as described above.

The recording paper storage section 23 is composed of the rear portion of the cartridge main body 20 and the bottom plate 24, and is configured to store the recording paper K inside thereof.

Then, the stored recording paper is fed out through a supply port 50 as shown in FIG. It is designed to be conveyed to a predetermined position within.

Further, a separation claw 51 is arranged at the front of the recording paper storage section 23, and the separation claw 51 functions to separate the recording paper one sheet at a time and send it out.

Here, the separating claw 51 is fixed within the recording paper storage section 23, and the height dimension is set such that the tip thereof does not protrude from the bottom plate 24 but is retracted inside. There is.

In this way, this transfer paper cartridge is free from unnecessary protrusions, so that the transfer paper cartridge can be smoothly installed in a thermal printer.

Further, within the recording paper storage section 23, a tray 52 on which the recording paper K is placed, and a spring 53 that biases the tray 52 toward the supply port 50 are arranged.

In this embodiment, the surface of the tray 52 (the surface on which the recording paper is placed) is textured, and the frictional force between the tray 52 and the recording paper is greater than the frictional force between the recording papers. Since it is set to be large and smaller than the vibration force between the recording paper and the thermal printer's supply roller, it is possible to reliably feed the recording paper to the last sheet.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom plate 24 is formed with a plurality of detection holes 24a corresponding to the types of recording paper.

The number and length of these detection holes 24a are varied depending on the type of recording paper and the type of transfer paper T in this transfer paper cartridge. At the same time, it is detected by a detection device inside the printer, which will be described later, so that the printer can be set to an optimal operating mode.

Here, since these detection holes 24a in this embodiment are formed in the bottom plate 24 which is separate from the cartridge main body 20, the number of detection holes 24a is set according to the type of recording paper, etc. By selectively using the bottom plate 24, the cartridge body 20 can be used for all types of recording paper and transfer paper.

Therefore, one type of mold is sufficient for injection molding the cartridge main body 20 of this type of transfer paper cartridge using a plastic material, so that it is possible to reduce the cost of this scale transfer paper cartridge.

Further, since these detection holes 24a in this embodiment are transparent holes, the recording paper storage section 23 is
It is also possible to visually check whether there is any recording paper K remaining.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. A continuous guide groove 208 is formed across the lid portion 22 of the portion 21 .

These guide grooves 20a engage with guide ribs inside a thermal printer, which will be described later, to facilitate insertion of the transfer paper cartridge and to position the transfer paper cartridge within the printer. .

Further, the front side of the guide groove 20a is widened as shown in FIG. 1, so that the guide rear can be easily aligned with the guide groove 20a.

Furthermore, the front end of this guide groove 20a is formed into an edge shape by expanding the guide groove 20a as described above, and when it is inserted into the thermal printer (later), it comes into contact with the surrounding cam of this thermal printer at a shallow angle. It is designed to be in contact with each other.

Thereby, the lid portion 22 can be opened smoothly.

Further, a recessed portion serving as a gripping portion 20c is formed on the upper surface of the cartridge main body 20 in FIG.
By placing your finger on c, you can easily pull out the transfer paper cartridge installed in the thermal printer to make it wider.

By the way, in the above transfer paper cartridge, the fifth
As shown in the figure, the supply port 51 for sending out the recording paper K remains open, but as shown in FIG. The cover 24b may be connected to the bottom plate 24, and a slit 24C may be provided between the cover 24b and the bottom plate 24 so that it can be broken off.

Further, this cover 24b is provided with a gripping portion 24d, so that the cover 24b can be easily broken off by hooking a finger onto this gripping portion 24d.

In this manner, by providing the cover 24b that closes the supply port 50, it is possible to protect the recording paper K stored in the recording paper storage section 23, and to prevent dust from entering into the recording paper storage section 23. It can be prevented.

Further, the detection hole 24a in the above-described embodiment may be inserted into the cartridge main body 201Cl as shown in FIG.

Next, an embodiment of a thermal printer according to the present invention in which a transfer paper cartridge as described above is installed will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, this thermal printer includes a general platen roller 60 and a thermal head 61 inside the device.
The platen roller 60 is driven to rotate around a platen shaft 62 by a motor (not shown), and also includes a clamper 63 that holds the front end of the recording paper on the surface of the platen roller 60. .

The thermal head 61 is pivotally supported at @61a, and after the recording paper K is held by the platen roller 60, it is rotated counterclockwise by a drive motor (not shown) to print the transfer paper T and the recording paper K. The platen roller 60 is pressed into contact with the platen roller 60 via the platen roller 60.

Further, in this thermal printer, a loading arm 64 is arranged coaxially with the platen shaft 62.

As shown in the figure, a hook 65 is formed at the tip of the loading arm 64, and with both ends of the winding roll 32 supported by the hook 65, the loading arm 64 is rotated clockwise to perform transfer. The paper T is loaded into a predetermined position.

Also, this thermal printer has a loading arm 64.
A locking member 66 is provided in conjunction with the locking member 66 to lock the inserted transfer paper cartridge.

The locking member 66 is pivotally supported at its proximal end by a shaft 66b, and is provided with a locking protrusion 66a on its distal end that engages with the locking step 48 of the transfer paper cartridge.

The locking member 66 is biased clockwise by a torsion spring 67 fitted to the shaft 6f3b, so that the proximal end of the locking member 66 is biased toward the loading arm 64. It is pressed against the side edge.

Therefore, when the O-ding arm roller 4 rotates clockwise, the locking member 66 also rotates clockwise in conjunction with the rotation of the loading arm 64, so that the locking protrusion 66a moves upward in the figure. As a result, the locking protrusion 66a engages with the locking step 48 of the transfer paper cartridge to fix the transfer paper cartridge.

Further, in this thermal printer, a guide rib 68 that relatively engages with the guide groove 20a of the transfer paper cartridge is provided.
Further, an opening/closing cam 69 for opening and closing the lid portion 22 is provided near the guide rib 68.

This opening/closing cam 69 is formed to be oblique to the guide rear 68, and engages with the tip of the guide groove 20a of the transfer paper cartridge, that is, the front side of the lid portion 22 when the transfer paper cartridge is inserted. The lid portion 22 is opened as the transfer paper cartridge moves.

Further, a rotating shaft 70 supporting the supply roll 33 is disposed at a predetermined position of the device corresponding to the supply roll 33 housed in the attached transfer paper cartridge, and similarly, the winding roll 32 that has been loaded is A drive shaft 71 rotates this winding roll 32 to a position corresponding to
is located.

This drive shaft 71 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), and each of the rolls 32.
Convex portions 70a and 71a are formed to engage with concave portions 34a and 35a of cores 34 and 35 of No. 33, respectively.

Note that the rotating shaft 70 and the driving shaft 71 come to protrude from the lateral direction (direction perpendicular to the paper) and engage with each roll 32.33 when each roll 32.33 is in a predetermined position. ing.

In addition, 72 is a supply roller, and this supply roller 72 is rotated appropriately by connecting a pulley 73 attached coaxially with this supply roller 72 and a pulley 75 attached to a drive@74 with a timing belt 76. It looks like this.

The supply roller 12 is attached to a bracket 77, and when printing, the bracket 77 is rotated counterclockwise around the drive shaft 74 by the rotational force of the drive shaft 74, thereby causing the above-mentioned The supply roller 72 is brought into pressure contact with the recording paper K.

Furthermore, a rotary roller 79 for forming a loading path for the transfer paper T and a row 580 for pressing the recording paper K against the platen roller 60 are attached to the bracket 78, respectively.

Further, in this thermal printer, a detection device 81 for detecting the detection hole 24a of the attached transfer paper cartridge is arranged at a position facing the detection hole 24a.

As shown in FIG. 8, this detection device 81 includes a pair of photocouplers on a substrate 82 consisting of a surface-emitting light emitting element 82 and a four-part light receiving element 83, and converts the detection outputs of these photocouplers into TTL signals. It is composed of a transistor array 84, etc., and the light receiving element 8 of each photocoupler described above.
3 is emitted from the light emitting element 82 and passes through the detection hole 24.
The number and shape of the detection holes 24a are detected by detecting the light reflected from the recording paper K through the holes 24a.

Here, since the detection device in this embodiment detects the number of detection holes 24a, etc. by using the reflected light from the recording paper K, which has a high reflection efficiency, the reliability of the detection output of the photocoupler is improved. can be achieved.

Further, 85 and 86 are metal plates that form a paper discharge path for the recording paper to be discharged, and 81 is a metal plate that moves in conjunction with the thermal head 61 and comes into contact with the transfer paper T, thereby forming a path for the transfer paper T during printing. It is a roller that forms a

When a transfer paper cartridge is installed in the thermal printer configured as described above, first, as shown in FIG. Hooks 65 of a loading arm 64 inserted into slits 38 and 39 formed on the front surface of the paper cartridge support both ends of the core 34 of the take-up roll 32.

Furthermore, when the transfer paper cartridge reaches a predetermined position, the rotary shaft 70 engages with the supply roll 33 in the same position without pulling out the stored supply roll 33 from the transfer paper storage section 21, ensuring that the transfer paper cartridge reaches a predetermined position. In order to hold the supply roll 33, a structure and space for pulling the supply roll 33 out to the outside are unnecessary.

Therefore, the configuration of this type of thermal printer can be simplified, and the device can be made smaller.

In addition, in this transfer paper cartridge, the winding roll is pulled out from the front side of the transfer paper cartridge by opening the cover part 22, which is formed to have a height approximately half of the height of the transfer paper cartridge, by rotating the cover part 22. Since the opening 37 is formed for the purpose of forming the opening 37, compared to a case where the opening 37 is formed by opening the lid that covers the entire front surface of the transfer paper cartridge, it is easier to form the opening 37. The required amount of displacement of the lid portion 22 can be reduced.

Therefore, in the transfer paper cartridge having such a configuration, the amount of displacement of the lid portion 22 can be minimized;
The transfer paper cartridge accommodating section inside the printer can be made narrower, and this type of thermal printer can be made smaller.

Furthermore, the front end of the guide groove 20a of this transfer paper cartridge is formed into an edge shape as described above, and comes into contact with the opening/closing cam 69 of this thermal printer at a shallow angle when it is inserted into the thermal printer. ing.

Thereby, the lid portion 22 can be opened smoothly.

Further, according to such a transfer paper cartridge, the amount of displacement of the lid portion can be reduced compared to, for example, a case where the lid portion 22 is slid to close the rM lid.

In addition, according to this transfer paper cartridge, the lid portion 22
Since the front corner of the printer is chamfered, the height of the highest part of the lid 22 when the lid is opened can be kept low as shown in FIG. Can be done.

Next, when the transfer paper cartridge reaches the predetermined position, the first
As shown in FIG. 0, the loading arm 64 starts rotating clockwise with its hook 65 supporting the winding roll 32.

Here, in the transfer paper cartridge in this embodiment, since the transfer paper is slackened by the tongue piece 36 provided on the lid 22, the winding roll 32 supported by the hook 65 is attached to the transfer paper T. This hook is being pulled 65
Karanuki never falls off.

Further, as the loading arm 640 rotates, the locking protrusion 136a of the locking member 6G that is 11 vJ with the loading arm 64 engages with the lock step 48 of the transfer paper cartridge, thereby fixing the transfer paper cartridge.

In this way, according to this transfer paper cartridge, the position r11 is fixed in the state where the winding roll 32 is pulled out, so there is no possibility of an accident in which the transfer paper cartridge is pulled out from the thermal printer while the winding roll 32 is pulled out. This can be prevented from occurring.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the loading by the loading arm 64 is completed, the drive shaft 71
engages both ends of the core 34 of the take-up roll 32.

At the same time, the thermal head 61 rotates counterclockwise, and the supply roller 72 is brought into pressure contact with the recording paper K in the transfer paper cartridge to feed out the recording paper K one by one.

Here, since the recording paper being sent out does not come into direct contact with the bottom surface of the transfer paper storage section 21 due to the bottom surface of the groove 40, damage to the recording paper can be prevented.

When the platen row 560 holding the recording paper K is rotated by the clamper 63 of the platen roller 60 and reaches the printing position, the thermal head 61 moves through the transfer paper T and the recording paper K as shown in FIG. platen row 56
Pressed to 0.

In this state, the platen roller 60 is rotated clockwise and the transfer paper T is wound up by the drive shaft 71.

When the printing of each color is completed, the platen roller 6
0 is rotated counterclockwise, and the recording paper is ejected from the rear side through a paper ejection path formed by the metal plates 85 and 86.

When taking out the transfer paper cartridge from the thermal printer, the O-ding arm roller 4 rotates counterclockwise while winding up the transfer paper T using the drive shaft 71 to move the take-up roll 32 into the transfer paper cartridge. Return it to the transfer paper storage section 21.

Then, the winding roll 32 is returned to the transfer paper storage portion 21 of the transfer paper cartridge, that is, the loading arm 64 returns to the position shown in FIG. 66a is detached from the locking stepped portion 48 of the transfer paper cartridge, the gripping portion 20
You can pull out this transfer paper cartridge from the thermal printer by hooking your finger on c.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the transfer paper cartridge of the present invention, as long as the locking protrusion of the thermal printer is engaged with the lock step of the transfer paper cartridge, the thermal It cannot be removed from the printer.

Further, the locking protrusion is engaged with the lock step as long as the roll on which the transfer paper is wound is pulled out from the transfer paper cartridge.

Therefore, according to the transfer paper cartridge according to the present invention, when the roll on which the transfer paper is wound is being drawn out into the thermal printer, it cannot be pulled out from the thermal printer at all, which prevents the occurrence of accidents as in the conventional case. can be prevented.

Further, according to the thermal printer according to the present invention, the locking protrusion engages with the locking stepped portion of the transfer paper cartridge in conjunction with the loading arm, or Ii! In order to remove the roll, the locking protrusion is always engaged with the locking step of the transfer paper cartridge while the loading arm is pulling out the roll. It can definitely be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the transfer paper cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same main part, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lid in an open state, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view similarly seen from the bottom; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the transfer cartridge according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a thermal printer according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a detection device according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. Configuration diagrams showing the operating states of the thermal printer when the transfer paper cartridge according to the present invention is installed in the printer,
FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a conventional transfer paper cartridge. 20... Cartridge body, 21... Transfer paper storage section, 23... Recording paper storage section, 32... Winding roll,
33... Supply roll, 64... Loading arm, 66... Locking member, 66a... Locking protrusion. Patent applicant: Japan Victor Co., Ltd. Representative: Japanese Umiki Figure 4

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A transfer paper cartridge comprising a transfer paper storage section for storing a pair of rolls of transfer paper wrapped around each other, and a recording paper storage section for storing the recording paper inside the cartridge main body, wherein , when this transfer paper cartridge is installed in a thermal printer, a locking step is provided that engages with the locking protrusion of the thermal printer that protrudes as long as the roll is pulled out; A transfer paper cartridge characterized in that the transfer paper cartridge is fixed in a thermal printer by engaging a stop projection. (2) A thermal printer that is capable of inserting and removing a transfer paper cartridge in which a transfer paper storage section and a recording paper storage section that house a pair of supply rolls and a take-up roll on which transfer paper is wound are integrally formed; A thermal printer comprising: a loading arm that pulls out a take-up roll from the transfer paper storage section; and a locking member that allows the transfer paper cartridge to be fixed in conjunction with the operation of the loading arm.