JPH0310881A - Ink ribbon cartridge of thermal transfer serial printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the optimum ink ribbon tension by applying pressure to the outer periphery of an ink ribbon roll by a leaf spring fixed at one end thereof to control friction force to a proper value corresponding to the diameter of the ink ribbon roll. CONSTITUTION:The ink ribbon 1 led out of an ink ribbon roll 1-a is guided by a guide roller 3 to be taken up by a taking-up core 2-b. At this time, the leaf spring 5 fixed to the part 4-a of a cartridge 4 imparts pressure P to the ink ribbon roll 1-a. Herein, the brake force R to the feed force F of the ribbon 1 consists of the friction force muP on the outer periphery of the ink ribbon generated by the pressure P and the friction force of the core 2-c of the ink ribbon roll and the cartridge 4 but, since the pressure P changes corresponding to the change of the deflection of the leaf spring 5 due to the diameter of the ink ribbon roll 1-a, by properly selecting the load and spring constant of the leaf spring 5, the brake force R can be controlled as a result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to the structure of an ink ribbon cartridge for a thermal transfer serial printer.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of thermal transfer serial printer has been designed to print on an ink ribbon (polyester film, etc. coated with heat-melting ink on one side), which runs while being pressed into close contact with the recording paper by a thermal head and platen during printing. In order to generate a braking force against the ribbon conveyance force to provide an appropriate tension, a mechanism was provided to apply a frictional force of partial torque to the core of the ink ribbon roll.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The braking mechanism for the ink ribbon of the conventional thermal transfer serial printer described above applies a part of the friction force of torque to the core of the ink ribbon roll, so that the ink ribbon running on the thermal head section is affected in accordance with the diameter of the ink ribbon roll. The tension fluctuates greatly, and when the diameter of the ink ribbon roll is large, the ink ribbon tension is insufficient and the ink ribbon is likely to run skewed or wrinkled.On the other hand, as the diameter of the ink ribbon roll becomes small, the ink ribbon tension increases. However, there is a drawback that slippage and rubbing stains between the ink ribbon and the recording paper are likely to occur.

[Means to solve the problem]

The ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention has a leaf spring that is fixed at one end to the case and applies pressure toward the center of the outer periphery of the ink ribbon roll.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. The ink ribbon 1 drawn out from the ribbon roll 1-a is guided by a guide roller 3 and wound around a winding core 2-b. At this time, the plate spring 5 fixed to the portion 4-a of the cartridge case 4 applies pressure P in the direction of the arrow 10 to the ink ribbon roll 1-a. Here, the braking force R against the conveying force F of the ribbon 1 is composed of the frictional force μP on the outer periphery of the ink ribbon caused by the pressure P and the frictional force between the core 2-a of the ink ribbon roll and the case 4.
The pressure P is determined by the plate spring 5 depending on the diameter of the ink ribbon roll 1-a.
The braking force R can be controlled as a result by appropriately selecting the load and spring constant of the plate spring 5, since it changes in response to changes in the amount of deflection of the plate spring 5.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention applies pressure to the outer periphery of the ink ribbon roll using a plate spring fixed at one end, thereby controlling the frictional force to an appropriate value in accordance with the diameter of the ink ribbon roll. It is possible to achieve the optimal ink ribbon tension for the diameter of the roll, and has the effect of realizing high-quality printing without wrinkles or stains.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention. 1-a... Ink ribbon roll, 1...
- Ink ribbon, 2 a, 2-b... Core, 3... Guide roll, 4... Cartridge case, 5... Plate blade.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ink ribbon roll that winds up an ink ribbon into a pancake shape, a core that winds the ink ribbon, a guide roller that determines the ribbon path from the ink ribbon roll to the core and guides the ink ribbon, and the ink ribbon roll. , an ink ribbon cartridge for a thermal transfer serial printer including a core and a case for storing a guide roller, one end of which is fixed to a part of the case, and the diameter of the ink ribbon roll is oriented toward the center of the ink ribbon roll with respect to the outer periphery of the ink ribbon roll. An ink ribbon cartridge for a thermal transfer serial printer, characterized in that it is equipped with a leaf spring that applies pressure corresponding to the ink ribbon cartridge.