JPH0319071B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ink ribbon tension applying device that can reliably apply tension to an endless ink ribbon (hereinafter referred to as an ink ribbon) used in an impact line printer.

Conventionally, tension was generally applied to the ink ribbon by sandwiching it between a pair of brake parts. Therefore, since the ink ribbon is pinched with a large force, the ink ribbon may easily come off from the brake part depending on the location where the force is applied. Furthermore, since tension is applied only at one location, if the tape comes off the brake part, proper tension cannot be obtained, resulting in poor printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, to make it difficult for an ink ribbon to come off from a brake part, and to be able to apply tension to an ink ribbon even when it comes off from a brake part.

The present invention focuses on the fact that when an object is sandwiched and slid, it slides stably when it is pinched with a small force, and that frictional force increases by increasing the contact surface, and the running path of the ink ribbon is complicated. By increasing the contact surface and increasing the frictional force,
It was devised to reduce the force that pinches the ink ribbon so that it slides stably, and to be able to apply tension to the ink ribbon from other contact surfaces even if it comes off the brake part. The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink ribbon 1 folded and stored in the tray 2 is driven by a drive roller 3 installed at the entrance end of the tray 2, pulled out from the exit end of the tray 2, and passed through four guide rollers. 41 to 44. Further, the ink ribbon 1 runs in a substantially horizontal direction along a printing position which is composed of a type band 6, a platen 7, etc., which face a printing hammer 5. The tray 2 is installed behind the printing position (in front in the figure).

FIG. 1 shows the tension applying device of the present invention, which includes a brake holder 10 provided at the outlet end of the tray 2, and two guides 1 attached to the holder 10.
1, 12, a brake piece 13, a spring 14, a stand 15, etc. The stand 15, which is made of a flexible member such as a leaf spring or thin plastic, is attached to the holder 10 at one end and extends rearward into the tray 2 at the other end. The first and second guides 11 and 12, which are prismatic and cylindrical, are attached to the holder 10 so as to be located rearward and forward of the other end of the stand 15, respectively. Further, the second guide 12 is located in front of the guide roller 41, as shown in FIG. The brake piece 13, whose one end is rotatably attached to the holder 10 via the collar of the second guide 12, has a spring 14.
is pressed against the first guide 11 by.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ink ribbon 1 is pulled out from the tray 2 via the other end of the stand 15, between the first guide 11 and the brake piece 13, and through the second guide 12. Therefore, tension is applied due to friction caused by contact between the stand 15, the edge of the first guide 11, and the second guide 12, so that the brake piece 1
The pressing force in step 3 can be reduced. As a result, the ink ribbon 1 can run stably and is difficult to come off from the first guide 11 and the brake piece 13.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink ribbon 1 is
Even if it comes off the guide 11 and the brake piece 13, the ink ribbon 1 continues to run through the stand 15, the second guide 12, and the guide roller 41 as shown in the figure, and is applied with tension by the stand 15 and the second guide 12. , the risk of printing defects is reduced.

In the above embodiment, the brake holder 10 is provided, but the upper surface of the yoke (not shown) on which the guide rollers 41 to 44 and the like are mounted may be used, and this upper surface may be used as the brake holder. Also the first
Although the second guides 11 and 12 are respectively a prismatic guide and a cylindrical guide, their shapes may be arbitrary.

As described above, according to the present invention, tension is applied to the ink ribbon at multiple points, and the pressing force of the brake piece can be reduced, so the ink ribbon can run stably, and the ink ribbon is less likely to come off the brake piece, so that it can be prevented from coming off. It can give a lot of tension even in the case.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the tension applying device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a line printer employing the device of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show the operation of the device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a normal state and an abnormal state, respectively. In the figure, 1 is an ink ribbon, 2 is a tray, 10 is a brake holder, 11 is a first guide, 12 is a second guide, 13 is a brake piece, 14 is a spring, and 15 is a stand.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A printing device that folds and stores an endless ink ribbon running substantially horizontally along a printing position in a tray provided at the rear of the printing position, comprising: a brake holder; a stand made of a flexible member having one end attached to the holder and the other end extending rearward within the tray; and a first guide attached to the holder so as to be located rearward from the other end of the stand. , a brake piece that is slidably attached to the holder and pressed against the first guide by a spring, and a second guide that is attached to the holder so as to be located forward of the other end of the stand, and the ink ribbon is attached to the ink ribbon. An ink ribbon tension applying device, characterized in that the ink ribbon is pulled out from the tray via the other end of the stand, between the first guide and the brake piece, and through the second guide.