JPH03281370A - Transfer type printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily mount and detach a ribbon setting shaft by opposing both end parts of the ribbon setting shaft to receiving grooves to push the whole of the ribbon setting shaft in ribbon support frames from above to below. CONSTITUTION:A pair of the projections 65 provided to the upper parts of the first and second bearings 53, 54 are inserted in the through-holes provided to frame side plates 50 to be positioned. When a ribbon setting shaft (RSA) 47 is mounted, both shaft end parts 47a thereof are opposed to receiving grooves 59 and the whole of the RSA 47 is pushed in ribbon support frames 46 from above to below. Whereupon, both shaft end parts 47a of the RSA 47 come into contact with the guide surfaces 64 of pawl parts 61. Since the guide surface 64 are oblique, the pawl parts 61 are pushed toward the outside in the diameter direction of both shaft end parts 47a by pushing in the RSA 47. Therefore, arm parts 60 are bent in the direction separating from the receiving grooves 59 as shown by a two-dot broken line and both shaft end parts 47a are fitted in the receiving grooves 59. The pressure contact parts 62a of the shaft end parts come into contact with both shaft end parts 47a under pressure by the elastic forces of the arm parts 60.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a transfer printer such as a label printer that prints a product name or a barcode on a label using a transfer ribbon.

[Prior Art] For example, a ribbon device used in a label printer that prints barcodes is equipped with a pair of ribbon set shafts, and the transfer ribbon fed out from one of the set shafts passes through the printing section. Then, it is wound around the other ribbon set shaft.

The pair of ribbon set shafts are attached across the pair of left and right frame side plates of the ribbon support frame. Since the transfer ribbon, which is a consumable item, is attached to and detached from these ribbon set shafts, in order to make this possible, the pair of ribbon set shafts are also supported on the frame side plates in a detachable manner.

Therefore, in the past, one side plate of the frame was
A connector protrusion is provided to be movable in the axial direction, and the protrusion is biased in the axial direction by a compression coil spring,
A second connector protrusion facing the first connector protrusion is provided on the other frame side plate, and recesses are provided at both ends of the ribbon set shaft to be removably fitted and connected to the respective protrusions. has been established.

Then, the ribbon set shaft is attached to the ribbon support frame in the following procedure. First, the recess at one end of the ribbon set shaft is fitted into the first connector protrusion, and then the set shaft is moved in the axial direction so as to compress the spring,
A concave portion at the other end of the ribbon set shaft is opposed to the second connector protrusion.

Finally, the ribbon set shaft is moved toward the second connector protrusion by the elastic force of the spring, and the four other end portions of the set shaft are fitted into the second connector protrusion. That is, as described above, the ribbon set shaft can be attached across the left and right frame side plates. Furthermore, the ribbon set shaft can be removed from the ribbon support frame by reversing this mounting procedure.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, conventionally, when attaching and detaching the ribbon set shaft, it is necessary to move the ribbon set shaft in the axial direction between the opposing frame side plates, so it is difficult to attach and detach the ribbon set shaft. There was a problem that it was troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer printer in which a ribbon set shaft can be easily attached to and detached from a ribbon support frame.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the transfer printer of the present invention has an open upper side, through which the shaft end of the ribbon set shaft is inserted and removed from above, and
A shaft support made of synthetic resin having a receiving groove that fits into the lower part of the shaft end is attached to the opposing frame side plates of the ribbon support frame, and a shaft presser made of synthetic resin is placed near the shaft support. These shaft holders are provided integrally with an elastically deformable arm part and the tip of this arm part, and are installed in the receiving groove at the shaft end of the ribbon set shaft. The upper part of the ribbon set shaft is formed with a claw part that is pressed into contact with the shaft end part by the bending of the arm part, and the shaft end part of the ribbon set shaft is formed above the part of the claw part that comes into pressure contact with the shaft end part. A diagonal guide surface is provided that deflects the arm part in a direction away from the receiving groove when the arm part is fitted into the receiving groove.

Furthermore, in order to prevent damage to the shaft end due to attachment and detachment of the ribbon set shaft, it is preferable to provide an operating section on the opposite side of the press-contacting portion of the claw section with respect to the arm section.

Further, in order to simplify the structure of attaching the ribbon set shaft, it is preferable that the shaft support and the shaft presser are integrally molded.

[Function] In the transfer type printer according to claim 1, in order to attach the ribbon set shaft across the opposing frame side plates of the ribbon support frame, both ends of the ribbon set shaft are opposed to the receiving grooves, and the entire ribbon set shaft is mounted on the ribbon support frame. Just push it downward from the top of the support frame.

Then, first, the shaft end portion of the set shaft comes into contact with the guide surface provided on the claw portion. Since this guiding surface is oblique, the claw portion is pushed toward the outside in the radial direction of the shaft end portion by the pushing. Therefore, the arm part is elastically deformed, the claw part is moved to escape from the upper open part of the receiving groove, and the shaft end is moved into the receiving groove of the shaft support located below the claw part. mated. At the same time as this mating,
The claw portion is displaced toward the shaft end by the elastic force of the arm portion, and is pressed into contact with the upper circumferential surface of the shaft end that projects above the receiving groove. Therefore, the claw portion prevents the shaft end from moving upward from the receiving groove, and the shaft end is rotatably supported in the receiving groove.

Also, when you hold the ribbon set shaft attached to the ribbon support frame and pull it upward, the shaft end of the set shaft pushes up the claw, so this shaft end causes the claw to move upward. Pushed radially outward. Therefore, the arm part is elastically deformed, the claw part is moved to escape from above the upper open part of the receiving groove, and the ribbon setting shaft is removed above the receiving groove.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is no need to move the ribbon set shaft in its axial direction, and the ribbon set shaft can be pushed into the ribbon support frame from above or pulled up above the ribbon support frame. It can be attached and detached.

According to the structure of claim 2, the arm part is bent by pressing the operating part, and the claw part can be moved so as to escape from above the upper open part of the receiving groove. Since the shaft end portion is no longer in strong contact with the shaft end portion, damage to the shaft end portion can be prevented.

According to the structure of claim 3, since the shaft support and the shaft presser are integrally molded, the number of parts required for attaching the ribbon set shaft is extremely small, and the structure is simple.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to M7.

A mechanism section 2 for printing is provided inside the main body case indicated by 1 in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The mechanism section 2 includes a main body frame 6 formed by connecting vertical side plates 4 and 5 facing each other to both left and right ends of a horizontally arranged bottom plate 3, respectively.

The mechanism H2 includes a platen unit 1 arranged between the side plates 4 and 5 and rotatably supported by the side plates 4.5.
1. As shown in FIG. 6, this unit 11 includes a fulcrum shaft 12, a pair of left and right end plates 13, a platen roller 14, an intermediate shaft 15, a peeling plate 16, and a torsion spring (not shown). It is formed.

Both ends of the fulcrum shaft 12 are unrotatably fixed to the side plates 4.5, respectively. A pair of end plates 13 as roller support plates are
It is fitted to both ends of the fulcrum shaft 12 so as to be rotatable along the periaxial direction of the shaft 12 . The platen roller 14 is rotatably suspended between the front ends of the pair of end plates 13 via a bearing (not shown). This platen roller 1
One end of 4 is connected to a paper feeding mechanism (not shown) included in the mechanism section 2, and is rotated as appropriate by this feeding mechanism.

The intermediate shaft 15 is located between the fulcrum shaft 12 and the platen roller 14, and is suspended horizontally between the pair of end plates 13. A peeling plate 16 serving as a peeling member is located near the front side of the platen roller 14 and is horizontally suspended across the front ends of the pair of end plates 13 .

The torsion spring wound around the fulcrum shaft 12 is attached by hooking one end thereof to a spring receiver (not shown) fixed to the fulcrum shaft 12 and hooking the other end to the intermediate shaft 15 from below. Due to the elastic force of this torsion spring, the portion of the platen unit 11 other than the fulcrum shaft 12 is urged upward. Thereby, the platen roller 14 is pressed from below against a line thermal head 29, which will be described later. Further, the portions of the platen unit 11 other than the fulcrum shaft 12 are appropriately rotated downward about the fulcrum shaft 12 by manual or automatic control against the elastic force of the torsion spring.

A head frame 21 is disposed above the platen unit 11. The mounting structure of the frame 21 is as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. That is, the rear end portion of the head frame 21 is fitted into a support shaft 22 that protrudes from the side plate 4 toward the side plate 5 . A support pin 23 is protruded from the front end surface of the side plate 4 of the head frame 21, and is fitted into a through hole (not shown) provided in the side plate 4. Moreover, the tip of the support shaft 22 protrudes from the end surface of the head frame 21 on the side plate 5 side, and a support pin 24 is protruded from the front end of the end surface of the head frame 21 on the side plate 5 side. There is. The tips of the support shafts 22 and the support pins 24 are fitted into holes (not shown) in a clamp plate 25 pivotally attached to the side plate 5.

In this way, the head frame 21 is supported at its lower end by the side plate 4 via the support shaft 22 and the support bin 23, and by the other end via the tip of the support shaft 22 and the support bin 24. Both ends are supported by being supported by the clamp plates 25 of the side plates 5. In addition, 2 in Figure 5
6 is a pivot of the clamp plate 25, and 27 is a latching hole. A latching plate 28 made of a leaf spring attached to the upper surface of the head frame 21 is removably hooked to the latching hole 27, and the supported state of the head frame 21 is adjusted by hooking the latching plate 28 to the clamp plate 25. is now maintained. Therefore, the tip end 28 of the retaining plate 28 moves in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
After pressing down a, move the clamp plate 25 in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
By rotating in the direction, the support of the side plate 5 of the head frame 21 can be released.

A line thermal head 29 is attached to the head frame 21. The platen roller 14 is pressed against the head 29 from below. As shown in FIG. 6, a guide roller 30 for the transfer ribbon is rotatably attached to the support shaft 22 that supports the head frame 21. As shown in FIG.

A ribbon drive device 31 is attached to the upper end of the side plate 4, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

This drive device 31 is operated by receiving power from the paper feed mechanism (not shown), and 32 in FIGS. The vertical axis of rotation shown in 37.3
8 is rotated. A pair of rotating shafts 37 and 38 are provided.

A ribbon device attachment part 41 located above the head frame 21 is attached to the side plate 4. As shown in FIG. 7, this attachment part 41 includes a guide 42 fixed to the side plate 4 and a slider 43 that moves along this guide 42.

A pair of engaging protrusions 44 are provided on the upper surface of the slider 43 in a protruding manner.

A ribbon device 145 is removably attached to this ribbon device attachment portion 41 so as to straddle this. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ribbon wrapping W145 is
It includes a ribbon support frame 46, a pair of ribbon setting shafts 47, a tension shaft 48, and a ribbon drive shaft 49.

The ribbon support frame 46 is formed by connecting a pair of left and right frame side plates 50 arranged in the vertical direction with an upper horizontal frame shaft 51 and a lower horizontal frame plate 52.

A first bearing 53 located at the front of the ribbon support frame 46 and facing each other is attached to the upper outer surface of each frame side plate 50, and a first bearing 53 located at the rear of the frame 46 and facing each other is respectively attached. Two bearings 54 are installed respectively. Further, each side plate 50 is provided with a third bearing 55 located at the lower front side and facing each other, and a fourth bearing 56 located at the lower rear side and facing each other is installed respectively. .

1st. The second bearings 53 and 54 are integrally molded products made of a synthetic material such as polyacetal mixed with an oil-impregnated material.
As shown in the figure and FIG. 2, it is formed from a shaft support 57 and a shaft presser 58.

The shaft support 57 has a substantially U-shaped receiving groove 59 that is open at the top.
have. The cylindrical shaft end 47a of the ribbon set shaft 47 is inserted into and taken out from above through the opening of the receiving groove 59. The shaft presser 58 includes an elastically deformable arm portion 60 disposed near the front side or rear side of the shaft support 57, and a claw portion 6 integrally provided at the upper end of the arm portion 60.
1, and the lower end of the arm portion 60 is integrally connected to the shaft support 57.

The claw portion 61 is formed from a holding portion 62 on the shaft support 57 side with the arm portion 61 as a boundary, and an operating portion 63 on the opposite shaft support 57 side. The holding portion 62 is provided above and facing the receiving groove 59, and its tip portion, that is, the shaft end portion 4
The pressure contact portion 62a to 7a is rounded. A guide surface 64 is formed above the pressure contact portion 62a, and this guide surface 64 is connected to the pressure contact portion 62a. The guiding surface 64 is inclined so as to gradually approach the operating section 63 as it goes from the lower side of the claw section 61 to the upper side. The operating section 63 projects obliquely upward and can be pressed down from above with a finger.

The first of such structures. The second bearings 53 and 54 integrally have a pair of projections 65 on their upper portions. These bearings 53, 54 are positioned on the frame side plate 50 by inserting their protrusions 65 into through holes (not shown) provided in the frame side plate 50, and then the bearings 53, 54 are positioned on the frame side plate 50.
It is attached to the outer surface of the frame side plate 50 by inserting a screw 66 into the lower part of the frame side plate 4 and screwing this screw 66 into the frame side plate 50.

The pair of ribbon set shafts 47 have the same structure, and are removably suspended from above across the opposing first bearings 53 or across the opposing second bearings 54. In order to attach these ribbon set shafts 47, both shaft ends 47a are inserted into receiving grooves as shown in FIG.
9 and push the entire ribbon set shaft 47 downward from above the ribbon support frame 46.

Then, first, the shaft end portion 47a of the set shaft 47 comes into contact with the guide surface 64 of the claw portion 61. Since this guiding surface 64 is oblique, the claw portion 61 is pushed toward the outside in the radial direction of the shaft end portion 47g due to the pushing. Therefore, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
Since the claw portion 61 escapes from above the upper open portion of the receiving groove 59, the shaft end portion 47a is bent in the direction away from the receiving groove 59 of the shaft support 57 located below the claw portion 61. mated. At the same time as this fitting, the elastic force of the arm part 60 causes the shaft end 4 of the ribbon setting shaft 47 of the claw part 61 to
7a side, and the shaft end pressure contact portion 62a comes into pressure contact with the upper circumferential surface of the shaft end portion 47 that projects above the receiving groove 59. This installation is shown in FIG.

Therefore, the claw portion 61 prevents the shaft end portion 47a from coming off above the receiving pad 59, and the shaft end portion 47a
a is rotatably supported in the receiving groove 59.

That is, the ribbon set shaft 47 can be attached to the ribbon support frame 46 by the one-touch pushing operation as described above.

Alternatively, without following the above procedure, first, by pressing down the operating part 63 with a finger, the arm part 60 is bent in the direction away from the receiving groove 59 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. After letting it escape from above the upper open part of the receiving groove 59,
The shaft end 47a of the ribbon set shaft 47 is fitted into the receiving groove 59, and finally, the pressure on the operating section 63 is slowly released, and the pressure contact portion 62a of the claw portion 61 is fitted into the receiving groove 59 of the shaft end 47. The ribbon set shaft 47 may be attached to the ribbon support frame 46 by pressing against the upper circumferential surface that projects upward.

Then, the press-contact portion 6 of the claw portion 61 that prevents the ribbon set shaft 47 attached by any of the above procedures from coming off.
Since the shaft 2g is rounded, a part of the arc is in pressure contact with the upper circumferential surface of the shaft end 47a. Therefore, the resistance during rotation of the ribbon set shaft 47 can be reduced.

Further, in order to remove the ribbon set shaft 47 attached to the ribbon support frame 46, it is sufficient to hold the set shaft 47 and pull it upward. Then, the rounded pressure contact portion 62a of the claw portion 61 and the shaft end portion 4 of the set shaft 47
7a, the arm portion 60 is elastically deformed as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, by one-touch pulling up operation of the ribbon setting shaft 47 as described above, the shaft 47 can be disengaged above the receiving groove 59 and removed.

Note that instead of this procedure, first, by pressing down the operating part 63 with a finger, the arm part 60 is bent in the direction away from the receiving groove 59 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
By letting the claw part 61 escape from above the upper open part of the receiving groove 59 and separating it from the shaft end 47a of the ribbon setting shaft 47, the shaft end 47a of the ribbon setting shaft 47 is pulled up above the receiving groove 59. It may be removed.

The ribbon set shaft 47 that is attached and detached as described above has
A winding core (not shown) made of a cylindrical body around which the transfer ribbon 67 (see FIG. 6) is wound is detachably attached.

The transfer ribbon 67 is wound around a core supported by the ribbon set shaft 47 on the rear side, and after being pulled out from there and passing through the tension shaft 48 and the ribbon drive shaft 49 in sequence, it is transferred to the ribbon set shaft 47 on the front side. It is designed to be wound up on a winding core (not shown) supported by. A portion of the transfer ribbon 67 from the tension shaft 48 to the ribbon drive shaft 49 passes between the platen roller 14 and the line thermal head 29.

The ribbon drive shaft 49 has shaft ends 49a on both sides thereof rotatably supported by opposing third bearings 55, and is horizontally suspended between the frame side plates 50 so as not to be removable. The circumference of the drive shaft 49 is made of rubber or the like, and a transfer ribbon 67 is wrapped around the outer surface of the drive shaft 49. The tension shaft 48 has shaft end portions 48a on both sides rotatably supported by opposing fourth bearings 56, and is horizontally suspended between the frame side plates 50 so as not to be removable. The circumference of this shaft 48 is made of rubber or the like, and a transfer ribbon 67 is wrapped around the outer surface of the shaft.

In the ribbon device 45 having the above configuration, after the wide hole portion of the Daruma-shaped hole 68 (see FIG. 4) provided in the lower horizontal plate 52 is inserted into the engaging protrusion 44, the side plate By slightly moving the ribbon device 45 on the side and hooking the engaging protrusion 44 into the narrow hole portion of the dart-shaped hole 68, the ribbon can be attached to the portion 41 while being prevented from coming off upwards. It will be done. The ribbon device 45 is moved along with the slider 43 toward the side plate 4 to be placed at a predetermined position. Also, the condition is guide 4
2 (see Figure 7)
/ is held by being caught on the frame side plate 50 next to the side plate 5.

When the ribbon device t45 is placed in position as described above, the ends of each of its shafts 47 to 49 are fitted and connected to each rotation shaft 37, 38 of the ribbon drive device 31. It has become.

In the above configuration, a paper holder (not shown) supported on the rear side of the main body case L, etc., has a continuous long paper holder with labels pasted at equal intervals on the negative side, which is wound into a roll. Supported.

This mount is let out from the paper holder, is set between the platen roller 14 and the line thermal head 29, and is appropriately fed by the operation of the paper feeding mechanism.

At the same time as this paper feeding, the ribbon drive unit W31 is operated synchronously, so the transfer ribbon 67 is wound around the rear ribbon set shaft 47 by the rotational force transmitted to the ribbon drive shaft 49.
is pulled out via the tension shaft 48, and the used portion of the transfer ribbon 67 that has passed between the platen roller 14 and the line thermal head 29 is pulled out by the rotational force transmitted to the front ribbon set shaft 47. but,
It is wound around the front ribbon set shaft 47. The amount of feed of this transfer ribbon 67 and the above-mentioned backing paper is the same, therefore, due to the above-mentioned printing operation, the transfer ribbon 67 is moved against the label.
The ink is thermally transferred.

To attach and detach the ribbon device 45, rotate the upper J-pick clamp plate 25 to the side to put the head frame 21 in a cantilevered state, then manually lower the platen unit 11 and remove the platen roller 14 from the line thermal head 29. Release,
In this state, the transfer ribbon 67 is moved in and out between the platen roller 14 and the line thermal head 29 while keeping the side plate 5 apart.

In addition, the reference numeral 71 shown in FIGS. 5 to M7 is a peeling device which, together with the peeling plate 16, forms a peeling means for peeling off the printed label from the mount. This device [71 has a peeling roller 72 that presses against the platen row 14 from below, and this roller 72 peels off the label of the backing paper guided via the peeling plate 16 to the platen row 14. The peeling roller 72 is sandwiched between the platen roller 14 and rotated by the platen roller 14, thereby applying a tensile force to the mount and peeling off the printed label at the position of the peeling plate 16. .

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the shaft support 57 and the shaft presser 58 may be molded separately and attached to the frame side plate 50 separately. Furthermore, in the configuration of the above embodiment, the first bearing 53 and the second bearing 5 are arranged in the front and rear.
There is no problem even if it is continuous with 4.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

In the transfer type printer according to claim 1, there is no need to move the ribbon setting shaft in the axial direction between the opposing frame side plates of the ribbon support frame, and the ribbon setting shaft is moved from above the ribbon support frame. With a simple one-touch operation of pushing in, the ribbon set shaft can be installed across the frame side plate, and with a simple operation of pulling the attached ribbon set shaft above the ribbon support frame, this set shaft can be attached to the frame side plate. It can be removed from the

In the transfer type printer according to the second aspect, since the claw part is provided with an operating part that can bend the arm part so that the claw part escapes from above the upper open part of the receiving groove, the claw part can be released in advance by pushing this operating part. The claw portion can be prevented from coming into strong contact with the end of the ribbon set shaft when it is attached or removed, thereby preventing the end of the shaft from being damaged.

In the transfer type printer according to the third aspect, since the shaft support and the shaft presser are integrally molded, the number of parts required for attaching the ribbon set shaft is extremely small, and the structure is simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a front view of a bearing on which a ribbon set shaft is supported, FIG. 2 is a front view of the bearing with a separated ribbon set shaft, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the bearing with a ribbon set shaft supported. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the entire ribbon device showing the ribbon set shaft separated, FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing the mechanical part partially in section, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view, partially in cross section, of the same mechanism section as seen from the middle (2) direction. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a part of the mechanism, 45... Ribbon device, 46... Ribbon support frame, 47... Ribbon set shaft, 47a... Shaft end, 5o... Frame side plate, 53.54...bearing, 57...shaft support, 5
8... Shaft holder, 59... Receiving groove, 6o... Arm part, 61... Claw part, 62a... Pressure contact part, 63...
・Operation unit, 64...Guidance surface.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a transfer type printer equipped with a ribbon device in which a pair of ribbon setting shafts are detachably attached across opposite frame side plates of a ribbon support frame, the upper side is open, and the shaft ends of the ribbon setting shafts are passed through this opening. A synthetic resin shaft support having a receiving groove that fits into the lower part of the shaft end is attached to each of the left and right frame side plates, and a synthetic resin shaft holder is attached to the shaft. These shaft holders are attached to the opposing frame side plates located near the supports, and these shaft holders are integrally provided with an elastically deformable arm portion and the tip of this arm portion, and are attached to the shaft end of the ribbon set shaft. The upper part of the receiving groove is formed with a claw part that is pressed into contact with the shaft end by the bending of the arm part. A transfer type printer, characterized in that an oblique guide surface is provided that deflects the arm part in a direction away from the receiving groove when the end part is fitted into the receiving groove. (2) The transfer type printer according to claim 1, wherein the claw portion has an operating portion on a side opposite to the pressure contact portion with the arm portion as a boundary. (3) The transfer type printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shaft support and the shaft presser are integrally formed.