JPH04255385A - Ribbon winder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To winf a ribbon efficiently and positively while reducing an operation sound in a ribbon winder for winding the ribbon for supplying ink mounted to a thermal transfer printer, etc. CONSTITUTION:A winding belt 32 is composed of an elastic material such as a rubber, both ends are fixed to a printer body by holders 33, 34, and the belt 32 is energized so as to be formed in a linear shape by a tension spring 35. A driving pully 26 and an idler pulley 27 holds the winding belt 32 on printer recording. When a carriage 20 is moved in the main scanning direction at that time, these driving pulley 26 and idler pulley 27 are turned by a relative motion with the winding belt 32 with the shifting of the carriage 20, the revoluting torque is transmitted over the winding shaft 50 of a winding unit 28 thorugh an idler gear 26a, and a ribbon is wound on a reel, with the winding shaft 50 is engaged.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ribbon winding device installed in a printer that performs recording while winding an ink supply ribbon onto a reel such as a ribbon cassette set in a carriage.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printer such as a thermal transfer printer that performs recording while winding up an ink supply ribbon has a carriage that carries a recording head and a removable ribbon cassette and moves in the main scanning direction. This carriage has a ribbon winding lead for the ribbon cassette during recording.
A ribbon winding device is provided for rotating the ribbon in the winding direction.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of such a conventional ribbon winding device.

In FIG. 5, the ribbon winding device includes a winding shaft 10 having a knob that engages with a ribbon winding reel of a ribbon cassette (not shown). The winding shaft 10 is connected to the winding shaft 10 by transmitting the driving force to the winding shaft 10.
A drive gear 11 for rotating the is coaxially provided. In order to transmit driving force to the drive gear 11, an idler gear 12 is provided to mesh with the drive gear 11. These winding shaft 10, drive gear 11, and idler gear 12 are installed on a carriage (not shown),
It is moved in the main scanning direction together with the carriage.

On the other hand, on the printer main body side, there is a rack gear 1.
5 is fixed so as to extend linearly in the main scanning direction and mesh with the idler gear 12. The rack gear 15 is made of resin, for example. In such a configuration, when the carriage moves in the main scanning direction, the idler gear 12 is engaged with the rack gear 15, so the idler gear 12 rotates, and the take-up shaft 10 rotates together with the take-up gear 11. As a result, the ribbon winding reel engaged with the winding shaft 10 can be rotated to wind up the ribbon.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In general, thermal transfer printers and the like using this type of ribbon winding device are capable of printing at higher speeds while meeting the demands for power saving of the device and miniaturization of the drive source. is desired. For this reason,
In the ribbon winding device, it is preferable to reduce transmission loss in the driving force transmission mechanism and efficiently rotate the ribbon winding reel. In particular, as the transmission loss and printing speed increase, the operating noise of the printer during recording increases, the wear of the gears of the drive mechanism increases, and gear skipping occurs. Therefore, it is extremely important in practice to reduce transmission loss and rotate the reel efficiently.

However, in the conventional ribbon winding device described above, since the rack gear 15 is made of resin, the transmission loss increases depending on the mounting accuracy and mounting condition of the rack gear 15. In particular, when the carriage moves at high speed, there are problems in that the generation of operational noise such as the meshing sound between the idler gear 12 and the rack gear 15 becomes noticeable, the idler gear 12 and the rack gear 15 are worn out, and gear skipping occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon winding device that can efficiently and reliably wind up an ink supply ribbon while reducing operating noise. Take it as a challenge.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned problems, the ribbon winding device of the present invention has a ribbon winding device set in a carriage in a printer that prints using an ink supply ribbon. A ribbon winding device is a ribbon winding device for winding a ribbon onto a printer, and includes a belt arranged linearly along the main scanning direction and fixed to the printer body, and a carriage provided on a carriage to sandwich the belt. A pair of pulleys rotated by relative motion with the belt as the cage moves, a first gear coaxially provided on one of the pair of pulleys, and a first gear that engages with the reel. Terry
It has a winding shaft for rotating the ribbon and a second gear that meshes with the first gear, and transmits the rotation of the first gear to the winding shaft to rotate the winding shaft in the ribbon winding direction. The invention is characterized by comprising a transmission means for transmitting.

0010

In the ribbon winding device of the present invention, the belt is arranged linearly along the main scanning direction and fixed to the printer body. A pair of pulleys are provided on the carriage so as to sandwich the belt, and are rotated by relative movement with the belt as the carriage moves. Therefore, when the carriage moves during printer recording, the first gear coaxially provided on one of the pair of pulleys rotates together with the pulley. At this time, the rotation of the first gear is transmitted to the winding shaft through a transmission means having a second gear meshed with the first gear, and the winding shaft is rotated in the ribbon winding direction. .

As a result, when the carriage moves during printer recording, the ribbon is pulled out using the rotational force obtained by the relative movement between the belt and the pair of pulleys that sandwich it.
It can be rolled up onto a file. Therefore, compared to the conventional example in which rotational force is obtained using meshing between a rack gear and an idler gear, it is possible to reduce the transmission loss of driving force, that is, to wind the ribbon efficiently, and at the same time to reduce operating noise. can. Furthermore, problems such as gear skipping can be eliminated and the ribbon can be reliably wound.

[0012] From the following examples of the present invention, these effects of the present invention will become clearer, and other effects of the present invention will become clearer.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a ribbon winding device according to the present invention, which is installed in a thermal transfer printer.

In FIG. 1, a recording head 21 is attached to a carriage 20. A removable ribbon cassette (not shown) is mounted on the carriage 20 to sequentially supply ribbons for ink supply to the recording head 21 . The carriage 20 is configured to be movable in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) in the drawing along a winding belt 32 arranged parallel to the platen of the printer by a motor (not shown). A ribbon and recording paper (not shown) are arranged between the recording head 21 and the platen, and the recording paper is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the drawing (
(sub-scanning direction).

The take-up belt 32 is particularly made of an elastic material such as rubber, has both ends fixed to the printer body by holders 33 and 34, and is further biased by a tension spring 35 so as to be linear. .

The ribbon winding device further includes a winding belt 3.
A driving pulley 26 and an idler pulley constitute an example of a pair of pulleys, which are provided on the carriage 20 so as to sandwich the winding belt 32, and are rotated by relative movement with the take-up belt 32 as the carriage 20 moves. - Equipped with 27.

An idler gear 26a, which is an example of a first gear, is formed coaxially with the drive pulley 26.

The ribbon winding device also includes a winding unit 28 having a winding shaft 50 for engaging and rotating a ribbon winding reel of the ribbon cassette. The winding unit 28 further includes a winding shaft 50.
It has a winding gear 52 coaxially attached to the winding gear 52 . The take-up gear 52 and the idler gear 26a mesh with each other. In this way, an example of the transmission means is configured from the winding gear 52 as an example of the second gear. Note that another gear may be interposed between the winding gear 52 and the idler gear 26a to constitute a transmission means.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the configuration of such a ribbon winding device in more detail, and FIG. 1 particularly shows the state during printer recording, and FIG.
indicates the state at the time of non-recording.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the ribbon winding device includes a motor 22. As shown in FIG. As will be described later, this motor 22 presses the recording head 21 against the platen 31 during printer recording, moves the recording head 21 away from the platen 31 during non-printing, and winds the ribbon of the ribbon cassette during non-printing. It has a function of preventing the winding shaft 50 of the winding unit 28 for winding from reversing.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the winding unit 28.

In FIG. 4, the winding shaft 50 has a knob portion 50a at its tip end that can be engaged with a ribbon winding reel of a ribbon cassette. At the other end of the winding shaft 50, a latch gear 51 is provided coaxially and integrally with the winding shaft 50.

The winding gear 52 and the latch gear 51 are biased by a spring 55 so that the felt 53
Frictional engagement occurs through the . Therefore, in an unexpected situation where the take-up shaft 50 cannot rotate due to an abnormality in the ribbon cassette, etc., the take-up gear 52 and the latch gear 51 may slip against each other via the felt 53, causing the drive mechanism of the take-up belt 32, etc. It is possible to prevent a destructive load from being applied to the device.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotating shaft of the motor 22 meshes with a gear portion 24a of a cam 24 via connecting gears 23a to 23c. The cam 24 has a gear portion 2
An eccentric cam part 24b is formed coaxially with 4a, and the eccentric cam part 24b moves the recording head 21 to the platen 3 during recording.
1 and is configured to separate the recording head 21 from the platen 31 when not recording. Furthermore, the cam 24 has a rib 24 that contacts one end of the lever 25 and rotates the lever 25 in a counterclockwise direction during non-recording.
It has c.

The drive pulley 26 and the idler pulley 27 are provided with a winding belt so as to rotate with the movement of the carriage 20 when the carriage 20 is moved in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) in the drawing by a motor (not shown). 32 sandwiched between them. The drive pulley 26 is coaxially formed with an idler gear 26a that meshes with the take-up gear 52, and is rotatably attached to the other end of the lever 25.

The lever 25 is rotatably mounted coaxially with the winding unit 28, and also elastically engages with the latch gear 51 during non-recording to prevent the winding gear 52 from reversing, and to prevent the winding gear 52 from reversing. Clutch lever to prevent loosening
25a is attached. Lever 25 is spring 2
This spring 29 causes the drive pulley 26 and idler pulley 27 to sandwich the take-up belt 32 during recording.

Next, the operation of the ribbon winding device constructed as above will be explained.

During recording, as shown in FIG.
b presses the recording head 21 against the platen 31, and a motor is set so that the rib 24c does not come into contact with the lever 25.
The motor 22 rotates and stops. Therefore, drive pulley 2
6 and the idler pulley 27 sandwich the winding belt 32 by the spring 29, and the clutch lever 25a does not engage with the latch gear 51.

In this case, when the carriage 20 is moved in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) in the drawing by a motor (not shown),
The drive pulley 26 and the idler pulley 27 are connected to the winding belt 3.
Therefore, this rotational force is transmitted to the take-up gear 52 of the take-up unit 28 via the idler gear 26a, and the take-up pulley 50 rotates the reel of the ribbon cassette and takes out the ribbon. Wind it up.

On the other hand, during non-recording, as shown in FIG. The motor 22 rotates counterclockwise against the applied force and then stops. Therefore, the drive pulley 26 and the idler pulley 27 do not sandwich the take-up belt 32 and do not rotate even if the carriage 20 moves, so that the take-up gear 28b and the knob 28a
does not rotate.

In this case, the lever 25 rotates counterclockwise against the biasing force of the spring 29, and the clutch lever 25
a is elastically engaged with the latch gear 51, and the winding gear 5
Since the reverse rotation of the ribbon 2 is prevented, it is possible to prevent the ribbon from becoming slack due to the reverse rotation of the winding shaft 50 and the reel of the ribbon cassette. Further, unlike the conventional example, the winding shaft 50 is not energized in the opposite direction to the winding direction, so that the winding torque during recording is not adversely affected.

According to this embodiment, the reel of the ribbon cassette can be rotated in the winding direction when the printer is recording, and the reel of the ribbon cassette can be reliably rotated in the winding direction when the printer is not recording. can be prevented.

Moreover, according to the embodiment, the carriage 20
As the ribbon moves, the drive pulley 26 and idler pulley 27, which sandwich the elastic winding belt 32 made of rubber or the like, rotate.As a result, the ribbon can be wound more efficiently than the conventional example using a rack gear. At the same time, it is possible to reduce operating noise and eliminate problems such as gear skipping, making it possible to reliably wind the ribbon.

[0035]

As described above in detail, according to the ribbon winding device of the present invention, the belt is fixed to the printer body, and the pair of pulleys are provided on the carriage so as to sandwich the belt. Therefore, when the carriage moves during printer recording, the ribbon can be wound onto a reel using the rotational force obtained by the relative movement between the belt and the pair of pulleys that sandwich the belt. Therefore, compared to the conventional example in which rotational force is obtained using meshing between a rack gear and an idler gear, the transmission loss of driving force can be reduced, that is, the ribbon can be wound efficiently, and at the same time, operating noise can be reduced. Can be done. Furthermore, problems such as gear skipping can be eliminated and the ribbon can be reliably wound. As a result, by using the present invention, it is possible to create a printer that produces low operating noise, is capable of reliable and stable high-speed printing, and meets the demands for power saving of the device and miniaturization of the drive source.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a ribbon winding device that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the detailed configuration of the ribbon winding device of FIG. 1 in a state at the time of printer recording.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the detailed configuration of the ribbon winding device of FIG. 1 in a state when the printer is not recording.

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional front view showing the detailed configuration of the winding unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a main part configuration of a conventional ribbon winding shaft.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 Carriage 21 Head 22 Motors 23a, 23b, 23c Connection gear 24 Cam 25 Lever 25a Clutch lever 28 Winding unit 29 Spring 31 Platen 32 Winding belt 33, 34 Holder 35 Tension spring 35 50 Winding shaft 51 Latch gear 52 Winding gear 53 Felt 55 Spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon winding device for winding a ribbon onto a ribbon winding reel set on a carriage in a printer that prints using an ink supply ribbon, the ribbon winding device comprising: a belt arranged linearly along the printer body and fixed to the printer body; and a pair of belts provided on the carriage so as to sandwich the belt and rotated by relative movement with the belt as the carriage moves. a first gear coaxially provided on one of the pair of pulleys, a take-up shaft for engaging the reel and rotating the reel, a transmission means having a second gear meshing with the first gear and transmitting the rotation of the first gear to the winding shaft to rotate the winding shaft in the winding direction of the ribbon. A ribbon winding device characterized by: