JPH0428581A - Ribbon cassette and recorder equipped said ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to record in the reciprocating direction on a record sheet by providing a first cassette having a supply member to which a ribbon is to be wound, a second cassette having a takeout member for taking out the ribbon pulled out from the supply member, and coupling the first cassette with the second cassette slidably. CONSTITUTION:A first cassette 1 and a second cassette 2 can be telescoped by sliding means 6. As for the constitution of the sliding means 6, two sliding arms 6a are formed protruding from the first cassette 1 and the arms 6a are embedded into sliding recesses 6b formed on the second cassette 2. Teeth 6a1 are formed on the sliding arms 6a so as to engage with springy stopper protrusions 6b1 provided in the sliding recesses 6b. Accordingly, the first and second cassettes are telescopic in the direction of a first arrow a and are fixed in an extended state. Thus, the length of an ink ribbon 5 to be exposed between arms 1c and 2c of a ribbon cassette A can be set optionally.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette used for recording information in word processors, electronic typewriters, etc., and a recording device using the ribbon cassette.

<Prior Art> Today, various recording devices have been developed, and among these, devices that use ink ribbons for recording are widely used because they can record on plain paper.

To exemplify a thermal transfer recording apparatus as a recording apparatus using the ink ribbon, as shown in FIG.
The ribbon cassette 52 containing the ink ribbon 51 is loaded, the carriage 50 is moved along the guide rail 53 in the direction of arrow The recording head 56 is configured to generate heat to perform recording.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the conventional configuration, in order to wind up the ink ribbon 51 onto the winding core 55 in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 50, the carriage 50 moves in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. I was only able to record when I wanted to.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a ribbon cassette that enables reciprocating recording on a recording sheet and a recording apparatus using the ribbon cassette.

Means for Solving the Problems> A typical means according to the present invention for solving the problems described above includes a first housing having a supply member around which a ribbon is wound, and a winder around which the ribbon pulled out from the supply member is wound. The present invention is characterized in that the ribbon cassette has a second housing having a handle member, and the first housing and the second housing are slidably connected to form a ribbon cassette.

The recording device also includes a cassette loading section for loading the ribbon cassette, and a recording means for recording by applying energy to the ribbon of the ribbon cassette, and the cassette loading section is configured to be expandable and retractable. It is characterized by the fact that it is composed of

<Operation> In the above means, the first housing and the second housing are slid to expose the ink ribbon by, for example, the same length as the width of the recording sheet. By moving the recording head in the width direction of the recording sheet and sending out the ink ribbon every time one line is recorded, it becomes possible to perform recording while reciprocating the recording head.

<Embodiment> Next, an embodiment of the present invention in which the above means is applied to a thermal transfer recording method will be described. Here, the configuration of the ribbon cassette will be explained, and then the configuration of a recording apparatus using this ribbon cassette will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of the ribbon cassette, FIG. 2 is an internal explanatory view, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a recording apparatus B using the ribbon cassette A, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of the recording apparatus B. It is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of fB.

[Ribbon cassette]

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ribbon cassette A consists of a first casing 1 and a second casing 2. A supply core 3 is rotatably attached to the first casing 1, and a supply core 3 is rotatably attached to the second casing 2. A winding core 4 is rotatably attached. As shown in FIG. 2, an ink ribbon 5 is wound around the supply core 3, and when this ink ribbon 5 is installed in the first housing, it is guided by guide rollers la and 1b, and then installed in the second housing 2. The winding core 4 is guided by guide rollers 2a and 2b and wound around the winding core 4.

(Ribbon Winding Structure) The ink ribbon 5 is a long film coated with thermally transferable (thermal melting, thermal sublimation, thermal softening, etc.) ink, and is formed on each of the casings 1 and 2. Arm parts 1c, 2
It is guided so that it is exposed between c. Further, the supply core 3 and the take-up core 4 are provided with anti-reverse springs ld and 2d, respectively.
are respectively locked, and each core 3.4 is configured to rotate only in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, and rotation in the opposite direction is restricted. The first housing 1 is provided with a spring member 1e that biases the ribbon 5, and is configured so that a certain tension is applied to the ink ribbon 5 by the bias of the spring member 1e.

In the ribbon force setting I-A, a locking rib 4a is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the winding core 4, and when the ribbon cassette A is loaded into a cassette loading section to be described later, the rib 4a
is engaged with the winding shaft, and when the winding shaft rotates, the winding core 4 rotates.

(Sliding Structure) Furthermore, the first casing I and the second casing 2 are configured to be extendable and retractable by a sliding means 6. Said sliding means 6
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration is such that two slide arms 6a are formed protruding from the first casing 1, and these arms 6a are fitted into slide recesses 6b formed in the second casing 2. There is. As shown in FIG. 1, the slide arm 6a is provided with a toothed portion 6a1, and a locking protrusion 6b having spring properties is provided in the slide recess 6b.

is configured to mesh with the tooth portion 6a+.

Therefore, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 can be expanded and contracted in the direction of the arrow a in FIGS. 1 and 2, and are fixed in the expanded and contracted state. Thereby, the length of the ink ribbon 5 exposed between the arm portions 1c and 2c to the ribbon cassette can be set arbitrarily.

[Recording device]

Next, a recording apparatus B using the ribbon cassette I-A having the above configuration.
The configuration of is explained below.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this recording apparatus B loads the ribbon cassette A into the cassette loading section 7, drives the recording means 8 to record one line on the recording sheet 9, and The sheet is conveyed by one line by the sheet conveying means 10 and recorded in the same manner.

Here, the configuration of each part of the recording apparatus B will be specifically explained.

(Cassette loading section) The cassette loading section 7 is used to load the ribbon cassette A, and is configured to expand and contract in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the ribbon cassette A. As shown in FIG. 5, its configuration consists of a first table 7a on which the first casing 1 of the ribbon cassette A is placed, and a second table 7b on which the second casing 2 is placed. A core shaft 7c that fits into the supply core 3 of the ribbon cassette A is protruded from the first table 7a.
The second table 7b has a winding shaft 7d that fits into the winding core 4.
is installed protrudingly. This winding shaft 7d is formed with a rib 7dl that locks with the locking rib 4a when the winding core 4 is fitted, and a winding motor is connected to the winding shaft 7d via a transmission gear 11 as shown in FIG. It is connected to 12. Therefore, when the take-up motor 12 is driven with the ribbon cassette A loaded in the loading section 7, the take-up core 4 rotates to pull out the ink ribbon 5 from the supply core 3 and wind it onto the take-up core 4. be.

Note that locking protrusions 7e are provided protruding from the ends of the first table 7a and the second table 7b. This locking protrusion 7e
When the ribbon cassette I-A is loaded, the ribbon cassette A is fixed to the loading section 7 by being locked into the locking recesses If and 2e (see Fig. 1) formed at both ends of the ribbon cassette A. be.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a guide piece 7f is provided protruding from the lower part of the first table 7a and the second table 7b, and a hole 1t formed in this guide piece 7f allows recording as shown in FIG. It is slidably fitted into a table shaft 14 provided on the device main body 13. Further, a key-shaped stopper 7g is formed at the rear of both tables 7a, 7b, and this stopper 7g is slidably engaged with the end of the apparatus main body 13. Therefore, the first table 7a and the second table 7
b is attached so as to be slidable along the table axis 14.

Two slide arms 7h are formed protruding from the first table 7a, and these arms 7h are connected to the second table 7a.
It fits into a slide recess 71 formed in b. Therefore, this cassette loading section 7 can be expanded and contracted by sliding the first table 7a and the second table 7b in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the ribbon cassette A.

(Recording Means) The recording means 8 applies thermal energy to the ink ribbon 5 to record on the recording sheet 9. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recording head 8a, which is formed by arranging a large number of heat-generating elements that generate heat when energized, is mounted on a head carriage 8b. It is slidably attached along a carriage shaft 15 attached to.

Further, near both ends of the carriage shaft 15, as shown in FIG. 3, a driving boolean 6a and a driven pulley 16b are attached, and a timing bell 16c is stretched between the boos 6a and 16b. A bell H6c is connected to the helad carriage 8b. Therefore, the drive boot 1
When the head motor 16d connected to the moon 6a is driven forward and backward, the recording head 8a reciprocates along the carriage shaft 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recording head 8a is rotatably attached to the head carriage 8b about a shaft 8C, and is biased in the direction indicated by the arrow by a head spring 8d. By this urging, the recording head 8a presses the ink-applied surface of the ink ribbon 5 against the recording sheet 9 whose back surface is supported by the platen 8e with appropriate pressure.

Further, a head solenoid 8f that is driven in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4 is attached to the lower part of the carriage 8b, and this solenoid 8f is connected to the lower end of the recording head 8a. Then, when the solenoid 8f turns on, the rad 8
A is rotated in the opposite direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 against the bias of the head spring 8d, thereby separating the recording head 8a from the ink ribbon 5 (hand up). When the solenoid 8f is turned off, the head spring 8d urges the recording head 8a in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 to press the ink ribbon 5 and the recording sheet 9 (head down).

In the above configuration, when the recording head 8a is moved head down and the head 8a is moved back and forth in the directions of arrows d and e in FIG. It is recorded by transcription.

(Sheet Conveyance Means) Next, the sheet conveyance means lO is for conveying the recording sheet 9, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a conveyance roller 10a is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body 13. A pinch roller lOb is provided in pressure contact with the conveyance roller 10a and rotates as a result of the rotation. A paper pan 10c is attached along the circumferential surface of the conveyance roller 10a, and a gear train 1 is attached to the conveyance roller 10a.
Transport motor 10e, ! via 0d! :ilj is tied.

Therefore, when the conveyance motor 10e is driven, the recording sheet 9 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow f in FIG. 4 by the cooperative action of the conveyance roller 10a and the pinch roller 10b.

(Control Means) Next, the drive control system for each part configured as described above will be explained.

In FIG. 6, 17 is a control unit, which includes a CPU 17a,
It consists of ROM17b, RAM17c.

The CPU 17a is a central processing unit, and receives input signals from the keyboard 18, which is an information processing unit, and the ROM 17, which will be described later.
It reads programs and various data from b, performs necessary calculations and judgments, and performs various controls.

ROM17b is a read-only memory, and CPU1
It stores various programs, character codes, and various data necessary for recording dot patterns for the 7a to operate.

The RAM 17c is a read/write memory, and the CP
It consists of a working area where the U 17a temporarily stores data in commands and calculation results, a buffer area where various data input from the keyboard 18 etc. are stored, a text area where documents and the like are stored.

The control unit 17 inputs instruction signals etc. from the keyboard 18 via the interface 19, and controls the transport motor 10.
It outputs a drive signal to the motor drivers 2021 and 22 for driving the winding motor 12, the winding motor 12, or the helad motor 16d, and also drives the head driver 23 for driving the recording head 8a, and further drives the helad solenoid 8f. The solenoid driver 24 is configured to output the output signal.

Next, the recording procedure using the signals from the control section 17 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when loading the ribbon cassette A into the loading section 7, the cassette A is expanded and contracted so that the length of the ink ribbon 5 exposed between the arm sections 1c and 2c is the same as the width of the recording sheet 9. do. In this way, ribbon cassette A
When the recording signal is input in step Sl with the head solenoid 8 set, the process moves to step S2 and the head solenoid 8
f is turned off to move the head down, and in step S3, the head motor 16d is driven in normal rotation to move the recording head 8a in the direction of arrow d in FIG. Then, in step S4, the recording head 8a is caused to generate heat according to the image signal, and one line recording is performed on the recording sheet 9.

Next, when it is determined in step S5 that one line recording has ended, step S6. In S7, the head motor 16d is stopped to stop the movement of the recording head 8a, and the head solenoid 8f is turned on to raise the recording head 8a.

Next, in step S8, the take-up motor 12 is driven to wind up the ink ribbon 5 for one line to be recorded, and in step S9, it is determined whether there is a next line to be recorded. If there is no recording on the next line, the recording operation ends, but if there is recording on the next line, the process moves to step S10, drives the transport motor 10e to transport the recording sheet 9 by one line, and moves to step Sll. . In step S11, the head solenoid 8r is turned off to lower the recording head 8a. Then, in step S12, the head motor 16d is reversely driven to move the recording head 8a in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 3, and in step S13, the recording head 8a is heated in accordance with the image signal to perform recording. When it is determined in step S14 that one line recording has ended, in step 515S16, the movement of the recording head 8a is stopped and the head 8a is raised.

Next, in step S17, the ink ribbon 5 is wound up for one line to be recorded, and in step 318, it is determined whether there is a next line to be recorded. Here, if there is no next line to be recorded, the recording operation is terminated, but if there is, the process moves to step S19 to convey the recording sheet 9 by one line, and then returns to step S2 to perform the same recording operation.

As described above, it is possible to perform recording when the recording head 8a moves on both the forward and backward paths.

Therefore, the recording time is shortened.

[Second example]

In the embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the operator manually sets the ink ribbon 5 exposed from the ribbon cassette A so that the length thereof is the same as the width of the recording sheet 9. , the recording sheet may be automatically set according to the width of the recording sheet.

For example, the driving force of the take-up motor 12 shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted to a linear drive mechanism, and the first table 7a of the cassette table 7 is configured to be movable in the width direction of the recording sheet 9 by this linear drive mechanism. As shown in FIG.
This planetary gear 2 is configured to mesh with a motor gear 29 attached to the rotating shaft of the winding motor 12. When the solenoid 25 is turned on, the arm 2
7 rotates in one direction, and the planetary gear 28 becomes the motor gear 29.
The driving force of the motor 12 is transmitted to the winding shaft 7d by meshing with a transmission gear 11 which transmits the driving force to the winding shaft 7d while being meshed with the motor 12. On the other hand, when the solenoid 25 is turned off, the arm 27 rotates in the other direction, and the planetary gear 28 meshes with the pinion gear 30 that meshes with the rack portion 7h1 formed on the slide arm 7h, and the driving force of the motor 12 is transferred to the pinion gear 30. The configuration is such that the first table 7a moves in the width direction of the recording sheet 9.

Then, before starting recording, an instruction is given to change the recording width according to the width of the recording sheet 9 from the keyboard 18, and the cassette table 7 is configured to be automatically expanded or contracted according to the recording width as shown in the flowchart of FIG. .

That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 9, step S21
When a recording start signal is input in step S22, it is determined whether or not to change the recording width, and if it is to be changed, step 323 is performed.
Then, the solenoid 25 and the winding motor 12 are driven so that the cassette table 7 corresponds to the recording width. After the exposed length of the ink ribbon 5 is made equal to the recording sheet width in this manner, control is performed to perform a recording operation in step 324. Incidentally, the recording operation in step S24 is the same as the procedure in the flowchart of FIG. 7 described above.

By configuring the cassette table 7 to be expanded and contracted by the take-up motor 12 as described above, the width of the ribbon cassette A can be automatically made to match the recording width.

[Other Examples]

In the second embodiment described above, a sheet width detection sensor for detecting the width of the recording sheet 1 is provided.

If the force setting tape 7 is expanded or contracted according to the recording sheet width by a signal from the sensor, the operator does not have to specify the recording width from the keyboard.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which a thermal inversion recording method was used as a recording means, but other means such as an impact recording method may also be used.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, in the present invention, since the first housing and the second housing are configured to be slidable, the exposed length of the ink ribbon can be set in accordance with the width of the recording sheet 9.

Therefore, in a recording apparatus using this, it is sufficient to wind up the ink ribbon every time -j recordings, and recording is performed in two directions: forward movement and backward movement of the recording means that moves in the width direction of the recording sheet. This makes it possible to shorten the recording time and perform smooth recording.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an internal view thereof, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a recording device using the ribbon cassette, and FIG. 4 is a recording device. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the carriage, 6 is a block diagram of the control system, 7 is a flowchart of the recording procedure, and 8 is a diagram showing the first table by driving the winding motor. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the recording procedure according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art. A is a ribbon cassette, B is a recording device, 1 is a first housing, l
a and lb are guide rollers, Ic is an arm portion, Id is a reverse rotation prevention spring, 1e is a spring member, 1f is a locking protrusion, 2 is a second housing, 2a and 2b are guide rollers, 2c is an arm portion, and 2d is a reverse rotation Prevention spring, 2e is a locking projection, 3 is a supply core, 4 is a winding core, 4a is a locking rib, 5 is an ink ribbon, 6 is a slide means, 6a is a slide arm, 6a is a tooth portion, 6b
is a slide recess, 6b+ is a locking projection, 7 is a cassette loading portion, 7a is a first table, 7b is a second table, 7c is a core shaft, 7d is a winding shaft, 7d is a rib, 7e is a locking projection, 7f is a guide piece, 7f1 is a hole, 7g is a stopper, 7
h is a slide arm, 7h is a rack part, 71 is a slide recess, 8 is a recording means, 8a is a recording head, 8b is a helad carriage, 8c is a shaft, 8d is a hesito spring, 8e is a platen, 8r is a helad solenoid , 9 is a recording sheet, l
O is a sheet conveyance means, 10a is a conveyance roller, IOb is a pinch roller, 1°C is a vapor pan, IOd is a gear train,
1Oe is a transport motor, 11 is a transmission gear, 12 is a winding motor, 13 is the main body of the apparatus, 14 is a table shaft, 15 is a carriage shaft, 16a is a drive pulley, 16b is a driven pulley, 16c is a timing belt, and 16d is a hent motor. 17 is a control unit, 17a is a CPU, 17b is a ROM, 1
7c is RAM, 18 is keyboard, 19 is interface, 20-22 is motor driver, 23 is head driver, 24 is solenoid driver, 25 is solenoid, 2G is shaft, 27 is arm, 28 planetary gear, 29
is a motor gear, and 30 is a pinion gear. Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) A first housing having a supply member around which the ribbon is wound, and a second housing having a winding member that winds up the ribbon pulled out from the supply member, the first housing and A ribbon cassette characterized by being slidably connected to a second casing. (2) Said claim (1)
); and recording means for applying energy to the ribbon of the ribbon cassette to perform recording, and the cassette loading section is configured to be expandable and retractable. Featured recording device. (3) The recording device according to claim (2), wherein the recording means is configured to be movable independently with respect to the cassette loading section. (4) The recording apparatus according to claim (2), wherein the cassette loading section is configured to expand and contract in accordance with a signal.