JPH0442141Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Field of Application of the Invention) The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device, and more specifically, to apply an appropriate printing pressure to various information recording media in response to differences in thickness or width. This invention relates to a variable pressure printing mechanism that can be selected.

(Prior Art) Generally, in this type of thermal transfer recording device,
The printing force with the platen roller is emphasized as a factor in extending the life of the print head, but on the other hand, even if the thickness and width of the information recording medium changes, the pressing force per unit area of the print head remains constant. Since it is constant based on the conditions set in the equipment, it has the drawback that the thicker or narrower the information recording medium, the faster the print head wears.

(Purpose of the invention) The present invention is a thermal transfer recording device in which a biasing means and a moderation mechanism are combined for one member of a platen roller and a printing head, and various sheets,
Variable pressure that allows you to select the appropriate printing pressure to accommodate differences in the thickness and width of information recording media such as cards or tape paper (plain paper when using thermal paper and transfer ribbon). The purpose is to provide a printing mechanism.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, a print head 1 of a thermal transfer recording device is mounted on a rotary member 2 that is rotatable about a pivot 3. As shown in FIG. A pressing member 4 is supported on a part of the rotating member 2 and is elastically biased by a separately pivotally supported pressure adjustment lever 6.

Specifically, the pressure adjustment lever 6 is rotatable about a pivot 5, and a spring 7 is interposed between its end and the end of the pressing member 4, and this spring pressure is applied via the pressing member 4. Platen roller 15
The printing head is applied to the tip of the printing head which is placed opposite to the printing head.

Further, on the pivot shaft 5 of the pressure adjustment lever 6, as shown in FIG. It is equipped with a moderation mechanism 8 consisting of: Specifically, a large number of grooves 10 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotation selection member 9, and the grooves 10 include the following:
A protrusion 13 is provided at one end of a positioning member 11 which is rotatably supported by the pivot shaft 12 and is detachable. A spring 14 is attached to the other end of the positioning member 11, the end of which is fixed to the main body of the device, so that the protrusion 13 of the positioning member 11 can be elastically engaged with the groove 10 of the rotation selection member 9. This is a configuration that allows the process to be carried out both accurately and reliably.

In the figure, reference numeral 19 is a supply reel around which an information recording medium 20 made of tape-shaped paper is wound.
It is pressed by the tip of the printing head 1, and is conveyed while being held between a set of guide rollers consisting of a fixed roller 18 and a pressing roller 16 with a spring 17 interposed downstream of the printing section.

Next, the operation of this mechanism will be explained. In adjusting the printing pressure of the print head 1 to the platen roller 15 in response to information recording media 20 of tape-like paper having various thicknesses or widths,
Rotate the pressure adjustment lever 6 to select the rotation selection member 9.
By setting the engagement relationship between one of the grooves 10 and the protrusion 13 of the positioning member 11 to, for example, one of the positions P1, P2, and Pn, the elastic biasing force of the spring 7 can be adjusted and set, so that the above-mentioned information recording is possible. A printing pressure corresponding to the thickness or width of the medium 20 can be applied to the tip of the print head 1 with respect to the platen roller 15. Here, when the rotation selection member 9 is rotated manually via the pressure adjustment lever 6, the protrusion 13 repeatedly engages and disengages from the groove 10, and the groove 10 and the groove 10 in the state in which manual operation is stopped are caused. Due to the engagement with the projection 13, the position of the rotation selection member 9 and, by extension, the pressure adjustment lever 6 is maintained by the elasticity of the spring 14 attached to the positioning member 11.

In the embodiment, the platen roller 15 is fixed,
Although the print head 1 has been described as having a structure in which it is elastically biased against the platen roller, the reverse structure may be used. That is, even with a configuration in which the printing head 1 is fixed and the platen roller 15 is elastically biased against the printing head, the effects of the present invention can be sufficiently achieved.

(Effects) As described above, the present invention has one end of a biasing means that applies elastic bias to one member of the platen roller and the print head, and the other end thereof is connected to a moderation mechanism that can set a plurality of positions. Therefore, by changing the position of the other end of the biasing means by setting the position of the moderation mechanism, it is possible to set an appropriate printing pressure in response to differences in the thickness and width of the information recording medium. It is.

This extends the life of the print head, increases versatility with respect to information recording media of various thicknesses and widths, and reduces the need to select the recording media.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the variable pressure printing mechanism in the thermal transfer recording device of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a front view of the moderation mechanism part of the mechanism for obtaining printing pressure suitable for paper of various paper thicknesses and widths. It is a diagram. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Print head, 4... Pressing member, 6... Pressure adjustment lever, 7... Spring, 8... Moderation mechanism, 9... Rotation selection member, 10... Groove, 11...
Positioning member, 13... protrusion, 14... spring, 15... platen roller, 20... information recording medium.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] One member of the platen roller and the print head is movable toward and away from the other member, and the other member is elastically biased with respect to the one member by a biasing means so as to be placed in a facing relationship. A sheet between both parts,
In a thermal transfer recording device for transporting information recording media made of cards, tape-like paper, etc., the other end of the biasing means for applying elastic bias to the other member for acting on the one member is provided with a plurality of other ends. connected to a moderation mechanism that can set the position of
A variable pressure printing mechanism characterized in that the elastic biasing force applied to the other member is changed by changing the position of the other end of the biasing means according to the position setting of the moderation mechanism.