JPH05155122A - Ink ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely prevent the slack of an ink ribbon between a ribbon bobbin for supply and a ribbon bobbin for winding at low cost. CONSTITUTION:The collar sections 4, 7 of each ribbon pin 3, 6 for supply and winding are supported to a pair of bearing sections 14a, 14b of a cassette body in a slipping-off preventive free manner while a pair of tooling holes 23a, 23b, into which a pair of locating pins fitted on the printer side are inserted, are formed to a side piece section 23, and a lock arm 30 is disposed at a position oppositely faced to the collar sections 4, 7 of each ribbon bobbin 3, 6 in the cassette body. The lock arm 30 has a pair of pawl sections 32 being freely engaged with or detached from engaging grooves 4a, 7a formed to the coller sections 4, 7 of each ribbon bobbin 3, 6 and locking each ribbon bobbin 3, 6 so that each ribbon bobbin 3, 6 cannot be turned in the direction that an ink ribbon 8 is slacked at the time of engagement and a pair of abutting sections 33 being pushed by a pair of the locating pins inserted from a pair of tooling holes 23a, 23b and releasing the states of the locking of each ribbon bobbin 3, 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette used in a printer such as a thermal transfer color printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an ink ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer color printer, an ink ribbon having a continuous colored region composed of colored portions such as yellow, magenta, and cyan is wound around a supply ribbon bobbin and a winding ribbon bobbin. Things are being used. This will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. Reference numeral 50 in FIG. 8 is an ink ribbon cassette, and the cassette body 51 has a lower half 52 made of synthetic resin and ultrasonic welding etc. to the lower half 52. And an upper half 53 made of a synthetic resin which is joined with.

The lower half 52 has opposite side portions 5 which face each other.
While a pair of supporting portions 54 and 55 are vertically erected on 2a and 52b, storage portions 52c and 52d curved upward in an arc shape are formed on both end sides between both side portions 52a and 52b, respectively. , An opening 52e is formed in the center thereof. The one support portion 54 is formed in a U shape at both ends of the one side portion 52a, and the other support portion 55 is formed in an inverted L shape at both ends of the other side portion 52b.

The upper half 53 has opposite side portions 5 opposite to each other.
While a pair of support portions 56 and 57 are vertically erected on 3a and 53b, storage portions 53c and 53d protruding upward in a semi-cylindrical shape are formed on both ends between both side portions 53a and 53b, respectively. At the same time, an opening 53e is formed in the center thereof. The one support portion 56 is formed in a U shape at both ends of the one side portion 53a, and the other support portion 57 is formed in an inverted L shape having recesses at both ends of the other side portion 53b. ..

The storage portion 52 for these lower halves 52
A cylindrical supply ribbon bobbin 58 and a winding ribbon bobbin 59 are rotatably accommodated between the c and 52d and the accommodating portions 53c and 53d of the upper half 53. On each of the ribbon bobbins 58 and 59, an ink ribbon 60 in which a colored region including colored portions of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is continuous is wound.

One end of each of the ribbon bobbins 58 and 59 is
The arcuate support portions 54 and 56 are rotatably supported by the support portions 54 and 56, and an annular collar portion 58 is provided at one end thereof.
Projections a and 59a are formed. Further, the other end portions 58b, 59b of the ribbon bobbins 58, 59 are formed in a small-diameter inverted U shape, and the support portions 55, 5 having the above-mentioned recesses and the like are provided.
7 are rotatably supported respectively. Each above-mentioned collar part 58
The concave portion 5 is provided on the inner surface side of each of the support portions 54 and 56 of
A plurality of 8c and 59c are radially formed. The recesses 58c and 59c can be engaged with and disengaged from ribs 54c and 56c that project perpendicularly to the inner surfaces of the support portions 54 and 56. Further, the other end portion 5 of each of the ribbon bobbins 58, 59 is
Compression coil springs 65 and 65 are interposed between the 8b and 59b side and the inner surfaces of the support portions 55 and 57, respectively. By the pressing biasing force of each compression coil spring 65, the collar portions 58a, 59a of the ribbon bobbins 58, 59 are brought into pressure contact with the support portions 54, 56, and the collar portions 58a, 5 are
The concave portions 58c and 59c of the 9a are the supporting portions 54 and 56, respectively.
By engaging with the ribs 54c and 56c, the ribbon bobbins 58 and 59 are prevented from idling and the slack of the ink ribbon 60 is prevented.

[0007]

In the conventional ink ribbon cassette 50, as described above, one of the recesses 58c, 59c formed radially in the collar portions 58a, 59a of the ribbon bobbins 58, 59, respectively. To each support 5
The ribs 54c and 56c of the nozzles 4 and 56 are locked, and the locked states thereof are maintained by the biasing forces of the compression coil springs 65 and 65, so that the ribbon bobbins 58 and 59 are prevented from idling and the ink ribbon 60 is prevented. However, if the user accidentally pushes the ribbon bobbin 58 (or 59) against the urging force of the compression coil spring 65 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 58 (5
9) Each recess 58c (59c) of the collar 58a (59a)
And the rib 54c (56c) of the support portion 54 (56) is easily released from the locked state, and the ribbon bobbins 58, 5
There is a drawback that the ink ribbon 60 between 9 becomes loose.
Further, since the compression coil springs 65 and 65 are indispensable, the number of parts is large and the cost is high, and the compression coil springs 65 and 65 are difficult to be assembled when the lower half 52 and the upper half 53 are assembled, so that the ink ribbon cassette 50 is provided. Was not easy to assemble.

Therefore, the present invention provides an ink ribbon cassette capable of reliably preventing the slack of the ink ribbon at low cost.

[0009]

A supply ribbon bobbin around which an ink ribbon is wound and a take-up ribbon bobbin are rotatably supported at predetermined distances between opposite side portions of a cassette body. In the ink ribbon cassette described above, a flange portion projecting from one end of each ribbon bobbin is detachably supported on one side of the cassette body and a pair of printers is provided on the side. While forming a pair of positioning holes through which the positioning pins of FIG. 1 are inserted, a locking means is arranged at a position facing the flange portion of each ribbon bobbin on one side of the cassette body, and the locking means is provided with An engaging portion formed on the flange portion of the ribbon bobbin can be freely engaged and disengaged, and when the ribbon bobbin is prevented from rotating in a direction in which the ink ribbon is loosened when the engaging portion is engaged with the engaging portion. And the locking portion to lock the Nbobin,
And a contact portion that is pressed by the pair of positioning pins inserted through the pair of positioning holes to release the locked state of each ribbon bobbin.

[0010]

Before mounting the ink ribbon cassette on the printer, each ribbon bobbin is locked by the locking means, so that each ribbon bobbin does not idle in the direction in which the ink ribbon loosens, and is wound around each ribbon bobbin. The loosening of the ink ribbon is surely prevented.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 is an ink ribbon cassette, which is used in a thermal transfer color video printer. The cassette body 2 of the ink ribbon cassette 1 includes a lower half 10 made of synthetic resin and a lower half 1
Both side portions 11 and 1 of the lower half 10 that are vertically adhered to each other while being adhered to the upper edge of 0 by ultrasonic welding or the like.
The upper half 20 is made of a synthetic resin and has vertically standing side portions 21 and 22 that abut on 2.

The lower half 10 is provided with storage portions 15 and 16 which are curved upward in an arc shape on both end sides between vertically standing both side portions 11 and 12, respectively, and is not shown in the center thereof. A rectangular opening 17 for inserting the head and the platen of the thermal transfer color printer is formed. Also,
A pair of storage portions 1 on one side portion 11 of the lower half 10
A pair of bearing portions 1 standing upright in a U-shape for supporting one ends 3b, 6b of a supply ribbon bobbin 3 and a winding ribbon bobbin 6, which will be described later, respectively, at positions facing 5 and 16.
1a and 11b are integrally molded. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the other side portion 12 of the lower half 10 is formed in such a manner that the center is recessed into a substantially U-shape and is vertically integrally projected, and is separated from the side portion 12 side by a predetermined distance. The inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of storage portions 15 and 16 respectively support a pair of inner portions of the collar portions 4 and 7 protruding toward the other ends 3c and 6c of the supply ribbon bobbin 3 and the winding ribbon bobbin 6, respectively. Bearing part 14
A and 14b are integrally formed by protruding molding.

At the positions of the upper half 20 facing the both side portions 11, 12 of the lower half 10 and the pair of bearing portions 14a, 14b, the both side portions 21, 22 and the pair of bearing portions 2 are provided.
4a and 24b are integrally projectingly formed so as to extend vertically downward, respectively, and the storage portion 15 of the lower half 10 is provided.
Semi-cylindrical parts 25 and 26 are integrally formed at positions opposed to 16. A rectangular opening 27 is formed at a position facing the opening 17 of the lower half 10 at the center of the upper half 20 formed between the semi-cylindrical portions 25 and 26. Further, between the pair of semi-cylindrical portions 25 and 26 which are separated from the other side portion 22 side of the upper half 20 by a predetermined distance, a side piece portion 23 whose lower end abuts on the lower half 10 is vertically integrally formed. The side piece 23 has a pair of positioning pins 9 and 9 provided in the cassette housing portion of the thermal transfer color printer when the ink ribbon cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette housing portion.
Is formed with a pair of positioning holes (holes for determining the position of the cassette with respect to the cassette housing portion) 23a, 23b. The other side portion 22 of the upper half 20 has an inverted U shape.
The lower half 10 is integrally formed with the lower half 10 in a vertical shape and is abutted on the other side portion 12 of the lower half 10.

Then, both side portions 11 of the lower half 10 are
12 and the outer edge 1 of the pair of storage portions 15 and 16
5a, 16a and both side portions 21, 22 of the upper half 20
Lower edge and outer edge 25 of the pair of semi-cylindrical parts 25, 26
The a and 26a are positioned and abutted against each other, and are welded and joined at a plurality of positions by, for example, ultrasonic welding. Then, the pair of bearing portions 11a, 11b and 14a, 14b of the pair of storage portions 15, 16 of the lower half 10 and the pair of bearing portions 21a, 21b of the pair of semi-cylindrical portions 25, 26 of the upper half 20. The feeding ribbon bobbin 3 and the winding ribbon bobbin 6 which are made of a substantially cylindrical resin are rotatably supported and housed between the above and 24a and 24b. The body portion 3a of the supply ribbon bobbin 3 and the body portion 6 of the winding ribbon bobbin 6
The ink ribbons 8 in which colored regions formed by colored portions of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are continuous are wound around a. One ends 3b and 6b of the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 are formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the body portions 3a and 6a around which the ink ribbon 8 is wound, and the inner wall surface of the other side portion 22 of the upper half 20. Ring plate-shaped collar portions 4 and 7 are integrally formed on the boundary between the body portions 3a and 6a on the side of the other ends 3c and 6c corresponding to 22a. A concave engaging groove (engaging portion) 4 extending substantially radially to each outer peripheral surface is formed on a surface of each of the flange portions 4 and 7 facing the side portion 22.
A plurality of a and 7a are formed. Further, the collar portions 4 and 7 of the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 have the lower and upper halves 10 and 2, respectively.
0 of each pair of bearings 14a, 14b and 24a, 24b
It is locked inside so that it can slide freely.

Then, the other side portion 2 of the upper half 20.
A lock arm (locking means) 30 for preventing the above-mentioned ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 from idling is provided in a space defined by 2 and the side piece 23. This lock arm 30
Is made of synthetic resin such as polyoxymethylene (POM) so as to be elastically deformable, and a hole 31 formed in the center thereof is rotated to a cylindrical boss 18 integrally formed with the lower half 10 by projecting. It is supported freely. Both ends of the lock arm 30 are L-shaped claw portions (locking portions) 32, 32, which are formed in the engaging grooves 4a, 7a of the collar portions 4, 7 of the ribbon bobbins 3, 6, respectively. It is engaged and disengaged. Due to the positions and shapes of the claws 32, 32, the ribbon bobbins 3, 6 are arranged in the direction of removing the slack of the ink ribbon 8 when the claws 32, 32 of the ribbon bobbins 3, 6 are locked.
However, the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 cannot be rotated in the opposite direction (the direction in which the ink ribbon 8 is loosened). Further, abutting portions 33, 33 are provided in U-shape at positions facing the pair of positioning holes 23a, 23b of the side piece portion 23 between the central hole portion 31 of the lock arm 30 and the respective claw portions 32, 32. It is formed into a shape. The abutting portions 33, 33 are pressed by the pair of positioning pins 9, 9 provided in the cassette housing portion inserted from the pair of positioning holes 23a, 23b of the side piece 23, whereby the lock Each claw portion 3 of the arm 30
2, 32 are elastically deformed to the side piece 23 side from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG.

According to the ink ribbon cassette 1 of the above-described embodiment, in a normal case where the ink ribbon cassette 1 is not mounted in the cassette storage portion of the thermal transfer color printer, as shown in FIG. 4, the supply ribbon around which the ink ribbon 8 is wound. The bobbin 3 and the winding ribbon bobbin 6 are the lock arm 3
Since it is locked by the claw portions 32, 32 at both ends of 0, the ribbon bobbins 3, 6 can be prevented from idling, and the looseness of the ink ribbon 8 between the ribbon bobbins 3, 6 can be surely performed. Can be prevented. Since the claw portions 32, 32 at both ends of the lock arm 30 are locked in the engaging grooves 4a, 7a located at the lower center of the collar portions 4, 7 of the ribbon bobbins 3, 6, respectively, It is possible to rotate the ink ribbon 8 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 3 (the direction in which the ink ribbon 8 is loosened), but it can be rotated in the opposite direction (the direction in which the ink ribbon 8 is loosened). Can not. Therefore, in the usual case, unless the user inserts a thin rod or the like into the pair of positioning holes 23a, 23b provided on the upper half 20 side of the ink ribbon cassette 1 and strongly pushes the ribbon bobbins 3, 6 respectively. Therefore, the slack of the ink ribbon 8 between the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 can be reliably prevented.

In this state, the ink ribbon cassette 1
Is mounted in the cassette housing portion of the thermal transfer color printer, the pair of positioning pins 9, 9 provided in the cassette housing portion causes the pair of positioning holes 23 of the upper half 20 to be positioned.
The ink ribbon cassette 1 is inserted into the a and 23b to be positioned and mounted in the cassette housing portion, and
When the pair of positioning pins 9 and 9 are inserted into the pair of positioning holes 23a and 23b, as shown in FIG.
The contact portions 33, 33 of the lock arm 30 are pressed. As a result, the claw portions 32, 32 at both ends of the lock arm 30 are attached to the inner wall surface 22 a of the other side portion 22 of the upper half 20.
The ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 are elastically deformed toward the side and separated from the engaging grooves 4a and 7a of the collar portions 4 and 7 of the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6, respectively, and the locked state of the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 is released.
As a result, the supply ribbon bobbin 3 has the ink ribbon 8
The ink ribbon 8 is wound around the take-up ribbon bobbin 6 at the time of printing.

Further, when assembling the ink ribbon cassette 1, the compression coil spring 65 and the like are not required as in the conventional case, the number of parts can be reduced, and moreover, only the lower half 10 and the upper half 20 need to be joined. Assembly workability can be remarkably improved, and significant cost reduction can be achieved.

6 and 7 show a pair of lock levers 40, 40 which are the lock means of another embodiment. The pair of lock levers 40, 40 are arranged below the collar portions 4, 7 of the ribbon bobbins 3, 6. That is, each lock lever 40 has a hole 41 formed at the center thereof in the cassette body 2.
It is pivotally supported on the side and is vertically rotatable. Also,
The claw portion 42 provided at the tip of each lock lever 40 is adapted to be engaged from the outer peripheral surface side of the engagement grooves 4a, 7a of the respective collar portions 4, 7. Further, on the base side of each lock lever 40, there is a taper surface (contact portion) 43 against which each positioning pin 9 on the printer side abuts.

Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 7, in the normal case, the claw portion 42 of each lock lever 40 is pulled by the pulling force of the tension coil spring 44 so that the collar portions 4, 7 of the ribbon bobbins 3, 6 respectively. The ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 are locked by the engaging grooves 4a and 4b, respectively, and are locked so that the ink ribbon 8 is not loosened. Even when the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 are locked by the lock levers 40, the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 can be rotated in the direction in which the ink ribbon 8 is stretched, but can be rotated in the direction in which the ink ribbon 8 is loosened. I can't. In addition, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
Each positioning pin 9 has a corresponding positioning hole 23 in the cassette body 2.
When it is inserted into a (23b), each positioning pin 9 pushes the tapered surface 43 of each lock lever 40 upward against the pulling force of the tension coil spring 44, and the ribbon bobbins 3 and 6 are locked. Release it.

Although the lock arm is made of synthetic resin in the above embodiment, it may be made of a metal leaf spring or the like. In addition, in the other embodiments, the lock lever is pulled by the tension coil spring to return to the original position, but the portion corresponding to the tension coil spring is integrally molded with the lock lever by synthetic resin and the tension coil spring is omitted. The cost may be reduced as in the above embodiment.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the supply ribbon bobbin and the take-up ribbon bobbin, on which the ink ribbons are respectively wound, and the take-up ribbon bobbin are separated from each other by a predetermined distance between the opposite sides of the cassette body. In an ink ribbon cassette rotatably supported by a printer, a flange portion projecting from one end of each ribbon bobbin is detachably supported on one side of the cassette body, and a printer is provided on the side. While forming a pair of positioning holes through which a pair of positioning pins provided on the side are inserted, a locking means is arranged at a position facing the flange portion of each ribbon bobbin on one side of the cassette body. The locking means is engageable with and disengageable from the engaging portion formed on the collar portion of each ribbon bobbin, and each ribbon bobbin can be rotated in the direction in which the ink ribbon is loosened when locked. As described above, since the locking portion that locks each ribbon bobbin and the contact portion that is pressed by the pair of positioning pins inserted from the pair of positioning holes to release the locked state of each ribbon bobbin are provided. ,
Unless the cassette body is attached to the printer, the ribbon bobbins cannot be rotated in the direction in which the ink ribbons are loosened, and the looseness of the ink ribbons between the ribbon bobbins can be reliably prevented at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cassette showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a relationship between each ribbon bobbin of the ink ribbon cassette and a lock unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a lower half of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of the essential parts showing the unlocked state of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between each ribbon bobbin of an ink ribbon cassette according to another embodiment and the locking means.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged explanatory view of the essential parts showing the locked / unlocked state of the ink ribbon cassette of the other embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lower half of the conventional ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the lower half of the conventional ink ribbon cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink ribbon cassette, 2 ... Cassette body, 3 ... Supply ribbon bobbin, 4 ... Collar part, 4a ... Engagement groove (engagement part), 6 ... Winding ribbon bobbin, 7 ... Collar part, 7a ... Engagement Groove (engagement portion), 8 ... Ink ribbon, 9, 9 ... Pair of positioning pins, 11, 12, 21, 22 ... Side portion, 23a, 2
3b ... A pair of positioning holes, 30 ... Lock arm (locking means), 32 ... Claw part (locking part), 33 ... Abutting part, 40 ...
Lock lever (locking means), 42 ... claw portion (locking portion),
43 ... Tapered surface (contact portion).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ink ribbon cassette in which a supply ribbon bobbin around which an ink ribbon is wound and a take-up ribbon bobbin are rotatably supported at predetermined distances between opposite sides of a cassette body. , One side portion of the cassette body supports a flange portion projectingly formed on one end side of each ribbon bobbin so as to be prevented from coming off, and a pair of positioning pins provided on the printer side is provided on the side portion side. While forming a pair of positioning holes to be inserted, lock means is arranged at a position facing the flange portion of each ribbon bobbin on one side of the cassette body, and the lock means is provided with the collar of each ribbon bobbin. Each of the ribbon bobbins can be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging portion formed on the rib portion so that the ribbon bobbins cannot rotate in the direction in which the ink ribbon is loosened when locked. A locking portion for click, the ink ribbon cassette characterized in that a contact portion which is pressed to release the locked state of the respective ribbon bobbin by the pair of positioning pins which are inserted from the pair of positioning holes.