JPH05294036A - Ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the midway replacement of a ribbon cartridge by facilitate the positioning of a leader guide film to a cartridge main body and the feed-out and taking up thereof. CONSTITUTION:A supply ribbon reel 30 having an ink ribbon 40 wound therearound is supported within an almost cylindrical cartridge main body 2 made of a synthetic resin having a ribbon supply port 23b in a freely rotatable manner. A leader guide film 41 is bonded to the leading end of the ink ribbon 40 and a positioning hole is formed to the central part of the leader guide film 41 on the leading end side thereof. The taking-up stopper 23c engaged with and separated from the positioning hole of the leader guide film 41 is integrally molded on the inner wall surface 23a of the upper case 20 of the cartridge main body 2 in a protruding state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called single type ribbon cartridge used in a printer such as a sublimation type thermal transfer type color video printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a ribbon cartridge for a color video printer is a so-called double type in which an ink ribbon in which ink areas such as yellow, magenta and cyan are continuous is wound around a supply ribbon reel and a winding ribbon reel. The thing (the thing with two ribbon reels) is known. This will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. Reference numeral 100 denotes a ribbon cartridge, and the cartridge body 101 has a lower case 102 made of synthetic resin.
And an upper case 103 made of synthetic resin joined to the lower case 102 by ultrasonic welding or the like. The lower case 102 has a pair of upwardly curved storage portions 102c and 102d formed between opposite side portions 102a and 102b, respectively, and an opening portion 102e formed in the center thereof.
Has been formed. The upper case 103 has a pair of accommodating portions 103c and 103d protruding in a semi-cylindrical shape between opposite side portions 103a and 103b.
An opening 103e is formed in the center thereof.

Then, these lower and upper cases 102, 10
3 storage units 102c, 103c and 102d, 103d
A cylindrical supply ribbon reel 110 and a take-up ribbon reel 111 are rotatably housed between them. Between the ribbon reels 110 and 111, yellow (Y),
Ink ribbons 120 each having a continuous colored region composed of a magenta (M) and cyan (C) dye coating portion are wound. The ribbon reels 110 and 111 described above
One end of the circular opening bearing portion 10 formed by the one side portions 102a and 103a of the lower case 102 and the upper case 103, respectively.
4, 104 are rotatably supported respectively, and the other ends thereof are bearing parts 105, 10 formed by the other side parts 102b, 103b of the lower case 102 and the upper case 103.
5 are rotatably supported in the respective units.

However, in the double type ribbon cartridge 100, the winding ribbon reel 11 for winding the ink ribbon 120 in the cartridge body 101 is used.
Since the cartridge No. 1 is also rotatably accommodated, there is a disadvantage that the cartridge main body 101 becomes large and the cost becomes high. Further, since the ink ribbon 120 is always exposed through the large openings 102e and 103e provided in the lower case 102 and the upper case 103, respectively, which constitute the cartridge body 101, dust and dirt are exposed in the colored area of the ink ribbon 120. It was easy to attach and tear, etc., and it was difficult to handle. Since the cartridge body 101 becomes large, a color video printer (not shown) using the double type ribbon cartridge 100 also becomes large.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems of the double type ribbon cartridge 100, a so-called supply ribbon reel around which an ink ribbon is wound is rotatably housed in a substantially cylindrical cartridge body. A single type (one ribbon reel) has been developed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-147034).

[0006]

In addition to a single type ribbon cartridge used in a printer as a conventional single cartridge system, there is generally a so-called patrone system of silver halide photographic film. In this patrone system, a film cartridge is used. Because I am not aware of replacement on the way,
The film was used in units of one, and the film in use was not replaced with an unused film.
Further, in order to automatically feed the film when the film is loaded, the film needs to be positioned. Since the above silver halide photographic film was used only once, it was possible to use it in the initial (unused) film state.
A single type ribbon cartridge used in a color video printer has a request for midway replacement, and means corresponding thereto cannot be adopted in the Patrone system.

Thus, in the above-mentioned single type ribbon cartridge, in order to pull out the ink ribbon to the head side of the printer and send it, a leader guide film (ribbon pull-out portion) thicker than the above ink ribbon is attached to the tip of the ink ribbon. Although it is adhered, the length of the leader guide film that protrudes outward from the cartridge body is arbitrary, so if the leader guide film is too much inside the cartridge body when the printer is installed, pull out the leader guide film. This is difficult, and when replacing the ribbon cut ridge during use, the replacement work is complicated. Further, the looseness of the leader guide film inside the cartridge body may cause looseness in the ink ribbon wound around the supply ribbon reel, which may cause wrinkles and adversely affect the print as uneven color.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily position the ribbon withdrawal portion with respect to the cartridge main body, and to feed and wind the ribbon, and to smoothly perform the loading and unloading operations of the cut ridge main body, which facilitates the mid-course replacement. The present invention provides a ribbon cartridge which can be manufactured.

[0009]

A supply cartridge reel wound with an ink ribbon is rotatably supported in a cylindrical cartridge body having a ribbon supply port, and a ribbon pull-out portion is provided at the tip of the ink ribbon. In the above ribbon cartridge, a winding stopper is provided on the inner wall of the cartridge body, and a positioning hole for engaging and disengaging the winding stopper is formed in the ribbon pull-out portion. In the ribbon cartridge according to the present invention, a part of the width of the ribbon pull-out portion is formed wider than the width of the ink ribbon, and a plurality of feed holes are formed on both sides of the wide portion of the ribbon pull-out portion. Then, feed claws that engage with and disengage from the feed holes are provided on both sides of the supply ribbon reel in a protruding manner.

[0010]

[Function] Since only the supply ribbon reel wound with the ink ribbon is rotatably accommodated in the cartridge body and the take-up ribbon reel is not accommodated, the cartridge body is miniaturized and the cost is reduced accordingly. It Further, since the winding stopper is provided on the inner wall of the cartridge body, the ribbon stopper can easily position (position) the ribbon withdrawal portion with respect to the inner wall of the cartridge body. It is easy to repeat the two operations of pulling (feeding) the ribbon pulling-out portion positioned and winding-up by the feeding claws of the supply ribbon reel. As a result, the ribbon cartridge can be easily replaced on the way. Further, when the ribbon pull-out portion is positioned by the take-up stopper on the inner wall of the cartridge body, the ink ribbon wound around the supply ribbon reel is not loosened or wrinkled.

[0011]

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

1 to 4, reference numeral 1 is a ribbon cartridge. The cartridge main body 2 of the ribbon cartridge 1 is composed of a lower case 10 made of synthetic resin and an upper case 20 made of synthetic resin joined to the upper end edge side of the lower case 10 by ultrasonic welding or the like. The cartridge body 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape including the lower and upper cases 10 and 20, and a synthetic resin supply ribbon reel (ribbon spool) 30 around which an ink ribbon 40 is wound.
Is rotatably stored.

A semi-cylindrical accommodating portion 13 having an arcuate inner wall 13a is integrally formed between both side portions 11 and 12 of the lower case 10 which are vertically erected and face each other. As shown in FIG. 2, on one side portion 11 of the lower case 10, a rectangular projecting piece portion 11a formed by integrally projecting a cylindrical bearing portion 14 vertically inward is integrally formed. The other side portion 12 of the lower case 10 is integrally formed in a substantially semi-circular concave shape. A rib 12a is integrally formed on the inner surface of the other side portion 12 so as to project.

Between the both side parts 21, 22 of the upper case 20, which are fitted to the both side parts 11, 12 of the lower case 10,
A substantially box-shaped housing portion 23 having a vertical front side, a horizontal center, and a rear side curved inner wall 23a with an open bottom side is integrally formed. At the center of one side portion 21 of the upper case 20, a rectangular concave portion 21a into which the protruding piece portion 11a having the bearing portion 14 is fitted is formed, and the upper case 2
A rib 22a is integrally projectingly formed on the inner surface of the other side portion 22 of 0. In addition, the inner wall 2 of the storage portion 23 of the upper case 20
An elongated rectangular ribbon supply port 23b extending to both side portions 21 and 22 is formed near the upper edge of the front vertical portion of 3a, and a winding stopper of an inverted triangular prism shape is formed at the center of the horizontal portion of the inner wall 23a. 23c is integrally formed as a protrusion. Further, a rod-shaped guide 2 made of metal is provided at a position between both side portions 21 and 22 of the upper case 20 near the ribbon supply port 23b.
I have passed 5.

Thus, both side portions 11 of the lower case 10,
Projecting edge portion 13d at the upper end of 12 and the rear upper end of the storage portion 13
The upper ends of both side portions 21 and 22 of the upper case 20 and the projecting edge portion 23d of the rear upper end of the housing portion 23 are positioned and abutted to each other, and are welded and joined at a plurality of positions by, for example, ultrasonic welding. .. The cylindrical bearing portion 14 and the lower side of the lower case 10, the other side portion 12 of the upper case 10 and 20,
Both ends 31, 32 of a cylindrical supply ribbon reel 30 are rotatably supported between circular opening bearings 24 formed by 22.

A pair of flanges 33 and 34 are integrally formed on both sides of the supply ribbon reel 30 so as to project. A projecting piece 11 formed by integrally projecting the cylindrical shaft-shaped one end 31 of the supply ribbon reel 30 and the bearing 14 of the lower case 10.
A compression coil spring 35 is interposed between a, and a plurality of drive locking ribs 32a are integrally formed in parallel projectingly on the inner peripheral surface of the other end 32. In addition, the pair of collars 3
A pair of feed claws 33a, 33a and 34a, 34a are integrally projectingly formed on the outer circumferences of 3, 34, respectively. Further, a plurality of engagement groove portions 34b are radially formed on the outer surface side of the collar portion 34 on the other end portion 32 side of the supply ribbon reel 30. The engaging groove portions 34b are formed on the other side portion 1 of the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 35.
The ribs 12a and 22a formed on the inner surfaces of the ribs 2 and 22 can be locked and separated from each other, and the locking of the ink ribbon 40 can be prevented by preventing the supply ribbon reel 30 from idling. It is like this.

In the body portion between the pair of collar portions 33 and 34 of the supply ribbon reel 30, a colored area formed by a dye coating portion of yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) is continuously formed. A ribbon 40 is wrapped around. A rear end portion of a polyester leader guide film (ribbon pull-out portion) 41 is bonded to the front end (front end) of the ink ribbon 40 (this bonded portion is indicated by reference numeral 40a in FIG. 1).
At the front center of the leader guide film 41, there is formed a chucking hole 41a for engaging with a locking claw (not shown) formed at the center of the take-up ribbon reel of the color video printer, and the latter half thereof. Both sides of 41
The widths of b and 41b are formed wider than the width of the ink ribbon 40 (the width on the front side is formed to be the same as the width of the ink ribbon). Plural feed holes 41c for pulling out are formed on the both side portions 41b, 41b so that they can be easily wound around the take-up ribbon reel. Further, behind the chucking hole 41a of the leader guide film 41,
Positioning hole 41 engaged with and disengaged from the winding stopper 23c
d is formed.

The sublimation type thermal transfer type color video printer using the ribbon cartridge 1 includes a cartridge housing portion, a capstan shaft, a pinch roller, a platen rotatably attached to a moving plate, and a thermal head fixed to a chassis. A take-up ribbon reel (neither of which is shown) or the like is configured such that the platen reciprocally swings with respect to the thermal head fixed to the chassis to come into contact with or separate from the thermal head.

According to the ribbon cartridge 1 of the above-described embodiment, when the ribbon cartridge 1 is used in a color video printer, first, the ribbon cartridge 1 is manually or automatically loaded in the cartridge housing portion of the color video printer. .. When the ribbon cartridge 1 is loaded, as shown in FIG. 4, the leader guide film 41 in the cartridge body 2 engages the positioning hole 41d with the winding stopper 23c protruding from the inner wall 23a of the upper case 20 of the cartridge body 2. It is stopped and positioned. That is, in the cartridge main body 2, the leader guide film 41 is in contact with a part of the inner wall 23a due to its waist strength, and the feed holes 41c on both sides of the leader guide film 41 are provided on the supply ribbon reel 30. A pair of collars 33,
The leader guide film 41 is supported by the feed claws 33a and 34a of 34, and the tip end side (chucking hole 41a side) of the leader guide film 41 is exposed from the ribbon supply port 23b. The leading end side of the leader guide film 41 of the ribbon cartridge 1 is sandwiched between the capstan shaft and the pinch roller of the color video printer, and the leader guide film 41 is a take-up ribbon reel provided in the color video printer. Pulled out to the side. The capstan shaft and the pinch roller are located on the ribbon supply port 23b side of the ribbon cartridge 1, and the leader guide film 41 pulled out from the ribbon supply port 23b is sandwiched between the capstan shaft and the pinch roller to be easily wound. Taken to the ribbon reel side and wound up. Printing is started on the printing paper from a state where the ink ribbon 40 is wound around the take-up ribbon reel.

When the ink ribbon 40 is used up or is to be replaced on the way, the ink ribbon 40 is completely rewound onto the supply ribbon reel 30 in the cartridge body 2 of the ribbon cartridge 1 and then the ribbon is rewound. Remove the cartridge 1 from the cartridge storage section. At the time of this removal, as in the case of the above-mentioned loading, the leader guide film 41 is in contact with a part of the inner wall 23a in the cartridge main body 2 due to the rigidity of its waist, and each feed on both sides of the leader guide film 41 is carried out. The holes 41c are the feed claws 33a of the pair of collar portions 33, 34 of the supply ribbon reel 30,
While being supported by 34a, the leading end side of the leader guide film 41 is positioned by a winding stopper 23c so as to extend outside the ribbon supply port 23b by a certain length. The position of the leader guide film 41 with respect to the inside of the cartridge body 2 is set at the time of loading the ribbon cartridge 1 and the ink ribbon 40 and the leader guide film 41.
It is in the same position when the winding is completed. Therefore, since the winding stopper 23c is provided on the inner wall 23a of the cartridge body 2, the ribbon cartridge 1
Leader guide film 41 when loading and unloading
The positioning of the leader guide film 41 is facilitated, and the repetitive operations of feeding and winding the leader guide film 41 can be easily and smoothly performed many times. Accordingly, the ribbon cartridge 1 can be easily replaced on the way.

In this way, the supply ribbon reel 30 in which the ink ribbon 40 is wound inside the cartridge body 2 is described.
Since only the reels are rotatably accommodated and the take-up ribbon reels of the color video printer are used, the cartridge body 2 can be downsized and the cost can be reduced accordingly. Further, the cartridge main body 2 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by the lower and upper cases 10 and 20, and as shown in FIG. 4, only the leader guide film 41 is provided in the ribbon supply port 2.
Since the ink ribbon 40 is completely accommodated in the cut ridge body 2 and extends a predetermined length from the cartridge 3b, the strength of the cartridge body 2 can be made stronger than the conventional one, and the ribbon cartridge 1 is erroneously. Even if the cartridge is dropped, the cartridge body 2 will not be damaged and the ink ribbon 40 will not be torn. Further, since the ink ribbon 40 is not directly exposed from the ribbon supply port 23b of the cartridge body 2 before the ribbon cartridge 1 is used, dust or the like does not adhere to the ink ribbon 40, and its handling is easy. Is.

When the ribbon cartridge 1 is loaded,
Since the leader guide film 41, the tip of which comes out from the ribbon supply port 23b of the cartridge body 2, is positioned by the winding stopper 23c of the inner wall 23a of the cartridge body 2, the leader guide film 41 can be smoothly moved without causing looseness. The ink ribbon 40 can be sent out (pulled out) and can be smoothly drawn out without causing slack and wrinkles in the ink ribbon 40. As a result, the positioning accuracy of the ink ribbon 40 relative to the head can be improved, and color unevenness or the like does not occur in the printed image. Further, the ink ribbon 40 and the leader guide film 41 can be smoothly housed in the cartridge body 2 after the ribbon cartridge 1 is completely used or when the ribbon cartridge 1 is replaced halfway, and the ink ribbon 40 can be stored on the supply ribbon reel 30 for a short time. You can rewind without loss.
By completely rewinding the ink ribbon 40 on the supply ribbon reel 30, the print traces of the ink ribbon 40 cannot be seen, so that confidentiality can be maintained.

Furthermore, since the cartridge body 2 can be miniaturized, it can be easily carried and disposed of after use, and the color video printer using the ribbon cartridge 1 can be miniaturized. ..

According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the winding stopper 23c having an inverted triangular prism shape is integrally formed on the inner wall 23a of the horizontal portion of the synthetic resin upper case 20, and the winding stopper 23c is formed by the leader guide. It is formed at a height such that the ink ribbon 40 does not come into contact with the film 41 even if the film 41 comes into contact with the film 41, and it is arranged in front of the ribbon supply port 23b, or a triangular prism member made of synthetic resin is adhered and fixed to the inner wall 23a. A winding stopper may be provided so as to project, and as shown in FIG.
As in each of the modes shown in (a) to (c), a U-shaped spring-shaped take-up stopper 23f is integrally projected from the horizontal portion of the upper case 20 during molding, or a metal V-shaped plate is formed. The spring 23g may be used, or the retractable member 23h may be used. Further, the chucking hole 41a and the positioning hole 41d are formed at the center of the leading end side of the leader guide film 41, respectively. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the chucking hole 41a 'serves as the chucking hole and the positioning hole. Good.

[0025]

As described above, according to the ribbon cartridge of the present invention, only the supply ribbon reel wound with the ink ribbon in the cartridge body is rotatably accommodated, and the winding ribbon reel is accommodated. Therefore, the cartridge body can be downsized and the cost can be reduced accordingly. Further, since the winding stopper is provided on the inner wall of the cartridge body, the ribbon pull-out portion can be easily positioned with respect to the inner wall of the cartridge body by the winding stopper. It is possible to easily repeat the two operations of pulling out of the positioned ribbon pull-out portion and winding-up by a feed claw or the like protruding from the supply ribbon reel. This makes it possible to easily replace the ribbon cartridge on the way. further,
When the ribbon pull-out portion is positioned by the take-up stopper on the inner wall of the cartridge body, it is possible to prevent the ribbon pull-out portion from loosening and the ink ribbon wound around the supply ribbon reel from loosening or wrinkling. it can. Therefore, the ribbon pull-out portion and the ink ribbon can be smoothly pulled out from the ribbon supply port of the cartridge body in a short time, and furthermore, the ink ribbon and the ribbon pull-out portion can be smoothly rewound in the cartridge body in a short time. In this respect, the ribbon cartridge can be easily replaced on the way.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ribbon cartridge as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which a supply ribbon reel is housed in a lower case of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the upper case of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a lower case of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the supply ribbon reel.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where a leader guide film is wound around the supply ribbon reel.

10 (a), (b) and (c) are explanatory views showing another aspect of the winding stopper of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the leader guide film.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a lower case side of a conventional ribbon cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ribbon cartridge 2 ... Cartridge body 23a ... Inner wall 23b ... Ribbon supply port 23c ... Winding stopper 23f-23h ... Winding stopper 30 ... Supply ribbon reel 33a, 34a ... Feeding claw 40 ... Ink ribbon 41 ... Leader guide film ( Ribbon pull-out part) 41a ... Chucking hole 41c ... Feed hole 41d ... Positioning hole

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Ito 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Shin Iima 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon cartridge in which a supply ribbon reel wound with an ink ribbon is rotatably supported in a cylindrical cartridge body having a ribbon supply port, and a ribbon pull-out portion is provided at the tip of the ink ribbon. A ribbon cartridge characterized in that a winding stopper is provided on an inner wall of the cartridge body while a positioning hole for engaging and disengaging the winding stopper is formed in the ribbon pull-out portion. 2. The supply ribbon is formed by forming a part of the width of the ribbon pull-out portion wider than the width of the ink ribbon, and forming a plurality of feed holes on both sides of the wide portion of the ribbon pull-out portion. 2. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein feed claws that engage with and disengage from the feed holes are provided on both sides of the reel, respectively. 3. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a chucking hole is formed in the ribbon pull-out portion.