JPH0532031A - Ink ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ink ribbon cartridge equipped with a mechanism converting the reversible rotation of the ribbon driving shaft of a printer to one direction to feed a ribbon in one direction. CONSTITUTION:The freely reversibly rotating input shaft 7 connected to the ribbon driving shaft 17 provided to the carriage of a printer, the first transmission gear 13 connected to an ink ribbon feed roller 4, the second transmission gear 14 meshed with the first transmission gear 13 and a change-over mechanism 19 transmitting the rotation of the input shaft 7 to the first transmission gear 13 or the second transmission gear 14 corresponding to the rotary direction of the input shaft 7 are provided to the cartridge case 1 provided with the ink ribbon feed roller 4 and, even when the input shaft 7 is rotated in any directions, a power transmission route is changed over by the change-over mechanism 19 to drive the feed roller 4 in one direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cartridge mounted on a serial printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a serial printer, a carriage on which a print head is mounted is reciprocated by a motor capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions. It is provided. Further, an ink ribbon cartridge having an endless ink ribbon and a feed roller for moving the ink ribbon is mounted on the carriage, and when the ink ribbon cartridge is mounted on the carriage,
The rotation of the ribbon drive shaft is transmitted to the feed roller of the ink ribbon cartridge.

On the other hand, since the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon cartridge consumes ink by printing, it is necessary to run the ink ribbon in one direction and draw out a portion where the ink is not always consumed to the printing portion. For this reason, the printer is provided with a ribbon feeding device that constantly transmits the rotational force based on the linear reciprocating motion of the carriage as a rotational force in one direction to the ribbon drive shaft.

Further, as a method of driving an ink ribbon cartridge which is mounted on a printer without being mounted on a carriage, a carriage motor which can reciprocate the carriage is provided so that the carriage motor can be rotated forward and backward. There is also a ribbon drive device in which a printer is provided with a power transmission device having a rotation direction switching mechanism that transmits the rotation of the carriage motor in the other direction to the opposite direction by transmitting the rotation to the drive shaft and transmitting the rotation to the ribbon drive shaft.

[0005]

A conventional ribbon feeding device for converting the reciprocating motion of a carriage into a rotary motion or transmitting the rotary force of a carriage motor to a ribbon drive shaft is known.
In order to match the durability of the printer, one that operates smoothly for a long period of time is required, and since mechanical strength is required, the number of rotation transmitting parts made of a metal material also increases. Along with this, the number of bearings that pivotally support the rotation transmitting component also increases. As a result, the size of the printer becomes large and the cost increases.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a cartridge case for accommodating an endless ink ribbon and having a rotatable feed roller pressed against the ink ribbon and detachably mounted on a carriage of a printer. ,
An input shaft pivotally supported by the cartridge case and detachably coupled to a forward / reverse rotatable ribbon drive shaft provided on the carriage, and a first shaft axially supported by the cartridge case and constantly coupled to the feed roller. One transmission gear,
The second transmission gear, which is always meshed with the first transmission gear and is axially supported by the cartridge case, and the rotation of the input shaft, which depends on the rotation direction of the input shaft, is either the first transmission gear or the first transmission gear. It is composed of a switching mechanism that transmits to the second transmission gear.

[0007]

The input shaft of the cartridge case rotates in either forward or reverse directions according to the rotation direction of the ribbon drive shaft. When the input shaft rotates in one direction, the rotation of the input shaft is controlled by the switching mechanism. Is transmitted to the first transmission gear, the feed roller connected to the first transmission gear is driven in the forward direction.
When the input shaft rotates in the other direction, the rotation of this input shaft is transmitted to the second transmission gear by the switching mechanism, so the rotation in the other direction of the input shaft is transmitted from the second transmission gear to the first transmission gear. At the time of transmission, the rotation direction is converted to the positive direction and transmitted to the feed roller. Further, since the switching mechanism and the rotation transmitting parts that transmit the rotation of the input shaft to the feed roller are all mounted in the cartridge case, the bearing structure that pivotally supports the switching mechanism, the rotation transmitting parts and the rotation transmitting parts is used to make the ink ribbon cartridge durable. The cost of the printer can be reduced while the price of the ink ribbon cartridge can be kept low.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Although only a part is shown, a cartridge case 1 for the ink ribbon cartridge is provided.
The cartridge case 1 is formed with a ribbon storage chamber 2 for storing an endless ink ribbon (not shown) and a transmission chamber 3. The ribbon storage chamber 2 has a feed roller 4 and a pressure roller (not shown) which is in pressure contact with the feed roller 4.
Are rotatably provided, and a gear 5 located in the transmission chamber 3 is integrally formed at one end of the feed roller 4. Also,
An input shaft 7 having an input gear 6 and rotatably holding the feed roller 4 is rotatably provided on the cartridge case 1, and two projections 8 and 9 are provided on the outer periphery of the input shaft 7.
The switching arm 10 having is fitted so as to rotate following the frictional force. The first planetary gear 11 is rotatably supported on one of the protrusions 8 and the other of the protrusions 9 is rotatably supported.
A second planetary gear 12 is rotatably supported on the shaft.
These planetary gears 11 and 12 are constantly meshed with the input gear 6. Further, in the transmission chamber 3, a first transmission gear 13 and a second transmission gear 14 meshed with the gear 5 of the feed roller 4 are rotatably supported in mesh with each other. Therefore, the switching mechanism 19 for transmitting the rotation of the input shaft 7 to the first transmission gear 13 or the second transmission gear 14 according to the rotation direction of the input shaft 7 is provided with the switching arm 10 and the planetary gear. It is formed by 11 and 12.

Although only a part is shown, the carriage 15 of the printer is reciprocally provided along the platen. A ribbon drive shaft 17 having a drive gear 16 is rotatably held on the carriage 15, and a rack 18 meshed with the drive gear 16 is fixedly provided along the platen. The upper portion of the ribbon drive shaft 17 is formed in a cross shape in cross section, and the input shaft 7 is formed with a shaft hole having a cross shape in cross section to be fitted into the ribbon drive shaft 17.

In such a structure, when the cartridge case 1 is mounted on the carriage 15, the input shaft 7
Is connected to the ribbon drive shaft 17. And rack 18
Since the drive gear 16 is meshed with the drive gear 16, the carriage 1
When 5 is driven along the platen, the ribbon drive shaft 17 rotates to drive the input shaft 7.

Here, the input shaft 7 of the cartridge case 1
Rotates in either forward or reverse directions according to the rotation direction of the ribbon drive shaft 17, but when the input shaft 7 rotates clockwise, the switching arm 10 rotates clockwise due to friction with respect to the input shaft 7, and One planetary gear 11 is meshed with the first transmission gear 13. At this time, the second planetary gear 12 is separated from the second transmission gear 14. Therefore, the clockwise rotation of the input shaft 7 is transmitted to the feed roller 4 via the input gear 6, the first planetary gear 11, the first transmission gear 13 and the gear 5. On the contrary, when the input shaft 7 rotates counterclockwise, the switching arm 10 rotates counterclockwise and the second planetary gear 12 meshes with the second transmission gear 14, so that the counterclockwise rotation of the input shaft 7 occurs. The clockwise rotation is transmitted to the feed roller 4 via the input gear 6, the second planetary gear 12, the second transmission gear 14, the first transmission gear 13 and the gear 5. Therefore, the feed roller 4 is driven clockwise regardless of the rotation direction of the input shaft 7.

The rotation transmitting parts for transmitting the rotation of the input shaft 7 to the feed roller 4, that is, the input gear 6, the planet gears 11, 12, the transmission gears 13, 14, the gear 5, etc. are all mounted on the cartridge case 1. Therefore, the rotation transmitting parts and the bearing structure for axially supporting these rotation transmitting parts can be simply configured in accordance with the durability of the ink ribbon cartridge, thereby reducing the price of the ink ribbon cartridge. It is possible to suppress the cost of the printer and to reduce the cost of the printer.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the description has been made in the case where the two planetary gears 11 and 12 are used. However, each time the rotation direction of the switching arm 10 is reversed due to the reversing operation of the input shaft 7, the planetary gear 11 is reversed. , 12 may be alternately meshed with the first transmission gear 13 and the second transmission gear 14. In this case, one of the protrusions 8 and 9 of the switching arm 10 may be extended toward the meshing portion between the first transmission gear 13 and the second transmission gear 14. As a result, the shape of the switching arm can be simplified and the number of planet gears can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The same parts as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the transmission chamber 3 of the cartridge case 1, an input shaft 7 having an input gear 6, a first idler gear 20, and a second idler gear 21 are rotatably held. These idler gears 20, 21
Are separated from each other, but are always meshed with the input gear 6 of the input shaft 7. In addition, these idler gears 20,
The shafts 20b and 21b formed integrally with the shaft center of 21 are
The first transmission gear 13 or the second transmission gear 14 is rotatably fitted.

Therefore, the spring 22 is closely attached to the boss 13a formed on the first transmission gear 13 and the boss 20a formed on the first idler gear 20, and the boss formed on the second transmission gear 14 is attached. A spring 23 is formed between 14a and the boss 21a formed on the second idler gear 21. These springs 22 and 23 are wound so that the winding directions are opposite to each other. Therefore, the spring 22 shows the action of the one-way clutch 24 that transmits only the clockwise rotation of the first idler gear 20 to the first transmission gear 13, and the spring 23 only rotates the second idler gear 21 in the counterclockwise direction. The operation of the one-way clutch 25 for transmitting the transmission to the second transmission gear 14 is shown. Then, the two one-way clutches 24, 25 having different rotation transmission directions cause the rotation of the input shaft 7 to rotate according to the rotation direction of the input shaft 7.
3 or the switching mechanism 26 for transmitting to the second transmission gear 14
Are formed.

In such a structure, the input shaft 7 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise according to the moving direction of the carriage. When the input shaft 7 rotates clockwise, the first idler gear 20 and the second idler gear 21 rotate counterclockwise. At this time, only the counterclockwise rotation of the second idler gear 21 is transmitted to the second transmission gear 14 by the one-way clutch 25, and the first transmission gear 13 meshed with the second transmission gear 14 becomes the spring. The gear 5 is driven in the forward direction together with the feed roller 4 by rotating clockwise while slipping with respect to 22.

When the input shaft 7 rotates counterclockwise, the first idler gear 20 and the second idler gear 21 rotate clockwise. At this time, only the clockwise rotation of the first idler gear 20 is transmitted to the first transmission gear 13 by the one-way clutch 24, and the gear 5 is driven in the forward direction together with the feed roller 4. At this time, the second transmission gear 14
Slips against the spring 23 and spins counterclockwise.

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided a cartridge case for accommodating an endless ink ribbon and having a rotatable feed roller pressed against the ink ribbon and detachably mounted on a carriage of a printer, and the cartridge case. An input shaft that is supported by the cartridge and is detachably connected to a forward / reverse rotatable ribbon drive shaft provided on the carriage, and a first transmission that is supported by the cartridge case and is always connected to the feed roller. A gear, a second transmission gear which is constantly meshed with the first transmission gear and is axially supported by the cartridge case, and rotation of the input shaft according to the rotation direction of the input shaft. Alternatively, the input shaft of the cartridge case is either forward or reverse depending on the rotation direction of the ribbon drive shaft, since the input shaft of the cartridge case is constituted by the switching mechanism that transmits to the second transmission gear. Although it also rotates in the same direction, when the input shaft rotates in one direction, the rotation of this input shaft is transmitted to the first transmission gear by the switching mechanism, so the feed roller connected to this first transmission gear is It can be driven in the positive direction, and when the input shaft rotates in the other direction, the rotation of this input shaft is transmitted to the second transmission gear by the switching mechanism, so that the rotation in the other direction of the input shaft is transmitted to the second direction. When transmitting from the transmission gear to the first transmission gear, the rotation direction can be converted to the positive direction and transmitted to the feed roller, and the switching mechanism and rotation transmission parts that transmit the rotation of the input shaft to the feed roller are all Since the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge case, the switching mechanism, the rotation transmitting component, and the bearing structure for pivotally supporting the rotation transmitting component can be simply configured according to the durability of the ink ribbon cartridge. While inexpensive suppressed the price of the ridge has the effect of such costs can be reduced printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial horizontal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of a part thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a part thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cartridge Case 4 Feed Roller 7 Input Shaft 15 Carriage 17 Ribbon Drive Shaft 19, 26 Switching Mechanism

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A cartridge case for accommodating an endless ink ribbon and having a rotatable feed roller pressed against the ink ribbon, the cartridge case being detachably attached to a carriage of a printer. An input shaft pivotally supported by the cartridge case and detachably connected to a forward and reverse rotatable ribbon drive shaft provided on the carriage, and a first shaft axially supported by the cartridge case and constantly connected to the feed roller. Transmission gear, a second transmission gear that is constantly meshed with the first transmission gear and is axially supported by the cartridge case, and the rotation of the input shaft depends on the rotation direction of the input shaft. An ink ribbon cartridge comprising a transmission gear or a switching mechanism for transmitting to the second transmission gear.