JPH05330181A - Printer and ink ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To endow a ribbon with the secret keeping properties by preventing that printed content is read from a used ink ribbon. CONSTITUTION:In a printer 14 using an ink ribbon cartridge 1 equipped with a supply spool 7 having an ink ribbon 13 wound therearound and a taking-up spool 7' taking up the ink ribbon, a welding member 23 welding the ink ribbon wound around the taking-up spool is provided and a sensor 19 detects the marker 17 of the rotary plate 18 rotating so as to follow the rotation of the taking-up spool and, at each time when it is detected that the taking-up spool is rotated by a specified angle by the sensor 19, the welding member enters the spool receiving part of the case through the receiving hole provided to the spool receiving part to weld the ink ribbon.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel printer and ink ribbon cartridge. Specifically, it is intended to provide a new printer and an ink ribbon cartridge to be used for the printer, which keeps confidentiality by preventing the printed contents from being read from the used ink ribbon. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer that uses an ink ribbon for printing, the printed content can be read by observing the afterimage of the used ink ribbon.

[0003]

In consideration of environmental protection and the like, when a used ink ribbon cartridge is collected at a store or the like, the ink ribbon is taken out and the afterimage is seen, so that the secret is easily leaked. There is a problem that it will end up.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the printer according to the present invention is provided with welding means for welding the ink ribbon wound on the winding side spool.

The ink ribbon cartridge used in such a printer is provided with an opening for inserting the welding means in a case in which the winding spool is housed.

[0006]

Therefore, according to the printer of the present invention, since the used ink ribbon is welded, the printed contents are not read by a third party and the confidentiality is maintained. .

[0007]

The printer and the ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

First, an outline of an ink ribbon cartridge used in the printer according to the present invention will be described.

In the drawing, 1 is an ink ribbon cartridge, and 2 is its case.

The case 2 is formed by connecting front and rear connecting portions 4 and 4 'so that two substantially cylindrical spool accommodating portions 3 and 3'are positioned in parallel in a state of being separated from each other on the left and right.

The spool accommodating portions 3, 3'are opened at their front ends and closed at their rear ends.

Further, insertion notches 5, 5'which are long in the front-rear direction are formed in the side walls of the spool housing portions 3, 3 'which face each other.

Further, the spool housing portion 3'on the winding side is provided with a receiving hole 6 extending in the axial direction thereof and formed in a portion excluding both front and rear ends.

Reference numerals 7 and 7'indicate spools having a substantially cylindrical shape.

Flanges 8 and 8'are formed at positions near the front ends of the spools 7 and 7 '.
The front end portions 9 and 9'of 7'are made to be driven parts, and the connection recesses 10 and 10 'which are open at the front end are formed.
On the inner peripheral surface of 10 ', engaging projections 11, 1 extending in the axial direction are provided.
, ..., 11 ', 11', ... Are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

The spools 7 and 7'are rotatably accommodated in the spool accommodating portions 3 and 3'of the case 2. At this time, the flanges 8 and 8'of the spools 7 and 7'are brought into contact with the opening edge portions inside the front openings 12 and 12 'of the spool housing portions 3 and 3'.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an ink ribbon, both ends of which are fixed to the spools 7 and 7 ', and most of them are wound around the supply side spool 7. The ink ribbon 13 is passed through the insertion cutouts 5 and 5'of the spool storage portions 3 and 3 ', and is exposed to the outside between the insertion cutouts 5 and 5'.

Next, the printer will be described.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a drum type printer 14.

Reference numeral 15 is a connection recess 10 of the spool 7'on the winding side.
It is a drive shaft that is fitted in and engaged with the inside of the shaft, and is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown).

Reference numeral 16 is a rotation detector, which is a marker 17,
.. and a sensor 19 for detecting the markers 17, 17, ... Of the rotating plate 18, the rotating plate 18 being linked by a drive shaft 15 and a belt 20. When the take-up spool 7 ′ rotates, the rotating plate 18 is rotated, and the sensor 19 detects the markers 17, 17, ... Is detected.

Reference numeral 21 is a drum, 22 is a thermal head, and the ink ribbon 13 in the portion between the two spools 7 and 7'is passed between the drum 21 and the thermal head 22.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a welding member, which is constructed so as to enter and leave the spool housing portion 3'through the receiving hole 6 of the case 2 of the ink ribbon cartridge 1, and at least the ink ribbon wound on the winding side spool 7 '. The tip portion contacting 13 has a temperature sufficient to melt the ink ribbon 13.

When the take-up spool 7'rotates a predetermined rotation angle, for example, 90 degrees, it is detected by the sensor 19
Is detected, the welding member 23 enters the spool housing portion 3 ', contacts the ink ribbon 13 wound on the winding side spool 7', and melts it. Therefore, when the ink ribbon 13 is used up, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink ribbon 13 wound around the winding side spool 7'is in a state of being welded at several places in the circumferential direction (the portion welded at reference numeral 24). ), It becomes impossible to see the afterimage by unwinding the spool from the take-up side spool 7 '.

It should be noted that such welding is not performed every time the take-up spool 7'rotates by a predetermined angle during the printing operation, but the ink ribbon 13 is collectively welded at several places after the front portion is used up. However, in that case, it is necessary to raise the temperature at the time of welding the welding member 23.

FIG. 5 shows a capstan type printer 25.
Is shown.

In the printer 25, the same parts as those in the printer 14 are given the same reference numerals as those in the printer 14, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a platen, which is a printing paper 2 which is run by being sandwiched between a capstan 27 which rotates at a constant speed and a pinch roller 28 which elastically contacts the capstan 27.
9 is supplied to a position in contact with the surface of the platen 26, and the thermal head 22 is elastically contacted with the surface of the platen 26 with the printing paper 29 and the ink ribbon 13 interposed therebetween.

Also in such a printer 25, the sensor 19 detects the rotation of the take-up spool 7'and the welding member 23 causes the take-up spool 7'to rotate every time the take-up spool 7'rotates a predetermined angle. It makes contact with the ink ribbon 13 wound around ′ and welds the ink ribbon 13.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, the printer of the present invention includes an ink ribbon cartridge including a supply side spool around which an ink ribbon is wound and a take-up side spool around which the ink ribbon is wound. The printer to be used is characterized in that a fusing means for fusing the ink ribbon wound on the winding side spool is provided.

Further, the ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention used in the printer is characterized in that the case in which the spool on the take-up side is housed is provided with an opening for inserting the welding means.

Therefore, according to the printer of the present invention, since the used ink ribbon is fused,
The print content is not read by a third party, and the confidentiality is maintained.

The ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention can be used in the printer of the present invention described above.

The shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment in implementing the printer and the ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention. Should not be construed in a limited way.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an ink ribbon cartridge according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing an example of a printer.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a state in which the ink ribbon wound on the winding side spool is welded.

FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing another example of the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ink Ribbon Cartridge 6 Opening 7 Supply Side Spool 7'Rewind Side Spool 13 Ink Ribbon 14 Printer 16 Detecting Means 23 Welding Means 25 Printer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer using an ink ribbon cartridge comprising a supply side spool around which an ink ribbon is wound and a winding side spool around which the ink ribbon is wound up, the printer being wound up on the winding side spool. A printer provided with a fusing means for fusing an ink ribbon. 2. The ink ribbon cartridge used in the printer according to claim 1, wherein the case in which the winding-side spool is housed is provided with an opening into which the welding means is inserted. 3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting rotation of the spool. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink ribbon is welded every time the spool rotates by a predetermined angle.