JPH0541824U - Flexible cable fixing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for a flexible cable, which is configured so that the flexible cable can be easily and surely fixed and no disconnection occurs. A head base 12 for supporting the thermal head 11 is provided with a bottomed recess 16 into which a flexible cable 15 is inserted, and a bottom opening 16b for pulling out the flexible cable 15 to the side is provided at the bottom of the bottomed recess 16. is there. The holding member 17 is press-fitted into the bottomed recess 16 so that the flexible cable 15 is held between the bottom surface 16 d of the bottomed recess 16 and the holding member 17.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a flexible cable fixing structure, and more particularly to a flexible cable fixing structure configured to stably hold a flexible cable connected to a print head.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 For example, in a thermal transfer printer, the head base that supports the thermal head is moved laterally together with the carriage in which the ribbon cartridge is mounted, and at the same time, the head presses the ink ribbon in the ribbon cartridge against the printing paper, and Is transferred to the printing paper. In this way, one end of the flexible cable is connected to the head that moves back and forth in the lateral direction, and the other end of this flexible cable is pulled out from the head base so as not to interfere with the operation of the head base. ..

FIG. 4 shows a conventional flexible cable fixing structure. In the figure, a flexible cable 3 is connected to a thermal head 2 supported by a supporting portion 1a on the head base 1. The flexible cable 3 is once pulled out below the head 2 and then on the head base 1. Along the wall 1b of the head base 1, it is bent upward by 90 degrees and then pulled out laterally. Then, the flexible cable 3 is fixed to the head base 1 by the double-sided adhesive tape 4. Further, the other end of the flexible cable 3 laterally pulled out from the head base 1 is slackened in a U shape so as not to hinder the movement of the head base 1.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the fixing structure shown in FIG. 4, each time the head base 1 reciprocates in the direction A, the bent portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 repeatedly bends as shown by the one-dot chain line. The curved portion 3a has low durability, and there is a possibility that wire breakage may occur when a printing operation is performed for a long time. Further, since the conventional structure is such that the flexible cable 3 is fixed to the head base 1 with the adhesive tape 4, the flexible cable 3 cannot be firmly fixed, and the adhesive tape 4 is peeled off by the repeated bending operation of the bent portion 3a. However, there is a problem such as lack of reliability. Furthermore, when the flexible cable 3 is replaced, the adhesive tape 4 remains on the head base 1 and the replacement work is difficult.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for a flexible cable that solves the above problems.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention provides a flexible cable fixing structure for fixing a flexible cable whose one end is connected to a head base supporting a print head, wherein a bottomed recess into which the flexible cable is inserted is provided in the head base. A bottom opening for pulling out the other end of the flexible cable is provided at the bottom of the bottomed recess, and a holding member for pressing the flexible cable to the bottom of the bottomed recess is press-fitted into the bottomed recess. I will do it.

[0007]

[Action]

 The flexible cable is inserted into the bottomed recess provided in the head base, and the holding member is press-fitted into the bottomed recess while the flexible cable is pulled out from the bottom opening of the bottomed recess to hold the flexible cable in the bottomed recess.

[0008]

【Example】

 1 to 3 show a flexible cable fixing structure according to the present invention.

In each drawing, a thermal head (hereinafter, simply referred to as a head) 1 is supported by a head base 12, and the head base 12 is in a direction A along a printing paper 13 by a drive mechanism (not shown) during a printing operation. Move to. A ribbon cartridge (not shown) is mounted on the top of the head base 12, and an ink ribbon 14 is mounted on the front side of the head 11.

The head 11 is connected to a print control unit (not shown) via a flexible cable 15, and a character pattern to be printed is heated by a print signal supplied from the flexible cable 15, and an ink ribbon is printed. The 14 inks are transferred onto the printing paper 13. Then, while performing the printing operation, the head 11 moves along with the head base 12 along the printing paper 13 and prints one line of characters.

The flexible cable 15 has one end connected to the moving side head 11 and the other end connected to a fixed side circuit board (not shown). The flexible cable 15 is formed by printing a plurality of conductor patterns on a film-shaped base made of, for example, polyester resin, and further covering the surface with a film-shaped insulating layer. Therefore, the flexible cable 15 has flexibility and can be easily bent in an arc shape, and has flexibility and strength such that it can be restored without being cut or plastically deformed even when repeatedly bent. As shown in FIG. 4, the wire may be broken when repeatedly bent at a right angle and repeatedly bent at an acute angle.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the head base 12 is provided with the bottomed recessed portion 16. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottomed recess 16 is a box-shaped recess having a rectangular opening 16a that is slightly wider than the width dimension of the flexible cable 15, and the flexible cable 15 is located on the side wall of the bottom. A bottom opening 16b that is pulled out toward one side is provided.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a holding member, which is a mold member integrally formed of, for example, elastically deformable synthetic resin or the like. The holding member 17 has a pressing portion 17a for pressing the flexible cable 15, ribs 17b and 17c protruding from both side surfaces of the pressing portion 17a and pressed against the inner wall 16c of the bottomed recess 16 and protruding from an upper portion of the pressing portion 17a. Control knob 17d.

In addition, inclined portions are provided at the lower end portions of the ribs 17b and 17c in order to facilitate the press-fitting operation of the holding member 17.

Here, the mounting operation of the flexible cable fixing structure having the above configuration will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the flexible cable 15 connected to the head 11 is folded rightward by 90 degrees in front of the bottomed recess 16. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the other end of the flexible cable 15 is inserted from the opening 16a of the bottomed recess 16 and pulled out laterally from the bottom opening 16b. Then, the holding member 17 is pressed into the opening 16a of the bottomed recess 16 from above. The holding member 17 is press-fitted into the bottomed recess 16 and the lower end portion of the pressing portion 17 a presses the flexible cable 15 against the bottom 16 d of the bottomed recess 16.

Then, the ribs 17b and 17c projecting to both sides of the holding member 17 are pressure-bonded to the inner wall 16c of the bottomed recess 16 so that the holding member 17 is prevented from falling off. Therefore, the flexible cable 15 is securely fixed by the press-fitting operation of the holding member 17.

The flexible cable 15 is bent into a crank shape by being inserted into the recessed portion 16 having a bottom. However, even if the head base 12 is moved and the tensile force in the A direction is repeatedly applied, the flexible cable 15 remains fixed and is folded. There is no disconnection at the bend.

Further, when the flexible cable 15 is replaced, it can be easily replaced with a new one by grasping the knob 17d of the holding member 17 and pulling it upward.

[0020]

As described above, in the flexible cable fixing structure according to the present invention, the holding member is press-fitted into the bottomed recess with the flexible cable inserted into the bottomed recess and pulled out from the bottom opening of the bottomed recess. By doing so, the flexible cable can be securely fixed, and even if the head base moves, disconnection does not occur and durability can be improved. Furthermore, the flexible cable can be easily replaced by simply pulling out the holding member from the bottomed recess.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a head base to which an embodiment of a flexible cable fixing structure according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing an essential part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a conventional flexible cable fixing structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Thermal Head 12 Head Base 13 Printing Paper 15 Flexible Cable 16 Bottomed Recess 17 Holding Member

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A flexible cable fixing structure for fixing a flexible cable, one end of which is connected to a head base supporting a print head, wherein a bottomed recess into which the flexible cable is inserted is provided in the head base. A bottom opening for pulling out the other end of the flexible cable is provided at the bottom of the bottomed recess, and a holding member for holding the flexible cable so as to press the bottom end of the bottomed recess is press-fitted into the bottomed recess. Fixed structure of flexible cable.