JPH0563860U - ink ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It is intended to provide good print quality for a long period of time by cleaning ink, ribbon cloth scraps and paper powder attached to the nose tip of an impact dot head. [Structure] In an endless ink ribbon 1 of a ribbon cassette 2 used in a printer equipped with an impact dot head 4, the ink ribbon 2 is composed of two layers, an ink impregnated portion 1b and a head cleaning portion 1a which is a non-impregnated zone. With the ink ribbon characterized in that the cleaning is performed by moving the tip of the impact dot head 4 while contacting the head cleaning unit 1a.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ink ribbon of a ribbon cassette used in an impact dot printer.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In the ink ribbon of the conventional ribbon cassette, the entire surface is an ink impregnated zone as shown in FIG. When printing with the impact dot head 34, the tip of an arbitrary wire (not shown) presses the ink ribbon 30 against the recording paper 35 from the back surface to form dots that become a part of the character. Impact The head of the dot head and the tip of the wire were always in contact with the ink ribbon (ink impregnated band).

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional ink ribbon of a ribbon cassette, the entire surface is an ink impregnation zone, and when the ink ribbon is fed while contacting the tip of the nose or the tip of the wire, or when the wire passes through the ink ribbon. Ink ribbon ink, ribbon dust, paper dust, etc., generated when the recording paper is struck, adheres to the tip of the nose due to long-term printing operation, and may get into the gap between the wire and the wire guide hole. I was entering.

When these inks, ribbon cloth wastes, paper dusts, etc. are accumulated in the tip portion of the nose or in the gap between the wire and the wire guide hole, the viscosity and frictional resistance of these inks hinder the printing operation of the wire. In some cases, the printing pressure may not be obtained sufficiently. Further, there is a problem that the wire guide holes are worn and the dots forming the printed characters are not aligned, so that good printing quality cannot be ensured.

Therefore, in order to solve such a conventional problem, the present invention solves such a problem by printing ink or ribbon in the tip portion of the nose of the impact dot head or in the gap between the wire and the wire guide hole even during a long-term printing operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink ribbon capable of ensuring good printing quality for a long period of time without the accumulation of material waste or paper dust.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, the ink ribbon of the present invention is an endless ink ribbon of a ribbon cassette used in a printer equipped with an impact dot head. It is characterized by comprising two layers of non-impregnated band for cleaning.

Further, in the above-mentioned ink ribbon, the ink impregnated zone and the non-impregnated zone are connected by a weld zone.

[0008]

[Action]

 With the above configuration, ink, ribbon cloth dust, paper dust, etc. adhering to the tip of the nose of the impact dot head and the gap between the wire and the wire guide hole are the non-impregnated head cleaning band. Cleaning with the ink does not hinder the printing operation of the wire due to the viscosity of the ink or the frictional resistance of ribbon material scraps or paper dust, and prevents the wear of the wire guide hole, which prevents long-term printing operation. Also, good printing quality can be secured for a long period of time without the accumulation of ink, ribbon cloth waste, paper dust, etc.

Further, since the ink impregnated zone and the head cleaning zone are combined into a single ribbon by being joined by the fused zone produced by thermal welding, a cassette such as a ribbon ribbon for printing and a cassette for cleaning is formed. It will be possible to save the trouble of exchanging such items.

Furthermore, the weld zone can prevent the ink in the ink impregnated zone from seeping into the non-impregnated zone (head cleaning zone).

[0011]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, which is an example of a ribbon cassette used for an impact dot printer. The ribbon cassette 2 has a ribbon storage portion (not shown) and two arms for guiding the ink ribbon to the printing area. Inside the ribbon cassette 2, a ribbon feeding roller and a ribbon pressing roller are built-in, and the ribbon containing portion contains the ink ribbon 1 composed of two layers according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the ink ribbon 1 shown in the first embodiment. In the ink ribbon 1, the ink-impregnated portion 1b in which ink has been conventionally impregnated and the head cleaning portion 1a in which ink has not been impregnated are joined by the welding portion 1c generated by heat welding to form one ribbon. It is configured. FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing the positional relationship between the impact dot head and the ink ribbon during the printing operation.

The ink impregnated portion 1 b of the ink ribbon 1 is located between the impact dot head 4 and the platen 6, and the recording paper 5 is sent between the platen 6 and the ink ribbon 1 in the print area. The impact dot head 4 prints characters or pictures on the recording paper 5 by reciprocating motion within the printing area. Further, since the cloth is crushed in the welded portion 1c, the ink in the ink impregnated portion 1b cannot move to the head cleaning portion 1a.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing the positional relationship between the impact dot head and the ink ribbon during printing standby.

When the power switch is ON / 0FF or during printing standby, the setting position of the ink ribbon 1 with respect to the impact dot head 4 is switched to the head cleaning unit 1a by a ribbon cassette switching mechanism of an impact dot printer (not shown). The impact dot head 4 moves to a standby position, which is outside the print area (not shown). When the impact dot head 4 moves to the standby position, the tip of the impact dot head 4 moves while contacting the head cleaning unit 1a of the ink ribbon 1. ..

By using the ink ribbon configured as described above, the ink, the ribbon cloth waste, the paper dust, etc. adhering to the tip of the nose of the impact dot head and the gap between the wire and the wire guide hole are removed from the head. By cleaning with the cleaning unit, the printing operation of the wire is not hindered by the viscosity of the ink and the friction resistance of ribbon material scraps and paper dust, and the wear of the wire guide hole is also prevented, making it possible to achieve long-term printing operation. On the other hand, ink, ribbon cloth waste, paper dust, etc. will not be accumulated, and good printing quality can be secured for a long period of time.

Further, when the impact dot head 4 is moved to the outside of the printing area when the power switch is turned ON / 0FF or when waiting for printing, the printing wire (not shown) is driven to perform a blanking operation while the ink ribbon 1 is ejected. By moving on the head cleaning unit 1a, the cleaning effect can be further improved.

As another embodiment, the head cleaning unit 1a can obtain the same effect by using an ink absorbing paper made of a porous absorbing member. Further, the head cleaning portion 1a is located above the ink ribbon 1 in the first embodiment, but since the welded portion 1c generated by thermal welding can prevent the inflow of ink, the head cleaning portion 1a can be set to the lower side as well. The effect of can be obtained.

Furthermore, by impregnating the head cleaning zone of the non-impregnated zone with a solvent having a cleaning effect, the effect of cleaning the tip of the nose of the impact dot head, the ink of the wire and the wire guide, etc. is improved. Will be able to.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ink ribbon is composed of two layers, that is, the ink-impregnated zone and the non-impregnated zone, and the ink-impregnated zone of the ink ribbon has a nose. When the paper is fed while touching the tip, or when the printing wire hits the recording paper through the ink ribbon, the ink in the ink impregnated zone, ribbon cloth dust, paper dust, etc. Even if it adheres to the wire guide hole or the wire, it can be cleaned by the ink cleaning band of the ink ribbon. As a result, a good wire printing operation is secured, and an impact dot head with good printing quality can be obtained for a long period of time. In addition, the head cleaning band is automatically replaced every time the ink ribbon or ribbon cassette is replaced, so that the cleaning function continues and an impact dot head with good print quality can be obtained over a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the ink ribbon of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ink Ribbon 1a Head Cleaning Section 1b Ink Impregnation Section 1c Welding Section 2 Ribbon Cassette 4 Impact Dot Head 5 Recording Paper 6 Platen

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An endless ink ribbon of a ribbon cassette used in a printer equipped with an impact dot head, wherein the ink ribbon comprises an ink impregnated zone and a non-impregnated zone for cleaning the tip of the impact dot head.
An ink ribbon characterized by being composed of layers. 2. The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein in the ink ribbon, the ink-impregnated zone and the non-impregnated zone are connected by a weld zone.