JPH06238975A - Ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate occurrence of a damage of a ribbon during assembling operation by internally engaging a column within a cylinder, and interposing repulsion means between an end of the column and a part of the cylinder opposed to its end. CONSTITUTION:Permanent magnets 26, 27 are interposed as repulsion means between a rear end of a shaft 20 and an inner surface of a bearer 8, and a winding spool 12' is energized at its forward moving force by a repulsion force of the means. A flange 16 is brought into contact with an inner opening edge of an opening of a spool container 5' by the force of the means. A ribbon cartridge 1 does not use a compression coiled spring to bring the flange 16 of the spool 12' into contact with the edge of the opening of the container 5'. Thus, an operation to be conducted while compressing the spring in the case of assembling the spool 12' in a shell is eliminated, and damage of a ribbon 22 during an assembling operation is eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel ribbon cartridge.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a ribbon cartridge in which a supply spool around which a ribbon is wound and a take-up spool are rotatably accommodated in separate spool accommodating portions with a predetermined distance therebetween. To do.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a ribbon cartridge for a sublimation type thermal transfer type color printer, an ink ribbon in which colored ink areas composed of colored ink portions of yellow, magenta, cyan, etc. are continuously wound on a supply spool and a take-up spool, respectively. The one that is turned is used.

8 and 9 show an example a of such a ribbon cartridge.

Reference numeral b denotes a shell of the ribbon cartridge a, that is, an outer shell, which is formed by ultrasonically welding an upper shell c and a lower shell d into which the upper shell c and the lower shell d, which are divided into upper and lower parts, are abutted with each other.

Reference numerals e and e'represent a substantially cylindrical spool accommodating portion, and circular openings f, f are formed at one end, that is, the front end, and the other end, that is, the rear end is closed.

In such a state that the spool storage parts e, e'are arranged in parallel with each other with a predetermined distance therebetween, the front and rear ends thereof are connected by the connection parts g, g '.

Further, slits h, h reaching near both front and rear ends are formed on the side surfaces of the spool accommodating portions e, e'which face each other.

Further, cylindrical receiving parts i, i are provided in a substantially central portion of the inner surface of the rear end wall of the spool accommodating parts e, e '.

Reference numeral j denotes a supply spool, and j'denotes a take-up spool, which has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a front end portion having a slightly large diameter and serving as connecting portions k, k.

Further, flanges 1, 1 and m, m are provided so as to project at a position near the rear end and a substantially intermediate portion of the connecting portions k, k.

Further, columnar shaft portions n, n are projected from the rear ends of the spools j, j '.

The shafts n, n of the spools j, j'are rotatably inserted into the receiving parts i, i of the spool accommodating parts e, e ', so that the flanges m, m of the connecting parts k, k are formed. The front part of the above is rotatably accommodated in the spool accommodating parts e, e'with the openings f, f inserted therethrough.

Reference numerals o and o are coil springs, which are compressed between the rear end surfaces of the spools j and j'and the back surfaces of the receiving portions i and i while being fitted onto the spools j and j '. Due to the elastic force, the flanges m, m on the front side of the spools j, j ′ are pressed against the inner opening edge portions of the openings f, f of the spool accommodating portions e, e ′, thereby preventing the spools j, j ′ from idling. To be done.

Reference numeral p designates an ink ribbon, both ends of which are ribbon winding portions of the spools j, j ', that is, flanges 1,
Each of them is separately fastened and wound around the portion between 1 and the rear ends of the connecting portions g and g '.

Then, the ink ribbon p is led out of the spool accommodating parts e, e'through the slits h, h of the spool accommodating parts e, e '.

[0017]

In the above-mentioned ribbon cartridge a, when the spool accommodating parts j and j'are incorporated into the lower shell d, the coil springs o and o are fitted onto the shaft parts n and n of the lower shell d. , Compressing this, the receiving parts i, i
Have to be inserted into the
In some cases, the ink ribbon p could be damaged.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a ribbon cartridge of the present invention is provided in a separate spool storage portion in which a supply spool and a take-up spool around which a ribbon body is wound are separated by a predetermined distance. A spool that is rotatably housed in the spool, and a flange that abuts an inner opening edge of the opening that is formed in the spool housing and that exposes one end of the spool to the outside is formed at one end of the spool and the other end of the spool and the spool housing. A columnar portion is formed on one side with the closed other end portion, and a cylindrical portion for internally fitting the columnar portion on the other side is formed, and the columnar portion is rotatably fitted inside the cylindrical portion, and the end face of the columnar portion and the cylindrical portion are formed. A repulsion means is interposed between the end surface and a portion facing the end face, and the repulsive force of the repulsion means causes the flange to abut against the inner opening edge of the opening of the spool accommodating portion.

[0019]

Therefore, in the ribbon cartridge of the present invention, since the compression coil spring is not used to bring the flange of the spool into contact with the inner opening edge of the opening of the spool accommodating portion, when the spool is assembled in the shell. The troublesome work of compressing the coil spring becomes unnecessary, the assembling property becomes extremely good, and the ribbon body is not damaged during the assembling work.

[0020]

The details of the ribbon cartridge of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is applied to an ink ribbon cartridge for a printer.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment 1 of the ribbon cartridge of the present invention.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a shell forming an outer shell of the ink ribbon cartridge 1, which is formed by vertically lowering a lower shell 3 and an upper shell 4 made of synthetic resin and joining them by ultrasonic welding or the like.

Numerals 5 and 5'indicate spool storage portions, which are substantially cylindrical and have circular openings 6 and 6 formed at their front ends and closed at their rear ends.

Further, stopper protrusions 7, 7, ... Are provided on the inner surface of the front end wall in which the openings 6, 6 are formed.

Cylindrical receiving portions 8, 8 are provided at the center of the inner surface of the rear end wall closing the rear ends of the spool accommodating portions 5, 5 '.

The receiving portions 8 and 8 are formed on the lower shell 3 side.

The spool housing portions 5 and 5'are connected to each other at their front and rear ends by connecting portions 9 and 9'in a state of being arranged in parallel with each other with a predetermined distance therebetween.

Then, slits 10 and 10 reaching near both front and rear ends are formed on side surfaces of the spool accommodating portions 5 and 5 ′ facing each other.

Reference numeral 11 is a reading hole formed on the outer side surface of the rear end of the one spool accommodating portion 5.

Reference numeral 12 is a supply spool, and 12 'is a take-up spool.

These spools 12 and 12 'have a substantially cylindrical shape, and their front end portions are formed to have a large diameter so that the connecting portions 13 and 13 are formed.
It is said that.

The connecting portions 13, 13 are formed with connecting recesses 14, 14 opening at the front end faces thereof.
A plurality of engagement pieces 15, 15, ... Extending in the axial direction are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of 4, 14 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

Flanges 16, 16 are formed at positions approximately in the middle of the connecting portions 13, 13 in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of engaging recesses 17, 17, ... extending in the radial direction are formed on the front surfaces of the flanges 16, 16. Are formed.

The spools 12, 12 'are also formed with flanges 18, 18 near the rear ends thereof, and the portions 19, 19 behind the flanges 18, 18 have a smaller outer diameter than the other portions. It is considered a division.

Further, cylindrical shaft portions 20, 20 are provided so as to project from the central portion of the rear end faces of the small diameter portions 19, 19.

The shafts 20 and 20 are formed such that their outer diameters are slightly smaller than the inner diameters of the receiving portions 8 and 8 of the spool accommodating portions 5 and 5 ', and they rotate without rattling in the receiving portions 8 and 8. I'm supposed to get it.

Also, a portion 2 of the spool 12, 12 'from the rear end of the connecting portion 13, 13 to the flange 18, 18.
1, 21 are ribbon winding parts.

Reference numeral 22 is an ink ribbon in which a colored ink region composed of colored ink portions such as yellow, magenta, and cyan is continuously formed on a thin ribbon-shaped substrate. The ink ribbon 22 has spool 12 at both ends thereof. The ribbon winding portions 21 and 21 of 12 'are separately fastened, and most of them are wound around the ribbon winding portion 21 of the supply spool 12.

Reference numeral 23 is an annular cord ring,
The gear portion 23a and the display portion 23b are formed integrally side by side in front and rear, and the display portion 23b is provided with a bar code 24 for displaying information to be transmitted to the printer side such as the type and property of the ink ribbon 22. There is.

The cord ring 23 is externally fitted and supported on the small diameter portion 19 of the supply spool 12.

The supply spool 12 and the take-up spool 12 'are rotatably housed in the spool housing 5 and the spool housing 5', respectively.

At this time, the cord ring 23 supported by the supply spool 12 is exposed to the outside from the reading hole 11 formed at the rear end of the spool accommodating portion 5.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a cylindrical cord ring receiver formed so as to surround the receiving portion 8 in the spool housing portion 5, and the amount of protrusion from the rear end wall of the spool housing portion 5 is the receiving portion 8
The inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 19 of the supply spool 12, and the outer diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 19.

Therefore, the front end surface of the cord ring receiver 25 abuts on the outer peripheral surface side of the rear end surface of the small diameter portion 19 and also slightly abuts on the cord ring 23. Is prevented from falling off.

The spools 12 and 12 'have their shaft portions 20 and 20 in the receiving portions 8 and 8 in the spool accommodating portions 5 and 5'.
It is rotatably inserted therein and the flanges 16, 16 are located inside the openings 6, 6.

The rear ends of the shaft portions 20, 20 and the receiving portion 8,
A repulsion means is interposed between the rear surface of the spool 8 and the back surface of the spool 8, and the repulsive force of the repulsion means urges the spools 12 and 12 'to move forward. , The flanges 16, 16 are pressed against the inner opening edge portions of the openings 6, 6, and the engaging recesses 17, 17, ... Formed on the front surface thereof are formed on the inner opening edge portions of the openings 6, 6. .. are engaged to prevent the spools 12 and 12 'from idling.

And, this ink ribbon cartridge 1
When the printer is mounted on the printer, the drive shaft or the driven shaft on the printer side is internally fitted and coupled to the coupling recesses 14 and 14 of the spools 12 and 12 ', and the spools 12 and 12' are pressed backwards. , 16 are separated from the inner opening edge portions of the openings 6, 6 and the engagement recesses 17, 17, ... With the stopper projections 7, 7 ,.
The 2 and 12 'are ready to rotate.

The permanent magnets 26, 26 and 27, 27 are used as the repulsion means here.

These permanent magnets 26, 26, 27, 27 are disc-shaped, and their diameters are substantially the same as those of the shaft portions 20, 20 of the spools 12, 12 '.

The permanent magnets 26, 26 are connected to the receiving portions 8, 8
Fixed to the inner surface of the permanent magnet 27, 27 is a spool 1
It is fixed to the rear end faces of the shaft parts 20 and 20 of 2, 12 '.

The permanent magnets 26, 26, 27, 27 may be fixed to the respective positions by a suitable means such as a double-sided adhesive tape or an adhesive.

Further, the permanent magnets 26, 26 and 27, 27 are fixed in their respective positions so that the same poles face each other, that is, the repulsive force acts between the permanent magnets 26, 26 and 27, 27. Has been done.

The assembling of the spools 12 and 12 'to the shell 2 is performed as follows (see FIG. 3).

That is, first, the shaft portions 20, 20 of the spools 12, 12 'are inserted into the receiving portions 8, 8 of the lower shell 3 (see FIG. 3 (b)), and then the connecting portions of the spools 12, 12'. Open half portions 6a, 6 on the side of the lower shell 3 on the side of 13, 13
The flanges 16 and 16 are dropped into the inside a so that they are located inside (see FIG. 3C).

When the upper shell 4 is put on the lower shell 3 from this state, the connecting portion 1 of the spools 12 and 12 'is
The front portions of the flanges 16, 16 of the screws 3, 13 are pressed by the opening halves 6b, 6b of the upper shell 4, whereby the spools 12, 12 'are stored in the spool storage portions 5, 5'.

Therefore, the spools 12 and 12 'are attached to the shell 2
The work of storing inside is extremely easy.

5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the ribbon cartridge of the present invention.

The ink ribbon cartridge 1A according to the second embodiment is different from the ink ribbon cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment described above only in the repulsion means, and the other portions are the same as those in the first embodiment. Since it is the same as in Example 1, the different repulsion means will be described in detail, and the other portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals as the same portions in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. To do.

Reference numerals 28 and 28 denote repulsive members formed of rubber-like elastic material in a cylindrical shape, and are fitted in the receiving portions 8 of the spool accommodating portions 5 and 5 '.

That is, the outer diameter of the repulsion members 28, 28 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the receiving portions 8, 8 by about 5%, and is fixed in the receiving portions 8, 8 by the repulsive force of the repulsion members 28, 28 themselves. ing.

As the rubber-like elastic material as the material of the repulsion members 28, there is, for example, a silicon sponge, and a foam density of 0.18 to 0.21 g / cubic cm is preferable.

Such a silicon sponge has a compressive residual strain of 3% or less, and can be used as an elastic member for a long period of time.

Then, first, the shaft portions 20, 20 of the spools 12, 12 'are inserted into the receiving portions 8, 8 of the lower shell 3 (see FIG. 6B), and then the spools 12, 12'.
Opening half 6 of the lower shell 3 side of the connecting portions 13, 13 of
The flanges 16 and 16 are dropped into a and 6a so that they are located inside (see FIG. 6 (c)).

In this state, when the upper shell 4 is put on the lower shell 3, the connecting portion 1 of the spools 12 and 12 'is
The front portions of the flanges 16, 16 of the screws 3, 13 are pressed by the opening halves 6b, 6b of the upper shell 4, whereby the spools 12, 12 'are stored in the spool storage portions 5, 5'.

Then, the shaft portion 2 of the spool 12, 12 '
0, 20 and the back surface of the receiving portion 8, 8 between the repulsion member 28,
28 is interposed, and by the repulsive force thereof, the spool 12,
Since a forward moving force is applied to 12 ', when not in use, the flanges 16, 16 are pressed against the inner opening edge portions of the openings 6, 6 and are formed on the front surface thereof. The engaging recesses 17, 17, ..., Which are formed on the inner opening edge of the openings 6, 6 are stopper protrusions 7, 7 ,.
To prevent the spools 12 and 12 'from idling.

And, this ink ribbon cartridge 1
When the printer is mounted on the printer, the drive shaft or the driven shaft on the printer side is internally fitted and coupled to the coupling recesses 14 and 14 of the spools 12 and 12 ', and the spools 12 and 12' are pressed backwards. , 16 are separated from the inner opening edge portions of the openings 6, 6 and the engagement recesses 17, 17, ... With the stopper projections 7, 7 ,.
The 2 and 12 'are ready to rotate.

[0068]

As is apparent from the above description, in the ribbon cartridge of the present invention, the supply spool and the take-up spool, on which the ribbon body is wound, are rotated in separate spool storage portions with a predetermined distance therebetween. A spool is formed at one end of the spool so as to be in contact with an inner opening edge portion of the opening that exposes one end of the spool to the outside, and the other end of the spool and the spool storage part are closed. A columnar portion is formed on one side with the other end portion, and a cylindrical portion into which the columnar portion is fitted inside is formed, and the columnar portion is rotatably fitted inside the cylindrical portion, and the end surface of the columnar portion and the end surface of the cylindrical portion are formed. The repulsive means is interposed between the repulsive means and the portion opposed to, and the repulsive force of the repulsive means causes the flange to abut against the inner opening edge portion of the opening of the spool accommodating portion.

Therefore, in the ribbon cartridge of the present invention, since the compression coil spring is not used to bring the flange of the spool into contact with the inner opening edge of the opening of the spool accommodating portion, when the spool is assembled in the shell. The troublesome work of compressing the coil spring becomes unnecessary, the assembling property becomes extremely good, and the ribbon body is not damaged during the assembling work.

It should be noted that the specific shapes and structures of the respective portions shown in the above-mentioned respective embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment when the present invention is carried out, and the techniques of the present invention are applied by these. The scope should not be construed as limiting.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 shows a first embodiment of a ribbon cartridge according to the present invention together with FIGS. 2 to 4, and is a perspective view.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing a spool assembling procedure in order from (a) to (c).

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another main part.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the ribbon cartridge of the present invention together with FIGS. 6 and 7, and is an exploded perspective view.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing a spool assembling procedure in order from (a) to (c).

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another main part in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a conventional ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing a spool assembling procedure in a conventional ribbon cartridge in order from (a) to (c).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ribbon Cartridge 5 Spool Storage 5'Spool Storage 6 Open 8 Cylindrical 12 Supply Spool 12 'Winding Spool 16 Flange 20 Pillar 22 Ribbon 26 Magnet 27 Magnet 1A Ribbon Cartridge 28 Rubber-like Elastic Body

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A spool, which is rotatably housed in a separate spool housing part with a supply spool and a take-up spool around which a ribbon body is wound at a predetermined distance from each other, and which is formed in the spool housing part at one end of the spool. A flange that abuts the inner opening edge of the opening that exposes one end of the spool to the outside, and the columnar portion is provided at one of the other end of the spool and the closed other end of the spool accommodating portion and the other at the other end. A cylindrical portion to be internally fitted is formed, the columnar portion is rotatably fitted into the cylindrical portion, and a repulsion means is interposed between an end surface of the columnar portion and a portion of the cylindrical portion facing the end surface. 2. The ribbon cartridge, wherein the flange is brought into contact with an inner opening edge portion of the opening of the spool accommodating portion by a repulsive force. 2. The two magnets are attached to the end surface of the columnar portion and the portion of the cylindrical portion facing the end surface so that the same poles face each other, and this is used as a repulsion means. The described ribbon cartridge. 3. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the repulsion means is a rubber-like elastic body such as sponge. 4. The rubber-like elastic material has a foaming density of 0.18 to 0.
The ribbon cartridge according to claim 3, which is a silicone sponge having a weight of 21 g / cm 3. 5. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the rubber-like elastic body has a substantially columnar shape, and the diameter thereof is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion.