JPH0664270A - Ink film and ink film cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily discriminate the kind of a film by providing the roll holding member engaged with the engaging parts formed to the end parts of two rotary shafts having a film wound therearound to connect and fix the rotary shafts and providing a kind discrimination means to the roll holding member. CONSTITUTION:An ink film cassette used in a thermal printer has case members 5, 6 and an ink film is transferred from the supply roll received in the case members to a taking-up roll. Groove like engaging parts 2b, 3b are formed to both ends of the rotary shafts 2a, 3a of the respective rolls and both rolls are supported in a freely rotatable manner within the case members 5, 6 through the coupling members 4a, 4b attached to the engaging parts 2b, 3b. The ink film 1 is supplied to a user in such a state that a roll holding member 7 having a kind display means 8 attached thereto is engaged with the engaging parts 2b, 3b and the case members 5, 6 are fixed and held by the holding member 7 incorporated in the cassette.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink film cassette for storing an ink film used in a thermal printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ink film cassette of this type will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional ink film cassette, and FIG. 7 is a front view showing the conventional ink film cassette housed inside a thermal transfer type thermal printer.

The ink film cassette has cases 25 and 26, and the cases 25 and 26 accommodate a supply roll 2 and a take-up roll 3 as shown in FIG. The case 25 and the case 26 are fixed by adhesion, welding, etc., and cannot be separated or reassembled. The ink film 1 is wound around the supply roll 2 and the winding roll 3, and the ink film 1 is supplied to the supply roll 2
To the take-up roll 3. Ink film 1 wound between supply roll 2 and take-up roll 3
Is exposed from the opening 25a of the case 25.

The supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3 have rotating shafts 2a and 3a, respectively, and coupling members 4a and 4b are attached to the rotating shafts 2a and 3a, respectively (see FIG. 6). The coupling members 4a and 4b rotationally drive the rotating shafts 2a and 3a by engaging with the rotating shafts 2a and 3a of the supply roll 2 and the winding roll 3, respectively.

The ink film 1 is a paper 10 to be transferred.
There are multiple types depending on the type and the number of constituent colors. Therefore, the cases 25 and 26 have a signal section 29 for transmitting the type of the ink film 1 stored therein to the printer body.
Are formed. A micro switch is provided at a position facing the signal unit 29, and the type of the ink film 1 is transmitted to the printer body by a combination of ON and OFF states of the micro switch.

A type display means 28 is provided on the upper surface of the case 25 so that the type of the ink film 1 can be visually determined.

In FIG. 7, the paper 10 is conveyed from the lower left of FIG. 7 to the platen 11 and wound around the platen 11 by the pinch roller 12. The ink film 1 is superposed on the paper 10 on the platen 11, and the opening 25a is further formed.
The thermal head 13 is pressed against the ink film 1 from the back surface of the ink film 1 by using (FIG. 6). The thermal head 13 has a linear heating element, and the ink film 1 and the paper 10 are superposed on each other and pressed against the platen 11.
In this state, the platen 11 is rotated and the winding roll 3 is rotated to wind up the ink film 1. At this time, by selectively energizing and heating the thermal head 13, the sublimation ink on the ink film 1 is transferred to the paper 10 to form an image.

[0009]

In the conventional ink film cassette described above, when the ink film is used up, it is thrown away together with the case. However,
When the print size becomes large such as A4 size, it may be desirable to reuse the case and the coupling member and refill only the ink film roll from the viewpoint of cost reduction.

When only the ink film rolls are refilled, since the shapes are the same, a plurality of types of ink film rolls can be set for one type of case. However, since the shape of the signal portion and the display content of the type display means cannot be changed, it becomes impossible to transmit the type of the ink film to the printer body side using these means.

Further, it becomes impossible for the user to determine the type of ink film by looking at the shape of the signal portion and the display contents of the type display means.

Therefore, the user must look at the ink film itself to determine the type of the ink film, but it is very difficult for the user to determine the type of the ink film, and the wrong ink film is used for printing. There is a problem that it ends up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an ink film cassette of a roll exchange type, it is possible to easily handle an ink film wound in a roll shape and the type of the ink film. The purpose is to be able to easily and surely discriminate.

[0014]

In order to achieve this object, the ink film cassette of the present invention comprises two rotary shafts, an ink film wound in a roll shape on the rotary shafts,
The ink film includes an engaging portion formed at an end portion of the rotating shaft for transmitting the rotating force, and a roll holding member for connecting and fixing the two rotating shafts by engaging with the engaging portion. The roll holding member is provided with a type discriminating means for discriminating.

Further, preferably, a case portion for rotatably accommodating the ink film wound in a roll shape is provided, and a roll holding member attachment portion for attaching a roll holding member separated from the rotation shaft is provided in the case portion. Composed.

[0016] Further, preferably, a case portion composed of two or more members for rotatably accommodating the ink film wound in a roll shape is provided, and the case portion in a state in which the two or more members are assembled is provided from the rotary shaft. It is configured to be fixedly held by a separated roll holding member.

[0017]

In the ink film cassette having the above structure, the ink film wound around the rotary shaft in a roll shape,
By including an engaging portion formed at the end of the rotating shaft for transmitting the rotating force and a roll holding member that connects and fixes the two rotating shafts by engaging the engaging portion, The ink film wound into a shape can be easily handled. Further, since the roll holding member is provided with the type determination means for determining the type of the ink film, the type of the ink film can be easily and surely determined by using the type determination means even in the roll replaceable ink film cassette. can do.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 are perspective views of a first embodiment of an ink film cassette according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the ink film cassette has case members 5 and 6, and the case members 5 and 6 accommodate a supply roll 2 and a take-up roll 3 as shown in FIG. The case member 5 and the case member 6 can be disassembled and reassembled. The ink film 1 is wound around the supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3.
Is transferred from the supply roll 2 to the winding roll 3. The ink film 1 laid between the supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3 is exposed from the opening 5a of the case upper member 5 (see FIG. 3).

The supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3 have rotating shafts 2a and 3a, and groove-shaped engaging portions 2b and 3b are formed at both ends of the rotating shafts 2a and 3a, respectively (FIG. 2). And FIG. 3). When the supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3 are stored in the case members 5 and 6, the coupling member 4a is attached to the engaging portions 2b and 3b.
And 4b are attached respectively (see FIG. 3).

The ink film 1 is supplied to the user in the state shown in FIG. That is, by engaging the engaging portions 2b and 3b with the holding member 7, the rotary shafts 2a and 3
It is supplied to the user in a state where the rotational movement of a is blocked.
The holding member 7 is provided with a type display means 8 and a type transmission signal section 9, which is useful for determining the type of the ink film 1 at the sales stage. The type display means 8 is composed of characters for displaying the type of the ink film 1, and the type transmission signal section 9 is composed of a symbol for optically transmitting the type of the ink film 1. The type transmission signal unit 9 is detected by a photoelectric sensor or the like provided in a printer or the like.

The user who obtained the ink film 1
First, the engaging portions 2b and 3b and the holding member 7 are separated,
As shown in FIG. 3, the coupling members 4a and 4b are attached to the engaging portions 2b and 3b. After that, the case members 5 and 6 are reassembled so that the ink film 1 is sandwiched between the case members 5 and 6. As a result, the ink film 1 is stored in the case members 5 and 6. After reassembling the case members 5 and 6, the case member 5
The case members 5 and 6 are fixedly held by the holding member 7 so that the case members 6 and 6 are not separated.

As described above, since the holding member 7 is provided with the type display means 8 and the type transmission signal section 9, by holding the case members 5 and 6 by the holding member 7, the type display means is fixed. 8 and the type transmission signal unit 9 are attached to the case members 5 and 6. That is, the type of the ink film 1 can be displayed and transmitted by the type display means 8 and the type transmission signal section 9.

In this way, even in the roll-replaceable ink film cassette, the holding member 7 is used for the case member 5.
Only by fixing and holding 6 and 6, the type of the ink film accommodated can be detected.

4 and 5 are perspective views showing a second embodiment of the ink film cassette having the structure according to the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the ink film cassette has case members 15 and 16, and the case members 15 and 16 accommodate a supply roll 2 and a take-up roll 3 as shown in FIG. The case member 15 and the case member 16 can be disassembled and reassembled. The ink film 1 is wound around the supply roll 2 and the winding roll 3, and the ink film 1 is transferred from the supply roll 2 to the winding roll 3. The ink film 1 laid between the supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3 is exposed from the opening 15a of the case member 15 (see FIG. 4).

The supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3 have rotating shafts 2a and 3a, and groove-like engaging portions 2b and 3b are formed at both ends of the rotating shafts 2a and 3a, respectively (FIG. 5). reference). When the supply roll 2 and the take-up roll 3 are housed in the case members 15 and 16, the coupling members 4a and 4 are attached to the engaging portions 2b and 3b.
b are attached respectively (see FIG. 4).

The ink film 1 is supplied to the user in the state shown in FIG. That is, by engaging the engaging portions 2b and 3b with the holding member 17, the rotation shafts 2a and 3a are supplied to the user in a state in which the rotational movement is blocked. The holding member 17 is provided with a type display means 8 and a type transmission signal section 9, which is useful for determining the type of the ink film 1 at the sales stage. The type display means 8 is composed of characters for displaying the type of the ink film 1, and the type transmission signal section 9 is composed of a symbol for optically transmitting the type of the ink film 1. The type transmission signal unit 9 is detected by a photoelectric sensor or the like provided in a printer or the like.

The user who obtained the ink film 1
First, the engaging portions 2b and 3b and the holding member 7 are separated,
The coupling members 4a and 4 are attached to the engaging portions 2b and 3b.
Attach b. Then, the case members 15 and 16 are reassembled so that the ink film 1 is sandwiched between the case members 15 and 16. As a result, the ink film 1 is stored in the case members 15 and 16. After reassembling the case members 15 and 16,
The holding member 17 is inserted into the mounting hole 15b formed in the upper part of the.

As described above, since the holding member 17 is provided with the type display means 8 and the type transmission signal portion 9, the mounting hole portion 15b formed in the case member 15 is provided.
By inserting the holding member 17 into the case, the type display means 8 and the type transmission signal portion 9 are attached to the case member 15. That is, the type of the ink film 1 can be displayed and transmitted by the type display means 8 and the type transmission signal section 9.

As described above, even in the roll-exchangeable ink film cassette, it is possible to detect the type of the ink film accommodated only by attaching the holding member 17 to the attachment hole 15b.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments.
Various modifications are possible according to the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the holding member 7 and the holding member 17 are attached to one side of the rotary shaft 2a and the rotary shaft 3a in FIGS. 2 and 5, but the rotary shaft 2a
It is also possible to attach it to both sides of the rotary shaft 3a.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the type transmission signal section 9 has been described as a symbol for optically transmitting, but it is not an optical symbol, but it is constituted by a protrusion as in the conventional example and is mechanical. It is also possible to detect with various detecting means.

[0035]

As described above, according to the ink film cassette of the present invention, the ink film wound around the rotary shaft in a roll shape and the engagement formed at the end portion of the rotary shaft for transmitting the rotational force. 2 by engaging the part and the engaging part
By including a roll holding member for connecting and fixing the rotary shaft of the book, it becomes possible to easily handle the ink film wound in a roll shape.

Further, since the roll holding member is provided with the type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the ink film, even in the roll exchange type ink film cassette, the type discriminating means can be used to easily and easily determine the type of the ink film. It is possible to make a reliable determination.

Further, since only the roll-shaped ink film is replaced instead of the entire ink film cassette, large parts such as a case can be reused,
It is possible to save energy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink film cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink film cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink film cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the ink film cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the ink film cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional ink film cassette.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an example of a conventional ink film cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink film 2 Supply roll 2a Rotating shaft 2b Engaging part 3 Winding roll 3a Rotating shaft 3b Engaging part 4 Coupling member 5 Case member 5a Opening 6 Case member 7 Holding member 8 Classification display means 9 Classification transmission signal section 10 Paper 15 case member 15a opening 15b mounting hole 16 case member 17 holding member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A rotating shaft, two ink films wound around the rotating shaft in a roll shape, an engaging portion formed at an end of the rotating shaft for transmitting a rotational force, and the engaging member. A roll holding member for connecting and fixing the two rotating shafts by engaging with a joint portion, and a type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the ink film is provided on the roll holding member. Ink film to do. 2. A roll holding member mounting portion for mounting the roll holding member separated from the rotation shaft is provided on the case portion, the case portion rotatably accommodating a roll-shaped ink film. Ink film cassette featuring. 3. A case portion comprising two or more members rotatably accommodating an ink film wound in a roll shape, wherein the case portion in a state in which the two or more members are assembled is separated from the rotary shaft. An ink film cassette characterized by being fixedly held by the separated roll holding member.