JPH0679960A - Ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read the kinds of ink ribbons correctly all the time. CONSTITUTION:A main body 2 of a cartridge made of resin is constituted of a lower shell 10 and an upper shell. A feeding spool 30 and a winding spool 40, around which an ink ribbon 50 are wound, are provided so that the spools are freely rotated. The spools 30 and 40 are supported with a pair of bearing parts 12a and 12b at another side part 12 of the lower shell 10 between a pair of bearing parts 11a and 21a and between a pair of bearing parts 11b and 12b of one-side parts 11 and 12 of the shell 10. Step difference parts 32a, 32b,..., which display the kind of the ink ribbon 50, are formed on the inner wall surface of a large-diameter cylinder part 32 at one end side of the feeding spool 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ribbon cartridge used in a printer such as a sublimation type thermal transfer color printer.

[0002]

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 regions composed of colored portions such as yellow, magenta and cyan are continuous is wound around a supply spool and a take-up spool. Are used. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 5 is a ribbon cartridge, and the cartridge main body 2 is a lower shell 10 made of synthetic resin and a composite that is joined to the lower shell 10 by ultrasonic welding or the like. The upper shell 20 is made of resin.

A pair of accommodating portions 13 and 14 projecting upward in a semi-cylindrical shape are integrally formed on both ends of both side portions 11 and 12 of the lower shell 10 which are vertically erected and are opposed to each other. A sublimation type thermal transfer color printer head (not shown) and a rectangular opening 15 for inserting a platen
Has been formed. In addition, a pair of bearing portions 11a recessed in a U shape are provided on the side of the storage portions 13 and 14 of the one side portion 11,
11b are formed respectively, and a pair of cylindrical bearing portions 12a, 12b are formed on the inner surface of the other side portion 12 on the side of the respective storage portions 13, 14 so as to be perpendicular to the inner wall of the side portion 12. It is integrally projected as shown. A pair of protrusions 11c and 11c are integrally formed in the center of the inner wall of each bearing 11a and 11b of the one side portion 11 so as to project.

A pair of accommodating portions 23 and 24, which are curved downward in an arc shape, are formed on both ends of both side portions 21 and 22 of the upper shell 20 which are vertically erected and are opposed to each other. Has a rectangular opening 25 for inserting a head of a sublimation type thermal transfer color printer and a platen (not shown). A pair of bearing portions 21a and 21b, which are recessed in an inverted U shape, are formed on the one side portion 21 at positions facing the pair of bearing portions 11a and 11b. A pair of protrusions 21c and 21c are integrally formed in the center of the inner wall of each bearing 21a and 21b of the one side 21.

A pair of storage portions 13 and 14 of the lower shell 10 and a pair of storage portion 2 of the upper shell 20 are provided.
Between 3 and 24, a cylindrical supply spool 3 made of synthetic resin
0 and the take-up spool 40 are rotatably accommodated. On each of the spools 30 and 40, an ink ribbon 50 in which a colored region including a colored portion of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is continuous is wound.

One end side of each of the spools 30 and 40 has large diameter cylindrical portions 32 and 42 having a diameter larger than that of the cylindrical body portions 31 and 41.
Thus, the pair of bearings 11a, 11b and 21
It is rotatably supported between a and 21b, and annular disc-shaped flange portions 33 and 43 are integrally formed on the inside thereof to project. On the outer surface side of each of the flange portions 33 and 43,
A plurality of grooves 33c and 43c are radially formed. The respective groove portions 33c and 43c can be engaged with and disengaged from the respective protrusions 11c and 21c protruding perpendicularly to the inner surfaces of the side portions 11 and 21. The large-diameter cylindrical portions 32 and 42 of the spools 30 and 40 are exposed to the outside.

Further, the other end side of each of the spools 30 and 40 is an annular disc-shaped flange portion 34 and 44 and a medium diameter shaft portion 35 and 4.
5 and the small-diameter shaft portions 36 and 46 are formed in three stages, and each of the small-diameter shaft portions 36 and 46 is the pair of cylindrical bearing portions 12 described above.
It is loosely fitted in a and 12b and is rotatably supported. Further, between the medium-diameter shaft portions 35, 45 of the spools 30, 40 and the pair of cylindrical bearing portions 12a, 12b, the metal compression coil springs 6 for inserting the small-diameter shaft portions 36, 46 are inserted.
0 and 60 are interposed. The pressing biasing force of each compression coil spring 60 causes the flange portions 33, 43 on one end side of each spool 30, 40 to move to the side portions 1 of each shell 10, 20.
1, 21 and press-fitted to each of the flange portions 33, 34
The respective groove portions 33c, 43c of the above are engaged with the respective protrusions 11c, 21c of the side portions 11, 21 to prevent the spools 30, 40 from idling (idling) and prevent the slack of the ink ribbon 50. It is like this.

Further, a cord ring 70 is fitted on the medium diameter shaft portion 35 of the supply spool 30. Half of the outer peripheral surface of the cord ring 70 is a gear portion 70a, and the other half is the number of elements of ink ribbon information (type, size, sensitivity, etc. of the ink ribbon 50 and the number of rotations of the supply spool 30). A bar code label 71 having the number of bits corresponding to that printed in a white / black bar code format is attached. The shells 1 facing the cord ring 70
Notches 16 and 26 are formed at 0 and 20, respectively. Also,
At the center of the outer surface of one side portion 21 of the upper shell 20, a barcode label 72 is printed in which the number of bits corresponding to the number of elements of the ink ribbon information (type of ink ribbon 50) is printed in a white / black barcode format. It is attached. Further, the large-diameter cylindrical portions 32, 42 of the spools 30, 40 are
Three driving locking claws 37 and 47 are integrally formed on the inner wall surface of the above.

[0009]

In the conventional ribbon cartridge 1, for example, the type of the ink ribbon 50, which is the ink ribbon information of the bar code label 72 attached to the one side 21 of the upper shell 20, is changed to color. When reading with the light reflection type optical sensor 90 on the printer side, when the position of the barcode label 72 and the position of the optical sensor 90 are aligned, the ink ribbon information of the barcode label 72 is read as shown in FIG. 6A. 6B is correctly read, but when the barcode label 72 is misaligned and attached to one side portion 21 of the upper shell 20 as shown in FIG. 6B, the ink ribbon information can be correctly read by the optical sensor 90. There were no drawbacks.

Therefore, the present invention provides a ribbon cartridge that can always read ink ribbon information correctly.

[0011]

A pair of spools around which ink ribbons are respectively wound are rotatably supported at a predetermined distance between both side portions of a cartridge main body which are opposed to each other, and one end side of each spool. In the ribbon cartridge in which the cylindrical portion formed on the one side of the cartridge main body is exposed to the outside, a step portion for displaying ink ribbon information is formed on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion on one end side of the at least one spool. I am doing it.

[0012]

Since the step portion for displaying the ink ribbon information is formed on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion on one end side of the spool, the ribbon cartridge is mounted on the printer and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion of the spool is fitted on the drive shaft of the printer. When this occurs, the ink ribbon information can be accurately read by the stepped portion formed on the inner wall surface.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of this invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those of the conventional structure are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a ribbon cartridge used in a sublimation type thermal transfer type color printer, and the cartridge body 2 is composed of a lower shell 10 made of synthetic resin and an upper shell 20 made of synthetic resin. A pair of bearings 12 between the pair of bearings 11a and 21a on one side 11 and 21 of each shell 10 and 20 and between 11b and 21b on the other side 12 of the lower shell 10.
The point that the supply spool 30 and the take-up spool 40 in which the ink ribbon 50 is wound around a and 12b are rotatably supported. The medium diameter shaft portion 35 of the other end side of the supply spool 30 is rotatably supported.
The point that the code ring 70 having the bar code label 71 attached thereto is fitted is the same as the conventional configuration.

Here, on the inner wall surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 32 on one end side of the supply spool 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, data of the type of the ink ribbon 50 (ink ribbon information) (data 1 in the drawing). Step portions 32a to 32e, which are concentric circles and indicate a step concave shape, are integrally formed. The number of the step portions 32a to 32e is equal to that of the ink ribbon 50.
Is the number of elements that make up the type. The division of each element is performed by 1 bit (0, 1). As shown in FIG. 2 (b),
The inner diameter reference of each step 32a to 32e is φA, φB, φ
C, φD, φE, and at this time, the information is “0”. Further, when the inner diameters are larger than the reference inner diameter by a, b, c, d, and e, respectively, the information is "1" (or vice versa). However, depending on the information, each of the step portions 32a to 32e
The inner diameter of varies, but the following relationship must be satisfied.

ΦA> φB + b, φB> φC + c, φC> φD + d FIGS. 3A and 3B show an ink ribbon discriminating reel (drive shaft) 80 of a sublimation thermal transfer type color printer using the ribbon cartridge 1. . The reel 80 includes stepped portions 32 a to 32 of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 32 of the supply spool 30.
Concentric circles having outer peripheral surfaces 82a to 82e corresponding to the number of data e are formed into stepwise convex substantially conical columns, and the supply spool 30 is provided on the outer peripheral surfaces 82a and 82b corresponding to the step portions 32a and 32b. Each groove 81 into which the drive locking claw 37 is inserted is formed. In addition, each outer peripheral surface 82a of the reel 80-
Microswitches 83a to 83e are embedded in 82e, and the microswitches 83a to 83e are turned on and off in accordance with the stepped portions 32a to 32e of the supply spool 30 to output data 1 to data 5. The outputs of data 1 to data 5 are shown in FIG. When the inner diameter of each of the step portions 32a to 32e of the supply spool 30 is larger than the reference (for example, the step portion 32b), the corresponding microswitch 83a to 83e (for example, 83b) is "O".
FF ”, and the data becomes“ 1. ”On the contrary, when the inner diameter of each step portion 32a to 32e of the supply spool 30 is a reference (for example, step portion 32c), each micro switch 83a to 83e (for example, 83c) corresponding thereto. ) Is “ON” and the data is “0.” Therefore, in the ribbon cartridge 1, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 32 of the supply spool 30 depends on the type of the ink ribbon 50 (ink ribbon information).
The shape of the step portions 32a to 32e formed on the inner wall surface of the is different.

According to the ribbon cartridge 1 of the above-described embodiment, the supply spool 30 depends on the type of the ink ribbon 50.
Of the stepped portions 32a to 32e formed on the inner wall surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 32 on one end side of each of the micro switches 83a to 83e embedded in the outer peripheral surfaces 82a to 82e of the reel 80 on the color printer side. Since the type of the ink ribbon 50 is discriminated by any of the above, the ribbon cartridge 1 is mounted in the cartridge storage portion of the color printer, and the reel 80 of the color printer is mounted on the inner wall surface of the large diameter cylindrical portion 32 of the supply spool 30. Each of the micro switches 83a to 83 which are turned "ON" by any of the step portions 32a to 32e formed on the inner wall surface when the
The type of the ink ribbon 50 can be correctly read by any one of e. At this time, by setting the inner diameter of any of the stepped portions 32a to 32e of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 32 of the supply spool 30 as the reference inner diameter, the microswitch corresponding to this reference inner diameter is surely turned "ON" and always The type of the ink ribbon 50 can be accurately read.

Further, since the type of the ink ribbon 50 need only be formed on the inner wall surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 32 on the one end side of the supply spool 30, there is no need to incorporate a separate member into the supply spool 30, and therefore the ribbon cartridge. 1 can be easily assembled and the number of parts is not increased, the ribbon cartridge 1 which can correctly read the type of the ink ribbon 50 by replacing the conventional supply spool is provided at a low cost, and the resource cartridge Effective utilization becomes possible.

Although the ribbon cartridge used in the sublimation type thermal transfer type color printer has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is applicable to various ribbon cartridges such as the ribbon cartridge used in the fusion type thermal transfer type color printer. Of course, you can do that. Also,
According to the above-described embodiment, the step portion for displaying the ink ribbon information is formed on the supply spool side, but it may be formed on the take-up spool side.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of spools around which ink ribbons are respectively wound are rotatably supported at predetermined distances between the opposite side portions of the cartridge main body, In a ribbon cartridge in which a cylindrical portion formed on one end side of each spool is exposed to the outside from one side portion of the cartridge body,
Since the step portion for displaying the ink ribbon information is formed on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion on one end side of the at least one spool, the ribbon cartridge is mounted on the printer and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion of the spool is attached to the drive shaft of the printer. When fitted, the ink ribbon information can always be correctly read by the step portion formed on the inner wall surface.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ribbon cartridge showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are a front view and a cross-sectional view of a main part of a supply spool used in the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view showing a relationship between the supply spool and a drive shaft on a printer side for rotating the supply spool;
(B) is a perspective view of the drive shaft.

FIG. 4 is a data output diagram of a micro switch embedded in the drive shaft.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional ribbon cartridge.

6A and 6B are perspective views showing a state in which the type of ink ribbon of the conventional ribbon cartridge is read.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ribbon cartridge 2 ... Cartridge body 11, 12 ... Both sides 21, 22 ... Both sides 30 ... Supply spool 32 ... Cylindrical part 32a-32e ... Step part 50 ... Ink ribbon

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of spools respectively wound with ink ribbons are rotatably supported at predetermined distances between opposite side portions of a cartridge body, which are erected.
In a ribbon cartridge in which a cylindrical portion formed on one end side of each spool is exposed to the outside from one side portion of the cartridge body, ink ribbon information is provided on an inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion on one end side of the at least one spool. A ribbon cartridge characterized in that a step portion for displaying is formed. 2. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a stepped portion for displaying the ink ribbon information is formed on the supply spool side.