JPH0696325B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printer capable of multicolor printing (hereinafter referred to as a multicolor printer).

[Conventional technology]

An example of a conventional multi-color printer is shown in FIG. According to this method, the motor 1 for color selection uses the paper guide 8
It is installed in the lower part of the
The color is transmitted to the rocking lever 3 and the cartridge holder 4 having the ribbon cartridge 5 mounted thereon is moved up and down to select a color.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

According to this structure, since the motor 1 is installed under the paper guide 8, the external dimensions do not need to be large compared with a monochromatic printer (hereinafter referred to as a monocolor printer), but the monocolor printer is not required. If you cannot change to a multi-color printer and want to perform multi-color printing, you must purchase a new multi-color printer,
There has been a problem of imposing a heavy burden on the user.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer in which a user can freely and easily convert a monocolor printer into a multicolor printer at any time.

[Means for solving problems]

The printer according to the present invention is characterized in that it has a structure that can be modified into a multi-color printer by attaching a power unit for color selection to the mono-color printer.

〔Example〕

 One embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

To explain the structure with reference to FIG. 1, a print head 12 is fixed to a carriage 11, and an intermediate gear 13 and a swing lever 14 are axially supported while meshing with each other. On the other hand, the cartridge cartridge holder 15 to which the ribbon cartridge cartridge 18 can be freely attached and detached is pivotally supported by the walls 23 and 24 on both sides of the carriage 11, and the arm 16 of the cartridge cartridge holder 15 swings.
It engages with 14 engaging portions 28. Further, the carriage 11 is provided with fixing claws 21 and 22 of the color selecting motor unit 19 and a connector for electrically connecting the electric circuit and the motor unit 19.
25 are provided. The mounting of the motor unit 19 for remodeling into a multi-color printer is completed by pushing the motor unit 19 in the direction of arrow A from above the carriage 11. At this time, the gear 20 protruding from the motor unit 19 meshes with the tooth portion 30 of the intermediate gear 13 and the motor unit 19
At the same time that the power of the above can be transmitted to the cartridge holder 15, the motor unit 19 and the connector 25 are connected to each other to be connected to an electric circuit. Motor unit 19
Is fixed by the claws 21 and 22 when pushed to a predetermined position.

Next, the color switching operation of the ink ribbon 17 will be described.

When the motor 19 rotates in the direction of arrow F, the gear 20 moves to the intermediate gear.
Since it is meshed with the tooth portion 30 of 13, the swing lever 14 integrally formed with the intermediate gear 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow B about the fulcrum 29. Then, since the arm 16 standing upright on the bottom surface of the cartridge holder 15 is engaged with the engaging portion 28 of the swing lever, the cartridge holder 15 rotates in the direction of arrow C around the protrusions 26 and 27. The color band of the ink ribbon 17 is moved and changed, and the ink ribbon 17 opposes the print head 12 at an arbitrary color band and stops. The rotation of the motor 19 is also stopped. And the print head
When 12 is driven, any color is printed on the recording paper. When the motor 19 is rotated in the arrow G direction, the swing lever 14 is swung in the arrow D direction about the fulcrum 29. As a result, the cartridge holder 15 has protrusions 26,2.
It is rotated about 7 in the direction of arrow E. At this time, when the motor 19 rotates in the arrow F direction, the cartridge holder is rotated in the opposite direction.

As described above, in the color switching of the ink ribbon of the present application, the swing lever 14 is swung in the direction of arrow B or D by the forward / reverse rotation of the motor, so that the cartridge holder is moved in the direction of arrow C or E. It is possible by rotating it.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the mounting of the motor unit is merely pushed in, and there is an effect that anyone can perform it at any time, easily and without tools. Since the motor unit is mounted on the carriage, it is possible to provide a compact multi-color printer without requiring an increase in external dimensions as compared with a mono-color printer. Furthermore, since the multicolor printer can be made by remodeling the monocolor printer, there is an effect that the economical burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing the structure of the present application. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of the present application. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional structure. 11 …… Carriage, 12 …… Printing head 13 …… Intermediate gear, 14 …… Swing lever 16 …… Arm, 19 …… Motor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A carriage having a print head mounted thereon, a ribbon cartridge swingably supported by the carriage, a motor unit detachably mounted on the carriage, and an output of the motor unit for converting the output. A printer comprising: a conversion unit that swings a ribbon cartridge.