JPH07149019A - Ink ribbon cassette of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve the effective utilization of resources by easily enabling the detachment of an ink ribbon unit from a cassette housing and enabling the reutilization of the cassette housing. CONSTITUTION:In the ink ribbon cassette of a printer wherein the drive shaft parts 6a, 7a of a supply spool shaft 6 having an unused ink ribbon wound therearound and a take-up spool shaft 7 having a used ink ribbon wound therearound and follower shaft parts 6b, 7b are received in a ribbon cassette housing 4 consisting of upper and lower halves 3, 2 in a freely rotatable manner by bearing parts 8, 8, 9, 9, the upper parts of the bearing parts 8, 8 of the drive shaft parts 6a, 7a are formed as semicicular movable bearing parts 15 made revolvable around hinge parts 16 and the engaging protruding parts on the side of the movable bearing parts 15 are engaged with the engaging recessed parts of the fixed bearing parts to be fixed in the bearing operation state of the movable bearing parts 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette used in a printer for printing a recorded image such as a video image as a hard copy, so-called color photograph.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink ribbon cassette used in this type of printer is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette in a disassembled state. The figure is shown.

In both figures, the ink ribbon cassette is an ink ribbon unit 1, and this ink ribbon unit 1
And a cassette housing 4 composed of a lower half 2 and an upper half 3.

The ink ribbon unit 1 has a supply spool shaft 6 around which an unused ink ribbon 5 is wound and a take-up spool shaft 7 around which a used ink ribbon is wound. One end side of both spool shafts 6 and 7. The shaft ends of are drive-side shaft parts 6a and 7a that are rotationally driven by a drive shaft (not shown), and the other shaft ends are driven-side shaft parts 6b and 7b. In the case of color printing, the ink ribbon 5 is formed with a Y color (yellow) patch, an M color (magenta) patch, and a C color (cyan) patch, which are not shown.

On the other hand, the lower half 2 of the cassette housing 4 has a substantially boat shape, and has circular shaft holes 8a, 8a at one end thereof.
Drive side bearings 8 and 8 are provided, and the drive side shafts 6a and 7 of the ink ribbon unit 1 are provided in the bearings 8 and 8.
a is rotatably supported.

On the other end side of the lower half 2, a drive side bearing portion 8,
Driven bearing portions 9 and 9 having U-shaped bearings 9a and 9a are provided in a state of being supported by reinforcing ribs 10 at positions facing 8 respectively. The driven shafts 6b and 7b of the ink ribbon unit 1 are rotatably supported by the bearings 9 and 9. Further, an opening window 11 corresponding to a print head (not shown) is formed on the bottom surface of the lower half 2.

The upper half 3 has the above-mentioned driven side bearing portions 9, 9
The spring pieces 12, 12 integrally formed on the side edge of the upper half 3 are engaged with the engaging piece 2a formed on the lower half 2 in the portion of the lower half 2 having the above. Pressing leaf springs 13, 13 are attached to the upper half 3 at positions corresponding to the driven-side bearing portions 9, 9 of the lower half 2.

In assembling the ink ribbon cassette 9 thus constructed, first, the driven side shaft portions 6b and 7b of the ink ribbon unit 1 are driven side bearing portions 9 and 9 of the lower half 2.
Bearings 9a, 9a from above, and the supply side spool shaft 6 and the take-up spool shaft 6 resist the spring force of unillustrated coil springs provided in both spool shafts, and the driven side bearing portions 9, 9 side Drive side shafts 6a, 7 while pressing firmly against
a is the shaft holes 8a, 8a of the drive side bearing portions 8, 8 of the lower half 2.
Then, the upper half 3 is joined to the lower half 2 to complete the assembly of the ink ribbon cassette. At this time, the holding leaf springs 13, 1 attached to the upper half 3
3 presses the driven side shaft portions 6b and 7b from above, and the driven side shaft portion 6
The removal of b and 7b is prevented.

[0009]

By the way, in the conventional ink ribbon cassette configured as described above, when all the ink ribbons 5 are used up, they are discarded together with the ink ribbon cassette. However, although the used ink ribbon 5 itself cannot be reused, the cassette housing 4 can be reused. However, since the ink ribbon unit is not easily detachable from the conventional cassette housing, the cassette housing is also removed. The current situation is that they are discarded.

Further, since the cassette housing 4 is made of a plastic molded product, a harmful gas is generated during incineration, which is a social problem, and the incinerator heats up to a high temperature to damage the incinerator. There is also a problem of doing.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and makes it possible to easily remove the ink ribbon unit from the cassette housing and reuse the cassette housing to save resources. An object is to obtain an ink ribbon cassette of a printer that can be utilized.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink ribbon cassette of a printer according to the present invention comprises:
Bearings of a ribbon cassette housing in which a drive side shaft part and a driven side shaft part of a supply shaft around which an unused ink ribbon is wound and a take-up shaft around which a used ink ribbon is wound are composed of an upper half and a lower half. In an ink ribbon cassette of a printer that is rotatably supported by a printer, the bearings of the drive-side shafts of the supply shaft and the take-up shaft are annular bearings, and part of this bearing is a semicircular movable bearing. It is a part that can be turned up and down.

In the ink ribbon cassette of the printer according to the present invention, the drive side shaft part and the driven side shaft part of the supply shaft around which the unused ink ribbon is wound and the winding shaft around which the used ink ribbon is wound are formed. In an ink ribbon cassette of a printer, which is rotatably supported by a bearing part of a ribbon cassette housing composed of an upper half and a lower half, the bearing parts of the drive side shaft parts of the supply shaft and the winding shaft are annular bearing parts. The bearing portion is slidable in the axial direction of the drive side shaft portion.

Further, in the ink ribbon cassette of the printer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, substantially the upper half of the bearing portion that supports the drive-side shaft portion is on the outer side with the movable bearing portion and the non-hinge portion as the fulcrum. In addition, the locking means is provided so that it can turn up and down, and the movable bearing portion is fixed in the upright state.

Further, in the ink ribbon cassette according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, substantially the inner halves of both bearing portions for supporting the drive side shaft portion are integrally formed with the movable bearing portion and the outer hinge portion as the fulcrum. The locking means is provided at the end of the movable bearing portion so that the movable bearing portion can be pivoted up and down and is fixed in the upright state.

Further, in the ink ribbon cassette according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slide piece provided on the bearing portion side for supporting the driving side shaft portion is engaged with the slide frame provided on the ribbon cassette housing side. The bearing portion can be locked at a bearing operation position for supporting the drive side shaft portion and a non-bearing operation position for disengagement.

[0017]

In the ink ribbon cassette of the printer according to the first aspect of the present invention configured as described above, a part of the annular bearing portion is used as a semicircular movable bearing portion so that the bearing portion can be undulated and rotated. To attach the shaft part to the shaft, place the shaft part on the bearing part in the open state while rotating the movable bearing part so as to tilt it outward.
By rotating the movable bearing portion upright, the shaft portion can be supported by the bearing portion.

Further, in the ink ribbon cassette of the printer according to the second aspect of the present invention, the annular bearing portion is slidably movable in the axial direction of the drive side shaft portion, so that the shaft portion is mounted on the drive side bearing portion. Supports the shaft part on the bearing part by sliding the drive-side bearing part to the shaft holding position with the drive-side bearing part sliding outward and sliding the drive-side bearing part to the shaft part side. can do.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of an ink ribbon cassette of a printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette of the first embodiment in a separated state, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a non-bearing operation state of a drive side bearing portion, which is a main part of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a bearing of the drive side bearing portion. FIG. 4 is a front view of the operating state, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the drive side bearing portion in the bearing operating state. The same components as those of the conventional ink ribbon cassette described in FIG. To do.

The present embodiment is different from the conventional ink ribbon cassette in that the cassette housing in which the drive side shaft portion 6a of the supply spool shaft 6 of the ink ribbon unit 1 and the drive side shaft portion 7a of the take-up spool shaft 7 are supported. Lower half of the body 2
Drive-side bearings 8 and 8. In addition, the drive side bearing portions 8 and 8
Since the supply spool shaft 6 side and the take-up spool shaft 7 side have the same configuration, the drive-side bearing portion 8 on one take-up spool shaft 7 side will be described.

That is, the drive-side bearing portion 8 is composed of a split type annular bearing portion, and the lower half thereof has a semicircular bearing hole 14a integrally formed with the lower half 2 and has a fixed bearing portion 14a.
And a movable bearing portion 15 having a semicircular bearing hole 15a whose upper half is a separate member. The movable bearing portion 15 is connected to the fixed bearing portion 14 by hinge portions 16 and 16 provided on the fixed bearing portion 14, respectively, by a shaft pin 17.
Is rotatably supported on the outside of the cassette housing 4 with the rotation fulcrum as a fulcrum.

The movable bearing portion 15 is provided with a locking means which can be fixed at the position rotated in the upright state, that is, in the bearing operation state. As an example of the locking means, an engaging protrusion 18a is provided on a lock piece 18 formed to project from the back surface of the movable bearing portion 15 in the vicinity of the hinge portion 16, and the fixed bearing portion 14 is provided with a lower half 2 of the lower half 2 in the vicinity of the hinge portion 16. The locking recess 19a is provided in the lock piece 19 standing upright from the bottom surface.

That is, when the movable bearing portion 15 is rotated upright, the engaging convex portion 18a of the lock portion piece 18 is moved to the fixed bearing portion 14.
By engaging with the engaging recess 19a of the lock piece 19, the movable bearing portion 15 can be fixed in the bearing operating state as shown in FIGS.

In the ink ribbon cassette of the first embodiment constructed as described above, the procedure for mounting the ink ribbon unit 1 in the ribbon cassette housing is as follows. First, as shown in FIG. In the state in which 15, 15 are rotated to the non-bearing operation state, the driven side shaft portions 6b, 7b of the ink ribbon unit 1 are driven by the driven side bearing portions 9a, 9a.
After being supported by a, the drive side shaft portions 6a, 7a are supported by the fixed bearing portions 14, 14. After that, the movable bearing parts 15, 15
Is rotated upright about the hinges 16 and 16 as a fulcrum, and the engaging projection 18 of the lock piece 18 on the movable bearing 15 side is rotated.
a is the engaging recess 19 of the lock piece 19 on the fixed bearing 14 side
By engaging with a, the drive side shaft portions 6a, 7a are brought into a bearing-supported state. Then, finally, the upper half 3 is combined with the lower half 2 to complete the mounting of the ink ribbon unit 1.

The operation of removing the ink ribbon unit 1 from the ink ribbon cassette is performed by removing the upper half 3 from the lower half 2 and then rotating the movable bearing portions 15 and 15 outward with the hinge portion 16 as a fulcrum. Bearing part 14, 1
The upper part of 4 is opened, and the drive side shaft portions 6a, 7a can be taken out.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the drive side bearing portions 8 and 8 in the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette in a separated state, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the drive side bearing portion in a separated state, and FIG. 7 is a front view of the drive side bearing portion in a bearing operating state. The same components as those of the conventional ink ribbon cassette described in FIG. The overlapping description will be omitted.

The drive-side bearings 8 and 8 of the second embodiment are split type annular bearings, the outer half of which is the lower half 2.
From the fixed bearing portions 20 and 20 having semicircular bearing holes 20a and 20a integrally formed with the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 having semicircular bearing holes 21a and 21a whose inner halves are separate members. The lower parts of the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are integrally formed by the connecting member 22. In the movable bearing portions 21 and 21, hinge pins 23 and 23 protruding from the side end portions of the connecting member 22 are supported in hinge holes 24 and 24 formed in the lower end portions of the fixed bearing portions 20 and 20, respectively.

As a result, the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are rotatably supported on the outside of the cassette housing 4 with the hinge pins 23 and 23 as pivotal fulcrums, and the upper ends of the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are erected. The fixed bearing portions 20 and 20 are abutted against each other to form an annular bearing portion.

The movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are provided with locking means which can be fixed at the position rotated in the upright state, that is, in the bearing operation state. As an example of the locking means, the fixed bearing portions 20, 2 at the upper ends of the movable bearing portions 21, 21
The engaging convex portions 25, 25 are provided on the abutting surface with 0, and
Engagement recesses 26, 26 are provided on the abutment surface of the upper ends of the fixed bearings 20, 20 with the movable bearings 21, 21.

That is, when the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are rotated upright, the engaging projections 25 and 25 are fixed to the fixed bearing portions 20 and 20.
7, the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 can be fixed in the bearing operating state as shown in FIG.

In the ink ribbon cassette of the second embodiment thus constructed, the procedure for mounting the ink ribbon unit 1 in the ribbon cassette housing is as follows. First, as shown in FIG. Movable bearings 21, 2
After the driven side shaft portions 6b and 7b of the ink ribbon unit 1 are supported by the driven side bearing portions 9a and 9a in a state where the driven side shaft portions 1a and 7b are rotated to the non-bearing operation state, the drive side shaft portions 6a and 7a are supported.
Is supported on the fixed bearing portions 20 and 20 from the inside. Thereafter, the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are rotated upright about the hinge pins 23 and 23 as fulcrums, and the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are rotated.
Of the drive side shaft portion 6 by engaging the engaging convex portions 25, 25 of the above with the engaging concave portions 26, 26 of the fixed bearing portions 20, 20.
The bearings a and 7a are supported. Then, finally, the upper half 3 is combined with the lower half 2 to complete the mounting of the ink ribbon unit 1.

To remove the ink ribbon unit 1 from the ink ribbon cassette, after removing the upper half 3 from the lower half 2, the movable bearing portions 21 and 21 are attached to the hinge pins 23,
The fixed bearing portion 2 is rotated by rotating outward with 23 as a fulcrum.
The insides of 0 and 20 are opened, and the drive side bearing portions 6a and 7a can be taken out.

8 to 10 show a third embodiment of the drive side bearings 8 and 8 in the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette in a separated state,
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the drive-side bearing portion in a separated state, and FIG. 10 is a front view of the drive-side bearing portion in a bearing operation state. The same components as those of the conventional ink ribbon cassette described in FIG. A duplicate description will be omitted.

The drive side bearing portions 8, 8 of the third embodiment are annular movable bearing portions 27, 27 having bearing holes 27a, 27a.
Are integrated by the connecting member 28 and are formed separately from the ribbon cassette housing 4.

Slide pieces 30, 30 each having a mountain-shaped hook portion 29, 29 are integrally formed on the upper end portion of the lower end rear surface of the movable bearing portions 27, 27. On the other hand, at the end of the lower half 2 of the ribbon cassette housing 4, box-shaped slide frames 31, 31 having both ends opened are integrally formed, and engagement holes 32, 32 are formed on the upper surfaces of the slide frames 31, 31. Has been done.

That is, in the movable bearing portions 27, 27, the slide pieces 30, 30 are attached to the slide frames 31, 3 of the lower half 2.
1, the hook portions 29 of the slide pieces 30, 30 of the drive bearing portions 27, 27 are attached to the slide frame 31,
9, the non-bearing operation position shown in FIG. 9 engaged with the engagement holes 32, 32, and the hook portions 29 of the slide pieces 30, 30.
29 is the open end portions 31a, 31a of the slide frames 31, 31
10 is engaged with the bearing operating position shown in FIG. 10 so as to be slidably slidable.

In the ink ribbon cassette of the third embodiment thus constructed, the procedure for mounting the ink ribbon unit 1 in the ribbon cassette housing is as follows.
9, the hook portions 29, 29 of the slide pieces 30, 30 are engaged with the engaging holes 32, 32 of the slide frames 31, 31.
In the non-bearing operation state shown in FIG. 8, after the driven side shaft portions 6b, 7b of the ink ribbon unit 1 are supported by the driven side bearing portions 9a, 9a, as shown in FIG.
7a is made to correspond to the center of the bearing hole of the movable bearing portions 27, 27, and the movable bearing portions 27, 27 are set to the drive side shaft portions 6a, 7
By sliding to the side a, the hook portions 29, 29 of the slide pieces 30, 30 are opened end portions 31 of the slide frames 31, 31.
By making the bearing operating state shown in FIG. 10 in which the drive side shaft portions 6a and 7a are engaged with the movable bearing portions 27 and
The bearing holes 27a, 27a of 27 can be supported. Then, finally, the upper half 3 is combined with the lower half 2 to complete the mounting of the ink ribbon unit 1.

In order to remove the ink ribbon unit 1 from the ink ribbon cassette, after removing the upper half 3 from the lower half 2, the drive bearing portions 27, 27 are slid to the non-bearing operation position shown in FIG. Drive bearing 2
When the drive shafts 6a, 7a are in a non-bearing state by moving back 7, 27, the ink ribbon unit 1 can be pulled up and removed.

As described above, in the ink ribbon cassette according to the present invention, the ink ribbon unit 1 can be easily attached / detached to / from the ribbon cassette housing 4 as described in each of the embodiments. You can use it as is and replace only the ink ribbon unit.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0041]

As described above, in the ink ribbon cassette according to the present invention, the bearings of the drive side shafts of the supply shaft and the take-up shaft are annular bearings, and a part of the bearings is semicircular. Since the movable bearing of the ribbon cassette can be turned up and down, the ink ribbon unit can be easily attached to and detached from the ribbon cassette housing with a single touch, so the ink ribbon unit can be replaced and the ribbon cassette housing can be reused. There is an effect that can be done.

Further, in the ink ribbon cassette according to the present invention, the bearings of the drive shafts of the supply shaft and the take-up shaft are annular bearings, and the bearings are slidably movable in the axial direction of the drive shaft. By doing so, there is an effect that the ink ribbon unit can be easily attached and detached similarly to the above, and the ribbon cassette housing can be reused repeatedly.

Further, the reusability of the ribbon cassette housing can eliminate social problems caused by incineration and the like, and can effectively utilize material resources.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cassette according to a first embodiment in a separated state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a non-bearing operation state of the drive bearing unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a bearing operation state of the drive bearing unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a bearing operation state of the drive bearing unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cassette of a second embodiment in a separated state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drive bearing portion of a second embodiment in a separated state.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a bearing operation state of the drive bearing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cassette of a third embodiment in a separated state.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a drive bearing portion of a third embodiment in a non-bearing operation state.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a bearing operation state of the drive bearing portion according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette in a separated state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ink Ribbon Unit 2 Lower Half 3 Upper Half 4 Ribbon Cassette Housing 5 Ink Ribbon 6 Supply Spool Shaft 7 Winding Spool Shaft 6a, 7a Drive Side Shaft 6b, 7b Driven Side Shaft 8 Drive Side Bearing 9 Driven Side Bearing Part 12 Spring piece 13 Holding leaf spring 14 Fixed bearing part 14a Bearing hole 15 Movable bearing part 15a Bearing hole 16 Hinge part 18,19 Lock part piece 18a, Engagement convex part 19a Engagement concave part 20 Fixed bearing part 21 Movable bearing part 21a Bearing hole 22 Connection member 23 Hinge pin 24 Hinge hole 25 Engagement convex portion 26 Engagement concave portion 27 Movable bearing portion 27a Bearing hole 28 Coupling member 29 Hook portion 30 Slide piece 31 Slide frame 31a Open end portion 32 Engagement hole

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon in which a drive side shaft part and a driven side shaft part of a supply shaft around which an unused ink ribbon is wound and a winding shaft around which a used ink ribbon is wound are composed of an upper half and a lower half. In an ink ribbon cassette for a printer that is rotatably supported by a bearing portion of a cassette housing, the bearing portions of the drive side shaft portions of the supply shaft and the winding shaft are annular bearing portions. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer, wherein a semicircular movable bearing portion is provided so that the movable bearing portion can be raised and lowered. 2. A ribbon in which a drive-side shaft portion and a driven-side shaft portion of a supply shaft around which an unused ink ribbon is wound and a winding shaft around which a used ink ribbon is wound include an upper half and a lower half. In an ink ribbon cassette for a printer, which is rotatably supported by a bearing portion of a cassette housing, the bearing portion of the drive side shaft portion of the supply shaft and the take-up shaft is an annular bearing portion, and the bearing portion is the drive side. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer, which is slidable in an axial direction of a shaft portion. 3. The ink ribbon cassette for a printer according to claim 1, wherein substantially the upper half of the bearing portion that supports the drive-side shaft portion is capable of undulating and pivoting outward with a movable bearing portion and a hinge portion as a fulcrum. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer, wherein the movable bearing portion is provided with a lock means that is fixed in an upright state. 4. The ink ribbon cassette for a printer according to claim 1, wherein substantially inner halves of both of the bearing portions supporting the drive-side shaft portion are undulated outward with a movable bearing portion and a non-hinge portion as a fulcrum. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer, which is rotatable and provided with a lock means for fixing the movable bearing portion in an upright state at an end portion of the movable bearing portion. 5. The ink ribbon cassette of the printer according to claim 2, wherein a slide piece provided on the bearing portion side supporting the drive side shaft portion is engaged with a slide frame provided on the ribbon cassette housing side, An ink ribbon cassette for a printer, wherein a bearing portion can be locked between a bearing operating position for supporting the drive side shaft portion and a non-bearing operating position for separating the bearing portion.