JPH0730374Y2 - Shared ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the invention [Industrial field of application] The present invention is a cassette that is detachably attached to a printing device, and is mounted on the printing device to print arbitrary characters and symbols. The present invention relates to a common ribbon cassette for producing a label tape that is attached to an adherend and then displays a desired label, and a transfer tape for lettering that is pressed and transferred to the transfer target.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a printing device for producing a label tape has been known. In this device, a ribbon cassette in which at least a printing tape and an ink ribbon are housed is attached, and at the time of printing, ink is transferred from the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette to the printing tape according to a printing pattern. . An adhesive layer is formed on the side opposite to the printing surface of this printing tape, and when used as a label, the prepared tape may be adhered to a desired place on the adhesive layer side.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As a tape that can be produced by using this printing apparatus, there is a transfer tape for lettering. This is different from a label tape in that if a pattern printed on the tape is directly applied to a place to be transferred and pressed from above the tape, only the pattern is transferred to a desired place.

However, in the case of label tape, the printed pattern is displayed as it is as the pattern of the label at the target place, but in the case of transfer tape for lettering, it is retransferred to the place to be displayed, so it is printed at the time of tape production. The pattern turned over to the pattern transferred to the tape by the device is displayed at the intended place.

Therefore, when the lettering transfer tape is to be produced by the printing device, a mirror image must be printed, that is, the printing mode must be changed, unlike the case where the label tape is produced.

In addition, since the cassette used for manufacturing the transfer tape for lettering does not use adhesive tape, there is relatively freedom in the path of the printing tape, but the cassette used for label tape manufacturing is that the tape itself to be printed is an adhesive tape. In order to prevent sticking in the cassette, the structure of the cassette must be different from that of the lettering cassette.

Even if the conventional cassette is applied as it is to a lettering cassette, it is impossible to simply change the parts such as rollers, and it is necessary to raise the mold based on the new design to manufacture another type of cassette. Not only that, but there was a problem of parts management as well as an increase in cost.

Further, even when the two types of cassettes manufactured as described above are provided and used, since the printing modes are different as described above, it is necessary to switch to the printing mode each time the cassette is replaced. It was troublesome for the user.

Configuration of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can store both the label tape and the transfer tape for lettering, and can be used without changing the print mode on the printer side regardless of which one is used. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a common ribbon cassette.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the common ribbon cassette of the present invention, an ink ribbon accommodating portion in which a normal thermal transfer type ink ribbon and a thermal transfer type ink ribbon for lettering can be shared And a printing tape storage portion in which the printing tape for heat transfer and the printing tape for lettering can be used in common, a printing portion in which any one of the above-mentioned ink ribbons and the corresponding printing tape are superposed during printing, and after printing, In the case of being assembled for use as an adhesive printing tape, an ink ribbon housing is provided by at least an adhesive tape housing part for housing a double-sided adhesive tape stuck to the printing surface side of the thermal transfer printing tape. Ordinary thermal transfer type ink ribbon to the part, thermal transfer printing tape to the printing tape storage part, and double-sided adhesive to the adhesive tape storage part If the tape can be stored and is assembled for use as a printing tape for lettering, do not store anything in the adhesive tape storage part, and place the thermal transfer type ink ribbon for lettering in the ink ribbon storage part and the printing tape storage part. It is characterized in that the printing tape for lettering can be stored and can be mounted and used without changing the printing mode on the printing device side.

[Operation] In the above configuration, when the cassette is used for producing the adhesive printing tape, that is, the label tape, the adhesive tape housing portion is specially provided, and the double-sided adhesive tape is housed separately from the printing tape. Therefore, the printing is performed on the printing tape before the double-sided adhesive tape is attached.
Therefore, the adhesive tape is not run to the printing position, and after printing, the double-sided adhesive tape may be attached to the printing tape immediately before discharging the tape to the outside. Therefore, the printing tape can be freely designed with little consideration of the sticking of the printing tape in the cassette, and can be designed to be shared with the lettering cassette.

Also, since the double-sided adhesive tape is attached to the printed surface, when the manufactured label tape is displayed, the printed pattern is turned upside down. Therefore, the label tape cassette is also printed as a mirror image, which is the same as in the case of the lettering cassette. Therefore, it is not necessary to switch the print mode depending on the cassette.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of a ribbon cassette embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the label tape ribbon cassette 1 excluding the lid portion 1b, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the case body 1a with the lid portion 1b removed, and FIG. 3 shows the lid portion 1b. It is the perspective view removed. FIG. 5 (A) is an overall plan view, (B)
Is a front view and (C) is a bottom view.

Three cylindrical fitting shafts 3, 5, 7 are erected on the inner bottom surface of the case body 1a. These are spools 9, 11, 13 respectively
Is rotatably supported. Of these, the ribbon supply spool 9 is wound with a thermal transfer ink ribbon 15 before printing with the ink surface inside, the printing tape spool 11 is wound with a transparent printing tape 17, and the double-sided tape spool 13 is only on one side. The double-sided adhesive tape 19 to which the release paper is attached is wound with the release paper on the outside. Bearing holes 21 and 23 are provided in the inner bottom surface of the case body 1a, and the end portions of the ribbon take-up spool 25 and the tape feed roller 27 are rotatably supported.

Therefore, the cylindrical fitting shaft 3 and the bearing hole 21 part form an ink ribbon storage part, the cylindrical fitting shaft 5 part form a printing tape storage part, and the cylindrical fitting shaft 7 forms an adhesive tape storage part. Form.

The vicinity of the bearing hole 23 has the following structure. That is, the support shaft 29 is provided upright, and the adhesive tape roller 31 made of silicon rubber is rotatably supported. Roller entrance
33 is provided on the outer peripheral wall 2 of the case main body 1a, and allows the movable roller portion of the printing apparatus described later to enter from the outside. The inside of the roller entrance 33 corresponds to the printing section. A substantially J-shaped peripheral wall portion 35 is provided inside the roller entrance 33,
An insertion hole 37 for a fixed print head of the printing apparatus is formed.
The bottom surface side of the insertion hole 37 is open for insertion. A separation wall body 39 is provided between the peripheral wall portion 35 and the support shaft 29. The separating wall body 39 has a double-sided adhesive tape when the flexible ink ribbon 15 adheres to the adhesive surface of the double-sided adhesive tape 19.
The function of the ribbon cassette is destroyed by being pulled out to the outside together with 19, so this is to prevent it.

Around the cylindrical fitting shaft 5, an arcuate printing tape storage wall portion 41 is provided so as to surround the printing tape storage portion. The base end of a film-shaped separator 43 is fixed to one end thereof. The separator 43 goes around a guide shaft 45 provided in the vicinity of the cylindrical fitting shaft 3 and has a tip 43 a slightly in the roller entrance 33. A pressing spring 47 is provided on the outer peripheral wall 2 of the case body 1a near the cylindrical fitting shaft 3, and by applying a biasing force in the direction of the guide shaft 45, the guide shaft 45 and the pressing spring 47 cause the ink ribbon 15, Separator 43
Also, the print tape 17 is held between the ink ribbon 15 and the print tape 17 to provide back tension independent of each other.

Further, a presser spring 49 is provided on the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 35 to give a back tension to the ink ribbon 15 wound around the ribbon take-up spool 25, and cooperate with the presser spring 47 to set the ink before mounting the printer. The loosening of the ribbon 15 is prevented. A ribbon tension spring 51 is provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 35 so that the ink ribbon 15 is lifted before mounting the printing apparatus so that the ink ribbon 15 does not become an obstacle when the fixed print head is inserted. Further, a tape retainer 53 is provided on the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 2 near the tape feed roller 27, and a slit 53a through which the tape can pass is provided between the outer peripheral wall 2 and the tape.

The path of the ink ribbon 15 is from the ribbon supply spool 9 to
It passes between the separator 43 and the guide shaft 45, passes between the outer peripheral wall 2 and the peripheral wall portion 35 to reach the roller entrance 33, and further, through the ribbon tension spring 51, its traveling direction rotates about 180 °. The ribbon take-up spool 25 is passed through between the peripheral wall portion 35 and the separation wall body 39.

The path of the printing tape 17 passes from the printing tape spool 11 between the separator 43 and the pressing spring 47, passes between the outer peripheral wall 2 and the peripheral wall portion 35 to reach the roller entrance 33, and the tape feed roller 27. From the outer peripheral surface to the outside through the slit 53a. From the position where the printing tape 17 passes the tape feed roller 27, the double-sided adhesive tape 19 from the double-sided tape spool 13 to the tape feed roller 27 and its adhesive layer are bonded and integrated to form a label tape 55. Has been reached.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lid portion 1b is attached to the case body 1a in which the respective members are arranged and configured as described above.

A plurality of fitting shafts are vertically provided on the lid portion 1b.
The sharpened fitting shafts 61b, 63b, 65b, 67b, 69b, 71b, 73b, 75b are fitting holes 61a, 63a, 65a, 67a, 69a, 71a, 73a, 75a of the case body 1a.
By fitting to, the lid portion 1b and the case body 1a are fixed and integrated. At that time, the plate-like members 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89 vertically provided on the lid portion 1b are pressed against the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 2 of the case body 1a, so that the lid portion 1b and the case body 1a are separated from each other. It is fixed securely.

Further, the cylindrical fitting shafts 91b, 93b, 95b of the lid portion 1b are attached to the case body 1
Cylindrical fitting shaft 5, which is inserted into each spool 11, 9, 13 on the a side,
Fits on the inner surface of 3,7. One end of the ribbon take-up spool 25 is pivotally supported by the bearing hole 97 of the lid 1b, and one end of the tape feed roller 27 is rotatably supported by the bearing hole 99 of the lid 1b.

The opening portion 101 of the lid portion 1b is for confirming the remaining amount of the printing tape 17 and the ink ribbon 15 inside. Further, the long holes 103 and 105 on the bottom surface of the case body 1a are provided for positioning when mounting on the printer.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which a ribbon cassette 120 for lettering is configured by using the same case body 1a and lid portion 1b.

The difference from the above ribbon tape ribbon cassette 1 is that
It is as follows. Ink ribbon 122 for lettering
And the printing tape 124 are used. Cylindrical fitting shaft 7
The double-sided tape spool 13 and the double-sided adhesive tape 19 are not provided in the. The tape feeding roller 126 has a shape in which the central portion of the outer peripheral surface is constricted in a drum shape, and guides the printing tape 124 to the outside by contacting only the edge portion of the printing tape 124 without touching the printing surface.

Although the case main body 1a and the lid portion 1b are assembled in the same cassette as described above, it can be used as the label tape ribbon cassette 1 or the lettering ribbon cassette 120.

Next, the mounting and operation of the ribbon cassette 1 having the above-described structure in the printing device 131 will be described with reference to FIG.

For mounting the printer 131, the tape feed roller drive shaft 133 on the printer 131 side is fitted to the tape feed roller 27 on the ribbon cassette 1, and the ribbon take-up spool drive shaft 135 on the printer 131 side is attached to the ribbon cassette 1. Of the positioning projections 137, 139 on the printing device 131 side, which are fitted to the ribbon take-up spool 25 on the side of
Is fitted into the long holes 103 and 105. At this time, at the same time, the fixed print head 141 fixed at a predetermined position of the printing device 131 enters the print head insertion hole 37 from the back side of the ribbon cassette 1.

When the fixed print head 141 enters, the fixed print head 141
The tip of the ribbon collides with the inclined surface 51a (see FIG. 5) of the ribbon tension spring 51 and retracts the ribbon tension spring 51 to the side opposite to the ink ribbon. Therefore, the approach of the fixed print head 141 is completed without the ink ribbon 15 being caught on the tip of the fixed print head 141.

Next, the operator uses a lever (not shown) on the printing device 131 side,
When the roller holder 145 is swung around the swing shaft 143, the movable platen roller 147 and the drive roller 149 partially enter the roller entrance 33 of the ribbon cassette 1.

The movable platen roller 147 that has entered the ribbon cassette 1
Causes the print tape 17 exposed at the roller entrance 33 to overlap with the ink ribbon 15, and further fixes it to the fixed print head 141.
It will be held between the end face where the heating element exists and.

At the downstream side, the drive roller 149 is pressed against the tape feed roller 27 on the ribbon cassette 1 side,
The printing tape 17 and the double-sided adhesive tape 19 are superposed on each other and bonded to each other.

Here, when the operator operates the printing device 131 side to perform printing, a drive mechanism (not shown) on the printing device 131 side operates and the drive shafts 133 and 135 start rotating. At the same time, the heating element of the fixed print head 141 starts to generate heat according to the print pattern by the operation of the print drive circuit (not shown).

A plurality of heating elements of the fixed print head 141 are provided in a line in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the print tape 17. Then, a print drive circuit (not shown) provides the heating elements with print patterns in order from the left of the vertical dot row in the matrix pattern, as if printing a normal image, as in a normal thermal printer. However,
Fixed print head 141 and print tape in this printing device 131
Since the relative scanning direction with respect to 17 is set to be the opposite to the scanning direction of a normal thermal printer, the print pattern formed is a mirror image when the print tape 17 is viewed from the print surface direction. .

When the drive shaft 133 starts to rotate, the tape feed roller 27 cooperates with the drive roller 149 to print the tape 17 and the double-sided adhesive tape 1.
While adhering to 9 and printing device 131 as shown by the chain line
The label tape 55a as a laminated body is discharged to the outside of the. Therefore, at the same time, the print tape 17 from the spool 11
Double-sided adhesive tape 19 is pulled out from the spool 13. At this time, the operator can see the printing tape 17 side of the label tape 55a as shown by the arrow E.

On the other hand, the rotation of the drive shaft 135 causes the ribbon take-up spool 25
When the ink ribbon 15 is wound up, the ink ribbon 15 is pulled out from the ribbon supply spool 9 at substantially the same speed as the running speed of the printing tape 17.

By the operation of the drive shafts 133 and 135 as described above, the movable platen roller 147 and the fixed print head 141 are allowed to travel between the printing positions while the printing tape 17 and the ink ribbon 15 are superposed on each other in the printing unit.

Therefore, the ink adheres to the print tape 17 from the side of the ink ribbon 15 in a shape corresponding to the heating pattern of the heating element at the holding position. In this state, a laminate with the double-sided adhesive tape 19 is formed as described above. Since the double-sided adhesive tape 19 adheres to the printing pattern adhering side of the printing tape 17, the ejected label tape 55 has a structure as shown in FIG. 7, for example. Here, on the bottom surface of the printing tape 17, a mirror image printing pattern 15a formed by the ink of the ink ribbon 15 is formed, and the adhesive layer 19a of the double-sided adhesive tape 19 is formed there.
Is adhered, and the bottom layer is release paper 19b of double-sided adhesive tape 19.
Has become. When the printing of the label tape 55 is completed, the cutting lever 151 provided in the printing device 131 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the drawing to interlock with the rotary cutter 1.
When 53 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, as shown by the broken line,
The blade 153a presses and cuts the label tape 55 against the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 2 of the ribbon cassette 1.

The label tape 55 manufactured in this manner is printed on the back surface instead of the front surface when the user peels off the release paper 19b and attaches it to a desired place, and the print pattern is a mirror image. If viewed, a normal image is formed, and since the print surface is protected by the print tape 17, a highly durable label display is possible.

The same ribbon printing device 120 for the lettering ribbon cassette 120
When it is mounted on the tape cassette 31, it is different from the above label tape ribbon cassette 1 in that the tape feeding roller 27 and the driving roller 14
The point that the double-sided adhesive tape 19 and the printing tape 17 do not stack at the part that is sandwiched with 9, and the transfer tape for lettering that is produced
The only difference is that 128 has the structure shown in FIG. Other configurations and operations are the same, so description thereof will be omitted. The structure of the produced lettering transfer tape 128 is as follows:
This is a structure in which a mirror image print pattern 122a is formed on the back surface of 24 with transfer ink. This tape 128 is printed by pressing the print pattern 122a side to the place to be transferred.
By rubbing from above, the print pattern of the normal image is transferred to that place.

Both the label tape 55 manufactured from the label tape ribbon cassette 1 and the lettering transfer tape 128 manufactured from the lettering ribbon cassette 120 are printed on the printing tapes 17,124 for the adherend or the transfer target. Since it is displayed inside out, the printing device 13
It is not necessary to switch the print mode of 1 for each cassette and use it, and it is possible to naturally prevent waste on materials and work, such as forgetting to switch and printing and then noticing a failure, and switching and then printing again. .

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, in the present invention, different tape materials for manufacturing tapes having different structures and purposes can be stored in the same cassette. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of cost and parts management becomes easy.

Further, in both the case of producing the transfer tape for lettering and the case of producing the label tape, it is possible to display or transfer using the produced label tape or the transfer tape for lettering, without changing the print pattern on the printing device side. The pattern never turns inside out. Therefore, the printing device side does not have to be provided with a function for changing the mode.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 show an embodiment in which the shared ribbon cassette of the present invention is configured for a label tape, and FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a cover portion removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the lid removed from the case body, Fig. 3 is a perspective view with the lid removed, Fig. 5 (A) is a plan view of the whole, and (B) is a front view. (C) is a bottom view. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same main ribbon cassette configured for lettering with the lid removed from the case main body, and FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view with the lid attached to the printer, and FIG. Shows the structure of the label tape, and FIG. 8 shows the structure of the lettering transfer tape. 1 ... Ribbon cassette for label tape 1a ... Case body, 1b ... Lid part 3 ... Cylindrical fitting shaft 5, 5 ... Cylindrical fitting shaft 15, 122 ... Thermal transfer ink ribbon 17,124 ... Printing tape 19 ... Double-sided Adhesive tape, 21 ... Bearing holes 27, 126 ... Tape feed roller 55 ... Label tape 120 ... Lettering ribbon cassette 128 ... Lettering transfer tape 131 ... Printing device, 141 ... Fixed print head 147 ... Movable platen roller

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ink ribbon storage unit in which a normal thermal transfer type ink ribbon and a thermal transfer type ink ribbon for lettering can be shared, and a printing tape storage unit in which a thermal transfer printing tape and a lettering printing tape can be shared. , A printing section in which any one of the above-mentioned ink ribbons and a printing tape corresponding to the printing tape overlap and run during printing, and a double-sided adhesive tape adhered to the printing surface side of the thermal transfer printing tape after printing By including at least the adhesive tape storage section, and when assembled for use as an adhesive printing tape,
A normal thermal transfer type ink ribbon can be stored in the ink ribbon storage part, a thermal transfer printing tape can be stored in the printing tape storage part, and a double-sided adhesive tape can be stored in the adhesive tape storage part. , Nothing is stored in the adhesive tape storage part, the thermal transfer type ink ribbon for lettering can be stored in the ink ribbon storage part, the printing tape for lettering can be stored in the printing tape storage part, and the printing mode on the printing device side can be set. A shared ribbon cassette that can be installed and used without modification.