JPH0757550B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus in which an ink ribbon and printing paper in an image printer are housed in the same cartridge for use.

"Prior Art" Conventionally, image printers for printing television images and the like have been developed and are beginning to be used. As these printers, there are an ink jet method in which ink particles of three colors are ejected for printing, and a transfer method in which ink of an ink ribbon is transferred to paper by instantaneous heat generation by resistance heating elements arranged in a line. Apart from the inkjet method, in the transfer method, for example, a dye type dye sublimable to a melting type or ink in which an ink ribbon formed by mixing three colors of ink in a wax binder and applying the ink is melted and transferred by heat. There is a sublimation type in which printing is performed by utilizing the sublimation of ink generated by applying heat. In any case, when performing color printing, it is necessary to perform printing three times (once for each color) on at least one sheet of printing paper. In particular, in a thermal transfer type using an ink ribbon, the width of the ink ribbon is the same as the width of the paper to be printed, and since the ink is melted or sublimated by the instantaneous heat generation, the ribbon base (ribbon core material) is used. Since it is made of a thin material, its handling requires care, and therefore, it is desired and has been made into a cartridge for the ink ribbon for general use. Further, the printing paper is also a special paper and is used as a cut paper. In general, these ink ribbon cartridges and cut sheets of printing paper are often sold as a pair (100 cut sheets for 100 ink ribbons).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described below, in the conventional printer, the ink ribbon is supplied in the form of an ink ribbon cartridge, and the printing paper is supplied in the form of a cut paper, and each of them is used at the time of use. According to the designated procedure, for example, open the designated place on the side of the printing device, load the cartridge, set the printing paper at another designated place, etc., and separate the ink ribbon and printing paper Makes its handling complicated,
It was annoying.

"Means for Solving Problems" The present invention is for solving the above problems, and has a printing paper portion having an opening through which the printing paper is taken out and storing the printing paper inside. A cartridge means composed of an upper part accommodating a second reel for winding an ink ribbon, the front end of which has a claw part for engaging with a coupling part; and a tape leader for transferring the tape leader from the first reel. 1 Ink ribbon guide means, a printing means including a thermal print head and a platen roller for printing via the ink ribbon, and a second ink ribbon guide means for transferring the ink ribbon used for printing to the cartridge side In other words, the connecting portion of the leader tape of the second ink ribbon is engaged with the claw to wind the ink ribbon.

[Example] Hereinafter, a printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of an ink ribbon, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a cartridge which stores an ink ribbon and printing paper, in which a cut sheet of printing paper is stored in a lower portion, and a reel in which an ink ribbon is wound and a reel in which an ink ribbon is wound are stored in an upper portion. Reference numeral 2 is a printing paper portion for storing the cut printing paper 3, 4 is an ink ribbon portion for storing the ink ribbon reel 5 and the ink ribbon take-up reel 6, and a joining line 15 is a cartridge by an engaging member (not shown). Are joined together. 7 is an ink ribbon leader tape,
For example, a synthetic resin film is provided with a connecting portion 11 having an elliptical hole at the tip, and is bonded to the ink ribbon 17 by an adhesive portion 16. Reference numeral 8 denotes an opening of the printing paper unit 2, which is an opening for feeding a printing paper to the printing apparatus by being lifted by a paper lifting device (not shown) as shown by an arrow C. Reference numeral 9 is an opening for taking out the ink ribbon from the ink ribbon reel 5, and 10 is an opening for inserting the ink ribbon into the ink ribbon take-up reel 6. Reference numeral 12 denotes a claw provided on the ink ribbon take-up reel 6, which is a connecting portion 11 of the leader tape 7 of the ink ribbon 17.
Engage with. Reference numeral 13 is a drive shaft that applies back tension to the ink ribbon reel 5, and 14 is a drive shaft that applies a winding driving force to the ink ribbon take-up reel 6.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a main body of the printing apparatus, on which the cartridge 1 containing the ink ribbon and the printing paper is mounted. 21 is a platen roller. 22 is a thermal printing head, which passes through a fulcrum 23 and is indicated by an arrow A.
As you can see, it can move as needed. Reference numeral 24 denotes a printing paper transporting device that transfers the printing paper 3 to the platen roller 21 side. A transport path switching device 25 switches the path of the printing paper during printing (in the case of color printing, printing is repeated three times) and when printing is completed. Reference numeral 26 is a guide member for printing paper. Reference numeral 27 denotes a first ink ribbon guide, which is provided with a leader tape transport device 28 on the way, and the leader tape transport device is
It moves as shown by arrow B, and the tape feeding operation is stopped. 29
Is a second ink ribbon guide, which guides and transfers the ink ribbon for which printing has finished to the cartridge 1 side.

"Operation" The operation of the present invention will be described with the above configuration. First, when the cartridge 1 is set in the main body 1 of the printing apparatus, the switch for detecting the setting of the cartridge 1 (not shown) operates, and the leader tape 7 wound around the ink ribbon reel 5 is moved to the first ink ribbon guide.
After entering from the insertion port of 27, the roller of the leader tape transport device 28 moves downward in the arrow direction to transport the leader tape. At this time, since it is not in the printing state, the thermal print head 22 moves upward about the fulcrum 23 in the direction of the arrow A, and the leader tape becomes
It passes between 22 and the platen roller 21, enters the second ink ribbon guide 29, is transported as indicated by the arrow, reaches the ink ribbon take-up reel 6, and joins the leader tape 7 11 and the claw portion of the reel 6. Are engaged with each other, and the leader tape 7 is wound around the ink ribbon take-up reel 6. The winding of the leader tape is detected by a detection device (not shown), the leader tape transport device 28 moves upward as indicated by arrow B, and the transfer of the ink ribbon is stopped.

On the other hand, when a print command is issued, the printing paper 3 is lifted by a paper lifting device (not shown) as shown by arrow C,
By the rotation of arrow E of 24, the printing paper is transported to the platen roller 21 side (shown by the dotted line) and reaches the printing position. Then, after the position of the ink ribbon (printing start position of the ink ribbon) is confirmed, the thermal print head is lowered to start printing. In the case of color printing, it is necessary to print at least three times for each printing paper (one for each color), and therefore,
After the printing, the printing paper 3 passes through the passage formed by the guide member 26 and is printed three times. When the printing is finished three times, the conveyance path switching device 25 moves the arrow F upward (to the platen roller side),
The printing paper is changed to the discharge port 30, and the printed printing paper is output.

"Effects" As described above, the printer according to the present invention is one in which the ink ribbon and the printing paper are incorporated into one cartridge, and the handling thereof can be extremely simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of an ink ribbon, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. In the figure, 1 is a cartridge, 2 is a printing paper portion, 3 is a printing paper,
Reference numeral 4 is an ink ribbon portion, 5 is an ink ribbon reel, 6 is an ink ribbon take-up reel, 7 is a leader tape, 9 and 10 are openings, 11 leader tape connecting portions, 12 is an ink ribbon take-up reel claw portion, 13 , 14 is a drive shaft, 21 is a platen roller, 2
2 is a thermal print head, 27 is the first ink ribbon guide, 29
Is a second ink ribbon guide.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first reel on which an ink ribbon is wound and a joining tape which follows a leader tape having an opening through which a printing paper is taken out, a printing paper portion for accommodating the printing paper therein, and a joining portion at a tip thereof. Cartridge means comprising a second reel for winding an ink ribbon having a claw portion for engaging with a cartridge means, and a first ink ribbon guide for driving and transferring a leader tape from the first reel. Means, a thermal printing head for printing via an ink ribbon and a platen roller, and a second ink ribbon guide means for transferring the ink ribbon used in the printing to the cartridge side. A printer characterized in that an ink ribbon is wound by engagement of a tape coupling portion and a claw portion of the second reel.