JPH08252959A - Ink ribbon unit and ink ribbon cassette for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain an ink ribbon unit for a printer in which an ink ribbon can be compactly bundled without damaging the ribbon due to the removal of the bundled state during the transporting or selling of the unit. CONSTITUTION: The shaft length of a ribbon supply spool shaft 3 between the flanges 5 and 9 of the shaft 3 is shortened by the thickness of both the flanges from that of a ribbon winding spool shaft 4 between the flanges 6 and 10 of the shaft 4. The outer peripheral edges of the flanges 6, 10 of the shaft 4 are brought into contact with the outer periphery of an auxiliary flange 9a of the flanges 5, 9 of the shaft 3 at the drive side shaft 7 and the driven side shaft 11 side, and the shafts 3, 4 are bundled by a band 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an example of an ink ribbon unit conventionally used in this type of printer. The ink ribbon unit indicated as a whole by reference numeral 1 includes a ribbon supply spool shaft 3 around which an unused ink ribbon 2 is wound,
It is composed of a ribbon winding spool shaft 4 for winding a used ink ribbon. Also, both spool shafts 3,
The drive side shaft portions 7 and 8 having the flange portions 5 and 6 respectively are provided at one end portions of the drive side shaft portions 4.
The drive shaft holes 7a, 8a and the drive pawl 7 on the inner peripheral surface thereof.
b and 8b are formed. Also, both spool shafts 2, 3
Driven shaft portions 11 and 12 having flange portions 9 and 10 at their base portions are provided at the other end portions of the driven side shaft portions 11 and 12, respectively.

The ink ribbon unit 1 thus constructed is used by being housed in an ink ribbon cassette as shown in FIG. 6 as an example.

This ink ribbon cassette has a lower half 40
The lower half 40 has a substantially boat shape, and the drive-side bearing portions 42, 42 having the shaft holes 42a, 42a opened at one end side thereof are provided. , 42 rotatably support the drive side shaft portions 7, 8 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 and the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4. Further, driven side bearing portions 43, 43 having U-shaped bearings 43a, 43a are provided on the other end side of the lower half 40, and the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 and the ribbon take-up are mounted on the driven side bearing portions 43, 43. Driven shaft part 1 of spool shaft 4
1, 12 are rotatably supported. Reference numeral 44 is an opening window corresponding to the print head of the printer body (not shown).

The upper half 41 has a driven side bearing portion 43,
It is integrated with the lower half 40 with 43, and the presser spring 4
Reference numerals 5 and 45 prevent the driven side shaft portions 11 and 12 from slipping out and maintain the bearing state.

The above-mentioned ink ribbon unit 1 is packaged in a bundled state and is generally sold. As a method for binding the ink ribbon unit 1,
As shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 and the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 are parallel to each other, the flange portions 5 and 6 of the drive side shaft portions 7 and 8 of both spool shafts 3 and 4 are butted against each other. The flange portions 9 and 10 of the driven side shaft portions 11 and 12 are abutted against each other, and the spool shafts 3 and 4 are bundled from the surface of the ink ribbon 2 with a wide band 13 to be wrapped.

[0007]

However, in the packaging of the ink ribbon unit 1 as described above, the flange portions are displaced from each other during vibration during transportation or during sale, and the spool shafts 3 and 4 are arranged on both spool shafts 3 and 4 as shown in FIG. Inconveniences such as wrinkles occurring in the straddling ink ribbon portion or damage to the ink ribbon 2 at the flange portion of the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 occur, and as a result, the commercial value of the ink ribbon unit 1 is impaired. Cause.

Further, the bundling of the ink ribbon unit 1 as described above is bulky, which has been a factor of increasing the packaging cost.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and does not cause the ink ribbon unit to lose its binding state during transportation or sale and damage the ink ribbon. An object is to obtain an ink ribbon unit of a printer that can be compactly bound.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain an ink ribbon cassette for a printer that accommodates the ink ribbon unit of the present invention.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink ribbon unit of a printer according to the present invention comprises:
It has a ribbon supply spool shaft around which an unused ink ribbon is wound and a ribbon take-up spool shaft around which a used ink ribbon is taken up.Flange parts are provided at one end of the ribbon supply spool shaft and the ribbon take-up spool shaft, respectively. In an ink ribbon unit of a printer including a driving side shaft portion having the driving side shaft portion and a driven side shaft portion having a flange portion at the other end portion thereof, an axial length between the flange portions of the ribbon supply spool shaft is set to that of the ribbon take-up spool shaft. Shorten the axial length between the flange parts by the thickness of both flange parts, and set the outer peripheral edge of the flange part of the ribbon take-up spool shaft to the outer periphery of the drive side shaft part and the driven side shaft part from the outside of the ribbon supply spool shaft flange part. The ribbon supply spool shaft and the ribbon take-up spool shaft are bound together by a band.

The ink ribbon cassette of the printer according to the present invention has a ribbon supply spool shaft around which an unused ink ribbon is wound and a ribbon take-up spool shaft around which a used ink ribbon is wound up. And a drive-side shaft portion having a flange portion at one end portion of the ribbon take-up spool shaft, and a driven-side shaft portion having a flange portion at the other end portion thereof, and the drive-side shaft portion and the driven-side shaft portion are ribbon cassettes. In an ink ribbon cassette of a printer that is rotatably housed in a bearing portion of a housing, the axial length between the flange portions of the ribbon supply spool shaft is determined from the axial length between the flange portions of the ribbon take-up spool shaft. It is shortened by the thickness, and the drive side shaft of the ribbon supply spool shaft is longer than the drive side shaft of the ribbon take-up spool shaft. When the drive-side shafts of both spool shafts are supported by the bearings of the ribbon cassette housing using a ribbon ribbon unit, ribbon supply is performed so that the protruding lengths of both drive-side shafts are aligned outside the bearings. The bearing portion of the spool shaft is provided with setback adjusting means.

[0013]

According to the ink ribbon unit of the printer of the present invention constructed as described above, the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion of the ribbon take-up spool shaft is set to the outer periphery of the drive side shaft portion and the driven side shaft portion from the outside of the flange portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft. Since the flange portions of both spool shafts are engaged with each other by the abutting against the portion, there is no misalignment in the axial direction and the binding can be stably held. Also, compact binding of both spool shafts can be achieved.

Further, in the ink ribbon cassette of the printer of the present invention, the set housing is provided at the bearing portion of the ribbon cassette housing on which the drive side shaft portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft is supported. The projecting length of the drive side shaft portion of both spool shafts supported by the side bearing portion to the outside of the cassette housing is kept uniform. Therefore, the drive shaft of the printer main body can be engaged with the both drive-side shaft portions with an equal amount of pushing.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An ink ribbon unit and 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 plan view of the ink ribbon unit of this embodiment in a bound state. The ink ribbon unit generally designated by reference numeral 1 is composed of a ribbon supply spool shaft 3 around which an unused ink ribbon 2 is wound, and a ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 around which a used ink ribbon is wound up. Further, drive spools 7, 8 having flanges 5, 6 at their bases are provided at one ends of the spool shafts 3, 4, respectively. The drive spools 7, 8 have a drive shaft hole 7a, 8a
Are formed. Further, driven side shaft portions 11 and 12 having flange portions 9 and 10 at their base portions are provided at the other end portions of both spool shafts 2 and 3, respectively.

Here, the ribbon winding spool shaft 4
The axial length between the change parts 6 and 10 is L₁And the flange part 6,
10 thicknesses L₀Will cause an unused
Shaft length of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 around which the bon 2 is wound
L₂Then, L₂≧ L₁-2L₀Set to the length of
is there. Further, the drive side shaft portion 8 of the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4
The length of H₁And the length of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 is H
₂Then, H₂≧ H ₁+ L₀Is set to the length of.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, when the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 and the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 are bound together, both flange portions 6, 10 of the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 are joined together.
The outer surfaces of both flanges 7 and 9 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 are sandwiched so as to be sandwiched therebetween, and the outer peripheral edge of the flange 6 on the drive side shaft 8 side of the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 is supplied to the ribbon. The outer peripheral edge portion of the flange portion 10 on the driven side shaft portion 12 side of the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 is abutted against the outer peripheral portion of the drive side shaft portion 7 of the spool shaft 3 and the outer surface of the flange portion 9 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3. The auxiliary flange portion 9a having the same outer diameter as that of the drive-side shaft portion 7 formed in the above is abutted. Further, the auxiliary flange portion 9a may be configured as a part of the driven side shaft portion 11,
Further, the driven side shaft portion 11 may have the same outer diameter as the drive side shaft portion 7 without using the auxiliary flange portion 9a.

Both spool shafts 3, 4 assembled in this way
Are in a parallel state, and the ink ribbon 2 has both spool shafts 3,
4, the spool shafts 3 and 4 are bound by a wide band 13 from the surface of the ink ribbon 2 in this state.

When the length of the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 is made shorter than the length of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 and both spool shafts 3 and 4 are bound together, the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 flange. Parts 6 and 10 are ribbon supply spool shafts 3.
The unused ink ribbon 2 is damaged by coming into contact with the ink ribbon 2 wound around the roll, which is not practically preferable.

Since the ink ribbon unit 1 of the present invention is constructed as described above, the flange portions 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 of the spool shafts 3 and 4 are engaged with each other in the bound state, and both are axially oriented. It is possible to prevent the ink ribbon 2 from being displaced, and to stably hold the binding without damaging the ink ribbon 2 such as wrinkles.

Further, the ink ribbon unit 1 can be compactly bound by the length of overlap of the flange portions of the spool shafts 3 and 4.

When the spool shafts 3 and 4 are bound as shown in FIG. 1, an auxiliary flange portion 10a is formed on the inner side surface of the driven side shaft portion 10 of the ribbon winding spool shaft 4, and the auxiliary flange portion 10a is provided with the auxiliary flange portion 10a. If the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 9 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 is abutted,
The bound state of the ink ribbon unit 1 can be stably performed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lower half of the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention in which the above-mentioned ink ribbon unit 1 is housed, and the upper half is omitted.

The lower half indicated by the reference numeral 30 has a substantially boat shape like the lower half 40 of the conventional example, and drive side bearing portions 31, 31 having shaft holes 31a, 31a are provided at one end side thereof. The drive side shaft portions 7 and 8 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 and the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4 are rotatably supported by the drive side bearing portions 31 and 31. Also, the lower half 3
On the other end side of 0, driven side bearing parts 33, 33 having U-shaped bearings 33a, 33a are provided.
The driven side shaft portions 11 and 12 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 and the ribbon winding spool shaft 4 are rotatably supported by 3 and 33. In this example, when the driven side shaft portions 11 and 12 are supported by the driven side bearing portions 33 and 33, the end portions of the driven side shaft portions 11 and 12 are supported by the leaf springs 34 and 34 provided on the rear wall of the ink ribbon cassette 30. The part is spring biased.

Since the ink ribbon unit 1 has a structure in which the drive side shaft portion 7 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 is formed longer than the drive side shaft portion 8 of the ribbon take-up spool shaft 4, the ink ribbon cartridge of the present invention is formed. In the set 30, it is necessary to make the protruding lengths of the drive shaft portions 7, 8 of the spool shafts 3, 4 supported by the drive bearing portions 32, 32 of the ink ribbon cassette 30 outside the cassette uniform. .

Therefore, in the present invention, as an example, the driving side bearing portion 32A on the ribbon supply spool shaft 3 side is made thicker on the back side to form the driving side bearing portion 32A, and the driving side shaft portion 7 is set back. The lengths of the drive shafts 7 and 8 of the spool shafts 3 and 4 protruding outside the cassette housing are made uniform.

With this configuration, the ink ribbon cassette 30 is set in the printer (not shown), and two drive shafts for driving the spool shafts on the printer side are provided with drive side shaft portions 7, 8 of both spool shafts 3, 4. Drive shaft holes 7a, 8a
Are engaged. At this time, since the drive-side shaft portions 7 and 8 of both spool shafts 3 and 4 have the same protruding length, they are pushed by the drive shaft and are driven together with the drive-side shaft portions 7 and 8.
Also, since the ink ribbon 2 is retracted while maintaining the parallel state, non-uniform external force is not applied to the ink ribbon 2, wrinkles and the like can be avoided, and printing defects in the printing operation can be prevented in advance.

As a means for setting back the drive side shaft portion 7 of the ribbon supply spool shaft 3, except for increasing the overall thickness of the drive side bearing portion 32, a projection portion is partially formed around the bearing hole 32a. May be formed.

As another method of setback,
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, U is formed on the back surface of the driving side bearing portion 32.
The leaf spring members 14, 14 processed into a letter shape are fixed by, for example, caulking, ultrasonic welding, adhesion, fitting, insert molding, etc., and the flange portion 5 of the drive side shaft portion 7 is fixed to the leaf spring members 14, 14. By making them contact with each other, the projecting lengths of both drive side shaft portions 7 and 8 are adjusted.

In the case of such a configuration, the ribbon supply side spool shaft 3 is prevented from idling by the friction generated by the contact between the leaf spring member 14 and the flange portion 5, and unnecessary slack of the ink ribbon is avoided. You can The leaf spring member 14 is an example, and other members may be used as long as they are elastic members.

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.

In the embodiment, the case where the invention is applied to the ink ribbon unit and the ink ribbon cassette of the video printer has been described, but the invention can be widely applied to printers other than the video printer.

[0034]

As described above, in the ink ribbon unit of the printer according to the present invention, the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion of the ribbon take-up spool shaft is arranged on the drive side shaft portion and the driven side shaft portion from the outside of the flange portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft. Since the flanges of both spool shafts are engaged with each other by engaging the outer peripheral part of the spool, there is no misalignment in the axial direction, and the bundling can be held stably, impairing the commercial value of the ink ribbon. Nor. Further, since compact packing of both spool shafts can be achieved, the packaging cost can be reduced without being bulky.

In the ink ribbon cassette of the printer of the present invention, the set-back adjusting means is provided in the bearing portion of the ribbon cassette housing that supports the drive side shaft portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft, so that the cassette housing is driven. The projecting length of the drive side shafts of both spool shafts supported by the side bearings to the outside of the cassette housing can be kept uniform, and the drive shaft of the printer main body is evenly distributed to both drive side shafts. Engagement can be performed with a pushing amount, and damage due to wrinkles and the like on the ink ribbon can be avoided in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ink ribbon unit of this example in a bound state.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an ink ribbon cassette of the present example that accommodates an ink ribbon unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another example of the ink ribbon cassette of this example.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drive-side bearing portion in the example of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a conventional ink ribbon unit in a bound state.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a problem of the conventional ink ribbon unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ink Ribbon Unit 2 Ink Ribbon 3 Ribbon Supply Spool Shaft 4 Ribbon Winding Spool Shaft 5, 6, 9, 10 Flange 9a Auxiliary Flange 7,8 Drive Side Shaft 7a, 8a Drive Shaft Hole 11,12 Driven Side Shaft portion 13 Band 14 Leaf spring member 30 Ink ribbon cassette 32A Thick drive side bearing portion 33 Driven side bearing portion

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon supply spool shaft around which an unused ink ribbon is wound, and a ribbon take-up spool shaft around which a used ink ribbon is wound up. One end of the ribbon supply spool shaft and the ribbon take-up spool shaft. In an ink ribbon unit of a printer including a drive-side shaft portion having a flange portion at each end and a driven-side shaft portion having a flange portion at the other end, an axial length between the flange portions of the ribbon supply spool shaft. Is shorter than the axial length between the flange portions of the ribbon take-up spool shaft by the thickness of both the flange portions, and the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion of the ribbon take-up spool shaft is driven from the outside of the flange portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft by the drive. The ribbon supply spool shaft and the ribbon take-up spool shaft are connected by a band by abutting against the outer peripheral portions of the side shaft portion and the driven side shaft portion. The ink ribbon unit of the printer, characterized in that the the to. 2. A ribbon supply spool shaft around which an unused ink ribbon is wound, and a ribbon take-up spool shaft around which a used ink ribbon is wound up. One end of the ribbon supply spool shaft and the ribbon take-up spool shaft. A drive-side shaft portion having a flange portion at each end and a driven-side shaft portion having a flange portion at the other end, respectively, and the drive-side shaft portion and the driven-side shaft portion rotate on the bearing portion of the ribbon cassette housing. In an ink ribbon cassette of a printer that is freely accommodated, the axial length between the flange portions of the ribbon supply spool shaft is made shorter than the axial length between the flange portions of the ribbon take-up spool shaft by the thickness of both flange portions, Also, using an ink ribbon unit in which the drive side shaft portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft is longer than the drive side shaft portion of the ribbon take-up spool shaft, When the drive shafts of both spool shafts are supported by the bearings of the ribbon cassette housing, the ribbon supply spool shafts are arranged so that the protruding lengths of both drive shafts are aligned outside the bearings. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer, wherein a setback adjusting means is provided on a bearing portion of the printer. 3. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer according to claim 2, wherein the setback adjusting means increases the wall thickness of the bearing portion to support the drive side shaft portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft at a retracted position. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer, which is characterized by 4. The ink ribbon cassette of the printer according to claim 2, wherein the setback adjusting means is provided with a spring member on the bearing portion to support the drive side shaft portion of the ribbon supply spool shaft at a retracted position. An ink ribbon cassette for a printer characterized by the above.