JPH08300780A - Ribbon cassette for thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To set the peeling force of an ink ribbon corresponding to the characteristics thereof only by the handling on the side of a ribbon cassette. CONSTITUTION: A peeling roller 24 sending an ink ribbon R after printing to peel the same from a recording head or recording paper, the first gear 50 driven by the drive source on the side of a carriage, the intermediate gear 52 meshed with the first gear 50 and the second gear 51 meshed with the intermediate gear 52 and integrally molded along with the peeling roller 24 are provided to a ribbon cassette. The peeling force of the peeling roller 24 corresponding to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R is set by the adjustment of the gear ratio of the first and second gears 50, 51.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette in a thermal transfer printer used for typewriters, word processors and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a ribbon cassette is mounted on a carriage having a recording head (thermal head), and an ink ribbon is supplied to a printing position between a thermal head and a recording sheet by heat generation of the thermal head according to printing information. In a thermal transfer printer that performs printing by melting and transferring the ink onto recording paper, the ribbon take-up shaft of the carriage is driven to rotate the ribbon take-up reel of the ribbon cassette to take up the ink ribbon. .

In this case, as the winding diameter of the ink ribbon wound on the ribbon winding reel changes, the winding force of the ribbon winding reel also changes, and this change causes problems such as looseness of the ink ribbon and defective printing. Was happening.

In order to solve the above problem, in JP-A-61-268475, the carriage is provided with an ink ribbon feeding mechanism including a ribbon feeding roller and a pinch roller, and the ink ribbon is pinched with the ribbon feeding roller. It is disclosed that it is sandwiched by a roller and fed into a ribbon cassette.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-208087, a carriage is provided with a ribbon feed roller and a pinch roller, and an ink ribbon is nipped and fed by the ribbon feed roller and the pinch roller, and a print head and a ribbon feed roller. It is disclosed that the ribbon feeding roller is driven with a predetermined torque via a sliding mechanism in order to always apply a constant and appropriate tension to the ink ribbon between and.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9876/1993 discloses that
The carriage is provided with a roller drive shaft which is rotationally driven by a drive source, and a ribbon cassette is provided with a ribbon feed roller for causing the ink ribbon to travel by frictional force. It is disclosed that the ink ribbon is fed by rotation.

[0007]

Generally, various types of ink ribbons such as low speed, high speed, mono color, color, etc. are used, and the melting point, viscosity, etc. of the ink may vary depending on the type of ink ribbon. Since they are different, the adhesive force to the recording paper when they are melted by the heat generation of the thermal head and transferred to the recording paper depends on the ink ribbon used. Further, the friction coefficient between the ink ribbon and the thermal head is different due to the difference in the treatment on the back surface of the ink ribbon. Therefore, in order to stably feed the ink ribbon, it is necessary to obtain a force for peeling the ink ribbon from the recording paper or the thermal head in consideration of friction between the recording paper or the thermal head and the ink ribbon due to the characteristics of the ink ribbon. There is.

However, in each of the above publications,
No consideration has been given to setting the peeling force in accordance with the characteristics of the ink ribbon in the ribbon cassette, so that the ink ribbon cannot be fed stably and problems such as printing defects may occur.

Particularly, in the structures disclosed in JP-A-61-268475 and JP-A-2-208087, the ribbon feeding roller and the pinch roller are provided on the carriage side, so that the inside of the ribbon cassette is In order to obtain the peeling force according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon, that is, the torque at the ribbon feed roller and the pinch roller, it is necessary to adjust the torque at the roller on the carriage side each time, which is very complicated and difficult. , Only the ink ribbon corresponding to the initially set torque could be used.

In the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9876/1998, the roller driving shaft on the carriage side is directly fitted to the ribbon feeding roller on the ribbon cassette side to rotate the ribbon feeding roller. The driving force of the roller driving shaft is directly reflected on the torque of the ribbon feeding roller. Therefore, in order to obtain the torque in the ribbon feed roller according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon in the ribbon cassette, it is necessary to adjust the driving force of the roller drive shaft, which is very complicated and difficult. Ink ribbons that can be used in the same manner as the above were limited.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer which can easily obtain a peeling force of the ink ribbon according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon.

[0012]

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the means for solving the problems according to the present invention is detachably mounted on a carriage 4 having a thermal head 5, and the thermal head 5 and a recording sheet are combined. The ink ribbon R after printing is sent to the ribbon cassette 20 equipped with the ribbon supply reel 22 and the ribbon take-up reel 23, around which the ink ribbon R supplied to the printing position between the thermal head 5 and the recording head. The peeling roller 24 for peeling from the sheet and the drive transmission mechanism 25 for transmitting the driving force from the driving source on the carriage 4 side to the peeling roller 24 are provided.
The peeling force of the ink ribbon R in the peeling roller 24 is set according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R by the adjustment.

Further, the drive transmission mechanism 25 connects the drive transmission elements, that is, the first gear 50 connected to the ribbon winding shaft 12 on the carriage 4 side for rotating the ribbon winding reel 23 and the peeling roller 24. The connected second gear 51,
A combination of an intermediate gear 52 interposed between a first gear 50 and a second gear 51, and the drive transmission mechanism 25 is adjusted by changing at least one of these drive transmission elements. Is.

[0014]

In the above means for solving the problem, the ribbon cassette 2
As the ink ribbon R stored in 0, various kinds of ink ribbons such as low speed, high speed, mono-color, and color are used. However, since the melting point, viscosity, etc. of the ink differ depending on the type of the ink ribbon R, the adhesive force to the recording paper when melted by the heat generation of the thermal head 5 and transferred to the recording paper depends on the ink ribbon R used, Further, the friction coefficient between the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 5 differs due to the difference in the back surface treatment of the ink ribbon R. Therefore, the drive transmission mechanism 25 is adjusted in consideration of the friction between the recording paper or the thermal head 5 and the ink ribbon R due to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R, for example, the gear ratio of the first gear 50 and the second gear 51. By the adjustment or the like, the peeling force of the peeling roller 24 according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R is set only by the correspondence on the ribbon cassette 20 side.

When the ribbon cassette 20 after setting is mounted on the carriage 4 and printing is started, the carriage 4
Repeats reciprocating movement, and the heat generation of the thermal head 5 according to the print information selectively causes the ink ribbon R supplied to the printing position between the thermal head 5 and the recording paper to be melted and transferred to the recording paper.

At this time, the driving force of the ribbon winding shaft portion 12 on the carriage 4 side is transmitted to the peeling roller 24 via the first gear 50, the intermediate gear 52, and the second gear 51, and the peeling roller 24 moves. By rotating and feeding the printed ink ribbon R with a peeling force set according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R, the ink ribbon R is given a peeling force that overcomes the friction between the ink ribbon R and the recording paper or the thermal head 5. The ink ribbon R is peeled off from the thermal head 5. The ribbon take-up reel 23 is also rotating and takes up the ink ribbon R after printing.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of a serial thermal printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, 1 is a printer main body, 2 is a paper feed guide mounted on the printer main body 1, 3 is a plate-shaped platen arranged between the left and right frames of the printer main body 4, and 4 is abuttable / separable to the platen 3. A carriage having a recording head (thermal head) 5 disposed opposite to the platen 6 rotates around a horizontal axis 7 arranged in parallel with the platen 3 to convey the recording paper fed along the paper feed guide 2 to the platen 3 And a thermal transfer roller 5, which is a paper transporting roller.

The carriage 4 includes a pair of left and right pulleys 8
The timing belt 9 is attached to an endless timing belt 9 wound around a and 8b, and one pulley 8a is rotated via a gear by the rotation of a drive motor 10 capable of forward and reverse rotation, so that the timing belt 9 is moved in the left-right direction. The carriage 4 is reciprocally moved in parallel with the platen 3.

A ribbon supply reel 2 of a ribbon cassette 20 which is detachably mounted on the carriage 4 will be described later.
2 and a ribbon supply shaft portion 11 and a ribbon winding shaft portion 12 which are inserted into the ribbon winding reel 23. As shown in FIG. 3, the ribbon winding shaft portion 12 includes a ribbon winding shaft 13 erected on the carriage 4, a rotating body 14 rotatably fitted on the ribbon winding shaft 13,
The ribbon take-up reel 2 is externally fitted and fixed to the upper end of the rotating body 14.
Engagement reel 1 having engagement piece 15a for engaging 3
5 and. The ribbon supply shaft portion 11 has the same configuration as the ribbon winding shaft portion 12, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

The rotary body 14 of the ribbon winding shaft 12 has a first sliding gear 16 and a second sliding gear 1 below the first sliding gear 16.
7 is externally fitted so as to be vertically movable and rotatable, a first elastic member 18a made of felt or the like is mounted on the upper surface of the second sliding gear 17, and the rotary member 14 below the second sliding gear 17 is attached. A second elastic member 18b made of felt or the like is mounted on the upper surface of the lower flange 14a. A compression spring 19 is interposed between the lower surface of the engagement reel 15 and the upper surface of the first sliding gear 16, and the urging force of the compression spring 19 causes the first sliding gear 16 to move to the first elastic member 18a. To
The second sliding gears 17 are in a state of being pressed by the second elastic members 18b.

The first sliding gear 16 is meshed with a drive transmission mechanism 25 for transmitting a driving force to a peeling roller 24 of a ribbon cassette 20 which will be described later, and the second sliding gear 17 is arranged on the carriage 4. It is meshed with the motor shaft of a winding drive motor that does not rotate, or meshed with a gear or the like that is rotationally driven in response to movement of the carriage 4 via a rack mechanism or the like (not shown). In the structure in which the second sliding gear 17 is rotationally driven in response to the movement of the carriage 4, the winding drive motor and the like are not required and the weight of the carriage 4 itself is reduced. The accompanying inertia becomes small and the movement control of the carriage 4 becomes easy.

Next, the structure of the ribbon cassette 20 which is detachably mounted on the carriage 4 and accommodates the ink ribbon R supplied to the printing position between the thermal head 5 and the conveyed recording paper will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ribbon cassette 20 includes a ribbon supply reel 22 and a ribbon take-up reel 23 each having an ink ribbon R wound around a rectangular parallelepiped cassette case 21, and an ink ribbon after printing. A peeling roller 24 that sends R to peel off the thermal head 5 or the recording sheet, and a drive transmission mechanism 25 that transmits a driving force from a driving source on the carriage 4 side to the peeling roller 24 are arranged.

The cassette case 21 is a case body 3
0 and the case lid 31 are detachably fitted to each other, and a pair of notches 32 are provided on the side of the head side where the ink ribbon R is exposed.
a and 32b have a notch 3 at the center of the side opposite to the head side.
3 are formed in each of the cutouts 32a, 32b, 33.
An engaging claw (not shown) that engages with the protrusion on the carriage 4 side is formed on the. When the ribbon cassette 20 is mounted on the carriage 4, the thermal head 5 of the carriage 4 is inserted into one of the notches 32b on the head side, and the exposed ink ribbon R is printed at the printing position between the thermal head 5 and the recording paper. It is located in.

Further, the case body 30 includes a carriage 4
A pair of circular openings 30a, 30b for inserting the ribbon supply shaft portion 11 and the ribbon winding shaft portion 12, respectively, are formed, and the case lid 31 also has circular openings 31a, 31b facing the circular openings 30a, 30b. Are formed. Further, the case body 30 includes fixed shafts 34, 35, 36,
Pulleys 38, 39, 40, 4 which are rotatable around 37 to smoothly feed the ink ribbon R without slack
1. Ink ribbon R together with pulley 38 on the ribbon supply side
A leaf spring 42 with a felt material that holds the ink ribbon R to prevent the ink ribbon R from being fed more than necessary, and a slack prevention leaf spring 43 that presses the ink ribbon R to prevent the slack of the ink ribbon R are arranged. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the ribbon take-up reel 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has annular recesses 23a and 23b formed at the upper and lower ends thereof, and the inner peripheral surface thereof. A plurality of engaging protrusions 44 that project inward and engage with the engaging pieces 15a of the engaging reels 15 on the carriage 4 side in a disengageable manner.
Are formed at equal intervals. The ribbon supply reel 2
Since 2 has the same structure as the ribbon take-up reel 23, the description thereof will be omitted.

A ring-shaped extension piece 45 extending downward from the opening wall of the circular opening 30b of the case lid 31 is loosely fitted in the upper recess 23a of the ribbon take-up reel 23, and the lower side of the recess 23a of the case lid 31 is loosely fitted. A ring-shaped projection 50a of a first gear 50 of a drive transmission mechanism 25, which will be described later, is loosely fitted in the recess 23b, and the ribbon take-up reel 23 is sandwiched between the ring-shaped extending piece 45 and the first gear 50. It is rotatably held in the case 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, the peeling roller 24 has a cylindrical shape and is detachably and rotatably fitted onto a fixed shaft 46 integrally formed with the case main body 30 so that the ink ribbon R is printed. Peel roller 24, pulley 41 from position
Are wound in this order to reach the ribbon take-up reel 23.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the drive transmission mechanism 25 includes a plurality of drive transmission elements, that is, a first gear 50 arranged below the ribbon take-up reel 23 and a peeling roller 24. A second gear 51 integrally formed in the lower portion, and an intermediate gear 52 interposed between the first gear 50 and the second gear 51.
Consists of

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first gear 50 has a substantially annular shape, and the inner peripheral surface thereof has an inner gear 53 that engages with the first sliding gear 16 on the carriage 4 side in a disengageable manner. Is formed, an outer gear 54 that meshes with the intermediate gear 52 is formed on the outer peripheral surface, and an annular projection 50a is formed to project on the upper surface. The first gear 50 is detachably and rotatably held on the edge of the circular opening 30b of the case body 30. The intermediate gear 52 is formed integrally with the case body 30 so as not to interfere with the ink ribbon R.
5 is detachably and rotatably fitted on the outer surface.

As the ink ribbon R, various types such as low speed, high speed, mono-color, and color are used. At this time, as described in the related art, since the melting point, viscosity, etc. of the ink on the ink surface Ra differ depending on the type of the ink ribbon R, the ink ribbon R to be used is melted by the heat generation of the thermal head 5 and the recording paper. The adhesive force to the recording paper when transferred onto the recording paper is different, and the friction coefficient between the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 5 is different due to the difference in the treatment of the back surface Rb of the ink ribbon R. Therefore, in the present embodiment, considering the friction between the recording paper or the thermal head 5 and the ink ribbon R due to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R,
By adjusting the drive transmission mechanism 25, the ink ribbon R
The peeling force of the peeling roller 24 is set according to the characteristics of the above.

Here, the first sliding gear 16 of the carriage 4
If the torque transmitted from the first gear 50 to the first gear 50 is T, the force (that is, torque) F for peeling the ink ribbon R by the peeling roller 24 integrally formed with the second gear 51 is the peeling roller 24 and the ink ribbon. Assuming that the coefficient of friction with R is 1, it is defined as F = T × (i2 / i1) × (1 / r). Note that i1 is the number of teeth of the first gear 50,
i2 is the number of teeth of the second gear 51, and r is the radius of the peeling roller 24.

Therefore, by adjusting the drive transmission mechanism 25, that is, by adjusting i1 and i2, the peeling roller 24 necessary for peeling the ink ribbon R from the recording paper or the thermal head 5 according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R is provided. The torque F can be easily generated. In addition to the adjustment of the drive transmission mechanism 25, the torque F of the peeling roller 24 according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R can be easily generated by adjusting the radius r of the peeling roller 24.

Table 1 shows three types of ink ribbons R (samples 1, 2, and 3): paper-ink (recording paper which is plain paper and ink ribbon R), ink-ink (ink of a certain color in color printing). The static friction coefficient and the dynamic friction coefficient of the ribbon back surface-the glass (the back surface Rb of the ink ribbon R and the glass surface equivalent to the surface of the thermal head 5) are shown above. .

[0035]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, in the case of Samples 1 and 3, the difference in friction coefficient between paper-ink, ink-ink and ribbon back surface-glass is about 0.2, and Sample 1 has a peeling force. Is 10g, sample 3 has a peel force of 20g
In the case of Sample 2, paper-ink, ink-
The difference in the friction coefficient between the ink and the back surface of the ribbon-glass is about 0.
1, the peeling force is 40 g, and it can be seen that the larger the peeling force is, the smaller the difference in the friction coefficient between the ink surface Ra side and the back surface Rb side of the ink ribbon R is. In addition,
The peeling force is a force for feeding the ink ribbon R necessary to overcome the friction between the ink ribbon R and the recording paper or the thermal head 5 to peel the ink ribbon R, and the peeling roller 24 required to peel the ink ribbon R off. The value is smaller than the peeling force of. This is because, due to the friction between the peeling roller 24 and the ink ribbon R, the peeling force of the peeling roller 24, that is, the torque is not reflected as the force for feeding the ink ribbon R as it is.

Table 2 shows the minimum value of the peeling force of the peeling roller 24 required for reliably peeling the ink ribbons R of the samples 1, 2, and 3 from the recording paper or the thermal head 5, and this minimum value. The gear ratio of the first gear 50 and the second gear 51 in the drive transmission mechanism 25 for is shown.

[0038]

[Table 2]

As is clear from Table 2, the peeling force increases in proportion to the gear ratio, and the ink ribbon R of Sample 1 has a gear ratio of 0.12, and the ink ribbon R of Sample 2 has a gear ratio. By setting the gear ratio to 0.35 and the gear ratio of the ink ribbon R of Sample 3 to 0.18, it is possible to set an appropriate peeling force of the peeling roller 24 according to the characteristics of each ink ribbon R. .

In the above structure, when the ribbon cassette 20 is mounted on the carriage 4, the ribbon supply reel 22 and the ribbon take-up reel 23 of the ribbon cassette 20 are moved to the ribbon supply shaft portion 11 and the ribbon take-up shaft portion 12 of the carriage 4.
, And the inner gear 53 of the first gear 50 on the ribbon cassette 20 side meshes with the first sliding gear 16 on the carriage 4 side to enable printing.

When recording paper is fed to start printing, the drive motor 10 drives the carriage 4 to reciprocate in parallel with the platen 3 via the timing belt 9 to select the thermal head 5 according to the print information. The thermal heat generated causes the ink ribbon R supplied to the print position between the thermal head 5 and the recording paper to be melted and transferred to the recording paper.

At this time, the second sliding gear 17 on the ribbon winding shaft portion 12 on the carriage 4 side is rotationally driven by the driving of the winding driving motor or the movement of the carriage 4, and the first elastic member 18a and the first sliding gear 16 are driven. The first sliding gear 16 rotates with the rotation of the second sliding gear 17 by the frictional force between the lower surface of the second sliding gear 17 and the frictional force between the lower surface of the second sliding gear 17 and the second elastic member 18b. The rotating body 14 rotates as the two-slip gear 17 rotates. The rotation of the first sliding gear 16 causes the peeling roller 24 to rotate via the inner gear 53 and the outer gear 54 of the first gear 50, the intermediate gear 52, and the second gear 51, and is set according to the ink ribbon R. By feeding the ink ribbon R after printing with the peeling force, a peeling force that overcomes friction with the recording paper or the thermal head 5 is given to the ink ribbon R, and the ink ribbon R is peeled from the recording paper or the thermal head 5. Further, the rotation of the rotating body 14 causes the ribbon take-up reel 23 to rotate via the engagement reel 15 to wind up the ink ribbon R after printing.

As described above, the ribbon cassette 20 is provided with the peeling roller 24 and the drive transmitting mechanism 25 for transmitting the driving force to the peeling roller 24, and the drive transmitting mechanism 25 is adjusted to adjust the characteristics of the ink ribbon R. Peeling roller 24
Since the peeling force of the ink ribbon R in (1) is set, the ink ribbon R can be stably fed regardless of the type of the ink ribbon R used, and good printing can be performed. Moreover, since the peeling force can be set only by the correspondence on the ribbon cassette 20 side, there is no need on the printer side for a developed printer that can use this kind of ribbon cassette 20. Various types of ink ribbons R can be applied.

Further, since the drive transmission mechanism 25 is connected to the ribbon winding shaft portion 12 on the carriage 4 side to rotate the peeling roller 24, the ribbon winding ribbon portion of the carriage side is used to rotate the ribbon of the ribbon cassette. This kind of ribbon cassette 20 can be used even for an existing general printer that rotates a take-up reel, and various types of ink ribbons R can be applied without requiring correspondence on the printer side. it can.

Further, the drive transmission mechanism 25 includes the first gear 5
0, the second gear 51, and the intermediate gear 52 are a simple structure in which a plurality of gears are meshed with each other, and the adjustment of the drive transmission mechanism 25 changes at least one of these drive transmission elements, that is, the first gear 50 or the first gear 50. It is possible to provide the ribbon cassette 20 in which the peeling force of the peeling roller 24 according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon R is set at low cost by changing the number of teeth of the two gears 51 and changing the gear ratio.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention. For example, the drive transmission mechanism 25 may have a structure in which a pulley and a timing belt are combined, and the peeling force of the peeling roller 24 may be set according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon 4 by changing the diameter of the pulley. .

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the ribbon cassette is provided with the peeling roller and the drive transmitting mechanism for transmitting the driving force to the peeling roller, and the drive transmitting mechanism is adjusted to adjust the ink. Since the peeling force of the ink ribbon at the peeling roller is set according to the characteristics of the ribbon, the ink ribbon can be fed stably regardless of the type of ink ribbon used and good printing is possible. Becomes Moreover, since the peeling force can be set only by the correspondence on the ribbon cassette side, there is no need for the printer side to support various printers already developed that can use this kind of ribbon cassette. Any type of ink ribbon can be applied.

When the drive transmission mechanism is connected to the ribbon winding shaft portion on the carriage side for rotating the ribbon winding reel to rotate the peeling roller, the ribbon winding shaft portion on the carriage side causes the ribbon cassette to rotate. This kind of ribbon cassette can be used even for existing general printers that rotate the ribbon take-up reel, and various types of ink ribbons can be applied without the need for correspondence on the printer side. .

Further, the drive transmission mechanism has a simple structure in which a plurality of drive transmission elements, that is, a plurality of gears such as a first gear, a second gear and an intermediate gear are combined, and at least one of these drive transmission elements is modified. When the drive transmission mechanism is adjusted by using the ribbon cassette, it is possible to provide a ribbon cassette in which the peeling force of the peeling roller is set according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ribbon cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an internal mechanism of the serial thermal printer.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a ribbon cassette mounted on a carriage.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the meshing of gears in the drive transmission mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Carriage 5 Thermal Head 12 Ribbon Winding Shaft 22 Ribbon Supply Reel 23 Ribbon Winding Reel 24 Peeling Roller 25 Drive Transmission Mechanism 50 First Gear 51 Second Gear 52 Intermediate Gear R Ink Ribbon

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon supply reel and a ribbon take-up reel, which are detachably mounted on a carriage having a recording head, around which an ink ribbon to be supplied to a printing position between the recording head and the recording paper is wound. In a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer, a peeling roller that feeds the ink ribbon after printing and peels it from the recording head or recording paper, and a driving force from a drive source on the carriage side are transmitted to the peeling roller. A ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer, comprising: a drive transmission mechanism, wherein the peeling force of the ink ribbon in the peeling roller is set according to the characteristics of the ink ribbon by adjusting the drive transmission mechanism. 2. The drive transmission mechanism is formed by combining a plurality of drive transmission elements and is connected to a ribbon winding shaft portion on a carriage side for rotating a ribbon winding reel, and at least one of the drive transmission elements is changed. 2. The ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the drive transmission mechanism is adjusted by doing so. 3. The drive transmission mechanism includes a first gear connected to a ribbon winding shaft portion on a carriage side for rotating a ribbon winding reel, a second gear connected to a peeling roller, and the first gear. The ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to claim 2, comprising an intermediate gear interposed between the first gear and the second gear.