JPH0839910A - Ink ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently absorb and remove liquid ink excessively supplied to a fuzzed joint part of an endless ink ribbon to suppress unevenness of printing density, contamination of printing, and the like. CONSTITUTION:A ribbon drive part 3 for circulatively driving an endless ink ribbon R impregnated with liquid ink through a printing part A and a ribbon containing part 2 is installed at an inlet 2a of the ribbon containing part 2. At an outlet 2b of the ribbon containing part 2, an ink-replenishing mechanism 4 for replenishing liquid ink to the endless ink ribbon R is provided. Furthermore, an ink-absorbing body 5 absorbing excessive liquid ink replenished to the endless ink ribbon R is fixed in contact with the endless ink ribbon R in the ribbon running path from the inkreplenishing mechanism 4 to the printing part A.

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 with an ink replenishment mechanism used in recording devices such as computer printers and typewriters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an ink ribbon cassette of this type, as shown in FIG. 7, a ribbon drive unit for circulating an endless ink ribbon R impregnated with a liquid ink between a printing unit A and a ribbon storage unit 50. 51 is provided on the inlet 50a side of the ribbon storage section 50, and a pair of feed rolls 51 constituting the ribbon drive section 51.
Among the A and 51B, the ink replenishing mechanism 52 including the porous ink applying member 52A that comes into contact with the ribbon holding surface of the one feed roll 51A is provided. When the endless ink ribbon R that has passed through the printing unit A is fed into the ribbon storage unit 50 by the pair of feed rolls 51A and 51B, the endless ink is fed from the ink applying member 52A of the ink replenishment mechanism 52 via one feed roll 51A. By supplying the liquid ink to the ribbon R, the life of the endless ink ribbon R is extended. But,
The endless ink ribbon R used in this kind of ink ribbon cassette is such that the ends of the ink ribbons cut into a predetermined length are joined together by welding or the like in an overlapping state. The joined portion of No. 1 easily fluffs earlier than other portions, and when such fluffing occurs, there is a problem in that the liquid ink is excessively replenished to that portion, which causes unevenness in printing density and printing stains. Therefore, conventionally, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 7, the ink applying member 5 of the ink replenishing mechanism 52 is included in the ribbon holding surface of the one feed roll 51A.
The ink replenishment mechanism 52 is brought into contact with a part of the ribbon holding surface portion from the contact position P1 with 2A to the ribbon holding position P2.
A rubber or plastic leveling roll 53 for leveling the liquid ink supplied from the ink applying member 52A to the ribbon holding surface of the feed roll 51A is provided (for example,
JP-A-60-11383), or as shown by the solid line in FIG. A contact roller 5 that allows the transfer of the excess liquid ink impregnated in the endless ink ribbon R and that rotates by being driven by the endless ink ribbon R.
4 and a urethane roll 55 for removing the liquid ink transferred to the contact roller 54 are provided in contact with each other (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-45158).

[0003]

In the former case of the prior art, even if the liquid ink supplied to the ribbon holding surface of the feed roll 51A is smoothed by the smoothing roll 53, the fluffy joining portion of the endless ink ribbon R is formed. Contact over a wide area of the ribbon holding surface of the feed roll 51A,
Moreover, since the liquid ink adhering to the tooth base of the ribbon holding surface is also absorbed, it is unavoidable that the liquid ink is excessively supplied to the fluffy joint portion, resulting in uneven print density and print stains. It was Further, in the case of the latter conventional method, the urethane roll 55 is contacted with the endless ink ribbon R immediately before reaching the printing portion A, and the excess liquid ink impregnated in the endless ink ribbon R is absorbed by the urethane roll 55 via the contact roller 54. The ribbon storage part 5 is to be removed.
Since it takes a considerably long time until the endless ink ribbon R, which is supplied with the liquid ink at the inlet 50a of 0, is sent to the outlet 50b of the ribbon storage unit 50, the excess liquid supplied to the fluffy joint portion during that time is taken. Since the ink penetrates into the thickness of the surrounding endless ink ribbon R, the amount of the liquid ink transferred to the contact roller 54 is small, and the contact roller 54 is driven to rotate by the endless ink ribbon R. The relative rotation of the liquid ink also reduces the handling effect of the liquid ink, resulting in
Since the amount of liquid ink that has been oversupplied is reduced,
As in the former case, uneven print density and print stains were caused.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first object thereof is to efficiently absorb and remove the liquid ink excessively supplied to the fluffy joining portion of the endless ink ribbon to perform printing. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon cassette capable of suppressing uneven density and print stains. The second purpose and the third purpose are to enable the excess liquid ink replenished to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon to be efficiently removed, and the fourth purpose is the above-mentioned first purpose. The second purpose is to be able to suppress the displacement movement of the endless ink ribbon in the ribbon width direction, and the fifth purpose is to reduce the function of removing excessively supplied liquid ink. In this case, the ink removal function can be regenerated economically advantageously.

[0005]

In order to achieve the first object, in an ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1 of the present invention, an endless ink ribbon impregnated with a liquid ink is provided between a printing portion and a ribbon storage portion. A ribbon drive unit for cyclic movement is provided on the inlet side of the ribbon storage unit, and an ink supply mechanism for supplying liquid ink to the endless ink ribbon is provided on the outlet side of the ribbon storage unit, and further, from the ink supply mechanism. An ink absorber that comes into contact with the endless ink ribbon and absorbs the excess liquid ink replenished in the endless ink ribbon is fixedly provided in the middle of the ribbon traveling path to the printing unit.

In order to achieve the second object, in an ink ribbon cassette according to a second aspect of the present invention, of the ribbon contact surface of the ink absorber, the ribbon width direction central side corresponding to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon. Of the endless ink ribbon is formed so as to project toward the ribbon traveling path side more than the ribbon contact surface portion on the end portion side in the ribbon width direction corresponding to the non-printed portion of the endless ink ribbon.

In order to achieve the third object, in an ink ribbon cassette according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ribbon contact surface of the ink absorber, the ribbon width direction center side corresponding to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon. Of the endless ink ribbon is made of a material having a higher ink absorbability than the ribbon contact surface portion on the end portion side in the ribbon width direction corresponding to the non-printed portion of the endless ink ribbon.

In order to achieve the fourth object, in an ink ribbon cassette according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the ribbon contact surface portion of the endless ink ribbon on the center side in the ribbon width direction is positioned closer to the center position in the ribbon width direction. It is formed on an arcuate surface protruding toward the travel route.

In order to achieve the fifth object, in an ink ribbon cassette according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink absorber is detachably fitted and held in a cassette case.

[0010]

According to the structure of the present invention, the ink replenishing mechanism is provided on the outlet side of the ribbon containing portion, and the ink absorber is fixedly provided in the middle of the ribbon traveling path from the ink replenishing mechanism to the printing portion. Therefore, even if the joint portion of the endless ink ribbon is fluffed by repeated printing, and the liquid ink is excessively replenished to the fluffed joint portion, the time from the replenishment to the contact with the ink absorber is short, and Also, since the handling action by the relative movement of the ink absorber and the endless ink ribbon is added, the excess liquid ink replenished to the fluffy joint can be smoothly absorbed and removed by the ink absorber.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, of the ribbon contact surface of the ink absorber, the ribbon contact surface portion on the center side in the ribbon width direction is in the ribbon running path more than the ribbon contact surface portion on the end side in the ribbon width direction. The surface pressure between the ribbon contact surface portion and the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon is increased by the amount of the protrusion to the side, and the handling effect on the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, of the ribbon contact surface of the ink absorber, the ribbon contact surface portion corresponding to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon is made of a material having high ink absorbability. In particular, the liquid ink excessively replenished in the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon can be smoothly absorbed.

According to the structure of claim 4, when the endless ink ribbon contacting the arc-shaped ribbon contact surface of the ink absorber is displaced in the ribbon width direction, the endless ink ribbon is caused by the difference in peripheral speed in the ribbon width direction. Can be returned to the center position side of the ribbon contact surface.

According to the structure of claim 5, the ink absorber can be replaced with a new one.

[0015]

According to the structure of the first aspect, it is possible to efficiently absorb and remove the liquid ink that is excessively supplied to the fluffy joining portion of the endless ink ribbon to suppress uneven print density and print stains. it can.

According to the second or third aspect of the invention, the excess liquid ink impregnated in the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon can be efficiently removed, and uneven print density, print stain, and the like are further improved. Can be suppressed.

According to the structure of claim 4, it is possible to suppress the shift movement of the endless ink ribbon in the ribbon width direction while satisfactorily suppressing the uneven density of printing and printing stains.

According to the structure of claim 5, even when the function of removing the excessively replenished liquid ink deteriorates, it is possible to deal with it by replacing the parts of the ink absorber only, instead of replacing the entire ink ribbon cassette. Therefore, the regeneration of the ink removing function can be performed economically advantageously.

[0019]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a box-shaped case 1A made of a synthetic resin, which is open to one side in the ribbon width direction, and the box-shaped case 1A.
In a cassette case 1 formed by combining with a lid case 1B made of synthetic resin for closing the opening of, a ribbon storage portion 2 for storing the endless ink ribbon R impregnated with liquid ink at room temperature in a folded state is formed, At the entrance 2a of the ribbon storage unit 2, a ribbon drive unit 3 that cyclically moves the endless ink ribbon R between the printing unit A and the ribbon storage unit 2 is provided, and at the exit 2b of the ribbon storage unit 2, An ink replenishing mechanism 4 for replenishing liquid ink to the endless ink ribbon R is provided, and further, in the middle of the ribbon traveling path from the ink replenishing mechanism 4 to the printing section A,
An ink absorber 5 that is in contact with the endless ink ribbon R and absorbs the excess liquid ink supplied to the endless ink ribbon R is fixed.

The box-shaped case 1A of the cassette case 1 includes a pair of left and right ribbon guide arms 1a, a ribbon storage chamber 2A constituting the ribbon storage portion 2, and an ink storage chamber 4A of the ink supply mechanism 4. And a pair of ribbon guide arms 1a between the pair of ribbon guide arms 1a for printing an endless ink ribbon R running over the two 1a by an impact dot head H.
Is configured.

The ribbon drive unit 3 is provided with an involute tooth-shaped drive feed roll 3A that is driven and rotated by receiving power from the printer side, and an involute tooth-shaped driven feed roll 3B that meshes with and interlocks with the infeed drive roll 3B. The endless ink ribbon R is sandwiched between the two feed rolls 3A and 3B,
By the rotation of A and 3B, the endless ink ribbon R is pulled out from the outlet 2b of the ribbon storage chamber 2A and travels along the ribbon traveling path, and the endless ink ribbon R that has passed through the printing unit A is folded inside the ribbon storage chamber 2A. Is stored in.

The ink replenishing mechanism 4 comes into contact with the running endless ink ribbon R drawn out from the outlet 2b of the ribbon storage chamber 2A, and the endless ink ribbon R concerned.
A transfer roll 4B for transferring and replenishing liquid ink to the ink, an ink occlusion body 4C made of non-woven fabric, fibers, sponge or the like for occlusion of liquid ink at room temperature, and the ink occlusion body 4
It is composed of an ink supply unit 4D such as felt which supplies liquid ink from C to the transfer roll 4B. Most of the ink storage unit 4C and the ink supply unit 4D are housed in the ink storage chamber 4A. At the same time, one end of the ink supply unit 4D is transferred from the opening formed in the peripheral wall 6 defining the ink storage chamber 4A to the transfer roll 4
The protrusion end portion of the ink supply member 4D is pressed against the ink transfer surface of the transfer roll 4B. In addition, the peripheral wall 6 defining the ink storage chamber 4A, the inner surface of the box-shaped case 1A, and the lid case 1B are in contact with the outer surfaces of the ink occlusion body 4C and the ink supply part body 4D that face them. The rib 7 is integrally formed, and a void 8 is formed between the inner surface of the ink storage chamber 4A and the outer surfaces of the ink occlusion body 4C and the ink supply unit body 4D so that capillarity does not occur.

The ink absorber 5 has a thickness of 1 m, for example.
m made of soft urethane rubber sponge,
At the tip of the strip 9 integrally formed on the box-shaped case 1A,
It is attached and fixed in an approximately U shape in a ribbon width direction (top view) with an adhesive or an adhesive double-sided tape. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon contact surface 5A of the ink absorber 5 is formed into an arcuate surface projecting toward the ribbon traveling path toward the central position side in the ribbon width direction, and the ribbon contact surface 5A of the endless ink ribbon R is formed. The ribbon contact surface portion 5a on the center side in the ribbon width direction corresponding to the printed portion is formed to project toward the ribbon traveling path side more than the ribbon contact surface portion 5b on the end portion side in the ribbon width direction corresponding to the non-printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R. Has been done. As the material of the ink absorber 5, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) other than urethane rubber
Other than the rubber type, non-woven fabric, porous resin (for example, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol) and the like can be mentioned.

As described above, the ink replenishing mechanism 4 is provided on the side of the outlet 2a of the ribbon accommodating portion 2, and the ink absorber 5 is provided in the middle of the ribbon traveling path from the ink replenishing mechanism 4 to the printing portion A. Since it is fixed, the joint portion of the endless ink ribbon R fluffs due to repeated printing, and even if the liquid ink is excessively replenished to this fluffed joint portion, from the time of replenishment to the contact with the ink absorber 5. Is short, and since the handling action due to the relative movement of the ink absorber 5 and the endless ink ribbon R is also added, the excess liquid ink replenished to the fluffy joint portion is smoothly absorbed and removed by the ink absorber 5. You can do it. Moreover, in the ribbon contact surface 5A of the ink absorber 5, the ribbon contact surface portion 5a on the ribbon width direction center side protrudes toward the ribbon traveling path side more than the ribbon contact surface portion 5b on the ribbon width direction end side. Only then, the surface pressure between the ribbon contact surface portion 5a and the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R becomes high, and the handling effect on the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R can be improved. Further, when the endless ink ribbon R that contacts the arc-shaped ribbon contact surface 5A of the ink absorber 5 is displaced in the ribbon width direction, the endless ink ribbon R is moved by the peripheral speed difference in the ribbon width direction. It can be moved back to the central position side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the box-shaped case 1A, the traveling of the endless ink ribbon R is guided to two locations along the ribbon traveling path from the ink supply mechanism 4 to the printing portion A. The guide protrusions 10 are integrally formed, and each of the ribbon guide surfaces 10a of each of the guide protrusions 10 is formed with a recess 10b that is not in contact with the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R.
In the case where such a recess 10b is formed, the guide protrusion 10 is formed along with the traveling guide of the endless ink ribbon R.
Even if an ink pool is formed on the endless ink ribbon R, it is possible to prevent the pooled ink from adhering to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R. It is possible to suppress printing stains and the like.

[Second Embodiment] In the ink ribbon cassette shown in FIG. 4, of the ribbon contact surface 5A of the ink absorber 5, the ribbon contact surface on the center side in the ribbon width direction corresponding to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R. The portion 5a is formed so as to vertically project to the ribbon traveling path side from the ribbon contact surface portion 5b on the end portion side of the ribbon width direction corresponding to the non-printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R. In the second embodiment, since the ribbon contact surface portion 5a is formed vertically, for example, in the case where the entire ribbon contact surface 5A is formed into an arc surface as in the first embodiment. In comparison,
The contact pressure in the entire printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R is substantially uniform and high, and the ink absorption performance for the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R can be enhanced. Therefore, the surplus ink absorbing performance in the non-printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R is inferior to the surplus ink absorbing performance in the printed portion, so that the liquid ink impregnated in the non-printed portion gradually enters the printed portion. As a result, the printing life of the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R can be extended correspondingly. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment] The ink ribbon cassette shown in FIG. 5 has a ribbon contact surface 5A of the ink absorber 5, which corresponds to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R and is located on the center side in the ribbon width direction. The portion 5a is made of a material having a higher ink absorbability than the ribbon contact surface portion 5b on the end portion side in the ribbon width direction corresponding to the non-printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R. As means for making the ink absorption performance of the ink absorber 5 different in the ribbon width direction, the central side ribbon contact surface portion 5a and the end side ribbon contact surface portion 5a of the ink absorber 5 are, for example,
There is a method in which soft sponge and non-woven fabric are made of different materials, or both are made of the same material but have different densities (porosities). Further, in the case of the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the surplus ink absorbing performance in the non-printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R is inferior to the surplus ink absorbing performance in the printed portion. Therefore, the liquid ink impregnated in the non-printed portion gradually penetrates into the printed portion, and the printing life of the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon R can be extended accordingly. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

[Fourth Embodiment] The ink ribbon cassette shown in FIG. 6 includes an attachment member 11 having an ink absorber 5.
The cassette case 1 is detachably fitted and held in a dovetail-shaped mounting groove 1a formed in the box-shaped case 1A. Further, in this embodiment, even if the box-shaped case 1A and the lid case 1B are detachably fitted and the liquid ink removing function of the ink absorber 5 is deteriorated, the entire ink ribbon cassette is not replaced. Since only the ink absorber 5 can be replaced with another component, the ink removal function can be regenerated economically. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

Other Examples The shape, size, and material of the ink absorber 5 can be variously changed as long as it can absorb the excess liquid ink supplied to the endless ink ribbon R. . The structure of the ink replenishing mechanism 4 is not limited to the structure of the above-described embodiment, and the outlet 2 of the ribbon storage unit 2 can be used.
Various modifications can be made on the side b as long as the liquid ink can be supplied to the endless ink ribbon R.

It should be noted that although reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of an entire ink ribbon cassette showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an overall horizontal sectional view showing a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A printing unit R endless ink ribbon 1 cassette case 2 ribbon storage unit 2a inlet 2b outlet 3 ribbon drive unit 4 ink replenishment mechanism 5 ink absorber 5A ribbon contact surface 5a ribbon center surface ribbon contact surface portion 5b ribbon width direction end Ribbon contact surface part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon drive section (3) for circulatingly moving an endless ink ribbon (R) impregnated with a liquid ink between a printing section (A) and a ribbon storage section (2), said ribbon storage section (3). Provided at the entrance (2a) side of 2),
An ink replenishing mechanism (4) for replenishing the endless ink ribbon (R) with the liquid ink is provided on the outlet (2b) side of the ribbon containing section (2), and further, the ink replenishing mechanism (4).
An ink absorber (5) that comes into contact with the endless ink ribbon (R) and absorbs excess liquid ink replenished in the endless ink ribbon (R) in the middle of the ribbon traveling path from the printer to the printing unit (A). Ink ribbon cassette with fixed. 2. The ribbon contact surface portion (5a) of the ribbon contact surface (5A) of the ink absorber (5), which corresponds to the printed portion of the endless ink ribbon (R), is located on the central side in the ribbon width direction. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the endless ink ribbon (R) is formed so as to project toward the ribbon traveling path side more than a ribbon contact surface portion (5b) on the end portion side of the ribbon width direction corresponding to the non-printing portion. 3. A ribbon contact surface portion (5a) of the ribbon contact surface (5A) of the ink absorber (5), which corresponds to a printed portion of the endless ink ribbon (R), is located on the ribbon width direction center side. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the endless ink ribbon (R) is made of a material having a higher ink absorbency than the ribbon contact surface portion (5b) on the end portion side in the ribbon width direction corresponding to the non-printed portion. 4. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 2, wherein the ribbon contact surface (5A) of the ink absorber (5) is formed into an arcuate surface projecting toward the ribbon traveling path toward the central position side in the ribbon width direction. . 5. The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorber (5) is detachably fitted and held in the cassette case (1).