JPH10181134A - Ink film cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a cassette with a refill type limiter housed therein capable of achieving the prevention of loss, mismounting, quality deterioration of a limiter with a simple constitution, and a reel to be used in the cassette. SOLUTION: A supply reel 30 and take-up reel are housed in the ink film cassette, and detachably screwed in a thread grooved support shaft 78a is a first torque limiter (first braking means) for affording brake force to the support shaft 78a of the supply reel 30 within the cassette. Also, in the cassette, a secodn torque limiter (torque brake means) for driving torque of the take-up reel is detachably screwed onto the thread grooved support shaft. In addition, the direction of screw cut on the supply is reverse to that on the take-up side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink film cassette containing an ink film used in a thermal transfer recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermal transfer recording apparatus has a platen roller and a thermal head which can be pressed against and released from the platen roller, and recording paper is fed between the platen roller and the thermal head. Between the recording paper and the thermal head, an ink film having one surface coated with a heat-meltable or heat-sublimable ink is transported. The ink film is fed from a supply reel and wound on a take-up reel. When reproducing a color image on recording paper with one thermal head,
An ink film is used in which yellow, magenta, and cyan inks are applied in this order on a thin film base surface.

A recent thermal transfer recording apparatus uses an ink film cassette which accommodates a supply reel and a take-up reel and is removably mounted on the main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus in order to improve the workability of an ink film loading operation. ing. During printing, the ink film is pulled out of the supply reel by the frictional force between the platen roller and the recording paper being conveyed between the platen roller and the thermal head pressed against the platen roller, and is conveyed as the recording paper moves. And wound on the take-up reel. The ink film cassette is a consumable item, and is replaced by a new cassette when the ink film housed therein is used up.

By the way, in the main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus,
When the ink film cassette is loaded, the supply reel is connected to a supply reel, and a supply-side torque limiter for applying a braking force to the supply reel is provided. By feeding out the ink film while applying a braking force to the supply reel by the supply-side torque militer, tension is applied to the ink film during printing so that wrinkles do not occur on the ink film.

Further, a take-up torque limiter for limiting the drive torque of the take-up reel is provided between the take-up reel and the motor in the main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus. This winding-side torque limiter, in addition to the reason that the above-described tension is applied to the ink film during printing,
It is provided for the following reason. In other words, in the printing section, the moving speed of the recording paper and the moving speed of the ink film need to be the same, but even if the take-up reel shaft is driven to rotate at a constant speed, the take-up diameter changes. The moving speed of the ink film will change. Therefore, a winding-side torque limiter is provided to make the printing unit follow the winding speed with the ink film moving speed and wind the ink film on a winding reel so that the ink film is not loosened.

If the supply-side and take-up side torque limiters are provided in the thermal transfer recording apparatus, the structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus becomes complicated, the cost increases, and miniaturization is hindered. Further, since a torque limiter provided in the apparatus is required to have the same durability as other parts in the apparatus, for example, a durability capable of normally forming an image of 60,000 screens, a relatively expensive torque limiter is required. Therefore, the cost of the entire thermal transfer recording apparatus has increased with an increase in the cost of parts.

[0007] On the other hand, the inventors of the present application disclose Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-329.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 385 proposes a refile type ink film cassette incorporating a supply-side torque limiter in order to simplify and reduce the cost of the thermal transfer recording apparatus main body. This refiled type ink film cassette is designed so that the user can easily refill only the ink film without replacing the entire cassette when the ink film housed therein is used up. In addition, since the torque limiter and the cassette body can be reused, the number of disposable parts can be reduced as much as possible, and environmental considerations are taken.

[0008]

While an ink film cassette having a built-in torque limiter has the advantages described above, the refilling of the ink film requires the attachment and detachment of the reel and the torque limiter. for that reason,
There is a possibility that the torque limiter is lost. Further, the mounting portion between the torque limiter and the reel is configured to have a certain amount of play to facilitate attachment and detachment. Therefore, there is a possibility that the image quality is adversely affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink film capable of preventing loss of the torque limiter and preventing deterioration of image quality due to looseness between the torque limiter and the reel while maintaining ease of attachment and detachment of the torque limiter and the reel. To provide a cassette.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink film cassette removably mounted in a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention. A supply reel on which an ink film is wound, a take-up reel for winding the ink film fed from the supply reel, and a support shaft of the supply reel which is detachably formed by being screwed onto a support shaft of the supply reel. Braking means capable of applying a braking force when mounted on the first frame, a first frame holding the supply reel and the take-up reel, and the supply reel and the take-up reel attached to the first frame. And a detachable second frame to be fixed.

The above-mentioned braking means means a means for applying a brake to the rotation of the supply reel, and more specifically, can be achieved by means such as a torque limiter for adding rotation.

In the ink film cassette having such a configuration, the ink film is replaced by taking out the supply reel and the take-up reel in which the braking means is screwed with the screw groove from the first frame, removing the braking means from the supply reel, and removing the new braking means. The braking means is attached to the supply reel.

Taking out of the ink film cassette,
In mounting, the braking means and the supply reel are integrated, so that the braking means is not lost. Further, since the braking means and the supply reel are screwed together with the screw grooves, there is no play in assembling, and the deterioration of the image quality can be prevented. In addition, the braking means can be reused and collected, and the number of members to be discarded can be reduced as much as possible, thereby contributing to environmental conservation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the shaft is detachably formed by being screwed into a spindle of a take-up reel having a thread groove at an end thereof, and attached to the spindle of the take-up reel. 2. The ink film cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a torque limiting unit capable of limiting a driving torque in a state. The torque limiting means described above means provided between the motor and the take-up reel and limits the rotation of the motor, and specifically, means for limiting the rotation such as a torque limiter. Can be achieved.

In the ink film cassette having the above structure, the ink film is replaced by taking out the take-up reel screwed with the screw groove by the torque restricting means from the first frame, removing the torque restricting means from the take-up reel, and performing a new take-up. The torque limiting means is attached to the reel.

Taking out of the ink film cassette,
At the time of attachment, the torque limiting means and the take-up reel are integrated, so that the torque limiting means is not lost.
In addition, since the torque limiting means and the take-up reel are screwed together with screws, there is no play in assembling, and deterioration of image quality can be prevented. Also, it is possible to reuse and recover the torque limiting means,
The members to be disposed can be reduced as much as possible, which contributes to environmental conservation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, one end of the spindle of the supply reel or the spindle of the take-up reel is cut into a right-hand thread groove, and the other is cut into a left-hand thread groove. Is an ink film cassette.

According to this configuration, since the direction of cutting the thread groove is different on both the supply side and the winding side, there is no mistake when screwing the braking means or the torque limiting means on the reel. Therefore, erroneous mounting can be prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an ink film used in a thermal transfer recording apparatus is wound around a spindle.
An ink film reel capable of applying a braking force by attaching a braking means to at least one end of the support shaft, wherein a screw groove is formed at an end of the support shaft, and braking is performed on the screw groove. An ink film reel characterized in that the means can be screwed.

In a reel having such an end shape,
The braking means and the supply reel are screwed together in a thread groove and integrated, so that the braking means is not lost. In addition, since the braking means and the supply reel are screwed together with the screw grooves, there is no play in assembling, and the deterioration of the image quality can be prevented.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus in which an ink film cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention is detachably mounted.

The illustrated thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 is a sublimation type thermal transfer color printer that prints out an image photographed by a digital camera or the like. Thermal transfer recording device 10
, A control device (not shown) is connected via an interface, and image signals and control signals from the control device are input via the interface.

A lid member 12 is mounted on the upper surface of a housing 11 forming the main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 so as to be openable and closable about a swing shaft 12a (see FIG. 2). With the lid member 12 opened, an ink film cassette is opened. Housing 11
Is loaded at a predetermined position. The front left side of the figure is the front surface of the apparatus 10. The paper discharge tray 17 is provided on the front side, and the paper supply unit 21 is provided on the rear side. Paper feed unit 2
In FIG. 1, a paper feed tray 14 accommodating a plurality of recording sheets is provided at an angle. Then, the recording paper after reproducing the image is discharged vertically onto the paper discharge tray 17 through the paper discharge port 16. In the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10, an ink film coated with a heat sublimable ink is used, and a recording paper as an image receiving paper for trapping the sublimated ink is a paper having a surface coated like a photographic paper. Thick (150-250 μm) paper is used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus with the cover member opened, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus with an ink film cassette loaded. It is.

First, an outline of the internal structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 will be described. The printing section 20 is located at a substantially central portion and the recording paper 18 is transported in a parallel transport mode. And a sheet feeding section 21 provided at an angle of about 45 degrees above the section 20. Further, a paper cutting section 23 is provided for cutting unnecessary portions (the leading end portion and / or the trailing end portion of the recording sheet) of the recording sheet after reproducing the image, and the cut sheet pieces are stored below this. A duster section 24 is provided on the front side of the apparatus so as to be freely inserted and removed. Note that the leading end portion of the recording paper refers to the edge of the recording paper that is located on the leading end side when the recording paper is discharged. The forward conveyance of the recording paper, which will be described later, means that the recording paper is conveyed from the leading end thereof, and the return conveyance of the recording paper is that the recording paper is conveyed from the rear end thereof. Further, a control unit 19 that performs predetermined image processing on an image signal input from an external control device and controls the operation of the recording device 10 is built in.

The internal structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 will be described in detail. In the housing 11, a platen roller 25 is rotatably supported. A head base 27 having a thermal head 26 is attached to the inner surface side of the lid member 12 so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the platen roller 25.
When the head base 27 moves forward with respect to the platen roller 25, the thermal head 26 moves to a position where it comes into pressure contact with the platen roller 25. On the other hand, when the head base 27 moves backward with respect to the platen roller 25, the thermal head 26 makes pressure contact. Move to the position to release. The head base 27 is held by a resilient means such as a spring (not shown) so as to hold the thermal head 26 at a position retracted with respect to the platen roller 25, that is, at a pressure release position.
It is urged in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. Lid member 12
An eccentric cam 29 for pressure contact is fixed to a drive shaft 28 rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 28. When the drive shaft 28 is rotationally driven by the thermal head drive motor M1, the press-contact eccentric cam 29
Abuts on the head base 27 to move the head base 27 forward, whereby the thermal head 26 is pressed against the platen roller 25. When the lid member 12 is closed, the lid member 12 is fastened to the housing 11 by engaging means such as an engaging pin (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, between the thermal head 26 and the platen roller 25, a belt-shaped ink film 32 which is fed from a supply reel 30 and wound on a take-up reel 31 is transported. It has become.
The ink film 32 is formed by applying three color ink layers of yellow, magenta and cyan to the base film in this order. If the ink film 32 is unused, the ink film 32 is wound on the supply reel 30, and the ink film 32 is wound on the take-up reel 31 as the ink film 32 is used.

Both reels 30 and 31 on the supply side and the winding side
Are stored in the ink film cassette 33.
The ink film cassette 33 is detachable from the housing 11, and is set at a predetermined position by being set on a holding plate 34 mounted in the housing 11. A part of the gear 35 connected to the take-up reel 31 faces an opening formed in the ink film cassette 33, and an ink film take-up drive gear 36 provided in the apparatus main body is engaged with the gear 35 when the cassette is mounted. . The drive gear 36 is driven to rotate by a motor M2. The configuration of the ink film cassette 33 will be described later in detail.

In order to form a transport path for the ink film 32, an ink film take-up roller 37 is rotatably provided at a position where it enters the inside of the cassette 33 when the cassette is mounted. The ink film take-up roller 37 is a roller having a surface formed of a rubber material or the like having high frictional resistance, and is rotationally driven by an ink film take-up motor M3. An electromagnetic clutch (not shown) is provided between the ink film take-up motor M3 and the ink film take-up roller 37. The electromagnetic clutch is turned on only when the cue of the ink film 32 is performed during non-printing when the thermal head 26 is not pressed against the platen roller 25, and is turned off in other states, for example, during printing.

At the time of printing, the thermal head 26 is in pressure contact with the platen roller 25, and the ink film 32 is in contact with the platen roller 25 and the thermal head 26.
The recording paper 18 is drawn out of the supply reel 30 by a frictional force between the recording paper 18 and the recording paper 18 conveyed between them, and is conveyed at the same speed as the moving speed of the recording paper 18. The ink film 32 fed out of the supply reel 30 is rotated by the motor M2 via the drive gear 36 and the gear 35 to rotate the take-up reel 31, thereby forming an ink film guide plate 38 provided at the tip of the thermal head 26 and an ink film guide plate 38. It is guided by the take-up roller 37 and is taken up by the take-up reel 31. At the time of this printing, the electromagnetic clutch is turned off, and the ink film take-up roller 37
The rotation of the ink film 32 is caused by the rotation of the ink film 32 and the guide roller guides the conveyance of the ink film 32.

At the time of non-printing, the thermal head 26
Is released from the pressure contact with the platen roller 25, and when the cue of the ink film 32 is performed, the electromagnetic clutch is turned on and the ink film take-up roller 37 is driven and rotated by the ink film take-up motor M3. Then
The ink film 32 is rotated by the frictional force between the ink film winding roller 37 and the supply reel 3.
0 and is wound up on the take-up reel 31.

Next, the procedure of reproducing a color image in the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 will be described. First, the recording paper 18 is transported forward from the paper feed tray 14 and sent between the grip roller 50 and the pinch roller 51. The fed recording paper 18 is temporarily stored in the storage space 56. Next, from this state, a yellow image is formed while the recording paper 18 is returned and conveyed. That is, the return printing method is used. After transferring the yellow image while returning and transporting the recording paper 18, the recording paper 18 is transported forward and stored in the storage space 56 in preparation for reproducing the next magenta image. In this way, a color image is formed on the recording paper 18 by transferring, for example, three color images in an overlapping manner by the frame sequential method. Thermal head 26
The thermal head 26 is in contact with the platen roller 25 only at the time of return conveyance. When the recording paper 18 is conveyed forward, the thermal head 26 is separated from the platen roller 25. When the return conveyance and the forward conveyance are repeated for printing, the grip roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 always keep the recording paper 18 nipped.

When the swing guide 58 for selectively guiding the recording paper 18 to either the paper discharge section 22 or the storage space 56 is swung to an upper position around the support shaft 57, the paper is conveyed by the grip roller 50 or the like. Recording paper 1
8 is stored in the storage space 56. On the other hand, when the swing guide 58 swings clockwise about the support shaft 57 from the upper position to the lower position, the recording paper 18 on which the color image has been reproduced is conveyed toward the paper discharge unit 22.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an ink film cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the ink film cassette 3
In detail, the cassette 33 includes a center film guide 70, a supply reel housing 71 formed at one end thereof, and a take-up reel housing 7 formed at the other end thereof.
And 2. The cassette 33 is formed by assembling an upper frame 73 and a lower frame 74 each formed of a synthetic resin material. An upper opening window 75 and a lower opening window 76 are formed on the upper and lower sides of the film guide 70 in the drawing, and cutouts 77 for receiving the ink film winding roller 37 are formed on the sides. I have. Since wrinkles may occur on the ink film 32 after printing, when the ink film 32 wound on the supply reel 30 is entirely wound on the take-up reel 31, the ink film 32 on the take-up reel 31 The winding diameter is often larger than the winding diameter wound on the supply reel 30 initially. In response to such an increase in the ink film winding diameter after printing, the take-up reel housing 7
If the outer diameter size of the second member is formed larger than the supply reel housing portion 71, it can be handled without any trouble. Therefore, the outer diameter of the take-up reel housing 72 is larger than the outer diameter of the supply reel housing 71.
The difference between the shapes of the supply side and the take-up side makes it possible to easily determine the cassette loading direction when the ink film cassette 33 is loaded into the apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which each reel screwed to each torque limiter is mounted on the lower frame of the ink film cassette.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the supply reel accommodating portion 71, a supply reel 30 around which the ink film 32 is wound and a spindle end portion 78a of the supply reel 30 which is screwed with a thread groove. The first torque limiter 85 is incorporated therein, and a second torque screwed into the take-up reel 31 and the spindle end portion 80a of the take-up reel 31 in the take-up reel housing 72 by a screw groove. A limiter 97 is incorporated. The other end 78b of the supply-side reel 30 shown on the lower side in FIG.
It is rotatably supported by a supply-side bearing 79b formed on the side wall of the upper and lower frames 73 and 74. Similarly, the other end 80 b of the take-up reel 31 is connected to the upper and lower frames 7.
It is rotatably supported by a winding-side bearing portion 81b formed on the side wall of each of the rollers 3 and 74.

The ink film cassette 3 of the present embodiment
In 3, the first torque limiter 85 provided in the spindle end portion 78a detachably with a screw groove corresponds to a braking means for applying a braking force to the supply reel 30.

The second torque limiter 97, which is detachably provided on the spindle end 80a of the take-up reel 31 with a thread groove, corresponds to a torque limiting means for limiting the drive torque of the take-up reel 31. .

Hereinafter, the first torque limiter 85 and the second torque limiter 97 will be described in order.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which the first torque limiter 85 is fixed to the cassette 33.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the first torque limiter 85.

FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing the reel 30 and the first torque limiter 85 from the side, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the first torque limiter 85 from the front.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first side on the supply side will be described.
The torque limiter 85 applies a braking force to the supply reel 30 to make the supply reel 30 hard to turn, and is mounted in a state fixed to the upper frame 73. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the first torque limiter 85 is fixed and held to the cassette 33 by sandwiching the gear 35 between the upper frame 73 and the lower frame 74. Here, a projection 109 having a shape corresponding to the tooth shape of the gear 35 is formed on the inner surfaces of the upper frame 73 and the lower frame 74.
The rotation of the gear 35 is suppressed by meshing the fifth teeth.
In this state, the friction torque acts on the inner shaft 91 (see FIG. 7), and the friction torque also acts on the supply reel 30 screwed with the thread groove. Therefore, unless the torque against the friction torque acts on the supply reel 30, the supply reel 30 does not rotate. In this way, the first torque limiter 85 applies a braking force to the shaft of the supply reel 30 in the cassette 33 to apply a rotational load to the supply reel 30.

The upper frame 73 and the lower frame 7
4 illustrates the case where the projections 109 are provided on both sides, but if the torque limiter 85 can be fixed to the cassette 33, the projections 109 may be provided on at least one of the upper frame 73 and the lower frame 74. Then, another method may be used. .

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A, the first torque limiter 85 comprises a gear 35 and a limiter 87 attached to the gear 35.
Has a disk portion 88 having teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface, and an inner shaft 91 having a thread groove shape to which a rotational load is applied by friction torque in a through hole 92 formed in the disk portion 88. The limiter 87 has a main body 90 and an inner shaft 91 having a thread groove shape to which a rotational load is applied by friction torque in a through hole 92 formed in the main body 90.

As shown in FIG. 8B, a rotational load may be applied to the inner shaft 91 by the resilient force of the spring member. In this case, the resilient force of the spring member is reduced by a set screw. It is preferable to make it adjustable by, for example. Two through holes 124 extending in the radial direction are formed through the main body 90 of the limiter 87. The spring 1 is inserted into the through hole 124.
The set screw 126 is screwed into the opening end of the through hole 124. The two through holes 124 are formed at positions facing each other, and the elastic force of the spring 125 acts on the inner shaft 91 from both radial sides.

As described above, the first torque limiter 85 is fixed to the ink film cassette 33 in a fixed state. In this state, the elastic force of the spring 125 acts on the inner shaft 91 from both sides in the radial direction, and the spring 1
25 resilient forces are acting. Therefore, the supply reel 30 does not rotate unless a torque against the elastic force of the spring 125 acts on the supply reel 30.

The second torque limiter 97 is also constructed in the same manner as the first torque limiter 85, so that a detailed description is omitted.
It is mounted so that it can rotate with respect to. The gear 35 of the second torque limiter 97 is arranged so as to face an opening 77 formed in the lower frame 74. When the cassette 33 is loaded in the apparatus main body, the gear 35 meshes with the ink film winding drive gear 35 via the opening 77. It has become. The driving force from the driving gear 35 is transmitted to the take-up reel 31 via the second torque limiter 97,
2 is transmitted. When a driving torque greater than the friction torque acting on the inner shaft 91 (see FIG. 7) acts on the gear 35, the rotational force from the gear 35 is not transmitted to the take-up reel 31, and only the gear 35 is actuated. It will spin. In this way, the second torque limiter 97
The driving torque of the take-up reel 31 is limited within the range.

It is preferable that the same material is used for the various members constituting the torque limiters 85 and 97, and only the set torque value is changed.
In this way, even if the operating temperature of the ink film cassette 33 changes, the torque limiters 85 and 97 also show the same behavior, so that the torque difference between the supply side and the winding side can be easily maintained. However, if the change in the torque difference can be suppressed to an allowable range even when the use temperature changes, the supply-side member and the winding-side member can be formed of different materials.

If the first torque limiter 85 can be fixed to the cassette 33, there is no need to form teeth on the disk portion 35, but the gear constituting the second torque limiter 97 only by providing the projection 109. 35 can be diverted,
Since the components constituting the torque limiter can be shared between the supply side and the winding side, it is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the component cost.

Then, the spindle end 78a of the supply reel 30
Has a thread groove so as to be attached to the inner shaft 91 of the first torque limiter 85. The inner shaft 91 is also threaded so that the spindle end 78a of the supply reel 30 can be attached to the inner shaft 91. Similarly to the supply reel 30, the take-up reel 31 has a thread groove so that the take-up reel 31 can be attached to the inner shaft 91 of the second torque limiter 97.

The direction of threading of the spindle end 78a of the supply reel 30 and the spindle end 80a of the take-up reel 31 is opposite.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the thread groove cutting direction is such that the spindle end portion 78a of the supply reel is cut leftward and the spindle end portion 80a of the take-up reel is cut rightward. That is, on the supply side, the supply side limiter 85 is fixed by the upper and lower frames 73 and 74, so that the supply reel 30 is rotated by the ink film 32. By cutting the thread groove on the support shaft end 78a of the reel 30 in the left direction, the screwed reel 30 and the limiter 85 are not loosened during operation.

On the winding side, the winding side torque limiter 97 is rotated by the motor M2 (see FIG. 2). By turning the spindle end 80a of the reel to the right,
During operation, the screwed reel 31 and the torque limiter 97 do not tighten or loosen.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the support shaft end 78a of the supply reel 30 and the support shaft end 8 of the take-up reel 31 are used.
Cut a male thread groove at 0a and attach the limiter side 8
Although the female screw groove is cut at 5, 97, the female screw groove may be cut at the reel side and the male screw groove may be cut at the limiter side. The procedure for replacing the ink film will be outlined. When the ink film 32 has been used, the lid member 12 of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 is opened upward, and the ink cassette 33 is taken out. Upper frame 7
3 is slid and the ink cassette 33 is opened. Then, the supply reel 30 in which the first torque limiter 85 is screwed in the screw groove and the take-up reel 31 in which the second torque limiter 97 is screwed in the screw groove are taken out from the lower frame 74. The first torque limiter 85 and the second torque limiter 97 are removed from the taken-out supply reel 30 and take-up reel 31 by rotating the respective screws. Then, the first torque limiter 85 removed to the new supply reel 30 and the second torque limiter 97 to the take-up reel 31 are replaced by screw rotation, respectively, and the new supply reel 30 integrated with the limiters 85 and 97 is taken up. The reel 31 is assembled into the lower frame 74. When the upper frame 73 is slid to the lower frame 74 to close the ink cassette 33, the replacement of the ink film is completed.

The user can replace the ink film by such a simple procedure. Moreover,
The torque limiters 85 and 97 and the ink cassette 33 can be reused, and members to be discarded can be reduced as much as possible.

As described above, the direction of thread groove cutting is opposite between the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31.
Only the first torque limiter 85 can be attached to the supply reel 30 and only the second torque limiter 97 can be attached to the take-up reel 31. It is not possible to attach a torque limiter to a reel whose threading direction is reversed. That is, erroneous mounting of the reel and the torque limiter is prevented.

As described above, since the ink film cassette 33 of this embodiment is a cassette with a built-in refile type torque limiter, the advantages of the built-in type are that the thermal transfer recording apparatus can be simplified, reduced in cost and reduced in size. Can be achieved. When the ink film 32 is replaced, the supply-side and take-up-side reels 30, 31 and the torque limiters 85, 97
Are screwed together in a screw groove to be integrated, so that the torque limiters 85 and 97 are lost or the torque limiters 85 and 97 are confused because the direction of thread groove cutting is opposite in the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31. There is no danger of mounting by mistake.

Further, the torque limiters 85 and 97 and the ink film cassette 33 can be reused, and the number of discarded members can be reduced as much as possible, which contributes to environmental conservation.

Moreover, since the work of mounting the reels 30 and 31 and the torque limiters 85 and 97 is performed outside the ink film cassette 33, there is no need to secure a space required for the work in the ink film cassette 33. Larger size can also be prevented.

Since the reels 30 and 31 and the torque limiters 85 and 97 are screwed with the screw grooves, the reel 3
There is no play in the attachment of the torque limiters 85 and 97 to the torque limiters 85 and 97, and the image quality does not deteriorate.

Since the first torque limiter 85 applies a braking force to the supply reel 30 in the ink film cassette 33, the consumable ink film 32
Even if some force is applied to the ink film 32, the ink film 32 is not immediately unwound from the supply reel 30, so that the unused ink film 32 is not wasted. Further, when the ink film cassette 33 is taken out of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 during use of the ink film 32, the ink film 32 is similarly supplied to the supply reel 3 even if some force is applied.
Unused ink film 3 that is not fed immediately from 0
2 is not wasted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus in which an ink film cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention is removably mounted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the thermal transfer recording apparatus with a cover member opened.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the thermal transfer recording apparatus in a state where an ink film cassette is loaded.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an ink film cassette according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which each reel screwed to each torque limiter is assembled to a lower frame of the ink film cassette.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the first torque limiter 85 is fixed to the cassette 33.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a first torque limiter 85.

8A is a cross-sectional view showing the reel 30 and the first torque limiter 85 from the side, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view showing the first torque limiter 85 from the front.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 supply reel 31 take-up reel 32 ink film 33 ink film cassette 73 upper frame (second frame) 74 lower frame (first frame) 85 First torque limiter (braking means), 97... Second torque limiter (torque limiting means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink film cassette removably mounted in a thermal transfer recording apparatus, comprising: a supply reel having an ink film wound around a spindle having a thread groove at an end; and an ink film fed from the supply reel. A take-up reel wound around a shaft, braking means formed detachably by screwing on a spindle of the supply reel, and applying a braking force in a state of being mounted on the spindle of the supply reel; and the supply reel And a first frame for holding the take-up reel, and a detachable second frame for fixing the supply reel and the take-up reel to the first frame. 2. A take-up groove is formed at an end of a support shaft of the take-up reel, and is formed to be detachable by screwing to a support shaft of the take-up reel, and is mounted on the support shaft of the take-up reel. 2. The ink film cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a torque limiting unit capable of limiting the driving torque in a state where the ink film cassette is set. 3. The ink film according to claim 2, wherein one end of the spindle of the supply reel or the spindle of the take-up reel is cut into a right-hand thread groove, and the other is cut into a left-hand thread groove. cassette. 4. An ink film reel, wherein an ink film used in a thermal transfer recording apparatus is wound around a spindle, and a braking force can be applied by attaching a braking means to at least one end of the spindle. An ink film reel, wherein a thread groove is formed at an end of the spindle, and a braking means can be screwed into the thread groove.