JPH11157192A - Ribbon cassette for thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ribbon cassette for thermal transfer printer incorporating a slack stopper for preventing an ink ribbon from slacking by blocking rotation of a supply core and a winding core under a state where they are not fixed onto a carriage. SOLUTION: A first arm 40 is pressed or fitted in a stopper insertion hole 36 and the click of a second arm 41 is fitted in a stop groove 37 by urging a slack stopper 23 having first and second arms 40, 41 through a resilient member. When a carriage is then loaded with a ribbon cassette 10, the first and second arms 40, 41 are released from the insertion hole 36 and the stop groove 37, respectively, while resisting against urging force of the resilient member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly, to a take-up core and a supply core which are housed in a cassette case and have an ink ribbon wound around the outer periphery thereof when not mounted on a carriage of the thermal transfer printer. The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer which incorporates a stopper for preventing loosening of an ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is not mounted by suppressing rotation of a core.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a thermal transfer printer,
Recording was performed by transferring the ink of the ink ribbon to recording paper by the heat generated by the thermal head. Both ends of the ink ribbon 1 are attached to a take-up core 3 and a supply core 4 of a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette 2 rotatably supported, respectively, and are wound around these two cores 3, 4. The recording medium is conveyed onto the recording surface by rotation of the cores 3 and 4, and is subjected to desired recording on recording paper by heat generated by a thermal head disposed on the carriage.

FIG. 9 shows a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette 2 mounted on a carriage of such a thermal transfer printer and used for recording while winding the ink ribbon 1 while driving the carriage.

The ribbon cassette 2 is composed of an upper case (not shown) and a lower case
A pair of cores 3 and 4 rotatably supported, a pair of pinch rollers 6 and a plurality of guide rollers 7 for holding a traveling path of the ink ribbon 1.

The pair of cores 3 and 4 are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a heat sublimation or heat melting ink ribbon 1 is wound around each of the cores 3 and 4 from both ends. I have. When the ribbon cassette 2 is mounted on a carriage of a printer to be used, one of the cores 3 is fitted to a winding bobbin, and the thermal head winds up the ink ribbon 1 used for recording. The other core 4 is a supply core 4 which is fitted to a supply bobbin 4 of the carriage and supplies the ink ribbon 1 onto recording paper for recording.

The inner peripheral surface of each of the cores 3 and 4 is formed with a bobbin fitting hole 8 for fitting a take-up bobbin or a supply bobbin provided on a carriage. The engagement projections 9 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. When the ribbon cassette 2 is mounted on the carriage, the engagement projections 9 are engaged with a plurality of engagement projections projecting from the outer peripheral surfaces of the winding bobbin and the supply bobbin at intervals in the circumferential direction. Has become.

When the carriage is driven, the take-up core 3 obtains the rotational driving force from the take-up bobbin via the above-mentioned meshing and applies the unused ink ribbon 1 wound around the supply core 4 to the thermal. After being used for recording due to heat generated by the head, it is wound around the outer peripheral surface. On the other hand, the supply core 4 is driven by the tension generated on the ink ribbon 1 wound around the outer periphery by the advance of the carriage while the thermal head is pressed against the platen with the ink ribbon 1 and the recording paper interposed therebetween. While supplying the ink ribbon 1 onto the recording paper.

[0008]

However, in the conventional ribbon cassette 2 for a thermal transfer printer, when the cassette is removed from the carriage before being used for recording or when the cassette is turned upside down and used for recording. When is not mounted on the carriage, the supply core 4 and the take-up core 3 in the cassette case are rotatable.

For this reason, when the ribbon cassette 2 is mounted on, removed from, or carried around the carriage, the cores 3, 4 rotate due to vibrations of the cassette or artificial causes, and the like. When the ink ribbon 1 wound around the outer periphery is loosened and the cassette 2 is mounted on the carriage of the thermal transfer printer in such a state, the ink ribbon 1 is not appropriately pressed against the recording paper by the thermal head. However, there is a problem that good recording cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and suppresses the rotation of a supply core and a take-up core in a cassette case in a state where the supply core and the take-up core are not mounted on a carriage of a thermal transfer printer, and winds the core around the core. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette having a built-in slack prevention stopper for preventing the slack of the ink ribbon.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer, wherein a pair of a winding core and a supply core are rotatable in a cassette case. A ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer which has an ink ribbon wound from both ends on the outer peripheral surface of these cores and is mounted on a carriage of the thermal transfer printer and used for recording on recording paper, A cylindrical stopper insertion groove is formed on one axial end surface of the supply core and the take-up core, and a plurality of locking grooves are formed on an outer peripheral surface at the other axial end of the supply core and the take-up core. A second arm including a first arm inserted into the stopper insertion groove and a locking claw opposed to an outer peripheral surface of the flange.
The cassette case is provided with a stopper for preventing loosening, each of which has an arm. The locking claw of the arm is engaged with the locking groove, and the loosening prevention stopper is provided with the stopper insertion groove of the first arm against the urging force of the elastic member when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the carriage. The configuration is such that the pressure contact or engagement with the inner wall and the engagement of the locking claw of the second arm with the locking groove are released.

By adopting such a configuration, in the free state where the ribbon cassette is not mounted on the carriage of the thermal transfer printer, the first arm and the second arm having the slack preventing stopper disposed in the cassette case are provided. An ink ribbon wound around the core in a free state in order to prevent the arm from rotating by pressing or engaging the supply core and the take-up core which are also rotatably stored in the cassette case; Can be prevented from becoming loose due to the rotation of the core.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the first aspect, wherein the loosening prevention stopper has a support member for supporting the first arm and the second arm. A taper portion is formed in a part of the support member, and when the carriage is mounted on the carriage, an engagement pin projecting from a cassette mounting portion of the carriage is inserted into the support member to thereby support the support member. The point is that the member is pushed to the side and the two arms are retracted in a direction in which the engagement with each core is released.

By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to release the inhibition of the core at the time of mounting the cassette quickly and with a simple structure simultaneously with mounting the ribbon cassette on the carriage.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ribbon cassette 10 for a thermal transfer printer according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a winding core 12 and a supply core 13 are provided in a cassette case body 11. Pair of cores 12,
13 are rotatably accommodated, and the cores 12 and 13 are rotatable.
A long ink ribbon 14 is wound from both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the ink ribbon. A plurality of guide rollers 15 for forming an ink ribbon traveling path for guiding the ink ribbon 14 to a thermal head of a thermal transfer printer are provided between the winding core 12 and the supply core 13.

The cassette case main body 11 comprises a box-shaped lower case 16 composed of a bottom plate and side plates, and a flat upper case 17 serving as a lid for the lower case 16.

The upper case 17 and the lower case 16 have a winding hole 20 and a supply hole 21 through which a core supporting shaft 19 on the carriage side passes when the ribbon cassette 10 is mounted on the carriage 18. And a carriage-side engaging member which is engaged with a guide roller hole 22 for inserting an end portion of the guide roller 15 to support the guide roller 15 and a loosening prevention stopper 23 which will be described later when the cassette is mounted. An engagement pin hole 25 through which the mating pin 24 passes is formed.

Further, an arc-shaped guide projection 2 is provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate of the lower case 16 at an outer peripheral position of the supply hole 21.
6 are formed to perform positioning of the supply core 13 and prevention of displacement. The guide projection 26 is not limited to the lower case 16 but may be the upper case 1
7 may be formed.

On the side of the lower case 16 facing the platen of a thermal transfer printer (not shown), the ink ribbon 14 guided by the guide rollers 15 is led out of the cassette case 11 and a thermal head is inserted. Insertion portion 27 is formed to be recessed inside the case. The upper case 17 is provided with the lower case 16.
The upper head insertion part 28 is formed so as to conform to the shape of the head insertion part 27 of FIG.

On the other hand, an ink ribbon 14 is wound around both ends of the winding core 12 and the supply core 13 from both ends, and circular ends are formed at both ends of the winding core 12 in the axial direction. A plate-like flange 29 is fitted.

A shaft insertion hole 30 for inserting the core supporting shaft 19 of the carriage 18 is formed in the center of the winding core 12 and the supply core 13. further,
On the outer peripheral side of these shaft insertion holes 30, each core 12, 1
An engaging groove 32 into which a drive transmitting portion 31 rotatably fitted to the core supporting shaft 19 of the carriage 18 is inserted is formed in an annular end face on both end surfaces in the axial direction of the carriage 3. Engagement protrusions 34 meshing with engagement protrusions 33 formed on the drive transmission portion 31 are formed on the outer inner peripheral wall of the engagement groove 32 at intervals in the circumferential direction.

For this reason, the drive motor 3 of the carriage 18
5, the drive transmission unit 31 on the winding core 12 side
Is driven to rotate, the take-up core 12 rotates to take up the ink ribbon 14. In addition,
The reason why the engagement grooves 32 are formed on both end surfaces of both the cores 12 and 13 is in consideration of the case where the ribbon cassette 10 is used with its front and back replaced.

At both end surfaces of the supply core 13 and further outside the engagement grooves 32, stopper insertion grooves 36 for inserting the later-described loosening prevention stoppers 23 are formed in an annular shape. Is formed. Further, the guide protrusion 2 of the lower case 16 is provided in the stopper insertion groove 36.
6 is inserted. For this reason, when the ink ribbon 14 is used and is replaced with a new ink ribbon, the guide projection 26 is inserted into the stopper insertion groove 36, so that the supply core 13 can be easily positioned, and When the ink ribbon 14 is drawn around the ink ribbon travel path, the supply core 13 can be prevented from being displaced.

Further, the flange 29 of the winding core 12
A plurality of acutely angled locking grooves 37 for engaging a later-described loosening prevention stopper 23 are formed in the outer peripheral edge at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction.

In the present embodiment, when the ribbon cassette 10 is released from the carriage 18 of the thermal transfer printer, the supply core 13 and the take-up core 12 rotate due to vibration or an artificial cause. Stopper 23 for preventing the ink ribbon 14 wound around the cores 12 and 13 from being loosened.
Are arranged.

The loosening prevention stopper 23 has a substantially cylindrical stopper support portion 38. The stopper support portion 38 is sandwiched between the upper case 17 and the lower case 16 so that the looseness prevention stopper 23 is provided. 23 is supported.

The lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the stopper support portion 38 is in contact with the inner wall 39 of the stopper insertion groove 36 of the supply core 13 in a free state to prevent rotation of the supply core 13 due to vibration or the like. One arm 40,
Similarly, in the free state, by engaging with the locking groove 37 of the flange 29 of the winding core 12, the winding core 12
And second arms 41 for suppressing rotation of the cores 12 and 13 are formed so as to extend substantially in the same plane as the end faces of the cores 12 and 13, respectively.

The distal end of the first arm 40 is a bent portion 42 extending above the supply core 13 so as to abut on the inner wall 39 of the stopper insertion groove 36 in a free state. .

On the other hand, at the tip of the second arm 41,
An engaging claw 43 having an acute angle is formed, and meshes with one of the engaging grooves 37 formed in the flange 29 of the winding core 12 in a free state to serve as a ratchet.

The loosening prevention stopper 23 has
In the free state, as shown in the figure, the two arms 4
A torsion coil spring 44 as an example of an elastic member for urging the loosening prevention stopper 23 so that the cores 0 and 41 rotate in a direction to suppress the cores with which the engagement is performed, has a base end portion 44a. Is fixed to the inner side surface of the cassette case 11, and the distal end portion 44b is fixed to one of the arms 40 and 41 (in the present embodiment, the front end 44b is fixed to the first arm 40, but is not limited to this). ) Is wound around the stopper support portion 38.

Therefore, when the ribbon cassette 10 is removed from the carriage 18, the torsion coil spring 44
The loosening prevention stopper 23 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG.

As a result, the second arm 41 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow B in FIG. 7 so that the locking claw 43 is engaged with the locking groove 37, thereby suppressing the winding core 12. It has become.

The first arm 40 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow C in FIG.
The supply core 13 is restrained so as to contact the inner wall 39 of the third stopper insertion groove 36.

Therefore, the two cores 1 in the free state
The ink ribbon 14 is prevented from being loosened by suppressing the rotation of the ink ribbon 14 due to the vibration of 2, 2 or an artificial cause. In addition, since the suppression of the cores 12 and 13 is performed by utilizing the elasticity of the torsion coil spring 44, it is particularly suitable for preventing the cores 12 and 13 from rotating due to vibration.

The winding core 12 and the supply core 13
And the structure of the first arm 40 and the second arm 41 may be completely interchanged to suppress the cores 12 and 13. The inner wall 3 of the stopper insertion groove 36
9, a groove is formed at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the first arm is engaged with a part of the groove so that the core 12 is formed.
May be suppressed.

The stopper support 38 of the stopper 23 for preventing loosening has a pin insertion hole 45 into which the engaging pin 24 projecting from the carriage 18 is inserted when the cassette is mounted.

Further, a tapered portion 46 is formed at a part of the inner wall of the pin insertion hole 45 in the circumferential direction so as to decrease the inner diameter of the pin insertion hole 45 toward the tip of the engagement pin 24 to be inserted. Is formed.

A direction in which the two arms 40 and 41 of the loosening prevention stopper 23 separate from the cores 12 and 13 when the tip end 24a of the inserted engaging pin 24 slides on the tapered portion 46. The cores 12 and 13 in the mounted state are rotatable.

The urging of the stopper 23 for preventing loosening is not limited to the torsion coil spring 44, but may be another elastic member for urging the two arms 40 and 41 to be rotatable. In FIG. 2, the first arm 40 is configured to engage with the inner inner wall of the stopper insertion groove 36, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured to engage with the outer inner wall.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, the ribbon cassette 10 is moved to the carriage 1
In the free state in which the first arm 40 is not mounted on the supply core 13, the first arm 40 is connected to the supply core 13 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 44 as shown in FIG.
4 comes into contact with the inner wall 39 of the stopper insertion groove 36 of FIG.
As shown in (2), the cores 12 and 13 are restrained such that the second arm 41 engages with the locking groove 37 of the flange 29 of the winding core 12. Since this suppression is performed by utilizing the elasticity of the torsion coil spring 44, the core 1
The ink ribbon 14 wound around by the rotation of the members 2 and 13 due to vibration is effectively prevented from being loosened.

When the ribbon cassette 10 is mounted on the carriage 18, the winding mechanism 47 and the feeding mechanism (47 and 47) of the carriage 18 are inserted into the shaft insertion holes 30 of the supply core 13 and the winding core 12. Core supporting shafts 19 of the same structure) are inserted, and the winding mechanism 47 and the drive transmission unit 31 of the supply mechanism are engaged with the engaging protrusions 34 in the engaging grooves 37 provided on the outer periphery of the shaft inserting hole 30. The engagement is achieved by the engagement between the engagement protrusions 33.

At the same time, the engagement pin 24 protruding from the carriage 18 is inserted into the stopper support 38 of the stopper 23 for preventing slack in the ribbon cassette 10, and
The leading end 24a is in sliding contact with the tapered portion 46 formed on the inner wall of the stopper support portion 38, and the ribbon cassette 10 is mounted in the sliding contact state. The two arms 40 and 41 are retracted in the direction shown by the arrow D and the respective cores 12 and 13
The cores 12 and 13 are released from the engagement with the winding mechanism 47.
Alternatively, it becomes rotatable by driving the supply mechanism.

In this state, the winding mechanism 47 is driven to rotate by driving the motor 35 of the carriage 18, and
The driving force is transmitted to the engaging groove 32 of the winding core 12 via the driving transmission portion 31 of the winding mechanism 47, and the ink ribbon 14 adhered to the outer periphery by the rotation of the winding core 12 accompanying the driving force is formed. After being subjected to recording by the heat generated by the thermal head due to the driving of the carriage 18, it is wound around the outer periphery. On the other hand, the supply core 13
The ink ribbon 14 wound around the outer periphery is pulled by the driving of the take-up mechanism 47, so that the unused ink ribbon 14 is sent out onto the recording paper.

When the ribbon cassette 10 mounted on the carriage 18 is to be removed, the torsion coil spring 44 is simultaneously released when the engaging pin 24 of the carriage 18 is detached from the stopper support 38.
7, the two arms 40, 41 of the loosening prevention stopper 23 rotate as shown in FIG. 7, and again inhibit the cores 12, 13 with which the respective arms 40, 41 are engaged.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention,
In the free state, the loosening prevention stopper 23 suppresses the rotation of each of the cores 12 and 13 so that each of the cores 1 and 13 is prevented from rotating.
It is possible to prevent the ink ribbon 14 from being loosened by being wound around the ink ribbons 2 and 13.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed.

[0049]

As described above, according to the ribbon of the present invention, the ink wound around each core is prevented by suppressing the rotation of the take-up core and the supply core when the ribbon cassette is not mounted on the carriage. It is possible to prevent the ribbon from being loosened due to the vibration of the ribbon or a human cause.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a supply core in a free state of the ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a supply core when the ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a winding core in a free state of the ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the winding core when the ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the embodiment when the ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention in a free state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a winding mechanism of a carriage that engages with a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional ribbon cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 ribbon cassette 12 take-up core 13 supply core 23 stopper for preventing loosening 24 engaging pin 36 stopper insertion groove 37 locking groove 38 stopper support portion 39 inner wall 40 first arm 41 second arm 42 bent portion 43 locking claw 44 Torsion coil spring 45 Pin insertion structure 46 Tapered part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer printer having a pair of cores of a take-up core and a supply core rotatably housed in a cassette case, and having an ink ribbon wound from both ends on the outer peripheral surface of these cores. A ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer mounted on a carriage for recording on recording paper, wherein a cylindrical stopper insertion groove is formed on one axial end surface of the supply core and the take-up core; At the other axial end of the supply core and the take-up core, a flange having a plurality of locking grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface is provided around the first arm and the flange inserted into the stopper insertion groove. A second having a locking claw facing the outer peripheral surface;
The cassette case is provided with a stopper for preventing loosening, each of which has an arm, and the stopper for preventing loosening is urged by an elastic member to press or mesh the first arm with the inner wall of the stopper insertion groove, and The locking claw of the arm is engaged with the locking groove, and the loosening prevention stopper is provided with the stopper insertion groove of the first arm against the urging force of the elastic member when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the carriage. A ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer, wherein the engagement or engagement with the inner wall and the engagement of the locking claw of the second arm with the locking groove are released. 2. The loosening prevention stopper has a support member for supporting the first arm and the second arm, and a part of the support member has a tapered portion, and is mounted on the carriage. At this time, when the engaging pin protruding from the cassette mounting portion of the carriage is inserted into the support member, the support member is pushed to the side and the two arms are disengaged from the respective cores. 2. The ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon cassette is retracted in a direction in which the ribbon cassette is moved.