JPH11321055A - Ink ribbon mount structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a malfunction of an apparatus because of forgetting to detach an adapter, eliminate management for the adapter until a next use, and lessen a burden for maintaining and managing the apparatus. SOLUTION: An adapter 7 which detachably holds an ink ribbon core 8 at the wind side, at the feed side is provided with a hold hook 7a and an engagement hole 7f, so that the ink ribbon core 8 is held rotatably. A cassette shaft 2, a ribbon guide shaft 9, a ribbon guide shaft 10, a guide part 7c, a guide part 7d, a hole 7e, an engagement hook 7b, a lock bracket 5 and a hole 5a are set to load an ink ribbon 6 to an apparatus, and at the same time the adapter 7 is mounted to the apparatus 1. In a state with the ink ribbon 6 loaded to the apparatus 1, the adapter 7 is held at a position where the adapter secures a gap between the hold hook 7a and ink ribbon core 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon for holding an ink ribbon core on a take-up side and a supply side in a detachable manner, and mounting the ink ribbon on an apparatus using an adapter for guiding the ink ribbon route in advance. Related to the mounting structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink ribbon fabrics have tended to be thinner in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, extend the life of the ink ribbon, and further reduce running costs. Since such an ink ribbon may be easily damaged depending on how it is handled, conventionally, both the ink ribbon cores on the supply side and the take-up side where the ink ribbon is mounted are held by an adapter and mounted on the apparatus. I was

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a conventional example of this type of ink ribbon mounting structure, and FIG. 11 is a side view showing the structure of the conventional adapter. In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes an ink ribbon core, and reference numeral 21 denotes an unused ink ribbon. In the ink ribbon 21, an unused supply ink ribbon is held by the supply-side ink ribbon core 20, and the adapter 2
2 is guided along the ribbon route by the outer surfaces of the guide portions 22a and 22b, and the leading end is fixed to the ink ribbon core 20 on the winding side.

[0004] Reference numerals 23 and 24 denote ribbon guide shafts formed on the apparatus side, and guide the ribbon route in the apparatus. 20a is a flange portion of the ink ribbon core 20, 2
Reference numeral 2c denotes a fixing claw provided on the adapter 22 for locking and fixing the flange portion 20a. Since the fixing claw 22c has elasticity to bend in the releasing direction, the fixing claw 22c is provided.
Can be freely locked and unlocked. In addition, the fixed claw 22
Since c has an inclined portion at the tip, when the ink ribbon core 20 is pushed, the inclined portion and the flange portion 20a interfere with each other, and the fixing claw 22c escapes and opens, and engages with the flange portion 20a with one touch.

[0005] The arrow in FIG. 11 is the adapter insertion direction.
With the above configuration, conventionally, the following operation was performed. ,
In the adapter 22, the flange portion 20a of the ink ribbon core 20 on the supply side and the take-up side to which the new ink ribbon 21 is attached is locked and fixed by the fixing claw 22c, and the ink ribbon route is formed by the guide portion 22a and the guide portion 22b. Guide in advance.

In this state, the adapter 22 is brought to a position corresponding to the guide portion 22a on the ribbon guide shaft 23 and the guide portion 22b to the ribbon guide shaft 24, and the ink ribbon 21 is attached to a predetermined position of the apparatus. I do.
Thereafter, the ink ribbon routes in the guide portions 22a and 22b are manually moved to the ribbon guide shafts 23 and 24 on the apparatus side.

Finally, the fixing claw 22c of the adapter 22 is manually bent in the unlocking direction to release the locking between the flange portion 20a and the fixing claw 22c, and the ink ribbon 21 is left at a predetermined position in the apparatus. Adapter 22 was removed from the device.

[0008]

However, according to the prior art having the above-described structure, the ink ribbon core is fixed to the adapter, so that if the adapter is forgotten to be removed from the apparatus, the apparatus will not operate properly. is there. Also, the removed adapter must be stored not to be lost for the next installation of the ink ribbon,
There was a problem of increasing management items.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a configuration in which an adapter is attached to an ink ribbon even after the ink ribbon is mounted on the device, to prevent malfunction of the device due to forgetting to remove the adapter, and until the next use. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for managing adapters and to reduce the maintenance management burden on the device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when an ink ribbon device is mounted, an adapter is mounted on the device at a time, and the feeding of the ink ribbon is free from the adapter in the mounted state. To do. That is, the present invention provides an ink ribbon mounting structure in which an ink ribbon is mounted on an apparatus by using an adapter which preliminarily guides an ink ribbon route while detachably holding an ink ribbon core on a take-up side and a supply side. The adapter is provided with ink ribbon core holding means for rotatably holding the ink ribbon core, and is provided with adapter mounting means for mounting the adapter to the apparatus when the ink ribbon is mounted on the apparatus. An adapter is held at a position where a gap is secured between the ink ribbon core holding means and the ink ribbon core when the adapter is mounted on the apparatus.

Further, as one mode in which the ink ribbon route is automatically moved to the ribbon guide shaft when the adapter is mounted on the device in the above configuration, the device is provided with a rotatable ribbon guide shaft for guiding the ink ribbon route. A guide portion for guiding an ink ribbon to an ink ribbon route formed by the ribbon guide shaft, wherein the guide portion has a structure in which an outer surface of the ribbon guide shaft projects when the adapter is mounted on the apparatus. Features.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment. Figure,
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part of the same embodiment.

In the drawing, 1 is a device, 2 is a cassette shaft planted on the device 1 side, 3 is a winding shaft planted on the device 1 side, and 3a is a fixed shaft provided on the winding shaft 3. Claws 4 are an ink ribbon flange portion on the device side attached to the take-up shaft 3, and 5 is a lock bracket implanted on the device side, 5a.
Is a hole provided in the lock bracket 5. 6 is an unused ink ribbon, 8 is an ink ribbon core, 8a
Is a flange portion of the ink ribbon core 8. The ink ribbon 6 is held by the ink ribbon core 8 on the supply side,
The leading end is fixed to the ink ribbon core 8 on the winding side.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an ink ribbon core 8 on the winding side and the supply side.
Is an adapter that detachably holds the ink ribbon and guides the ink ribbon route in advance. Reference numeral 7a denotes a holding claw provided on the adapter 7, which holds the flange portion 8a of the ink ribbon core 8 with play. Here, the play caused by the holding claws 7a is such that L1, L2, L3, and L4 are secured when the ink ribbon core 8 is mounted on the winding shaft 3 of the apparatus, and the holding is performed even when the adapter 8 is turned sideways or downward. The height is set within a range in which the claw 7a maintains the holding of the flange portion 8a, and the height, the position, and the amount of protrusion of the holding claw 7a are selected and set.

The holding claw 7a has elasticity to bend in the release direction, and is configured to freely lock and unlock the flange portion 8a. Further, the holding claw 7a has an inclined portion at the tip, and when the ink ribbon core 8 is pushed in, the inclined portion and the flange portion 8a interfere with each other so that the holding claw 7a escapes and opens, and is engaged with the flange portion 8a with one touch. Has become.

Reference numeral 7b denotes a locking claw provided on the adapter 7, and the locking claw 7 is engaged with the hole 5a of the lock bracket 5 on the device side to set a predetermined distance to the device of the adapter 8. Hold. This specific distance refers to a gap L shown in FIG. 6 in a state where the ink ribbon core 8 is mounted on the take-up shaft 3.
3, L4. Further, the locking claw 7b
Has elasticity to bend in the release direction, and has a lock bracket 5
And the lock with the hole 5a can be freely released. The locking claw 7b has an inclined portion at the tip, and when the adapter 7 is pushed in, the inclined portion and the lock bracket 5 interfere with each other, so that the locking claw 7d escapes and is guided, and is engaged with the lock bracket 5 with one touch. It has become.

Reference numerals 7c and 7d denote guide portions provided on the adapter 7, and the guide portions 7c and 7d guide the ink ribbon route of the ink ribbon 6 and perform mounting and positioning. Reference numeral 7f denotes a fitting hole provided in the adapter 7, which is set to a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the ink ribbon core so that the ink ribbon core 8 fits with play. In this embodiment, the holding claws 7a and the fitting holes 7f are used.
Constitute ink ribbon core holding means for rotatably holding the ink ribbon core 8.

Reference numerals 9 and 10 denote ribbon guide shafts implanted on the apparatus side. The ribbon guide shafts 9 and 10 are fitted inside guide portions 7c and 7d, and are provided with guide portions 7c and 7d.
Position. In the present embodiment, also in the apparatus, the ink ribbon route is guided by the guide portions 7c, 7c.
Guided by d. Reference numeral 7e denotes a hole provided in the adapter 7, which is fitted to the leading ends of the ribbon guide shafts 9, 10 and the cassette shaft 2 for positioning the adapter 7.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a biasing coil spring that is warmly fitted to the cassette shaft 2, and separates only the adapter 7 from the apparatus by repulsion. In this embodiment, the cassette shaft 2, the ribbon guide shaft 9, the ribbon guide shaft 10, the guide portion 7c, and the guide portion 7 are used.
d, the hole 7e, the locking claw 7b, the lock bracket 5, and the hole 5a constitute an adapter mounting means for mounting the adapter to the apparatus.

The operation of the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described below. First, in the adapter 7, the supply-side and take-up side ink ribbon cores 8 to which the new ink ribbon 6 is attached are fitted into the fitting holes 7f, and the flange portions 8a
It is held by two holding claws 7a, and the ink ribbon route is guided in advance by the guide portions 7c and 7d.

Next, the operator holds the adapter 7 holding the in-ribbon 6 as described above, and the cassette shaft 2 implanted on the apparatus side has a hole 7e, and the ribbon guide shafts 9, 10 have guide portions 7c respectively. , 7d are brought to substantially corresponding positions. Thereby, the leading end of the take-up shaft 3 and the ink ribbon core 8 substantially correspond to each other, and the ink ribbon core 8 is fitted into the take-up shaft 3 by pushing the adapter 7 as it is. When the leading end of the ink ribbon core 8 reaches the ink ribbon flange portion 4 of the winding shaft 3, the fixing claw provided on the winding shaft 3 holds and fixes the flange portion 8a of the ink ribbon core 8, and the locking claw 7b. And lock bracket 5
Into the hole 5a.

Here, when the operator releases the hand from the adapter 7, the adapter 7 is pushed back by the urging force of the coil spring 11, and the locking claw 7b is inserted into the hole 5 of the lock bracket 5.
a, and the positioning and fixing of the adapter 7 in the mounting direction are completed. As described above, with the ink ribbon core 8 and the adapter 7 attached to the apparatus, the gap L in FIG.
1 to L4 are secured.

Therefore, the adapter 7 attached to the apparatus while holding the ink ribbon 6 does not hinder the rotational driving operation of the ink ribbon core 8 in the apparatus. When removing the ink ribbon 6 from the apparatus, the engagement between the hole 5a of the lock bracket 5 and the locking claw 7b of the adapter 7 is manually released, and the adapter 7 is pulled off to remove the adapter 7 and the ink ribbon core 8 from the apparatus. And the ink ribbon 6 are integrally removed.

When removing the ink ribbon 6 from the adapter 7, the engagement between the flange portion 8a of the ink ribbon core 8 and the holding claw 7a is manually released, and the ink ribbon core 8 and the ink ribbon 6 are integrally removed. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a front view of the main part, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the main part.

The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used. In the figure, reference numerals 13 and 14 denote ribbon guide shafts rotatably mounted on the apparatus side, and guide the ink ribbon route. 12c and 12d are guide portions provided on the adapter 12, and guide the ink ribbon 6 to the ink ribbon route formed by the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14.

At the center of the guide portions 12c and 12d, a groove 15 from which the outer surfaces of the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14 project when the adapter 12 is mounted on the apparatus is opened. The groove 15 is set to have a sufficient size to secure a sufficient gap with respect to the outer surfaces of the protruding ribbon guide shafts 13, 14.
Maintain a free spin.

The diameters of the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14 and the positions of the guide portions 12c and 12d are set in advance so that the outer surfaces of the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14 are located more outer than the outer surfaces of the guide portions 12c and 12d. I do. The upper and lower ends of the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14 are tapered, while the guide portions 12c and 12d have elasticity to bend outward. When the adapter 12 is pushed in, the taper of the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14 and the guide are formed. Parts 12c, 12
The guide portions 12c and 12d bend along the taper due to the interference of d, and the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14 are guided in the grooves 15.

According to the second embodiment having the above configuration,
When the adapter 12 on which the ink ribbon 6 is set is attached to a predetermined position of the apparatus 1 as in the first embodiment, the ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14 are kept rotatable by the grooves 15 of the guide portions 12c and 12d. Then, it comes into contact with the ink ribbon 6 guided by the guide portions 12c and 12d, and guides the ink ribbon 6 in place of the guide portions 12c and 12d.

According to the present embodiment, the load on the ink ribbon 6 is reduced by guiding the ink ribbon 6 by the rotatable ribbon guide shafts 13 and 14.

[0030]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the ink ribbon core is removably held on the take-up side and the supply side, and the ink ribbon is formed using an adapter for guiding the ink ribbon route in advance. In the ink ribbon mounting structure for mounting the ink ribbon to the apparatus, the adapter is provided with ink ribbon core holding means for rotatably holding the ink ribbon core, and the adapter mounting means for mounting the adapter to the apparatus together with the mounting of the ink ribbon to the apparatus. The adapter mounting means holds the adapter at a position where a gap is secured between the ink ribbon core holding means and the ink ribbon core when the ink ribbon is mounted on the apparatus. The ribbon can be attached to the device at once, and the ink ribbon feeding It can be free from the adapter.

This makes it possible to attach the adapter to the ink ribbon even after the ink ribbon is mounted on the device, thereby preventing malfunction of the device due to forgetting to remove the adapter and eliminating the need to manage the adapter until the next use. This has the effect of reducing the maintenance management burden on the device.
At this time, the apparatus is provided with a rotatable ribbon guide shaft for guiding the ink ribbon route, the adapter is provided with a guide portion for guiding the ink ribbon on the ink ribbon route formed by the ribbon guide shaft, and the guide portion is provided with an adapter. With a structure in which the outer surface of the ribbon guide shaft has a groove that protrudes when the device is mounted,
As soon as the adapter is installed in the device, the ink ribbon root can automatically move to the ribbon guide shaft.

Thus, the ink ribbon can be guided by the rotatable ribbon guide shaft without touching the ink ribbon, and the load on the ink ribbon is further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a main part according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 device 2 cassette shaft 3 winding shaft 3 a fixing claw 4 ink ribbon flange 5 lock bracket 5 a hole 6 ink ribbon 8 ink ribbon core 8 a flange 7 adapter 7 a holding claw 7 b locking claw 7 c, 7 d guide 9, 10 ribbon guide Shaft 7e hole 11 coil spring

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Hiroshi Ebata, 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Shoji Tokunaga 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Kaneko 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Ise 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Inside the corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ink ribbon mounting structure for detachably holding an ink ribbon core on a take-up side and a supply side and mounting an ink ribbon on an apparatus using an adapter for guiding an ink ribbon route in advance. And an ink ribbon core holding means for rotatably holding the ink ribbon core, and an adapter mounting means for mounting the adapter to the apparatus together with the mounting of the ink ribbon to the apparatus. Wherein the adapter is held at a position where a gap is secured between the ink ribbon core holding means and the ink ribbon core when the ink ribbon is mounted on the ink ribbon core. 2. The ink ribbon mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a rotatable ribbon guide shaft for guiding the ink ribbon route, and the adapter guides the ink ribbon to the ink ribbon route formed by the ribbon guide shaft. An ink ribbon mounting structure, wherein the guide portion has a groove from which the outer surface of the ribbon guide shaft projects when the adapter is mounted on the apparatus.