JPS5914203Y2 - ink ribbon - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an ink ribbon used in various printers.

In so-called impact printers, the ink ribbon is installed so that it passes between the print medium and the print head and faces the printing position, but this installation work requires the operator's hands to directly hold the ink ribbon. There has always been a problem with dirt.

Therefore, it has been proposed that the ink ribbon be housed in a cartridge 1 as shown in Figure 1, and that the ink ribbon can be installed simply by setting the cartridge 1 in a predetermined position within the printer. .

The cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a pair of spaced apart ears 1a and 1b, and the endless ink ribbons 2 stored randomly in the storage part 1C are carried by the ears 1a and 1b. The cartridge is pulled out by a certain length outside the cartridge and guided to pass between the printing paper 4 wound around the platen 3 and the printing head 5.

This eliminates the need for ink ribbon installation work, and solves problems such as workers' hands getting stained with ink.

However, since the above-mentioned cartridge is equipped with the above-mentioned ears, a special mold is required for its manufacture, and the cartridge is unsatisfactory in terms of manufacturing and cost.

Furthermore, since the length of the ear portion varies depending on the type, shape, size, etc. of the print head, there is a drawback that a certain cartridge can only be used in one type of printer.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and aims to eliminate the need for an ink ribbon accommodating body having a special shape and structure.

To achieve this purpose, the present invention provides an ink ribbon with a set of removable tubes that can be held in a holder, into which a part of the ink ribbon pulled out of the ink ribbon container is inserted, and the ink ribbon is mounted on the ink ribbon. This tube was sometimes held so that work could be done without getting the hands dirty.

The present invention will be explained in detail below according to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an ink ribbon according to the present invention, and an endless ink ribbon 2' is randomly housed in a cartridge 1' as in the case of FIG.

The cartridge 1' is the cartridge 1 shown in FIG.
Unlike this, it does not have ears.

The ink ribbon 2' is pulled out from an outlet provided at one end of the cartridge 1' and drawn into an inlet provided at the other end, so that a portion of the ink ribbon drawn out of the cartridge 1' is removed. A set of tubes 6 are inserted.

This tube 6 may be either flexible or non-flexible, and its structure has an oval cross section as shown in FIG. 3, but its starting and ending ends are not joined and cracked. Part 6a
is formed so that the tube 6 can be freely removed from the ink ribbon 2', and a holding hole 6b is provided on the opposite side of the crack 6a to allow the tube 6 to be held in a suitable holder. We are making it possible to do so.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the ink ribbon 2' is mounted on a printer.

The operator first sets the cartridge 1' in a predetermined position in the printer, then holds the tube 6 in his hand and inserts the tube 6 into the projections of a pair of tube holders 7 spaced apart from each other across the printing area. Fit the holding hole 6b and remove the tube 6.
hold.

The tube holder 7 is attached at a position where the ink ribbon 2' passes between the platen 3 and the print head 5 depending on the length of the tube, so that the ink ribbon 2' outside the cartridge 1' is attached to one tube 6. It then passes between the platen 3 and the print head 5 to reach the other tube 6 again.

In this way, the tube 6 eliminates the need for the operator to directly touch the ink ribbon 2' when loading the ink ribbon 2' in the printer, and also serves as a ribbon guide by being held by the tube holder 7. There is.

The ink ribbon 2' thus stretched is pulled out from the outlet 8 of the cartridge 1' when the printer starts printing, passes between the platen 3 and the print head 5, and is drawn in from the inlet 9 of the cartridge 1'.

The driving means for transporting the ink ribbon 2' is a drive roller 10 located immediately behind the inlet 9 and a pressure roller 11 in pressure contact with the drive roller 10, which applies a constant tension to the ink ribbon 2' during transport. There is a leaf spring 12 at the outlet 8 for providing this.

Next, FIG. 5 shows implementation in a printer different from the above configuration.

This printer has a ribbon guide roller 1 that guides an ink ribbon 2' between a platen 3 and a print head 5.
3a and 13b are provided on both sides of the printing area.

To load the ink ribbon 2' into this printer, as in the printer shown in FIG. Pass around b.

After this, the tube 6 is no longer needed and is removed from the ink ribbon 2' using the cracked portion 6a.

In this way, the ribbon guide rollers 13a, 13b
Even in a printer equipped with a ribbon guiding means such as the one shown in FIG. This tube 6, which is no longer needed, can be removed.

Further, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which a ribbon accommodating body is different from the cartridge 1' of the above embodiment.

The ink ribbon 2' is a set of ribbon spools 14a14.
This ribbon spool 14a is wound around the ribbon spool 14a.

A part of the ink ribbon 2' drawn out from the tube 14b is inserted through a set of tubes 6.

When mounting the ink ribbon 2', the same operations as in the two embodiments described above are performed.

In a printer having a tube holder 7, the tube 6 is held by the tube holder 7, and in a printer having a ribbon guide means, the tube 6 is removed.

As described above in detail based on the embodiments, according to the present invention, when loading the ink ribbon into the printer, hands are not dirty, and therefore the ribbon storage section is provided with an ear-shaped ribbon guide section. This eliminates the need for a specially shaped ink ribbon holder, which makes it easier to manufacture the ink ribbon holder and reduces the cost.Also, one ink ribbon holder can be used in a variety of printers. You will be able to do this.

Note that the above embodiments only describe the case of a printer in which the ink ribbon accommodating body is in a fixed position; Needless to say, it can also be applied.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional ink ribbon loaded state, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ink ribbon according to the present invention and its container, and FIG. 3 is a part of the ink ribbon according to the present invention. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the state in which the ink ribbon according to the present invention is installed in a printer; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the state in which it is installed in another printer; FIG. 6 FIG. 2 is a plan view showing application to another ink tube container. 1.1'...Cartridge, 2,2'...
...Ink ribbon, 6...Tube, 7...
...Tube holder, 13a, 13b...
...Ribbon guide rollers, 14a, 14b...
... Ribbon spool.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In addition to inserting a part of the ink ribbon pulled out from the outside of the ink ribbon container, a groove is provided on the - side for attaching and detaching the ink ribbon, and a holding hole is provided on the opposite side for holding the ink ribbon in a predetermined position. An ink ribbon characterized by having a set of tubes arranged with.