JPS59176083A - Ribbon changing-over device for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to freely use a multicolor ribbon and a monocolor cassette ribbon in a selective manner through moving a cassette-supporting base to an arbitrary position by pulse control, by a method wherein a cassette-supporting base fitted to a carrier is moved upward or downward by a stepping motor. CONSTITUTION:In a printer capable of printing in multiple colors and in a monocolor by replacing on the carrier a multicolor cassette ribbon wherein a multicolor ribbon provided with three color zones along the longitudinal direction thereof is encased in a cassette casing and a monocolor cassette ribbon wherein a monocolor ribbon having the same width as that of the multicolor ribbon is encased in a cassette casing in the form of a Mobius loop, the cassette- supporting base 6 provided on the carrier is so arranged that the supporting angle can be modified by the stepping motor, whereby 3-stage shifting for multicolor printing and 2-stage shifting for monocolor printing can be changed over from one to the other or vice versa.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a ribbon switching device for a printer.

Technical Background of the Invention and Problems Thereto Conventionally, when performing multicolor printing, a multicolor cassette is made of a cassette case containing an endless multicolor ribbon that is divided into multiple color zones in the longitudinal direction. A method is adopted in which the ribbon is mounted on a cassette support, and the cassette support is rotated in the vertical direction and fixed according to the color to be used.

The vertical pitch of the cassette support is also fixed.

On the other hand, when performing single-color printing, recently, a wide single-color ribbon is stored in a cassette case while forming a Möbius loop, and the zone used for printing changes each time the single-color ribbon runs through. This extends the lifespan of single-color ribbons. In other words, this monochromatic ribbon is divided into two zones, an upper and lower zone. Therefore, even if the ribbon width is the same, the switching positions of the cassette support will not match between a three-color ribbon and a single-color ribbon whose zones are divided into two. Therefore, it is difficult to use a single color cassette ribbon and a multicolor cassette ribbon together.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it is possible to use a single color cassette ribbon and a multicolor cassette ribbon together. The purpose is to scale the ribbon switching device of a printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention allows a cassette support mounted on a carrier to be moved up and down by a step motor, so that the cassette support can be moved to any desired position using pulse control. It is designed so that ribbons can be used freely.

Examples of the invention An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

A carrier (5) holding a print head (4) is slidably held by guides (2) and (3) provided parallel to the platen (1). Bearings (8) are provided on both sides of the carrier (5) to support the bins (7) protruding from both sides of the cassette support base (6). Further, stoppers aυ for supporting the cassette support stand (6) are provided on both sides of the center of the carrier (5), and stoppers aυ for supporting the monochrome cassette ribbon α are provided on both sides of the tip.

Multicolor cassette ribbon (9) and single color cassette ribbon (10)
) is a cassette case (13 or Q4) containing an endless multicolor ribbon A4 or a single color ribbon α61, and the cassette case α3I is provided with a feeder 90-2αD and a presser roller QS. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the ribbon width is the same as the multicolor ribbon α9 and the monochrome ribbon (16
) is also the same. The multicolor ribbon Q51 is divided into three colors, C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) in its longitudinal direction, and the printing zone width λ of each color is equal to prevent color mixing. on both sides of the printing zone (L-3
A margin of 11)/6 for the non-printing zone is expected.

On the other hand, the monochrome ribbon (161) is stored in the cassette case α while forming a Möbius loose, and therefore there are two printing zones.Therefore, the printing zone on both sides of the monochrome ribbon aQ and ! Between (
A non-printing zone margin of L-21, )/3 is expected. That is, the center of the print zone of the multicolor ribbon α9 does not coincide with the center of the print zone of the monochrome ribbon (J6).

Furthermore, cassette case Q of multicolored cassette ribbon (9)
As shown in FIG. 6, the lower surface of 3 is formed with a relief hole and a protrusion facing the stopper. A switch Qυ provided on the lower surface of the cassette support base (6) faces this protrusion (A) with an opening (24) in between.

Next, a wire driven by a motor (c) is fixed to the carrier (5), and a step motor (c) is also attached. The transmission mechanism (c) consists of a gear (5) directly connected to the step motor (c), and a gear (5) that is directly connected to the step motor (c).
5), a gear (C) that meshes with this gear (C), a gear (C) coaxially connected to this gear (C), and a fan-shaped gear (C). The gear (c) wing is held by the carrier (5), and the fan-shaped gear (to) is held in the long hole Gυ formed in the cassette support base (6).
It has a pin 03 which is held movably up and down, and is fixed by a screw threaded onto the side surface of the cassette support base (6).

Thus, a positioning mechanism (2) is provided at the tip of the multicolor cassette ribbon (9). That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of upper and lower notches 09 are formed at the tip of the cassette case Q31, and detents made of elastic resin are elastically attached to these notches. . This detent (to) has three locking recesses 07).
They are arranged at equal pitches in the shape of a letter. The detent arm guide (to) attached to the tip of the carrier (5) has a detent arm (3I spring (4G) that engages with either of the locking recesses 0η of the detent (to) while being biased in one direction by the The bottle is rotatably attached to the 4υ.

In such a configuration, when the motor (c) is driven, the carrier (5) moves under the tension of the wire (to).

When performing multicolor printing, a multicolor cassette ribbon (9) is attached to the cassette support stand (6). As shown in FIG. 3, at the position where the detent arm C31 engages with the uppermost locking recess (37) of the detent, the multicolored cassette ribbon (9) is attached to the cassette support stand (6). At the same time, it descends to the lowest stage and is at the home position where it is supported by the stopper αυ.In this position, the monochrome cassette ribbon (10) avoids interference with the stopper αυ through the escape hole α1. In the ribbon 09, the center (b) of the cyan printing zone, which is frequently used, faces the printing position (see Figure 10).The step motor C2!9e10 pulses are rotated to raise the tip of the cassette support (6). and,
As shown in FIG.
The center portions of the two magenta print zones face the print position (see Figure 1O). Furthermore, step motor C
1! When the powder is rotated 10 nocles, the detent arm O
I engages with the lowermost locking recess (37) of the detent (to), and the center (7) of the yellow printing zone of the multicolor cibbon A8 faces the printing position.

Next, when performing monochrome printing, move the multicolor cassette 1 (9) from the cassette support (6) as shown in Fig.
Attach the single color cassette ribbon 00) to the removal pad. Then, with the home position of the multicolor cassette ribbon (9) as a reference, rotating the 3rd/curse step motor C!4 will print the upper printing son () on the monochrome ribbon αQ.

The center part (B) of the rack) faces the printing position (the 10th rack).
), at this position the cassette case circle is the stopper α4.
At the home position supported by the step motor (2
By energizing 51, the single color 1 set ribbon Ql
is fixed together with the cassette support (6).

Therefore, the monochromatic cassette ribbon 0Q does not require a detent that engages with the detent arm (31).

In this embodiment, since the multicolor cassette ribbon (9) is provided with a detent, it is possible to cut off the power supply to the step motor (2) after the cassette support (6) has fully moved, thereby saving power. Also, omit the detent <361 and use the step motor (24 is excited and the multicolor cassette ribbon (9)
may be fixed. In this case, the cassette support stand (6)
It can be moved with a small amount of force.

In addition, the multicolored cassette ribbon (9) and the cassette support stand (6)
), the protrusion (A) turns the switch CD ON. Single color cassette ribbon Cl without protrusion (2)
0), the switch Qυ remains OFF. Therefore, it is possible to detect the multicolor cassette ribbon (9) and the single color cassette ribbon (IQ+) and to switch the control system according to the switching signal of this switch Cυ. With this structure, the cassette support base can be fixed at any position by controlling the step motor, and this has the effect that multicolor and single color cassette ribbons can be used freely. be.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are partially cutaway views of a cassette support stand holding a multicolor cassette ribbon. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the movement of a cassette support stand holding a single-color cassette ribbon with a part completely cut away; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the multi-color cassette ribbon viewed from above; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a multicolor cassette ribbon seen from below, Figure 7 is a perspective view of a single color cassette ribbon seen from above, Figure 8 is a plan view showing an enlarged print zone of the multicolor ribbon, and Figure 9. The figure is a plan view showing an enlarged print zone of a single color ribbon, and FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the operation of the step motor and the position of multicolor and single color ribbons. l...Graten, 5...Carrier, 6...Cassette support stand, 9...Multicolor cassette ribbon, 10...Single color cassette ribbon, 13.14...Cassette case,
15...Multicolor ribbon, 16...Single color ribbon, 25.
...Step motor, 26... Transmission mechanism Applicant: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. Figure 16]

Claims (1)

[Claims] A multicolor cassette ribbon made by storing an endless multicolor ribbon color-coded into three color zones along the longitudinal direction in a cassette case, and a single color ribbon having a width that substantially matches the width of the multicolor ribbon are used. A single-color cassette ribbon formed into a loose shape and stored in a cassette case is provided, and a cassette support stand is provided on the platen for selectively and detachably holding the multi-color and single-color cassette ribbons on a carrier that moves around the platen. A ribbon switching device for a printer, characterized in that the carrier is rotatably mounted in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the printer, and the carrier is provided with a step motor and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the power of the step motor to the cassette support base.