JPS591808Y2 - Ink ribbon drive device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an improvement of an ink ribbon drive device of a printer or the like.

First, a conventional ink ribbon drive device will be explained using FIGS. 1 and 2.

1 and 2, 1 is a spool for winding an ink ribbon (hereinafter referred to as spool), 2 is a spool drive shaft, 3 is an ink ribbon, 4 is a guide roller, 5 is a roller tensioned by a spring 6, 7 is a hole provided in the spool 1, and 8 is a pin implanted in the flange portion of the spool drive shaft 2.

In this configuration, the spool drive shaft 2 is rotated in the forward or reverse direction by a motor (not shown), the spool 1 is rotated via the pin 8, and the ink ribbon is transferred from one spool to the other. It is wound onto the spool.

The ink ribbon is printed by a print head (not shown), the ink density becomes light, and it is necessary to periodically replace the ink ribbon with a new spool of ink ribbon.

During this replacement, the spool 1 is inserted into the spool drive shaft 2, but it is difficult to insert it while directly checking the position of the center hole of the spool 1 and the spool drive shaft 2, so you have to rely on your intuition to align the position. It was very troublesome to do so.

This is especially troublesome when the spool is installed in a location inside the printer that is difficult to see.

This invention was made in order to eliminate such problems, and a guide member is provided near the spool to easily insert the spool 1 into the spool drive shaft 2, so that the spool 1 is completely inserted. In this state, an ink ribbon drive device is provided which is provided with a guide member that does not interfere with the rotation of the spool 1.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of this invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing essential parts of an embodiment of this invention.

In FIG. 3, 11 is a cylinder 9 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the spool 1 when the spool 1 is inserted into the spool drive shaft;
The guide member is made of a cylinder 10 having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cylinder 9 and maintaining a gap 12 between it and the outer peripheral surface of the spool 1.

The guide members 11 are a plurality of guide members arranged concentrically with the spool 1 at a predetermined angle with respect to the center of the spool 1 so as to satisfy the above relationship.

The height hl) of the cylindrical portion (two in this embodiment) is lower than the height h2) of the spool drive shaft, and the height h3) of the cylindrical portion is higher than the spool height h4).

As described above, according to this invention, when inserting the spool 1 into the spool drive shaft 2, the outer circumference of the spool 1 is placed against the cylinder 9 of the guide member 11 and pressed down, and the center of the spool 1 and the spool shaft 2 is inserted. When the guide member 11 and the spool 1 are completely inserted, a gap 12 is maintained between the guide member 11 and the spool 1, so the guide member 11 has the advantage of not interfering with the rotation of the spool.

In the above description, the spool 1 is inserted in the vertical direction, but it may be inserted in the horizontal direction, and the same effect can be expected even if the guide member 11 is made of an arcuate plate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional ink ribbon drive device, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II--II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an embodiment of this invention, and FIG. -IV line sectional view. In the figure, 1 is the spool, 2 is the spool drive shaft, 3 is the ribbon,
11 is a guide member. Note that the same or equivalent parts in the figures are indicated by the same reference numerals.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A state in which a part of the spool for winding the ink ribbon is attached to the tip of the spool drive shaft, and has a guide surface in contact with the outer circumference of the spool, and the spool is completely attached to the spool drive shaft. An ink ribbon drive device characterized in that a guide member is provided to move away from the outer periphery of the spool.