JPS61114876A - Image-forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive a reduction in the size of the titled device, by a construction wherein a transfer material is enclosed in a cassette casing together with a pair of winding cores around which both ends thereof are wound, and the cassette is supported by guide members so that it can be fitted and detached along the axial direction of the winding core. CONSTITUTION:A ribbon cassette 3 comprises an ink ribbon 5, a pair of winding cores 6, 7 around which both ends of the ribbon 5 are respectively wound, and the casing 8 enclosing these components integrally. By the guide members 18, 18 provided to be fitted into the winding cores 6, 7 contained in the ribbon cassette to guide the cores so that the latter can be fitted in and drawn out in the axial direction, the ribbon cassette 3 is supported so that it can be detached in the axial direction of the cores 6, 7. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a guide means for the cassette 3 on the outside of the cassette 3, and the spaces in the cores 6, 7 can be effectively utilized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a thermal transfer printer.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

For example, in image forming devices such as thermal transfer printers,
Generally, an ink ribbon with both ends wound around a pair of cores is interposed between the platen and the thermal head, and a sheet of paper is sandwiched between the ink ribbon and the platen. By generating heat from the heating element of the thermal head, the ink on the ink ribbon is melted and transferred onto the paper to form an image.

Incidentally, in some of such devices, in order to facilitate the operation of mounting the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is housed in a case together with a core to form a cassette.

However, in the past, the cassette was attached and detached by guiding the outer periphery of the cassette, so the guide member was larger than the cassette, and the guide member was larger than the cassette.
could not be made smaller.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be miniaturized.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention transfers the transfer material to the transfer target by operating the recording head with the transfer material and the transfer target interposed between the platen and the recording head. In the image forming apparatus, the transfer material is stored in a case together with a pair of cores around which both ends of the transfer material are wound to form an image. A guide member is provided that fits into the core and guides the core so that it can be inserted and removed in the axial direction, and the guide member supports the cassette in a detachable manner along the axial direction of the winding core. It is something.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is a main body of the image forming apparatus, and a cassette accommodating section 2 is provided within this main body 1. As shown in FIG.

A ribbon cassette 3 is detachably set in the cassette accommodating portion 2 through an attachment/detachment opening 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon cassette 3 integrally encapsulates an ink ribbon (transfer material) 5, a pair of cores 6 and 7 around which both ends of the ink ribbon 5 are wound. Case 8 consists of In addition, the above-mentioned winding cores 6 and 7
As shown in FIG. 3, the cylinder 9 has a cylinder 9 around which the ink ribbon 5 is wound, a tapered driving force receiving end 10 formed at one end of the cylinder 119, and a cylinder 9 fitted to the other end of the cylinder 9. flange 11. The flange 11 has a pressed portion 12 protruding from the outside and a conical centering recess 13 formed inside. In addition, the above case 8
Core accommodating portions 14 and 15 are formed for accommodating a pair of cores 6 and 7 wound around both ends of the ink ribbon 5, respectively. There is an opening 16°16 on the drive force receiving end 10, 10 side of the winding core 6.7, and an opening 16°16 is formed on the 7 flange 11.11 of the winding core 6.7.
Holes 17.17 are formed on the sides, respectively, through which the pressed portions 12.12 protrude and serve as bearings for the pressed portions 12.12.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
4.15 and drive force receiving end 10. into the winding core 6.7.
A pair of cylindrical or cylindrical guide members 18° 18 that are fitted from the 10 side and guide the winding cores 6 and 7 so as to be freely inserted and removed in the axial direction are provided so as to project from the main body frame 19 in a cantilevered manner. The guide members 18 and 18 detachably support the ribbon cassette 3 along the axial direction of the winding cores 6 and 7. Further, at the tip of this guide member 18.18, a conical centering convex portion 2 that engages with the centering recess 13.13 of the winding cores 6, 7 is provided.
0.20 is formed. Further, the guide member 18.
A driving force receiving end 10 of the winding core 6.7 is provided at the base end of the winding core 6.7.
, 10 to transmit driving force to the winding cores 6, 7 are rotatably fitted onto the outside. Note that 23.23 is a regulating member that regulates the movement of the gears 21.22 in the axial direction.

Further, a lid 24 is provided on the attachment/detachment port 4 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge 25, and a leaf spring 26 is attached to the inner surface of the lid 24. When the lid 24 is closed, the leaf spring 26 presses the pressed portions 12 and 12 of the cores 6 and 7 protruding from the case 8 of the ribbon cassette 3. 6.7 driving force receiving end 1
0.10 is pressed against the driving force transmission gear 21.22 so that the driving force is transmitted to the winding core 6.7. Note that 27 is a locking tool that holds the lid 24 in a closed state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the case 8 of the ribbon cassette 3 is formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section with a space 28 between the pair of core accommodating parts 14 and 15 with the lower side open.
A window 29 is formed above this space 28 .

Further, a thermal head (recording head) 30 is arranged below the cassette storage section 2 in the main body 1 with one heat generating surface (recording operation section) 31 having arrayed heat generating elements facing upward.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, on one side of the main body 1, one end of an arm 32 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is pivotally supported so as to be able to straddle one core accommodating portion 14 of the ribbon cassette 3. axis 33
It is rotatably supported via. A platen 34 is rotatably supported at the other end of the arm 32.
By rotating the arm 32, it can move toward and away from the heat generating surface 31 of the thermal head 30 through the window 29 and the space 28. The arm 32 is biased to rotate by a spring 35, and the positional relationship between the spring 35 and the pivot shaft 33 brings the platen 34 into pressure contact with the heat generating surface 31 of the thermal head 30 via the ink ribbon 5. The platen 34 is separated from the thermal head 30 and is maintained in a state where the ribbon cassette 3 can be attached and detached. When the platen 34 comes into pressure contact with the thermal head 30, the ink ribbon 5 is pushed toward the thermal head 30 from the window 29 side of the case 8. That is, the ink ribbon 5
As shown in FIG. 7, when the ribbon cassette 3 is removed, the cores 6 and 7 are stretched, but as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the ribbon cassette 3 is attached, In this state, as the platen 34 comes into pressure contact with the thermal head 30, the platen 34 is pushed toward the thermal head 30 in a substantially U-shape.

Note that the paper p is inserted between the platen 34 and the ink ribbon 5 through an insertion hole 036 formed on the arm 32, and is conveyed while being held therebetween.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the platen 34 is equipped with a gear 3.
7 is attached, and driving force is transmitted through this gear 37.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the guide member 18.1
The gears 21 and 22 provided on the main body 1 and the gear 37 attached to the platen 34 mesh with the gears 38.degree. and 39.40 on the main body 1 side when the ribbon cassette 3 is attached. That is, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a gear 43 is attached to a rotating shaft 42 of a motor 41, and a gear 45 attached to a first transmission shaft 44 meshes with this gear 43. . In addition, this first transmission shaft 4
The gear 39 that meshes with the gear 37 of the platen 34 is attached to the platen 4, so that driving force is transmitted to the platen 34.

Further, a gear 46 meshes with the gear 45 of the first transmission shaft 44, and this gear 46 is attached to a second transmission shaft 47. Further, a pulley 48 is attached to the first transmission shaft 44, and a belt 51 is stretched between the pulley 48 and a pulley 50 attached to the third transmission shaft 49. Further, the second and third transmission shafts 47.49 are each provided with a friction clutch 52.53, which
For example, a felt 54 is sandwiched between flat plates 55 and 55 and pressed by a spring 56, so that driving force is transmitted with a constant friction torque. Furthermore, the gears 38.40 meshing with the gears 21.22 of the guide member 18.18 are attached to the second and third transmission shafts 47.49, respectively, so that the driving force is applied to the winding core 6.7. is now being transmitted. Note that the winding core 7 on the winding side is attached to the platen 34.
It is driven at a faster circumferential speed, and the faster clutch 5
It is absorbed in 3. Further, the winding core 6 on the unwinding side is driven in the opposite direction to the winding core 7 on the winding side, but the drive is controlled by the clutch 52.
As a result, the winding core 7 rotates in the same direction as the winding core 7 on the winding side.

According to the above configuration, a guide member 18.18 is provided which fits into the cores 6 and 7 housed in the ribbon cassette 3 and guides the cores 6 and 7 in the axial direction so as to be freely inserted and removed. 18, the ribbon cassette 3 is wound around the core 6.
Since the ribbon cassette 7 is supported detachably along the axial direction, there is no need to provide a guide means for guiding the ribbon cassette 3 on the outside of the ribbon cassette 3, and the space inside the cores 6 and 7 is effectively used. can do. Therefore, the device can be made smaller.

Furthermore, since the winding cores 6 and 7 are arranged closer to the platen 34 than the heat generating surface 31 of the thermal head 30, the platen 34 is located between the winding cores 6 and 7 as shown in FIG. The height H of ribbon cassette 3 is the height Hr of ribbon cassette 3.
The height is approximately Hp, which is the sum of the height of the thermal head 30 and the height of the thermal head 30. Therefore, since the height H of the main body 1 can be reduced, the device can be made thinner.

Further, the ribbon cassette 3 must be configured to guide the ink ribbon 5 to the platen 34 side of the thermal head 30 when the cores 6 and 7 are located on the opposite side of the platen 34 of the thermal head 30. This is not necessary when the winding cores 6 and 7 are located closer to the platen 34 than the heat generating surface 31 of the thermal head 30 as described above.
The ribbon cassette 3 can be made thinner.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the recording head is operated with the transfer material and the object to be transferred interposed between the platen and the recording head, thereby transferring the transfer material to the object to be transferred. In an image forming apparatus configured to form an image using a cassette, the transfer material is housed in a case along with a pair of cores around which both ends of the transfer material are wound. The device has a guide member that is inserted into the core and guides the cassette so that it can be inserted and removed in the axial direction, and the guide member supports the cassette in a detachable manner along the axial direction of the winding core, thereby making the device more compact. It has excellent effects such as being able to achieve

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a ribbon cassette stored in a cassette storage section, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the ribbon cassette, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a ribbon cassette. 4 is a plan view showing the guide member, FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the platen in pressure contact with the thermal head, and FIG. 6 is the platen separated from the thermal head so that the ribbon cassette can be attached and detached. 7 is a perspective view showing the ribbon cassette removed, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the platen pressing the ink ribbon against the thermal head, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the ribbon cassette removed. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the ribbon cassette and platen, FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the driving force transmission structure, and FIG. 12 is also showing the driving force transmission structure. A plan view, FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the driving force transmission structure, and FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the operation. 3... Ribbon cassette, 5... Transfer material (ink ribbon>, p... Transferred object (paper), 6.7... Core,
18... Guide member, 30... Recording head (thermal head), 31... Recording operation section (heating surface), 34...
...Platen. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue I2 Figure -/ ':) 1'
:) Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 @ Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 14 Prisoner

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) By operating the recording head with a transfer material and an object to be transferred interposed between the platen and the recording head, the transfer material is transferred to the object to be transferred to form an image. A cassette in which the transfer material is stored in a case together with a pair of cores around which both ends of the transfer material are wound is inserted into the core stored in the cassette and inserted and removed in the axial direction. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a guide member that freely guides the cassette; and the cassette is detachably supported by the guide member along the axial direction of the core. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cores is located closer to the platen than the recording operation section of the recording head when the cassette is installed.