JPS6119383A - Ribbon cartridge for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce cost, maintain ribbon replacement to be easy and contrive a lower running cost of a printer, by a construction wherein a substantially entire part of a printing ribbon except a stretched part thereof is covered by an inexpensive cover. CONSTITUTION:A inflexible base member A is in a plate form, is provided with projected parts 1, 2 on the front side of both side parts, and guide shafts 3, 4 are erected at the tips of the parts 1, 2. Flanged guide rollers 5, 6 are rotatably fitted to the shafts 3, 4, the base member A is provided with circular holes 7, 8 at the left and right parts thereof, and the peripheries of the holes are raised to form annular projections 9, 10, to which a payout-side core 11 and a take-up side core 12 are fitted. The printing ribbon B is wound around the core 11 in the form of a pancake, and the leading end of the ribbon B is wound around the core 12. When the cores 11, 12 are fitted to the base member A, the ribbon B is fitted to the guide rollers 5, 6, and is stretched therebetween. The inexpensive cover C covering the entire part of the ribbon B except the stretched part (p) is fitted at its periphery to the base member A by heat sealing, adhesion or the like.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a printer that prints using a printing ribbon.
The present invention relates to a ribbon cartridge that stores the printing ribbon in a printing device such as a typewriter. In particular, it can be effectively applied to ribbon cartridges that store printing ribbons such as one-time ribbons and thermal ribbons, which have a small number of prints per ribbon length.

Some printing devices use fabric, multi-strike, one-time, and thermal printing ribbons for printing. Print ribbons are now often housed in cartridges for ease of handling. Conventionally, this cartridge was made strongly to maintain its strength. Therefore, the cost was high.

However, the printing ribbon is a consumable item and must be replaced as appropriate. In particular, one-time and thermal printing ribbons are discarded after one use.

However, if only the printing ribbon in the cartridge is replaced, the ribbon replacement becomes complicated, increases the burden on the user, and reduces the product value. Therefore, it is now customary to discard the printing ribbon along with the cartridge. However, this has the drawback of increasing the running cost of the printing device.

1-2 In order to eliminate these conventional drawbacks, this invention provides an inexpensive ribbon cartridge, makes ribbon replacement simple, and aims to reduce the running cost of a printing device. shall be.

Therefore, the ribbon cartridge of the printing device according to the present invention includes inflexible plate-shaped base members (A) and (F), and a feeding-side core on one side of the base members (A) and (F). (
11) and (47), and once stretched, the printing ribbon (B) is wound around the winding side cores (12) and (48) on the other side of the base members (A) and (F).・It is characterized by consisting of (G) and low-cost covers (C) and (H) that cover almost the entire printing ribbon (B) and (G) except for the above-mentioned stretching parts (p) and (q). do.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.

1 and 2 show a ribbon cartridge for a printer which is an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral (A) in the figure indicates an inflexible base member, which is made of, for example, plastic or metal strong enough to withstand use. The base member (A) has a plate shape and has projecting portions (1) on both sides in front.
・(2) is formed and done.

A guide shaft (
3) and (4) are erected at right angles. These guide shafts (
The perpendicularity of such guide shafts (3) and (4) is extremely important for ribbon feeding, which will be described later.
Guide rollers (5) and (6) with flanges are rotatably attached to the. On the other hand, circular holes (7) and (8) are formed on the left and right sides of the base member (A), and the peripheral edges thereof are raised to form annular projections (9) and (10) therein. A core (11) on the feeding side and a core (12) on the winding side are fitted into the annular projections (9) and (10), respectively.

The printing ribbon (B) is wound around the core (11) on the feeding side in a pancake shape, and the tip of the printing ribbon (B) is
□It is wound around the core (12) on the winding side.

Thus, both cores (11) and (12) are connected to the base member (A
), the printing ribbon (
B) is hung on both guide rollers (5) and (6), and is stretched as shown in p.

Then, remove the stretching part (p) and remove the printing ribbon (
An inexpensive cover (C) that covers the whole of B) is attached to the base member (A) at the periphery by heat sealing, adhesive, etc. This is so-called blister packaging. The low-cost cover (C) is made by molding a thin transparent plastic film or sheet, such as vinyl chloride, polypropylene, or polystyrene, using heating vacuum or pressure forming, with a space inside.
The outer shape is made to match the shape of the base member (A).

However, the openings (1
5) and (16) are opened, and the guide roller (5) is opened from there.
) and (6) are exposed, and the printing ribbon (B) is pulled out or drawn in.

This ribbon cartridge (D) is then mounted on the carriage (E) of the printing device as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral (17) in the figure is a ribbon feeding motor, and its motor gear (18) meshes with an intermediate gear (19). The intermediate gear (19) rotates around a ribbon feed shaft (20) on the winding side, and a compression spring (22) is provided between the intermediate gear (19) and a collar (21) fixed to the ribbon feed shaft (20).

The ribbon feed shaft (20) on the winding side extends upward as shown, and has a claw (23) at its tip. The upper part is supported by a bearing (24). The bearing (24) is
It is fixed to the upper plate (25) of the carriage (E). Upper plate (
25), another bearing (26) is fixed. The bearing (26) supports the upper part of the ribbon feeding shaft (27) on the feeding side. The ribbon feed shaft (27) has a claw (28) at the tip.
, and a collar (29) is provided at the base end. The collar (29) rotates together with the ribbon feed shaft (27) and has a compression spring (
30) is pressed against the lower end. The upper end of the compression spring (30) is pressed against a rotary plate (31) that rotates around the ribbon feed shaft (27). The rotating plate (31) is pressed against the fixed member 1 (33) via the friction member (32). The fixing plate (33) has its center connected to the ribbon feeding shaft (27).
passes through and is fixed to the bearing (26).

By the way, when the ribbon cartridge (D) is attached to such a carriage (E) as shown by the dotted chain line in Figure 3, the tips of the ribbon feed shafts (20) and (27) are respectively aligned with the ribbon cartridge (D). Circular hole (7) - (8
), and the claws (23) and (28) each connect to the core (11).
- Engages with (12). And the ribbon cartridge (
Both ends of 'D) are held down by catches (34) and (35). As is known, catches (34) and (35) are
It is installed on both sides of the upper plate (25), and uses elasticity to hold the ribbon cartridge (D) attached with one touch.

As a result, the printing ribbon (B) is fed by driving the ribbon feeding motor (17). Here, the reason why the rotating plate (31) is pressed against the fixed plate (33) while holding the friction member (32) is because the ribbon feeding shaft (27) on the feeding side
This is to apply a brake to the printing ribbon (B,) and constantly apply tension to the stretched portion (p) of the printing ribbon (B,).

FIGS. 4 and 5 show other embodiments of the invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 also show a printer ribbon cartridge. What is indicated by the symbol (R) in the figure is an inflexible base member, which is made of plastic or metal. The base member (F) has a plate shape and extends with both ends bent forward.

Guide shafts (38) and (39) are erected at the tips of these bent portions (36) and (37), and guide rollers (40) and (41) with flanges are rotatably attached to them.

On the other hand, a rectangular hole (42) is bored in the center of the base member (F). Further, circular holes (43) and (44) are opened on the left and right sides of the rectangular hole (42), and the peripheral edges thereof are raised to form annular projections (45) and (46) therein. The annular projections (45) and (46) each have a core (47) on the feeding side and a core (4) on the winding side.
8) are fitted together.

The core on the feeding side (47) and the core on the winding side (4
8), similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
The printing ribbon (G) is wrapped around the printing ribbon (G).
is hung on both guide rollers (40) and (41), and the fifth
It is stretched as shown in q in the figure.

Then, the ends of both bent portions (36) and (37) are protruded and stored in the low-cost cover (H), and the extending portion (q) is
Covers the entire printing ribbon (G) except for 0. The low-cost cover (I) is made by molding, for example, a thin transparent plastic film or sheet of vinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc., using heating vacuum or pressure air forming, in the same way as the low-cost cover (C) shown in Figure 1. .

The low-cost cover (H) is made in a box shape, and a raised projection (49) is formed at the center of the bottom. When the base member (F) is inserted into the low-cost cover (H), the second rising projection (
49) is fitted, and the base member (F) is fitted with an inexpensive cover (
H).

The left and right sides of such rising protrusions (49) are made to correspond to the circular holes (43) and (44) of the base member (F),
Similarly, circular holes (50) and (51) are made. Also,
There are openings (52) and (5) in front of both sides of the low-cost cover (H).
3) is opened. As shown in FIG.
) and (53), the bent part (36) of the base member (F)
) and (37) stand out. Then, close the lid (54),
It is sealed by heat welding or adhesive.

The ribbon cartridge shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 also
Similar to the ribbon cartridge (D) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ribbon can be fed by attaching it to a carriage (E) as shown in FIG.

In the embodiments described above, the inexpensive covers (C) and (H) were made of transparent materials. For this reason, printing ribbons (B) and (G)
The remaining amount can be visually checked and handling is convenient.

Furthermore, if the base members (A) and (F) are made of metal or conductive plastic and grounded by appropriate means, generation of static electricity can be prevented and malfunctions of the printing device can be prevented.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, printing ribbons (B) and (G)
Guide rollers (3), (4), (40
)・(41) were established. However, these guide rollers are not essential, and they may be guided by part of the base members (A) and (F) or the inexpensive covers (C) and (H).

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an inexpensive ribbon cartridge, and the price can be reduced to such an extent that it is not a waste to dispose of the printing ribbon as it is after use.
It is possible to reduce the running cost of the printing device. Further, since the ribbon is disposable and can be replaced with a new one, it does not take much time to replace the ribbon, and the operability of ribbon replacement can be improved. It is particularly effective when applied to ribbon cartridges that store one-time ribbons, thermal ribbons, etc. that have a small number of prints per ribbon length.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ribbon cartridge of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an assembled plan view thereof. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the ribbon feeding mechanism of the carriage to which the ribbon cartridge is attached. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a ribbon cartridge of a printer showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view thereof. (A)・(F)・・・・・・Base member (B)・
CG)・・・・・・・・・Printing ° Bon (C)・(H)
・・・・・・・・・Low price cover (D)・・・・・・・・・
・Ribbon cartridge (11)・(47)・・・・・・
・・・Feeding side core (12)・(48)・・・・・・
... Winding side core (p), (q)...
・At the time of stretching part Applicant: Ricoh Co., Ltd. Ricoh Electronic Industries Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An inflexible plate-like base member, which is wound around a core on one side of the base member on one side, and after being stretched, is wound around a core on the other side of the base member on the other side. A ribbon cartridge for a printing device, comprising: a printing ribbon; and an inexpensive cover that covers almost the entire printing ribbon except for the stretched portion.