JPS6198577A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the miniaturization and weight reduction of a carriage by a method in which an ink ribbon cassette is detachably provided to a recorder body, and an ink ribbon is wound around a winding spool through a guide mechanism by passing it between a recording head and a platen. CONSTITUTION:An ink ribbon cassette in a vertical from is detachably provided a given place of the device body above one end of a platen 11. A thermal head 21 is provided movably in the directions of arrows D and E between the platen 11 and the cassette 12. The carriage is positioned with the head 21 below the place where the cassette 12 is set, and an ink ribbon 15 is advanced between guide bars 18 and 26 and between guide bars 19 and 35. When the head 21 pressingly contacted with the platen 11, the guide bar 34 is contacted with the guide bar 26. The ink ribbon 15 is properly sent out from one or both of a supply spool 13 and a winding spool 14, and the setting of the cassette 12 is ended.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that includes an ink ribbon and performs printing by moving a print head.

"Conventional technology" Recording devices such as serial printers and typewriters have
Some printers are equipped with an ink ribbon and move a recording head such as a thermal head to perform recording using a thermal transfer recording method or an impact recording method.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a thermal transfer type of conventional recording apparatuses. This recording apparatus includes a circular platen 1 that is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a motor (not shown). Two guide rods 2.3 are provided at two predetermined locations near the platen 1 in parallel therewith.

A carriage 5 equipped with a thermal head 4 is attached to these guide bars 2.3 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow BSC. The carriage 5 is reciprocated along a guide rod 2.3 by receiving the driving force of a motor (not shown) via a wire (also not shown).

An ink ribbon 6 for thermal transfer recording is interposed between the thermal head 4 and the platen 1. The ink ribbon 6 is
An ink ribbon cassette (not shown) loaded in a carriage 5 is fed out from a supply spool 7 and wound onto a take-up spool 8.

Assume that the recording paper 7 is inserted from below between the platen 1 and the ink ribbon 60 of this recording apparatus. When the carriage 5 is moved in the direction of arrow B in this state, the thermal head 4 is also moved in the same direction. At this time, the thermal head 4 is driven and selectively heats the ink ribbon 6 according to the image data, thereby printing 1 on the recording paper 9.
Thermal transfer recording of line image information is performed.

When one line of image information has been recorded, the carriage 5 is moved together with the thermal head 4 in the direction of arrow C and returned to its original position. Also, when the platen 1 is rotated by a predetermined pattern in the direction of the arrow, the recording paper 9 is conveyed by a predetermined amount in the same direction. After this, image information for the next line is recorded.

However, in such a recording apparatus, the ink ribbon cassette is loaded into the carriage 5, which increases the size and weight of this part. For this reason, the motor for reciprocating the carriage 5 has become larger.
Furthermore, it is difficult to move the carriage 5 smoothly, which adversely affects print quality.

FIG. 14 shows another example of such a conventional recording apparatus. In this recording device, the ink ribbon 6 is
It is fed out from a supply spool 7 provided on one side of the platen 1 and taken up on a take-up spool 8 provided on the other side. In other words, with this recording device,
No ink ribbon cassette is loaded in the carriage 5.

Therefore, in this recording apparatus, the carriage 5 can be made smaller and lighter. However, in such a recording device, when loading the ink ribbon 6, it is pulled out from the supply spool 7 and routed along a predetermined running path.
Next, it has to be appropriately wound around the take-up spool 8, which is a cumbersome task. Further, since the ink ribbon 6 is tensioned over the entire axial direction of the platen 1, the area in which the ink ribbon 6 and the recording paper 9 come into contact with each other becomes relatively large. For this reason, when the ink ribbon 6 is run for a relatively long distance, equal to or greater than the width of the recording paper 90, after one line of printing is completed, the ink transferred to the recording paper 9 may move or peel off. In addition, the ink ribbon 6 becomes overloaded when transporting the recording paper, making it difficult to transport the recording paper 9 smoothly and adversely affecting print quality.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" As described above, in the conventional recording apparatus, when the ink ribbon 6 is of a cassette type, there is a problem that the carriage 5 becomes large and heavy. On the other hand, if the ink ribbon 6 is not a cassette type, it is troublesome to replace it, and the contact area between the ink ribbon 6 and the recording paper 9 becomes quite large, which has a negative effect on print quality. Ta.

In view of these circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus in which the carriage portion can be made smaller and lighter, even though the ink cartridge and bong are of cassette type.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In the present invention, the ink ribbon cassette is removably loaded into the main body of the device rather than the carriage, and the
The ink ribbon fed out from the supply spool of the ink ribbon cassette is passed between a recording head such as a thermal head and a platen, and then wound onto a take-up spool.

“Implementation” The present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the main parts of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This recording apparatus includes a flat platen 11.

A vertical ink ribbon cassette 12 is removably loaded in a predetermined location of the device body (not shown) above one end of the platen 11. Ink ribbon cassette 1
2 includes a supply spool 13 and a take-up spool 14. Ink ribbon 1 fed out from supply spool 13
5 is a guide rod 16.5 normally provided within the ink ribbon cassette 12, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
17 and then appropriately wound around the take-up spool 14. .

A guide rod 18 is provided in a cantilevered manner at a predetermined location near the platen 11 below one guide rod 16 of the ink ribbon cassette 15 . Further, a guide bar 19 is also provided at a predetermined location below and near the other guide bar 17 of the ink ribbon cassette 15.

Both guide rods 18, 19 are attached to the main body of the device. Platen 11 and ink ribbon cassette 12
A thermal head 21 and the like is provided between the two and the two are movable in the E direction as shown by the arrow.

2 and 3 show a portion of this thermal head 21. FIG. Two guide rods 22 and 23 are provided at two predetermined locations near the platen 11 in parallel therewith. A rectangular parallelepiped carriage 24 is attached to these guide rods 22 and 23 so as to be movable in the E direction. A rectangular frame 25 is provided at a predetermined location on the carriage 24 above the platen 11 . A guide rod 26 is provided at a predetermined location on the frame 25. Pins 27 (one not shown) are provided at predetermined locations on both sides of the carriage 240, respectively. A thermal head support member 28 is attached to these pins 27.
is rotatably attached.

The thermal head support member 28 includes a cone-shaped attachment part 31 attached to the pin 27, a flat plate part 32 bent approximately 90 degrees from the center of the lower end of the central piece of the attachment part 31, and It consists of a wall portion 33 that extends from the tip by being bent approximately 90 degrees. The thermal head 21 is attached to the center of the lower surface of the flat plate 832. Flat plate part 3
Guide rods 34 and 35 are horizontally suspended at predetermined locations between the flat plate portion 32 and the wall 133 above both sides of the guide rod 20, respectively. The flat plate portion 32 is located next to one guide rod 34.
A support rod 36 is horizontally suspended at a predetermined location between the wall portion 33 and the support rod 36 . On the lower surface of the support rod 36, as shown in FIG.
A plate-shaped locking member 37 made of rubber, felt, or the like is provided. Note that the guide rods 34, 35, 26 and the support rods 36 may be mounted in a cantilevered manner. In this way, the wall portion 33 and frame 25 are unnecessary.

When loading the ink ribbon cassette 12 into the main body of this recording apparatus, first, as shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 24 is positioned below the location where the ink ribbon cassette 12 is loaded together with the thermal head 21 and the like. Next, the support member 28 is appropriately rotated upward as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and is held in this position by a locking mechanism (not shown). Next, insert your finger into the finger insertion hole 38 formed at a predetermined location of the ink ribbon cassette 12, and insert the ink ribbon 15 into the ink ribbon cassette 12.
In this state, pull out the ink ribbon cassette 1.
2 into the main body of the device. At this time, the ink ribbon 15 appropriately pulled out from the ink ribbon cassette 12 is introduced between the guide bars 18 and 26 and between the guide bars 19 and 35, respectively.

As a result, the ink ribbon 15 pulled out from the ink ribbon cassette 12 is passed between the frame 25 and the thermal head 21 held at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. Next, the support member 28 is unlocked and rotated downward, and the thermal head 21 is brought into pressure contact with the platen 11 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The pressing force at this time may be obtained only by the weight of the thermal head 21 or the like, or may be obtained by using a spring, a weight, etc. in combination. Alternatively, a plunger solenoid equipped with a return spring may be provided on the carriage 24, and the plunger solenoid may be used. If a plunger solenoid is used, this may hold the support member 28 in the position shown in solid lines in FIG.

When the thermal head 21 is brought into pressure contact with the platen 11, the guide bar 34 comes into contact with the guide rod 26, as shown in FIG. Further, the ink ribbon 15 is appropriately paid out from one or both of the supply spool 3 and the take-up spool 14, and is placed between the guide rod 18, between the guide rods 34 and 26, between the thermal head 21 and the platen 11, and the guide rod 35.1.
After going through 9, each person becomes nervous as appropriate. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the locking member 38 is connected to the guide rod 34.
It will be located near the abutting portion of 26. The degree of contact between both guide rods 34 and 26 is such that the ink ribbon 150 can be allowed to travel.

Loading of the ink ribbon cassette 12 is thus completed.

When recording is performed with this recording apparatus, the recording paper 39 is appropriately inserted between the platen 11 and the ink ribbon 150 as shown in FIG. 2 in the state shown in FIG. When the carriage 24 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in this state, the thermal head 21 is also moved in the same direction. At this time, at the beginning, the guide rod 34.2
Although the ink ribbon 6 is moved in the direction of the arrow, the ink ribbon 15 is stopped. Therefore, the tip of the locking member 37 is dragged by the ink ribbon 15 and bites into the space between the guide rods 34 and 26, and the ink ribbon 1
5 will be clamped and locked. Further, at this time, both the ink ribbon cassette 120 and the spools 13, 14 are in a rotatable state although they are braked to some extent by the action of a slip clutch (not shown). Therefore, when the thermal head 21 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, as shown in FIG. The finished ink ribbon 15 is pulled out as shown by arrow G.

When the thermal head 21 reaches the movement limit position in the direction of the arrow, at this timing the supply spool 13 is prevented from rotating by a lock mechanism (not shown), and the take-up spool 14 receives the driving force of the morph (not shown) via a slip clutch. The ink ribbon 15 is now in a state where it can be rotated in the winding direction.

When the carriage 24 is moved in the direction of arrow E in this state, the thermal head 21 is also moved in the same direction. At this time, the ink ribbon 15 being unwound from the supply spool 13 is sequentially wound onto the take-up spool 14 without loosening. Therefore, the tip of the locking member 37 is dragged by the ink ribbon 15 and separated from both guide bars 34 and 26, thereby releasing the lock to the ink ribbon 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the thermal head 21 is moved in the direction of arrow E, the take-up spool 14 sequentially winds up the ink ribbon 15 as shown by arrow H. Therefore, the unused portion of the ink ribbon 15 is sequentially passed between the guide rods 34 and 260 and is supplied between the thermal head 21 and the platen 110. When the thermal head 21 is thus moved in the direction of the arrow E, it is driven according to the image data and selectively heats the ink ribbon 15, thereby thermally transferring and recording one line of image information on the recording paper 39. will be held.

When the thermal head 21 reaches the home position,
In other words, as shown in FIG.
When the thermal head 21 reaches a position opposite to the thermal head 21, or further to the left side as shown in FIG. 5, a sensor (not shown) detects this and stops the thermal head 21 at the home position.

(Thus, recording of image information for one line is completed. After that, the recording paper 39 is conveyed by a conveyance mechanism (not shown) in a predetermined direction by a predetermined amount, and then recording of image information for the next line is completed. It will be done.

In the above embodiment, the guide rods 34 and 26 and the locking member 37 are used to lock the ink ribbon 15, but the present invention is not limited to this and is not limited to a cup. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a guide plate 42 having rollers 41 on both sides
Attach it to the carriage (24), and place rollers 4 on both ends.
A locking member 4 having a triangular cross section and having a long hole 45 in the center of the shaft 44 is attached to the support member (28).
6 may be movably attached. In this mechanism, when the carriage (24) is moved in the direction of the arrow while the ink ribbon 15 is stopped, the locking member 3
7 is dragged by the ink ribbon 15 and moved in the direction of arrow E, and its own weight moves the ink ribbon 15 to the guide plate 42.
It will be locked by pressing it. On the other hand, when the carriage (24) is moved in the direction of arrow E with the ink ribbon 15 being wound up on the take-up spool 14, the locking member 37 is dragged by the ink ribbon 15 and moves in the direction of the arrow E, as shown in FIG. direction, allowing the ink ribbon 15 to travel.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ink ribbon cassette 12 is loaded vertically, but it may be loaded horizontally. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, triangular guide members 51.5 are provided on both sides in front of the ink ribbon cassette 120.
2 are respectively provided and the ink ribbon 15 is guided by these, the ink ribbon 15 can be loaded horizontally.

Further, in this ink ribbon cassette 12, the ink ribbon 15 stretched between both guide members 51 and 52 is attached to its main body 5.
Since it will be positioned lower than 3, the 1st
As shown in FIG. 2, the ink ribbon 15 can be positioned below the thermal head 21 by simply loading it into the main body of the device. Furthermore, if the guide rod 18 provided in a cantilevered manner on the main body of the device in FIG. 1 is made vertically movable, this guide rod 18 can also be positioned above the ink ribbon 15 as shown in FIG. It becomes possible.

Note that in FIG. 12, reference numeral 54 is a guide rod provided on the main body of the device.

Furthermore, although a flat platen is used in the above embodiment,
Of course, it may be circular.

Further, in the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a thermal transfer recording type recording apparatus, but it goes without saying that it can also be applied to, for example, an impact recording type recording apparatus.

``Effect of the hatching'' As explained above, according to the present invention, since the ink ribbon cassette is loaded into the main body of the device, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the carriage part, and furthermore, the movement of the carriage can be made smaller and lighter. is smoother, printing quality is improved,
Furthermore, the motor for moving the structure can be downsized. Also, since the ink ribbon is of a cassette type, it is easy to replace. Furthermore, by devising the ink ribbon guide mechanism, it is possible to reduce the contact area between the ink ribbon and the recording paper as much as possible, and it is also possible to further improve print quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the main parts of a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the thermal head part of the same device, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the same part. ,
Fig. 4 is a front view of a part of the same part, Figs. 5 to 8 are schematic front views shown to explain the operation of the same recording device, and Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively of the same recording device. FIG. 11 is a front view shown to explain a modification, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cassette shown to explain another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 shows the ink ribbon cassette loaded in the main body of the device. The front view, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14 are perspective views showing each side of a conventional recording apparatus. 11...Platen, 12...Ink ribbon cassette, 13...
...Supply spool, 14...Take-up spool, 15...Ink ribbon, 16.17.18.19.26.34.35...
・Guide rod, 21... Thermal gear, 24... Carriage, 28... Support member, 37.46... Lock member, 51.52. ...Guide member. Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Representative
Patent Attorney Ume Yu Yamauchi 1st
Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 12 Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An elongated platen provided in the device body, a recording head provided to be able to reciprocate along the platen, an ink ribbon cassette detachably loaded in the device body, and A recording apparatus comprising: a guide mechanism that guides an ink ribbon fed out from a supply spool of an ink ribbon cassette so that it passes between a recording head and a platen, and then is wound onto a take-up spool of an ink ribbon cassette. . 2. The guide mechanism includes a locking mechanism that reciprocates integrally with the recording head, and this locking mechanism holds the ink ribbon and controls its relative travel when the recording head moves forward in a non-printing state. According to claim 1, the recording head is configured to prevent the ink ribbon from moving backward while printing, and release the grip on the ink ribbon to allow the relative movement of the ink ribbon. recording device.