JPS6389372A - Ribbon cassette capable of reciprocating two-stage printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform reciprocating use two times, by a method wherein the width of a printing ribbon is made wider than that of a conventional one to make it possible to perform the reciprocating two-stage printing of the ribbon and an alarm is issued immediately before the printing ribbon is finished to also stop printing automatically. CONSTITUTION:A cassette is arranged to the drive shaft 2 and rotary shaft 3 of a printing part in such a state that the surface A thereof is turned upward and, when the printing practice key of a keyboard is pushed, a printing head 5 strickes the upper stage of a printing ribbon 1 to print the surface of paper while the drive shaft 2 is operated to successively take up the printing ribbon 1 by a rotary reel. The ribbon diameter of the rotary reel becomes small corresponding to the advance of printing and the alarm shaft 4 contacting with the outer periphery of the rotary reel transfers toward the rotary shaft 3 and, when the residual quantity of the ribbon approaches zero, this state is informed by an alarm to stop printing. When the cassette is taken out of a main body, the alarm shaft 4 further moves toward the rotary shaft 3 and alarm sound is stopped and the alarm shaft 4 returns to the initial position by the motor or spring in the main body. Next, the surface B of the cassette is turned upwardly and the practice key is pushed to reopen the printing of the upper stage of the ribbon.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette for word processors, personal computers, etc.

(1) Z point between conventional technologies Conventional printing ribbon cassettes for word processors, personal computers, etc. use a 7 mm wide print ribbon in a 1 cm thick cassette, and this ribbon can only be printed once. It is uneconomical because it can only be done in the same way, and it has the disadvantage of being troublesome as it has to be replaced frequently when creating long documents.

Also, if the print ribbon runs out in the middle of printing, the machine will continue to type even though it cannot print on the paper, and if you press the stop key in a hurry to replace the ribbon and restart printing, a blank area will be created without the ribbon. The disadvantage is that the page must be printed again.

(2) Purpose of the Invention This invention has a structure in which the width of the print ribbon is made wider than conventional ones, enabling two-stage printing on the ribbon, and a warning is given just before the print ribbon ends, and printing is automatically stopped. The present invention provides a ribbon cassette with the following characteristics.

(3) Invention structure cassette!・Drive shaft (2) and rotation shaft (3) on both upper and lower sides of
Drill a circular hole to connect to the print ribbon, and in the middle between both holes, drill a long horizontal hole to insert the alarm shaft (4) that indicates the end of the print ribbon (1). 4) is configured to automatically shift from the right side to the left side in accordance with the print amount.

The print ribbon is wider than the conventional one, and the ribbon cassette containing it is placed on the drive shaft (2) and rotation @ (3) of the word processor printer with side A facing up, and the input text is ? When printing a user, press the print and execute key on the keyboard, and the print head (5) will move slightly toward the drive shaft (2).
) is rotated by a motor in the direction of the arrow, and sequentially winds up the print ribbon (1) wound on the rotating reel.

In this way, the diameter of the print ribbon wound around the rotating reel gradually decreases in response to printing, so the alarm shaft (4) in contact with the outer circumference changes as shown in Figure 2 according to the remaining amount of ribbon. When the remaining amount of ribbon approaches zero by moving from point a on the right side to point b near the rotation axis (3) on the left side, an electric circuit causes a built-in alarm in the word processor to alert you with a buzzer or a signal when the ribbon runs out. This will be notified and printing will also be canceled.

At this time, when the ribbon cassette is removed from the print section of the main body, the diameter of the rotating shaft (3) of the main body is smaller than the diameter of the rotating reel of the cassette, so the alarm shaft (4) moves further to the 0 point closer to the rotating shaft (3). The alarm sound stops and the alarm axis (
In step 4), the motor or spring inside the main body returns the ribbon cassette from the zero point to the first point. Next, turn the ribbon cassette over, place it in the print section with the B side facing up, and press the execution key on the word processor to start printing again on the upper row of the ribbon.

As described above, the ribbon cassette of the present invention makes it possible to print on the upper and lower sides of the print ribbon, which eliminates the need for frequent replacement of cassettes and is economical. Also,
When the ribbon approaches its end, an alarm will be issued to notify that the ribbon is running out and printing will automatically stop.

The width of the print ribbon of this invention is about 1 cm, and the width of the conventional ribbon that can only print one line is 7 mm, and the width of the cassette is 1 cm for conventional ribbons, but about 1.3 cm for the ribbon of this invention. Which word processor on the market is sufficient?
It can also be installed on a PC, but it is necessary to add equipment related to the external reporting axis to the main unit. Conventional cassettes have long horizontal windows on the top and bottom that allow you to view the print ribbon consumption status, so an alarm shaft can be inserted into these windows. The print ribbon stored in this ribbon cassette can be used twice back and forth, and since the thickness of the cassette and the width of the ribbon are only slightly larger than conventional ones, the manufacturing cost is 20 to 30% higher. This seems to be economical as it can be used twice for round trips.

In addition, as shown in No. 17M6l-162998 for Koi's patent, a motor is also connected to the rotating shaft of a part of the printer in the main body, and the cassette ribbon is installed so that it winds up in the opposite direction to the drive shaft. By making the tip part expandable and retractable to move the printing position of the cassette ribbon up and down, or by moving the print head up and down, it is possible to automatically print back and forth.

(4) Effects Conventional ribbon cassettes can print only once, so they are economical. Even if the print ribbon runs out during printing, the machine continues to print and you have to press the word processor's print stop key in a hurry to stop the cassette. The disadvantage is that if you replace the page and press the execution key, that part will become blank and the page will have to be printed again.

Although the ribbon cassette of this invention is slightly larger than conventional ribbon cassettes in terms of print ribbon width and cassette thickness, it can be used twice in both directions, and the cost is also 2.
It is expected to be about 30% more expensive, so it is economical.

In addition, the machine automatically measures the remaining amount of print ribbon, and immediately before the remaining amount of ribbon runs out, a buzzer alerts with a signal and printing automatically stops, which has a secondary effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sketch of the ribbon cassette, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of the movement of the external signal shaft. 1. Completion of drawings/documentary procedure amendment ■ Indication of incident Patent Application No. 235 of 1985
Name of the invention No. 848 Relation to the case of the person who amends the ribbon cassette 3 capable of double-column printing Patent applicant 〒270-12
^Neno Address Haneno, Tone Town, Kitasoma District, Ibaraki Prefecture Drawings subject to the 716-194 amendment

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A ribbon cassette containing a print ribbon (1) that is somewhat wider than the conventional one is placed in the printer section of the main body of a word processor, etc., with side A facing up. When printing of the input text starts, the print head (5) prints on the upper row of the wide print ribbon (1), and while the print is being printed on the paper surface, the drive shaft (2) is rotated by the motor, and the drive shaft (2) is rotated between the rotation shaft (3) and the inside of the cassette. The print ribbon (1) wound around the reel is also fed one after another, and the diameter of the ribbon gradually becomes smaller in accordance with printing. The alarm shaft (4), which contacts the outer periphery of the ribbon and moves, moves from point a on the right side to the left side in accordance with the change in the diameter of the print ribbon, and reaches point b when the remaining amount of print ribbon (1) approaches zero. When the ribbon reaches the limit, an electric circuit causes an alarm on the main unit to notify you with a buzzer or a signal that the ribbon has run out, and printing will also stop. The diameter of the rotation shaft (3) of the main body is smaller than the diameter of the rotating reel of the cassette, so when the ribbon cassette is removed from the print section of the main body, the alarm shaft (4) moves further to point c on the left side and the alarm stops. At the same time, the alarm shaft (4) is returned from point c to the initial point a by the motor or spring, and becomes ready to install the ribbon cassette. Next, turn the ribbon cassette over, place it in the print section with side B facing up, and press the execution key to resume printing on the upper row of the print ribbon. A ribbon cassette is characterized in that it is possible to perform two stages of reciprocating printing on the print ribbon (1) in this way, and that when the ribbon approaches its end, an alarm is given and the printing is automatically stopped.