WO2005092628A1

WO2005092628A1 - Cleaning cassette and cleaning sheet

Info

Publication number: WO2005092628A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/004751
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshikatsu Suito; Toshio Takahashi
Original assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2004-03-25
Filing date: 2005-03-17
Publication date: 2005-10-06
Also published as: JP4821137B2; JP2005306007A

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide a cleaning cassette and a cleaning sheet for removing dirt from a thermal head and a platen, which perform printing for a printing device, by making the thermal head generate heat and pressing it on the platen through a medium to be printed. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] On the cleaning sheet (30), a slightly adhesive layer (31), coated with an adhesive having slight adhesiveness for cleaning a platen roller, is formed on one side of a base material (32), which is formed of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, and on the other side, an abrasive layer (33), coated with an abrasive for cleaning the thermal head, is formed.

Description

Cleaning cassette and cleaning sheet

The present invention relates to a cleaning cassette and a cleaning sheet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints on a printing medium by causing a thermal head to generate heat and pressing the printing medium against a platen. The present invention relates to a tally Ninda cassette and a cleaning sheet for removing contamination of a thermal head and a platen.

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, in a printing apparatus that heats a thermal head and presses a print-receiving medium between the printhead and a platen to print on the print-receiving medium, the thermal head and the platen may cause paper dust or dust to be applied to the printhead. When the foreign matter adheres, the heat generated by the thermal head is hindered, and the ink of the ink ribbon is not transferred to the print medium. There was a problem that a part (so-called white line) was generated, which affected the printing result. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a talling cassette in which a tape having an abrasive applied to the surface of the medium to be printed on the thermal head side is used. However, even if foreign matter on only the thermal head side is removed, if foreign matter is present on the platen side, the foreign matter may adhere to the thermal head and affect printing results. Was.

[0003] Therefore, cleaning cassettes and ink ribbons for removing foreign matter from both the thermal head and the platen have been proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In Patent Document 1, a cleaning liquid container for storing a cleaning liquid such as alcohol is provided in a cleaning cassette provided with a cleaning tape having Japanese paper or the like affixed to the surface, and the cleaning liquid is supplied when the cleaning tape is sent out. To remove foreign matter from both the thermal head and the platen roller, the rotational drive speed of the winding reel that determines the advance speed of the cleaning tape, and the rotational drive speed of the platen roller. Is equipped with a transport roller that rotates the paper at different speeds, and removes foreign matter on both the thermal head and the platen roller using only the cleaning tape without using cleaner liquid. A cleaning cassette to be removed has been proposed. Further, in Patent Document 2, a heat-sensitive adhesive for removing foreign substances is applied to both sides of an ink ribbon for thermal transfer recording at intervals for each length of an ink layer used for recording a predetermined number of times. After the print medium is conveyed while being pressed against the thermal head and the platen to perform thermal transfer recording over the length range of the ink layer, only the print medium is removed from between the thermal head and the platen. After that, there has been proposed an ink ribbon that removes foreign substances on both the thermal head and the platen by the heat-sensitive adhesive.

Patent Document 1: JP-A-10-76738

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-166666

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the cleaning cassette disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to specially provide a cleaner liquid container for accommodating a cleaner liquid and a transport roller, and the structure is complicated, and the manufacturing cost and the manufacturing process are reduced. There is a problem that it is hard, and furthermore, there is a problem that it is hard for the user to replenish the cleaner solution. In addition, in order to remove foreign matter by ink ribbon as disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to temporarily remove the print medium from between the thermal head and the platen each time thermal transfer recording is performed. The heat-sensitive adhesive on the ribbon must correspond to the thermal head, and the thermal head must be separately heated to remove foreign matter. Therefore, in this printing apparatus, it is necessary to detect the ink layer and the heat-sensitive adhesive in the ink ribbon in the above-described series of controls, and the thermal head needs to be separately controlled for heat transfer and for heat removal. There is a problem that it is not.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and simply runs a cleaning sheet between a thermal head and a platen to reliably remove stains on both the thermal head and the platen. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning cassette and a talling sheet which can be removed at a time.

Means for solving the problem

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a cleaning cassette according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided. Is mounted on a printing device that runs a tape-shaped print medium between a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller that is in contact with the thermal head to print on the print medium, A cleaning force set having a cleaning sheet for cleaning the surface by running between the thermal head and the platen roller, wherein the surface of the cleaning sheet on the side in contact with the thermal head is polished. An adhesive is applied to the surface of the cleaning sheet on the side in contact with the platen roller.

A cleaning cassette according to a second aspect of the present invention includes, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a spool on which the cleaning sheet is wound, wherein the cleaning sheet is provided with the adhesive. Is wound around the spool with the side facing inward.

V, the configuration is characterized by that.

[0008] In the cleaning cassette of the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the configuration of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the spool is provided near the thermal head.

V, the configuration is characterized by that.

[0009] In the cleaning sheet according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a tape-shaped print medium is caused to travel between a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller contacting the thermal head. A cleaning sheet used for a printing device for printing on the print-receiving medium, which is moved between the thermal head and the platen roller to clean the surfaces thereof, and one of the surfaces is an abrasive. , And an adhesive is applied to the other surface.

[0010] In the cleaning sheet of the invention according to claim 5, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 4, at least the adhesive is applied to a surface of the cleaning sheet on which the adhesive is applied. Applied! , Overturn the area!保護, a protective sheet, which is a peelable sheet, is attached!

[0011] In the cleaning sheet according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the application area of the adhesive is provided in a conveying direction of the cleaning sheet. At least the length of the outer circumference of the platen roller, and in the width direction of the cleaning sheet, at least the row of the heating elements It has a configuration characterized by having a length in the direction.

[0012] In the cleaning sheet of the invention according to claim 7, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the abrasive application area is provided in the transport direction of the cleaning sheet. Is a region of a predetermined width portion.

[0013] In the cleaning sheet according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, the cleaning sheet can be transported on the surface of the cleaning sheet on which the adhesive is applied. An adhesive non-application area where the adhesive is not applied is provided in a predetermined range from the front end in the direction.

[0014] In the cleaning sheet according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, the application area of the adhesive is provided in a conveying direction of the cleaning sheet. A predetermined range from the rear end of the cleaning sheet, and the abrasive application area is also a predetermined range of the rear end force in the conveying direction of the cleaning sheet.

[0015] In the cleaning sheet according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the application area of the pressure-sensitive adhesive is arranged in a conveying direction of the cleaning sheet. And extending in an oblique direction! / !.

[0016] In the cleaning sheet according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the abrasive application area may be arranged in a conveying direction of the cleaning sheet. And extending in an oblique direction! / !.

[0017] In the cleaning sheet according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the extension direction of the application region of the adhesive and the extension direction of the application region of the abrasive are further improved. The setting direction intersects.

The invention's effect

In the cleaning cassette according to the first aspect of the present invention, an abrasive is applied to the surface of the cleaning sheet that contacts the thermal head, and the surface of the cleaning sheet that contacts the platen roller is applied to the cleaning sheet. Adhesive is applied. Therefore, a force capable of cleaning both the thermal head and the platen roller at a time. In this case, the surface of the thermal head is forcibly cleaned by the abrasive, and Although the surface of the roller itself is rotated with the adhesive uniformly over its entire circumference, despite the rotation of the roller itself, it can be reliably and rationally cleaned.

In the cleaning cassette according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, a cleaning sheet is wound around a spool, and the cleaning sheet is provided on the side on which the adhesive is applied. The inside is wound around the spool, so while the tally Jung sheet is wound around the spool, there is no adhesion of dust in the air, which prevents the adhesive from being exposed to the outside world. The adhesive will not dry out!

[0020] In the cleaning cassette according to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the invention, since the spool is provided near the thermal head, the cleaning cassette is located far from the thermal head. Rather than providing a spool, the distance from the spool to the thermal head is reduced, preventing the ink ribbon from bending, and the period during which the adhesive is in contact with the air is shortened. Is also reduced.

[0021] In the cleaning sheet of the invention according to claim 4, an abrasive is applied to one surface, and an adhesive is applied to the other surface. Therefore, a force that can clean both the thermal head and the platen roller at one time.In this case, the surface of the thermal head is forcibly cleaned by the abrasive, and the surface of the platen roller is rotated by itself. Nevertheless, the entire surface is uniformly cleaned with the adhesive, so that any cleaning can be performed reliably and rationally.

[0022] In the cleaning sheet according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the fourth aspect, a protective sheet, which is a peelable sheet, is attached to the surface of the cleaning sheet on which the adhesive is applied. However, since at least the area to which the adhesive is applied is covered with the protective sheet, the protective sheet is peeled off immediately before use, so that adhesion of dust in the air to the adhesive and drying can be avoided.

[0023] In the cleaning sheet of the invention according to claim 6, in addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 4 or claim 5, the cleaning sheet transport direction has at least the outer peripheral length of the platen roller. Since the adhesive is applied to at least a region having a length in the row direction of the heating elements arranged in the thermal head in the width direction of the cleaning sheet, the platen roller is rotated once to rotate the platen. All of the outer circumference of the roller is Face and foreign matter can be removed. Further, since the adhesive is applied at least for the length of the heat generating elements arranged in the thermal head in the direction in which the heat generating elements are arranged, it is possible to remove foreign matters in all areas where the heat generating elements are in contact, and therefore, it is possible to perform printing. Does not affect quality.

[0024] In the cleaning sheet according to the seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the abrasive-applied area may be a predetermined area in the transport direction of the cleaning sheet. Since it is the width region, the wear amount of the thermal head can be minimized as compared with the case where the abrasive is applied to the entire surface of the cleaning sheet. Further, the area to which the abrasive is applied can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

[0025] In the cleaning sheet according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, in addition to the effects of the cleaning sheet in the transport direction on the surface of the cleaning sheet on which the adhesive is applied. Since a non-adhesive-applied area where the adhesive is not applied is provided in a predetermined range from the tip end portion, the adhesive-non-applied area does not stick to the platen roller. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the leading end of the cleaning sheet from sticking to the platen roller and winding the cleaning sheet around the platen roller.

[0026] In the cleaning sheet according to the ninth aspect, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, the adhesive application area is located at the rear end of the cleaning sheet in the transport direction. And the abrasive application area is also within the predetermined range of the rear end force in the conveying direction of the cleaning sheet, so that the cleaning sheet passes through and finally adheres to the platen roller. The foreign matter adheres to the adhesive and is removed, and the foreign matter adhering to the thermal head is removed by the abrasive. Therefore, the base portion of the cleaning sheet does not pass through after cleaning the platen roller and the thermal head, so that the platen roller and the thermal head are not stained again.

[0027] In the cleaning sheet according to the tenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the application area of the adhesive is oblique to the conveying direction of the cleaning sheet. The cleaning sheet in the transport direction of the cleaning sheet, the adhesive does not fill the full width of the cleaning sheet in the transport direction, so the distal end of the cleaning sheet in the transport direction adheres to the platen roller, and the cleaning sheet is To wrap around Can be prevented.

[0028] In the cleaning sheet according to the eleventh aspect, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the abrasive application area is inclined with respect to the transport direction of the cleaning sheet. Since it extends in the direction, the wear amount of the thermal head can be reduced as compared with the case where the abrasive is applied to the entire surface of the cleaning sheet. In addition, the application area of the abrasive can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

[0029] In the cleaning sheet according to the twelfth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the tenth or eleventh aspects, the extension direction of the adhesive application area and the extension direction of the abrasive application area are improved. Crossing each other, it is possible to prevent the cleaning sheet from leaning to one side when the cleaning sheet is transported.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a cleaning cassette and a cleaning sheet of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a cleaning cassette 10 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cleaning cassette 10 shown together with a platen roller 3 and a thermal head 2 of a tape printing apparatus. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a tape-shaped cleaning sheet 30 mounted on the cleaning cassette 10. The cleaning cassette 10 of the present embodiment causes a tape-shaped print medium and an ink ribbon to travel between a thermal head 2 having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller 3 abutting on the thermal head 2. This is used for cleaning the thermal head 2 and the platen roller 3 in a well-known tape printing apparatus for printing on the printing medium via the ink ribbon. If foreign matter adheres to the platen roller 3 ゃ thermal head 2, heat generation by the thermal head 2 will be hindered, transfer will not be performed on the print-receiving medium, and printing results will be defective. Therefore, it is necessary to tallen the thermal head 2 and the platen roller 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning cassette 10 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has an upper surface opened in FIG. Here, in the cleaning cassette 10, the side facing the platen roller 3, which will be described later, is defined as the front part, and the opposite side is defined as the rear part. Cleaning cassette 10 consists of cassette bottom 11, cassette side 12a, 12b, 12c, 12 d, 12e, 12f, and 12g, and a tape-shaped cleaning sheet 30 on the cassette bottom surface 11, a tape spool 20 wound with S force, a winding spool 22 on which the used cleaning sheet 30 is wound, and the like are provided. Have been. In addition, the cassette side surface 12a is erected at the left end of the cassette bottom surface 11, the cassette side surface 12b is erected at the rear end, and the cassette side surface 12c is erected at the right end. At the front of the cassette bottom surface 11 in FIG. 1, the cassette side surface is open at about 1 Z3 on the left, not standing. Further, a first spool 21 for guiding the cleaning sheet 30 is provided at the front left end of the cassette bottom surface 11. In addition, about 1/3 of the center, a 12g side of the cassette stands upright. The cassette side surface 12f is provided in the front direction in FIG. 1 from the right end of the cassette side surface 12g, and the cassette side surface 12e is provided substantially in the front direction of the cassette side surface 12f. Also, the front side force of the cassette side surface 12c erected at the right end of the cassette bottom surface 11 is such that the cassette side surface 12d is erected in an arc shape to the left. The left end of the cassette side surface 12d is bent slightly rearward in the left direction in FIG. 1, and a space between the end and the left end of the cassette side surface 12e is a discharge outlet 14 for the cleaning sheet 30.

When the cleaning cassette 10 is set in the tape printer, as shown in FIG. 1, the thermal head 2 is disposed at a position surrounded by the cassette side surfaces 12e, 12f, and 12g. Further, a tape spool 20 is provided at a position surrounded by the cassette side surfaces 12c, 12d, and 12f and at the front right of the cassette bottom surface 11. The cleaning sheet 30 wound leftward on the tape spool 20 passes through the front side of the corner 16 formed by the side surface 12f and the side surface 12e of the cassette and the front side of the left end 15 of the side surface 12e of the cassette. It is discharged from the tally jung cassette 10 from the outside, passes through the front side of the thermal head 2 in FIG. 1, passes through the left side of the first spool 21, and is again introduced into the cleaning cassette 10. Note that a platen roller 3 is provided at a position facing the thermal head 2 across the cleaning sheet 30. When printing or cleaning is performed on a printing medium (not shown), the platen roller 3 is moved to the thermal head 2 side, and the printing medium or the cleaning sheet 30 is transferred to the thermal head 2. And the platen roller 3 are pressed and pinched.

[0033] A second spool 23 is provided on the right rear side of the first spool 21. The right side of the socket 23 has a curved guide wall 17 standing upright and slightly rearward in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1, and a winding spool 22 is provided on the right side thereof. Therefore, the cleaning sheet 30 introduced into the cleaning cassette 10 by the first spool 21 is wound counterclockwise around the take-up spool 22 via the front side of the second spool 23 and the front side of the guide wall 17. Taken.

Next, the cleaning sheet 30 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning sheet 30 includes a base material 32 formed of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate and a fine adhesive layer 31 coated with a slight adhesive for cleaning the platen roller 3 on one surface. On the other surface, there is formed a polishing layer 33 coated with an abrasive for cleaning the thermal head 2. In the fine adhesive layer 31, for example, an aqueous adhesive RE-339, RE-330, T-700 or the like manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd. is used as the fine adhesive. Further, in the polishing layer 33, as an abrasive, cannonballs such as aluminum oxide are fixed to the base material 32 with a thermosetting polymer adhesive. At the position between the thermal head 2 and the platen roller 3 shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning sheet 30 has a slightly adhesive layer 31 on the platen roller 3 side (front side), and the thermal head 2 side (rear side). A polishing layer 33 is formed on the substrate. By using such a cleaning sheet 30, foreign matter adhering to the surface of the thermal head 2 is wiped off by gunshot particles such as aluminum oxide, and the surface of the thermal head 2 is kept free of foreign matter. Will be cleaned. In addition, foreign matter adhering to the surface of the platen roller 3 adheres to the slight adhesive and moves to the cleaning sheet 30. As a result, the surface of the platen roller 3 is also cleaned so that there is no foreign matter.

[0035] The cleaning cassette of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is a matter of course that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, the arrangement of the tape spool 20 and the take-up spool 22 of the cleaning cassette 10 is not limited to the arrangement of the above embodiment. The used cleaning sheet 30 may be discharged to the outside without being wound up in the cassette. Further, the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the abrasive are not limited to the examples described in the above embodiment, but may be any as long as they have a property capable of removing foreign substances adhered to the thermal head 2 or the platen roller 3.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, A printing apparatus 100 using a cleaning sheet according to a second embodiment, which is another embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printing apparatus 100 using the cleaning sheet according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the printing mechanism section 111 as viewed from the direction of the arrows along the two-dot chain line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cleaning sheet 200, and FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaning sheet 200 taken along a two-dot chain line BB shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning sheet 200 according to the present embodiment has a cut sheet shape between a thermal head 125 having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller 122 abutting on the thermal head 125. Is used in the printing apparatus 100 for running the print medium and printing on the print medium. In the printing apparatus 100, as a print-receiving medium, a heat-sensitive coloring type having a coloring layer in which a dye and a color developer are chemically bonded by heating a thermal head, or a perforated layer formed by heating is used. Various heat-sensitive papers such as a heat-sensitive perforated type laminated on a substrate are used. Therefore, similarly to the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment, when foreign matter adheres to the platen roller 122 and the thermal head 125, heat generation by the thermal head 125 is obstructed, and transfer to paper is not performed. Failure occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the thermal head 125 and the platen roller 122.

First, the printing apparatus 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body case 102 of the printing apparatus 100 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and has a length in the longitudinal direction of about 16 cm and a length in the transverse direction of about 10 cm. It is a rectangular parallelepiped with a size of about 2 cm and an open top. The main body case 102 has case side surfaces 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d. An AC adapter connector 162, a USB connector 131 for performing communication with an external device based on the USB standard, and a power switch 166 for turning ON / OFF the power of the printing apparatus 100 are provided. Also, on the upper surface of the main body case 102, a fixed cover 103 occupying about 1Z4 of the upper surface of the main body near one longitudinal end of the main body case 102, and a storage portion 105 at a portion other than the fixed cover 103 are formed. I have. A printing mechanism 111 described later is provided inside the main body case 102 covered by the fixed cover 103. The printing mechanism 111 discharges the printing medium from the printing apparatus 100 after printing. A paper discharge roller 128 is provided at the edge of the fixed cover 103 on the storage section 105 side. Further, a case cover 104 is provided so as to cover the storage section 105.

The case cover 104 has a cover upper surface 104a formed in a substantially rectangular shape large enough to cover the storage portion 105, cover side surfaces 104b joined to both longitudinal side surfaces thereof, and a cover side surface 104b. It is formed of an open / close shaft 104c joined to one end, and is housed in a storage portion 105 on the free end side of the upper surface 104a of the cover, with a claw 104h and lock pieces 104e and 104f for preventing the case cover 104 from being opened. There is provided a paper press 104d for suppressing the print-receiving medium, and a panel 104g for pressing the print-receiving medium against the paper feed roller 120 (see FIG. 4). Also, a slide groove 102e is provided at one end (the left-hand direction in the drawing) of both outer side surfaces on the longitudinal side of the main body case 102, and the opening and closing shaft 104c of the case cover 104 and the slide groove 102e of the main body case 102 are provided. Are engaged. The case cover 104 is slid in the direction away from the fixed cover 103 by the length of the slide groove 102e, and is opened using the opening / closing shaft 104c as a rotation shaft. Also, on the upper surface of the case cover 104, the cut paper 106a to be discharged (see FIG. 4) is guided between the wall surface and the cover upper surface 104a, and the cut paper 106a is continuously discharged so that the cut paper 106a is discharged. A paper discharge receiving cover 113 is provided to prevent scattering outside the main body case 102.

[0040] The storage section 105 is disposed at a position lower than the upper surface of the fixed cover 103 by a thickness of the case cover 104 at a position other than the fixed cover 103 on the upper surface of the main body case 102. A top surface 105f provided in a U-shape that opens at the bottom, a bottom surface 105a facing this opening and forming a bottom surface of a concave portion provided inside the top surface 105f, and a side surface surrounding four sides of the bottom surface 105a The parts 105b, 105c, 105d, and 105e are formed. The bottom portion 105a has a size that covers about half of the longitudinal direction of the cut paper 106a in a state where a plurality of cut paper 106a, which is a paper cut into a predetermined size, for example, A7 size, is stacked. The paper package stored in the paper case is stored. In addition to the cut paper 106a, this paper package includes an auxiliary sheet 106c (see Fig. 4) that is approximately the same size as the cut paper 106a and protects the portion of the cut paper 106a exposed from the paper case with external pressure. Attached to one side of the laminated cut paper 106a!

Next, the structure of the printing mechanism 111 of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. . As shown in FIG. 4, the printing mechanism unit 111 separates the stacked cut sheets 106a and feeds the cut sheets 106a in the conveying direction, a separating unit 121, a guide plate 127, and a cut sheet 106a. The paper guide 123 presses the platen roller 122 in the direction of the platen roller 122 with the urging force of the plate 124, the platen roller 122 transports the printing paper 106a to the thermal head 125, and the platen roller 122 is pressed in the direction of the platen roller 122 by the urging force of the panel 126. A thermal head 125 is provided on the platen roller 122 for heating and printing the cut sheet 106a. The separation part 121 has a claw retainer 121a in which a claw 104h is locked to prevent the case cover 104 from being opened by an inadvertent external force applied to the case cover 104, and a double feed of the cut sheet 106a. And a slope 121c for guiding the cut sheet 106a to be discharged out of the main body case 102 while correcting the warpage generated in the cut sheet 106a.

Next, a printing mechanism of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The laminated printing paper 106a is pressed against the paper feed roller 120 by the urging force of the panel 104g provided on the case cover 104 being pressed through the paper presser 104d and the auxiliary sheet 106c. You. As the paper feed roller 120 rotates, the lowermost cut paper 106a is transported by the frictional force with the paper feed roller 120. Here, a plurality of cut sheets 106a may be multi-fed due to the frictional force with the upper cut paper 106a. Therefore, in order to prevent a plurality of sheets from being conveyed while being multi-fed, a downward inclined surface 121b is formed on a surface of the separation unit 121 facing the sheet feeding roller 120. When the end of the transported cut paper 106a comes into contact with the inclined surface 121b, the frictional force between the leading end surface of the cut paper 106a in the transport direction and the inclined surface 121b separates the multi-fed cut paper 106a into single leaves. .

Next, when the separated cut paper 106a is guided by the inclined surface 121b and comes into contact with the guide plate 127, the cut paper 106a is transported in the horizontal direction according to the surface direction of the guide plate 127, and the paper guide is formed. You will be guided to 123. The paper guide 123 has an arcuate cross-sectional shape, and the transport direction of the transported cut sheet 106a is corrected in a direction along the concave portion of the paper guide 123. The outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 122 that rotates in conjunction with the paper feed roller 120 is substantially in close contact with the inner surface of the paper guide 123, and the cut sheet 106a is pressed by the paper guide 123 so as to be in close contact with the platen roller 122. Is transported on the outer peripheral surface by the frictional force generated between the roller and the platen roller 122. Above the platen roller 122, the thermal head 125 is pressed against the platen roller 122 by the urging force of the panel 126 so as to make line contact with the platen roller 122. Therefore, the transported cut sheet 106a is caught in the gap between the thermal head 125 and the platen roller 122. In the thermal head 125, a plurality of heating elements (not shown) arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the cut sheet 106a on the side of the thermal head 125 facing the platen roller 122 are based on print data. Each is heated, and the thermal energy reacts with the heat-sensitive layer of the cut sheet 106a to perform line printing. The printed cut paper 106a is conveyed by the platen roller 122, guided by the upper inclined surface 121c of the separation unit 121, and discharged from the paper discharge roller 128 to the outside of the printing apparatus 100.

Next, the cleaning sheet 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning sheet 200 is transported in the direction of arrow C, and is a sheet having substantially the same size as the A7 size, which is the paper size used in the printing apparatus 100. As the substrate 202, for example, a sheet of approximately A7 size is formed using polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a fine adhesive layer 201 coated with a slight adhesive for cleaning the platen roller 122 is formed on one surface. On the other surface, a polishing layer 203 coated with an abrasive for cleaning the thermal head 125 is formed. Then, a protection sheet 209 for protecting the slightly adhesive layer 201 is attached to the surface of the slightly adhesive layer 201. In the fine pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 201, for example, an aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesive RE-339, RE-330, T700 or the like manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd. is used. In the polishing layer 203, abrasive grains such as aluminum oxide are fixed to the base 202 with a thermosetting polymer adhesive.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the slightly adhesive layer 201 is formed by a force formed from one end to the other in the short direction of the base material 202. It is formed in a predetermined width portion of 202 (for example, a length of about 1Z5). This is for the purpose of cleaning the platen roller 122 with the slightly adhesive layer 201, and requires at least a length of one rotation of the platen roller 122, which does not need to be formed in the entire longitudinal direction of the substrate 202. That's why. Similarly, the polishing layer 203 for cleaning the thermal head 125 does not need to be formed in the entire longitudinal direction of the base material 202, so that the polishing layer 203 is also formed on the back surface of the slightly adhesive layer 201. The material 202 is formed at a predetermined width portion in the longitudinal direction (for example, a length of about 1Z5). Note that the length of the cleaning sheet 200 in the longitudinal direction may be shorter than the length of the A7 size in the longitudinal direction as long as the cleaning sheet has a length that allows the cleaning sheet to normally pass through the printing mechanism unit 111 and be sent out.

[0047] The protective sheet 209 of the cleaning sheet 200 is peeled off, and the sheet is set in the storage section 105 of the printing apparatus 100 with the slightly adhesive layer 201 facing upward, and the paper feeding instruction is given to the printing apparatus 100. Then, the cleaning sheet 200 passes between the platen roller 122 and the thermal head 125, and the foreign matter adhering to the platen roller 122 adheres to the slightly adhesive layer 201, and the foreign matter on the platen roller 122 is removed. In this case, regardless of the rotation of the platen roller 122, the fine adhesive layer 201 adheres sequentially over the entire circumference of the platen roller 122, so that the foreign matter is reliably removed. In addition, foreign particles that adhere to the thermal head 125 and are removed by the gunshot particles fixed to the polishing layer 203 are removed.

As described above, in the cleaning sheet 200 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the force of the tip of the cleaning sheet 200 in the transport direction (the direction of arrow C) is also within a predetermined range. Is provided with an adhesive non-application area 202a to which no is applied. Since the adhesive-free area 202a does not adhere to the platen roller 122, the leading end of the cleaning sheet 200 in the transport direction (the direction of the arrow C) adheres to the platen roller 122, and the tallying sheet 200 is attached to the platen roller 122. Winding around the roller 122 can be prevented. Further, since the polishing layer 203 is also formed only in a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the base material 202, the wear amount of the thermal head 125 can be minimized. Further, the application area of the abrasive can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

Next, a cleaning sheet 300 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cleaning sheet 300. FIG. This cleaning sheet 300 is different from the cleaning sheet 200 of the second embodiment only in the position where the polishing layer 303, the slightly adhesive layer 301, and the protective sheet 309 are provided. Is the same as the tallying sheet 200. In the cleaning sheet 300 of the third embodiment, the positional force provided with the polishing layer 303 and the slightly adhesive layer 301 is provided on the rear end side in the carrying direction (the direction of arrow C) of the cleaning sheet 300. Therefore, the protection sheet 309 is also cleaned. It is provided on the rear end side of the seat 300. In the cleaning sheet 300 according to the third embodiment, at the end of the passage of the cleaning sheet 300, the foreign substances adhering to the platen roller 122 adhere to the slightly adhesive layer 301 to remove the foreign substances, and the polishing layer 303 Foreign matter adhering to the thermal head 125 will be removed. Therefore, the fine adhesive layer 301 removes the foreign matter from the platen roller 122, and after the thermal head 125 is attached from the polishing layer 303, the foreign matter is removed. To pass through the platen roller 122 and the thermal head 125 again.

Next, a cleaning sheet 400 according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cleaning sheet 400. FIG. This cleaning sheet 400 is different from the cleaning sheet 200 of the second embodiment only in the position where the polishing layer 403, the slightly adhesive layer 401, and the protective sheet 409 are provided. Is the same as the tallying sheet 200. In the cleaning sheet 400 according to the fourth embodiment, the extending direction force of the polishing layer 403 and the slightly adhesive layer 401 is provided so as to be oblique with respect to the transport direction of the cleaning sheet 400 (arrow C direction). . Therefore, since the slightly adhesive layer 401 is not provided on the leading end side of the cleaning sheet 400 in the conveying direction to the full width, the leading end of the tally sheet 400 in the conveying direction (the direction of the arrow C) adheres to the platen roller 122. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the cleaning sheet 400 from being wound around the platen roller 122.

Next, a cleaning sheet 500 according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cleaning sheet 500. FIG. This cleaning sheet 500 is different from the cleaning sheet 200 of the second embodiment only in the position where the polishing layer 503, the slightly adhesive layer 501, and the protective sheet 509 are provided. Is the same as the tallying sheet 200. In the cleaning sheet 500 of the fifth embodiment, the extending direction force of the polishing layer 503 and the slightly adhesive layer 501 is provided so as to be oblique to the transport direction of the cleaning sheet 500 (the direction of arrow C). . Furthermore, when the cleaning sheet 500 is viewed in a plan view, the extending direction of the polishing layer 503 and the extending direction of the slightly adhesive layer 501 cross each other. Therefore, the slightly adhesive layer 501 is not provided on the front end side of the cleaning sheet 500 in the conveying direction so as to be full width, so that the front end of the cleaning sheet 500 in the conveying direction (the direction of arrow C) is stuck to the platen roller 122, and the cleaning sheet 500 is cleaned. Sheet 5 00 can be prevented from winding around the platen roller 122. Further, since the extending direction of the polishing layer 503 and the extending direction of the slightly adhesive layer 501 intersect each other, when the cleaning sheet 500 is transported in the direction of arrow C, the cleaning sheet 500 leans to one side. "Sheet offset" can be prevented.

[0052] The cleaning sheet of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the extending direction of the polishing layer and the slightly adhesive layer may be zigzag. In addition, the cleaning sheets 200 to 500 according to the second to fifth embodiments are the print sheets set between the platen roller and the thermal head which are not only used in the printing apparatus 100 according to the above embodiment. It can be used in a printing apparatus that prints on a medium by heating a thermal head. Needless to say, the size of the cleaning sheet may be determined as appropriate according to the length of the heating elements of the thermal head of the printing apparatus used in the row direction and the width and outer circumference of the platen roller. Also, a slightly adhesive layer or a polishing layer may be provided on the entire surface of the cleaning sheet.

Industrial applicability

[0053] The cleaning sheet of the present invention allows a printing medium to run between a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller abutting on the thermal head, so that printing is performed by the heat generated by the heating elements. It can be used for thermal head and platen roller tallying of a printing apparatus to be performed.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cleaning cassette 10.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a tape-shaped cleaning sheet 30 attached to the cleaning cassette 10.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printing apparatus 100 using a cleaning sheet according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the printing mechanism section 111 as viewed from the direction of the arrows along the two-dot chain line AA shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cleaning sheet 200. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaning sheet 200 taken along a two-dot chain line BB shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cleaning sheet 300.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cleaning sheet 400.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cleaning sheet 500.

Explanation of symbols

2 Thermonole head

3 Platen roller

10 Cleaning cassette

20 Tape Spoonore

30 Small cleaning sea

31 Slight adhesive layer

32 Substrate

33 polishing layer

100 printing devices

111 Printing mechanism

122 Platen roller

125 Thermonole Head

200 Cleaning Sea Ten

201 Light adhesive layer

202 substrate

203 polishing layer

209 Protective sheet

300 Cleaning Sea Ten

301 Light adhesive layer

302 substrate

303 polishing layer

309 Protective sheet 400 cleaning sheet

401 light adhesive layer

402 Substrate

403 polishing layer

409 Protection sheet

500 cleaning sheets

501 light adhesive layer

502 substrate

503 polishing layer

509 protective sheet

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A tape-shaped print medium is run between a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller which is in contact with the thermal head, and is mounted on a printing apparatus for printing on the print medium. A cleaning cassette provided with a cleaning sheet for running between the thermal head and the platen roller to clean the surface thereof,

An abrasive is applied to a surface of the cleaning sheet that contacts the thermal head, and an adhesive is applied to a surface of the cleaning sheet that contacts the platen roller. Cleaning cassette.

[2] comprising a spool on which the cleaning sheet is wound;

2. The cleaning cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning sheet is wound around the spool with the side on which the adhesive is applied facing inward.

3. The cleaning cassette according to claim 1, wherein the spool is provided near the thermal head.

[4] Used in a printing apparatus for running a tape-shaped print medium between a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller contacting the thermal head to print on the print medium, A cleaning sheet for running between the thermal head and the platen roller to clean the surfaces thereof,

A cleaning sheet characterized in that an abrasive is applied to one surface and an adhesive is applied to the other surface.

[5] A protective sheet, which is a peelable sheet, is attached to a surface of the cleaning sheet on which the adhesive is applied, at least covering a region where the adhesive is applied. The cleaning sheet according to claim 4, wherein:

[6] The application area of the pressure-sensitive adhesive is

The cleaning sheet transport direction has at least the outer peripheral length of the platen roller, and the cleaning sheet width direction has at least the length of the heating elements arranged in the thermal head in the row direction. 6. The cleaning sheet according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning sheet has:

[7] The cleaning sheet according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the application area of the abrasive is an area of a predetermined width in the transport direction of the cleaning sheet.

[8] An adhesive non-applied area where the adhesive is not applied is provided in a predetermined range from a tip end in the transport direction of the surface of the cleaning sheet on which the adhesive is applied, in a conveying direction. 8. The cleaning sheet according to any one of 4 to 7.

[9] The application area of the adhesive is an area within a predetermined range of a rear end force of the cleaning sheet in the conveyance direction, and the abrasive application area is also a rear end force of the cleaning sheet in the conveyance direction. The cleaning sheet according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the cleaning sheet is in a predetermined range.

[10] The cleaning sheet according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the application region of the pressure-sensitive adhesive extends obliquely to a conveying direction of the cleaning sheet.

[11] The cleaning sheet according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the application region of the abrasive extends obliquely with respect to a conveying direction of the cleaning sheet.

12. The cleaning sheet according to claim 10, wherein an extending direction of the application region of the adhesive and an extending direction of the application region of the abrasive cross each other.