WO2011115594A1

WO2011115594A1 - Thermal transfer printer

Info

Publication number: WO2011115594A1
Application number: PCT/TR2010/000078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sağbili MUSTAFA
Original assignee: Sağbi̇li̇ Maki̇ne Sanayi̇ Ti̇caret Ltd. Şti̇.
Priority date: 2010-03-17
Filing date: 2010-04-09
Publication date: 2011-09-22

Abstract

A thermal printer is provided with a system for vertically moving a printhead (4) which comprises a first piston (7) that is connected to a plate (10). The plate is connected to a second piston connection piece (9) that is connected to a second piston (8). Movement of the first pistion (7) cases the second piston to move via the plate and the second pistion connection piece.

Description

THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates some innovations in the ribbon wrap clutch system and in the system that provides print head movement of thermal transfer printer that perform high speed printing on elastic surfaces by transferring heat.

PRIOR ART

In present technique, devices that can print with heat transfer are able to fulfil printing process through various conveyors as a result of printing on surfaces to be printed by heating the cliches after mounting them in different characters on those conveyors.

Problems regarding heat transfer printers running with this system are explained in European Patent Application by company ITW ESPANA, SA in 09.01.1998 with Spanish preference right and application no: EP 0 928 695, and this problem was analyzed. As a result of studies of our specialists on those documents, problems related to system that enables print head movement and related to ribbon wrap clutch system were determined. Heating head is moved downwards and upwards, so the printing process is performed. This downwards and upwards movement is required to transfer the used amount of carbon-film, to replace completely used carbon-film with the new one and to return print head to print start position without rubbing the printed surface. Beside that, carbon films are mounted on detachable cover. After the completion of printing ribbon, detachable cover is taken outside printer and carbon-film change is performed outside, than cover is remounted, so carbon-replacement process would be realized. In these types of devices, downwards and upwards movement which is absolutely necessary to print by heating head must be sufficient, because both the amount of carbon used must move until unused place of printing surface and printing head must allow for this change at the replacement time of carbon film, but upwards rising distance necessary for carbon place change is not as much as the rising amount during complete replacement of the carbon. Both to change carbon used surface and to replace the ribbon completely, printing head must upward. Because air piston provides these downwards and upwards movement of print head, it rapidly hits to the surface to be printed when providing air to the piston after replacement. This situation causes both bad quality printing and deformation of print head in a short period of time.

Present conveyors are placed on some rails. Movement of base is provided by a screw. With the reverse and direct return of this screw, print head moves by changing direction. This situation causes a big speed loss. It causes difficulties during production and assembly.

BRIEF OF THE INVENTION

Problems described in present technique have been removed in print head movement system and ribbon wrap clutch which we developed as a result of studies of our specialists due to disadvantages of today's technique. That is, downward and upward movement of heating head is absolutely necessary to print out. As a result of this movement, replacement of print head and used amount of carbon would be allowed, so it is characterized as the second downward-upward movement. It is related to the first downward-upward movement. Print head is indirectly mounted on point providing this first downward-upward movement. The section providing the first downward-upward movement is approaching to the printing surface that makes the second downward-upward movement approached. In this case, because the print head and used amount of carbon film must be changed, only the second downward- upward movement would be sufficient. The first downward-upward movement is performed only at the beginning and at the end of printing for the complete replacement time of carbon. This situation removes hiting by holding print head in the closest position to the printing surface, so it prevents printing failure or any deformation of print head.

The first downward-upward movement and the second downward- upward movement are performed by two pneumatic cylinders that are driven by air and they indirectly depend on each other. Connection between two cylinders is explained as following; the first cylinder is assembled to the plate directly while the second one is assembled with a connecting piece. That is, cylinder is connected to a movable plate directly from the first piston pin and through a connecting piece moving downward-upward of the second piston. This connecting piece moves downward-upward on the linear rail where the carriage travels over it. Because the print head connection is mounted on the back of the second piston, it will be moved downward-upward due to the first downward-upward movement piston. And because the first downward-upward movement piston pin is connected to the second piston support, the second piston is driven indirectly and print head would be approached to or moved away from surface. The first piston and all the other downward-upward sliding parts are mounted on carriage moving right and left. As a result, the first downward-upward movement piston and the second downward-upward movement piston, downward-upward sliding mechanisms, their rails, print head support, the second piston support and print head are completely assembled on carriage moving right and left. Motion of this carriage moving right and left is provided by a timing belt driven by a step motor. With the switches are put on the both boundary points, motion of carriage is controlled and its derailment would be prevented.

Carbon-film holder rollers must be assembled on detachable cover. Also mutual wrap and release rollers are mounted on this detachable cover. This state facilitates remounting carbon-film used completely after detaching cover fully and passing through boundary rollers according to the path required to be followed and then reassembling the film again.

Mounting of this detachable cover on body is performed by pipes and pins centered the cover on printer body both on cover and on printer body. After centering pipes that are guiding for these pins, cover is pushed and closed. If needed, it can be pulled back and removed. Cover centering is performed automatically. Also pull shaft roller is the one that pulls the amount needed to be used by carbon film. It's rotating by motor drive, but motor is on printer's body and pulling roller is mounted on detachable cover. Start of pull roller by motor is provided by the means of an automatic clutch between them. That is, the clutch grasps and rotates the pull roller with the automatic rotation of motor after assembling cover and it will be disabled with the removal of cover.

Clutch: there are two pieces of wings mounted on pin directly connected to the motor. These wings are fixed and mounted to pin on motor in such a manner that it will have radial fins from two sides. A pipe is placed on roller pull pin mounted on detachable cover. A gear is mounted inside this pipe that can move longitudinally and compressed with spring. Housings are opened on this gear where the fins can be clutched (entered in). As a result of insert of fins inside housing on this longitudinal movable gear, clutch will be performed. Clutch lock can be with the spring pressure. During the assembly of detachable cover on its place after the roller change, in case the gear where there exist housings in which fins located at motor pin mounted on roller wrap pin located as detachable cover pass, and also the fins at motor pin do not coincides with housings, then spring force applying pressure on gear through the pressure to be performed on detachable cover would be overcome and gear would be enabled to move back, so the cover would be closed. With the motor motion, motor pin rotates until fins on pin coincides with housing on gear, and as a result of coincidence of fins with housing, gear comes in the front and clutch performs it's function. MEANINGS OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1. General View

Figure 2. Inside View of Body

Figure 3. Inside View of Lid

Figure 4. Cover Open, Ribbon Replacement Position

Figure 5. Cover Open, Ready-to-print position

Figure 6. Cover Open, Printing Position

Figure 7. Mounted View of Frame Figure 8. Exploded Mounted View of Frame

Figure 9. Mounted View of Ribbon Wrap and Clutch System Figure 10. Cutaway View of Ribbon Wrap and Clutch System Figure 1 1. Cover Open Perspective View

Names of the part numbers stated in figures are given below..

1 . Body

2. Cover

2.1 . Lock

2.2. Lever

3. Pipe

4. Print Head

5. Movable Connection

6. Support

7. First Piston

8. Second Piston

9. Second Piston Connecting Piece

10. Plate

1 1 . First Piston Connecting Piece

12. First Guide

13. Second Guide

14. Carriage

15. Rail

16. Motor Connection Gear

17. Timing Belt

18. Timing Belt Thread Tension Gear

19. Timing Belt Thread Tension Gear Adjustment Piece

20. Boundary Sensor

21. Connection Cage

22. Printing Surface

23. Motor

24. Motor Connection Pin

24.1 . Radial Fins 25. Outer Gear

25.1. Channel

26. Inner Gear

27. Spring

28. Ribbon Pull Cylinder

DETAILED DESCRIPION OF THE INVENTION

Invention consists of the body (1), cover (2) including lock (2.1), lever (2.2), pipe (3), print head (4), movable connection (5), support (6), the first piston (7), the second piston (8), the second piston connecting piece (9), plate (10), the first piston connecting piece (11), the first guide (12), the second guide (13), carriage (14), rail (15), motor connection gear (16), timing belt (17), timing belt tension gear (18), timing belt tension gear adjustment part (19), boundary sensor (20), connection cage (21), printing surface (22), motor (23), motor connection pin (24) including radial fins (24.1), outer gear (25) including channel (25.1), inner gear (26), spring (27) and ribbon pull cylinder (28) parts.

The first piston (7) is connected to the first piston connecting piece (11). The connecting piece (11) is mounted on connection cage (21). The second guide (13) on connection cage (21) is connected to the second connecting piece (9). The second piston connecting piece (9) and the first piston (7) are mounted on plate (10). Motion of the first piston (7) is transferred to the second piston connecting piece (9) by the means of plate (10). Due to the upward motion of the second piston (8) located at support (6) connected with the first guide (12) fastened on the second piston connection piece (9), system would have Cover Open, Ribbon Change Position as shown in Figure 4. When it would be in this position, replacement process of completely used ribbon is performed. After the completion of replacement process and during the closure of cover (2), centralization of cover (2) on body (1) is provided by the means of pipes (3). After cover closure and complete centralization process, the first piston moves "down" position. In this position, connection cage (21) brings print head (4) to the print start point on rails (15). At that time, the second piston does not move. As explained in Figure 5, print head (4) is ready to print in this position. The second piston (8) moves down position after the software sends start command given through electronic cards and information/data to be printed to the system. In this way, support (16) connected to the second piston (8) will move downward together with movable connection (5) and print head (4), and center the head on print surface. Horizontal movement of the print head (4) is provided in such a manner that belt (7) connected to the motor connecting gear driven by motor would move connection cage (21 ) at printing area. After the completion of printing process, the second piston (8) passes the "up" position while connection cage (2) returns print start position. This reverse horizontal motion is performed when the second piston (8) begins to move downward and belt (17) connected to motor connection gear (16) driven by motor moves connection cage (21 ) inversely.

Printing process would be continued with the repetition of this process and ribbon must be replaced after being used and finished completely. Replacement process requires opening of cover (2). To open cover (2), lock (2.1 ) would be in open position and levers (2.2) are drawn and it is removed from body (1 ). At that time, the first cylinder (7) moves upward automatically and print head is provided to be in the upmost position.

During the closure time of cover, ribbon pull cylinder (28) will confront with motor connection pin (24) including radial fins (24.1 ) in such a manner that they will clamp together. Radial fins (24.1 ) on motor connecting pin (24) must enter into the channel (25.1 ) on outer gear (25). In case radial fins (24.1 ) do not coincide with channel (25.1 ), cover is applied pressure and spring (27) resistance of outer gear (25) is overcome, then it moves inside ribbon pull cylinder (28) and cover (2) closes. With the cover closure, motor (23) enables rotation of motor connection pin (24) and provides rotation of the radial fins (24.1 ) until they coincide with the channel (25.1 ). At that time, spring (27) provides pressured contact between outer gear (25) and motor connecting pin (24). Spring (27) pushes outer gear (25) until radial fins (24.1 ) coincides with channel (25.1 ) and provides clamping of radial fins (24.1 ) and channel (25.1 ). After this step, motion of motor (23) is transferred to ribbon pull cylinder (28) and clutch process will be performed. This motion is transferred from motor (23) to motion connecting piece (24) then to the outer gear (24) to three fixed inner gears (26) where outer gear (25) is clamped. In this way, motion from motor is converted into the clutch function.

Claims

1. It is a system that provides horizontal motion of print head and its feature is characterized with the connection of the first piston (7) and the second piston (8) with plate (10) and second piston connecting piece (9), and with indirect transfer of the motion of the first piston (7) for the second piston (8)

2. It is the second piston (8) mentioned in Claim 1 ; and its feature is characterized to be a part that provides downward -upward motion of print head on printing surface by moving independent from the first piston when it is in down or up position.

3. It is a system that provides horizontal movement of thermal transfer printer's print head and its feature is characterized to be consisted of motor connection timing belt (16), timing belt (17), timing belt tension gear (18) and timing belt tension gear adjustment piece (19) parts.

4. It is ribbon pull out-clutch system of thermal transfer printer, and its feature is characterized to be consisted of outer gear (25) including channel (25.1), inner gear (26), spring (27) and ribbon pull shaft cylinder (28) parts.

5. It is channel (2.5) mentioned in Claim 4 and its feature is characterized to be a part that provides passing of radial fins (24.1 ) on motor connection shaft (24) and clamping of outer gear (25) with motor connecting shaft.

6. It is movable connection (5) for thermal transfer printer head and its feature is characterized in that, tilts upon contacting with the strip to be printed carrying out the self-centering of the surface.