JP3089513B2 - Ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called single type ribbon cartridge used for a printer such as a sublimation type thermal transfer type color video printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a ribbon cartridge for a color video printer is a so-called double type in which an ink ribbon having a continuous ink area of yellow, magenta, cyan, etc. is wound around a ribbon supply reel and a ribbon take-up reel. (Two ribbon reels) are known. This will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Reference numeral 100 denotes a ribbon cartridge. The cartridge body 101 has a lower case 102 made of synthetic resin and a synthetic resin joined to the lower case 102 by ultrasonic welding or the like. And an upper case 103 made of aluminum. The lower case 102 has a pair of storage sections 102c and 102d that are curved upward between opposing side portions 102a and 102b, respectively, and has an opening 102e formed in the center thereof. The upper case 103 has a pair of semi-cylindrical housing portions 103c and 103d formed between opposite side portions 103a and 103b, and an opening 103e formed at the center thereof.

The lower and upper cases 102, 10
3 each of the storage sections 102c, 103c and 102d, 103d
Between them, a cylindrical ribbon supply reel 110 and a ribbon take-up reel 111 are rotatably housed. Between the ribbon reels 110 and 111, ink ribbons 120 each having a continuous colored area composed of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) dye application portions are wound. One end of each of the ribbon reels 110 and 111 is connected to one side 10 of the lower case 102 and the upper case 103.
2a, 103a, a circular opening bearing portion 104,
The other ends of the lower case 102 and the upper case 103 are rotatably supported by the lower case 102 and the upper case 103, respectively.
Rollers 02b and 103b are rotatably supported in bearing portions 105 and 105, respectively.

However, in the double type ribbon cartridge 100, the ribbon take-up reel 111 for winding the ink ribbon 120 into the cartridge body 101.
Since the cartridge body 101 is also rotatably accommodated, there is a disadvantage that the cartridge main body 101 is correspondingly large and the cost is increased. The cartridge body 1
Since the ink ribbon 120 is always exposed from the large openings 102e and 103e provided in the lower case 102 and the upper case 103, respectively, the dust and the like adhere to the colored region of the ink ribbon 120. It was easy to tear and was difficult to handle. Since the cartridge body 101 becomes large, a color video printer (not shown) using the double type ribbon cartridge 100 also becomes large.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the double type ribbon cartridge 100, a so-called single type in which only a ribbon supply reel around which an ink ribbon is wound is housed rotatably in a substantially cylindrical cartridge body. Type (one ribbon reel)
The present applicant has filed an application in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-101507. This will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 15. Reference numeral 200 denotes a single type ribbon cartridge, and a ribbon supply reel 202 is provided in a substantially cylindrical cartridge body 201.
Is rotatably supported. This ribbon supply reel 20
An ink ribbon 203 is wound around the ink ribbon 203. A ribbon drawing film 204 for pulling out and winding the ink ribbon 203 around a ribbon take-up reel 210 provided on the printer side is provided on the leading end of the ink ribbon 203.
Is glued. In addition, 211 is a film 2 for drawing out a ribbon.
This is a locking claw that locks 04 and winds it around the ribbon take-up reel 210.

[0006]

In the above-described single type ribbon cartridge 200, the ink ribbon 203 is automatically or manually pulled out to the ribbon take-up reel 210 of the printer, and is brought to a printing operation state. since the used ink ribbon 203 that it is necessary to return always up by the ribbon supply reel 202 in the cartridge body 201 after the completion of use, the used ribbon cart Li
It took time to replace the cartridge 200, and the replacement operation was complicated. For a printer using a single type ribbon cartridge 200, an ink ribbon rewinding mechanism, which was not necessary for a printer using a conventional double type ribbon cartridge, is indispensable. There was a disadvantage of cost.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a single-type ribbon cartridge in which a used ink ribbon can be easily replaced without being rewound to the ribbon supply reel side in the cartridge body.

[0008]

A ribbon supply reel on which an ink ribbon is wound is rotatably supported in a cylindrical cartridge body having a ribbon supply port, and a ribbon drawing film is provided at the tip of the ink ribbon. A ribbon cartridge for pulling out the ink ribbon.
Glue the tip of the ink ribbon to pull out the ribbon.
Hold both ends of the film on each reel
This pair of winding reels
For pulling out the ribbon wound between reel receivers
With the film as the core, a cylinder with the ribbon drawing film
A ribbon-shaped take-up reel is formed.

[0009]

Since only the ribbon supply reel around which the ink ribbon is wound is rotatably housed in the cartridge body and the ribbon take-up reel is not housed, the cartridge body is correspondingly reduced in size and cost. In addition, a ribbon take-out film is provided at the end of the ink ribbon, and the rigidity of the film is used to form a ribbon take-up reel with the ribbon take-out film as a core. The ink ribbon is taken out of the printer without being rewound to the ribbon supply reel side in the cartridge body, and the replacement work of the used ribbon cartridge can be easily and quickly performed.

Further, the width of the ribbon drawing film is formed to be wider than the width of the ink ribbon, and winding holes are formed on both sides of the ribbon drawing film.
A ribbon take-up reel for winding the used ink ribbon is easily formed of the ribbon drawing film.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a ribbon cartridge. The cartridge body 2 of the ribbon cartridge 1 includes a lower case 10 made of a synthetic resin, and an upper case 20 made of a synthetic resin that is joined to the upper edge of the lower case 10 by ultrasonic welding or the like. The cartridge body 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape with the lower and upper cases 10 and 20 and a ribbon supply reel (ribbon supply spool) 3 made of synthetic resin and having an ink ribbon 40 wound therearound.
0 is rotatably stored.

A semi-cylindrical storage portion 13 having an arc-shaped inner wall 13a is integrally formed between the vertically opposed opposite side portions 11 and 12 of the lower case 10. As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular protruding piece 11 a formed by integrally protruding a cylindrical bearing 14 vertically inside is formed on one side 11 of the lower case 10. The other side portion 12 of the lower case 10 is integrally formed in a substantially semicircular concave shape.
On the inner surface of the other side portion 12, a rib 12a is integrally formed.

Both sides 1 of lower case 10 of upper case 20
An inner wall 23a having a vertical front side, a horizontal center, and an arcuate rear side is provided between the side portions 21 and 22 fitted to the first and second portions 12a and 12b.
A substantially housing-shaped storage section 23 having an opening on the bottom side having an opening is integrally formed. At the center of one side 21 of the upper case 20, there is formed a rectangular recess 21a into which the protruding piece 11a having the bearing portion 14 is fitted, and the inner surface of the other side 22 of the upper case 20 is formed. Has a rib 22a integrally formed thereon. Further, the inner wall 23a of the storage portion 23 of the upper case 20 is provided.
A long rectangular ribbon supply port 23b extending to both side portions 21 and 22 is formed near the upper edge of the front vertical portion.

Thus, both sides 11, 12 of the lower case 10
And a protruding edge 13c at the upper end of the rear of the storage section 13 and
The upper ends of both sides 21 and 22 of the upper case 20 and the protruding edge 23c at the rear upper end of the storage section 23 are positioned and butted to each other and welded at a plurality of positions by, for example, ultrasonic welding. The cylindrical bearing portion 14 of the lower case 10 and the other side portions 12, 22 of the lower and upper cases 10, 20
The two end portions 31, 32 of the cylindrical ribbon supply reel 30 are rotatably supported between the circular opening bearing portions 24 formed by.

A pair of flanges 33 and 34 are integrally formed on both sides of the ribbon supply reel 30 so as to protrude. The cylindrical shaft-shaped one end 31 of the ribbon supply reel 30 and the lower case 10
A compression coil spring 35 is interposed between the projecting pieces 11a formed by integrally projecting the bearings 14 and the other end 32.
A plurality of drive locking ribs 32a are integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral surface in parallel with each other. The ribbon supply reel 30
The engagement groove 34a is formed on the outer surface of the flange 34 on the other end 32 side of the
Are formed radially. Each of the engagement grooves 34a is moved by the urging force of the compression coil spring 35 into the lower case 1 and the upper case 1.
Ribs 1 formed on inner surfaces of other side portions 12 and 22 of 0 and 20
2a and 22a, the ribbon supply reel 30 can be prevented from loosening and the ink ribbon 40 can be prevented from loosening.

The pair of flanges 33 of the ribbon supply reel 30,
An ink ribbon 40 in which a colored region consisting of a dye application portion of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is continuous is wound around the body between 34. This ink ribbon 4
The winding end 40a of the 0 is adhesively fixed to the body between the pair of flanges 33 and 34 of the ribbon supply reel 30, and a so-called perforation is provided at a position slightly away from the winding end 40a. A plurality of cut-out holes 40b are formed in a straight line. The rear end of the ribbon pull-out film 41 made of polyester is adhered to the leading end of the ink ribbon 40 (the adhered portion is indicated by reference numeral 40c in the figure). The width of both sides 41 a, 41 a of the ribbon drawing film 41 is formed wider than the width of the ink ribbon 40. A plurality of winding holes 41b are formed in the both side portions 41a, 41a, and the respective locking claws 72b, 77b of a pair of winding reel tables 70, 75 of the color video printer described later.
It is locked and wound around. At this time, the ribbon take-up film 41 wound around the ribbon take-up film 41 wound between the pair of take-up reel bases 70 and 75 is used as a core to form a cylindrical ribbon take-up reel as shown in FIG. 41 'are formed.

A sublimation type thermal transfer type color video printer using the ribbon cartridge 1 includes a cartridge housing, a capstan shaft, a pinch roller, a platen rotatably mounted on a movable plate, and a thermal head fixed to a chassis. , A supply reel base 60, a pair of take-up reel bases 70 and 75, and the like. The platen reciprocates and swings with respect to the thermal head fixed to the chassis so as to contact and separate from the thermal head. .

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the supply reel base 60 is provided with a reel receiver 63 having a spherical end and rotatably supported on one side plate 6 of the printer via a support shaft 61 together with a drive gear 62. A compression coil spring 64 for urging the drive gear 62 and the reel receiver 63 toward the distal end of the support shaft 61, and a lever 65 for securing an insertion opening of the ribbon cartridge 1. Also, as shown in FIGS.
The pair of take-up reel bases 70 and 75 include reel receivers 72 and 77 rotatably supported on side plates 6 and 7 of the printer via support shafts 71 and 76, respectively. Outer peripheral surfaces 72a, 7 of small diameter portions protruding inside the respective reel receivers 72, 77.
7a, a plurality of locking claws 72b, 77b to be inserted into the respective winding holes 41b of the ribbon drawing film 41 are integrally formed to protrude. The reel receiver 72 of the take-up reel base 70 on the side plate 6 side is rotatably supported together with a drive gear 73, and is supported by a compression coil spring 74.
1 is urged toward the distal end. The reel receiver 72 and the drive gear 73 can move toward the side plate 6 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 74.

According to the ribbon cartridge 1 of the embodiment described above, when the ribbon cartridge 1 is used for a color video printer, first, the ribbon cartridge 1 is indicated by an arrow A in FIG. And is mounted on the supply reel base 60. At this time, the supply reel base 60 is moved by the lever 65 in FIG.
1, the insertion frontage of the ribbon cartridge 1 is secured by sliding in the direction indicated by the arrow B, and the leading end of the supply reel base 60 is reliably guided by the spherical reel receiver 63. Thereby, the other end 32 of the ribbon supply reel 30 in the cartridge body 2 of the ribbon cartridge 1 is securely mounted on the reel receiver 63 of the supply reel base 60. From this state, the leading end side of the ribbon pull-out film 41 slightly protruding from the ribbon supply port 23b of the cartridge main body 2 is pulled out between the pair of take-up reel tables 70 and 75, as shown in FIG.
The winding holes 41b on both sides of the ribbon drawing film 41 are inserted and locked into the locking claws 72b, 77b of the pair of winding ribbon tables 70, 75, and are automatically (motor driven by the driving gear 73). Alternatively, a pair of take-up reel bases 7 can be manually operated.
The ribbon drawing film 41 is wound between 0 and 75. As shown in FIG. 4, the ribbon take-up reel 41 ′ that takes up the used ink ribbon 40 by using the rigidity of the ribbon take-out film 41 is moved to the ribbon take-up reel 41 ′. In a stein-by state in which the printing operation can be started on the printing paper.

After the use of the ink ribbon 40, the used ink ribbon 40 '(indicated by a one-dot chain in FIG. 10) wound around the ribbon take-up reel 41' is perforated to form a release hole 40b. When the used empty cartridge body 2 is removed from the cartridge storage portion of the printer, it is discharged from the printer side. Therefore, unlike the prior art, there is no need to completely rewind the used ink ribbon 40 on the ribbon supply reel 30 in the cartridge main body 2 of the ribbon cartridge 1 and then remove the ribbon cartridge 1 from the cartridge storage section.
The replacement of the used ink ribbon 40 'and the empty cartridge body 2 can be performed extremely easily and in a short time.

As described above, only the ribbon supply reel 30 around which the ink ribbon 40 is wound is housed in the cartridge body 2 in a rotatable manner, and the ribbon take-up reel is attached to the leading end of the ink ribbon 40. 4
1, the size and cost of the cartridge body 2 can be reduced accordingly. The cartridge body 2 includes lower and upper cases 10 and 20.
Before use of the ribbon cartridge 1, only the ribbon drawing film 41 protrudes from the ribbon supply port 23 b by a certain length, and the ink ribbon 40 is completely housed in the cut cartridge body 2. As a result, the strength of the cartridge main body 2 can be made stronger than that of the conventional one, and even if the ribbon cartridge 1 is dropped by mistake, the cartridge main body 2 is not damaged and the ink ribbon 40 is not broken. Further, before the ribbon cartridge 1 is used, the ribbon supply port 2 of the cartridge body 2 is used.
3b, the ink ribbon 40 is not directly exposed.
No dust or dust adheres to the ink ribbon 40,
Its handling is simple.

A ribbon take-out film 41 is bonded and fixed to the tip of the ink ribbon 40, and the ribbon take-up film 41 is used as a core to form a ribbon take-up reel 41 '. Therefore, the used ink ribbon 40 ′ can be easily removed separately from the cartridge main body 2 from the printer side without rewinding the used ink ribbon 40 ′ to the ribbon supply reel side in the cartridge main body 2. Therefore, replacement of the ribbon cartridge 1 can be performed easily and in a short time.

Further, the width of the ribbon pull-out film 41 is formed to be wider than the width of the ink ribbon 40, and the winding holes 41 are formed on both sides of the ribbon pull-out film 41.
Since b is formed, it is possible to easily form the cylindrical ribbon take-up reel 41 ′ having sufficient strength to wind the used ink ribbon 40 ′ with the ribbon drawing film 41. Furthermore, since the cartridge body 2 can be reduced in size, it is easy to carry around and dispose of after use, and the handling and resource saving can be further improved.

Incidentally, the color video printer using the ribbon cartridge 1 can be simplified, reduced in size and weight, and reduced in cost. In particular, since a rewinding mechanism for discharging the ink ribbon is not required as in a printer using a single type ribbon cartridge of the prior art,
The mechanism of the entire printer can be simplified and the cost can be further reduced.

According to the above-described embodiment, a perforated release hole is formed at the end of the ink ribbon winding end, and the used ink ribbon is formed by a ribbon drawing film. The cartridge is taken out of the printer side and ejected separately from the cartridge body in a state of being wound around the reel, but instead of forming a cutout hole at the end end of the ink ribbon, the end end of the ink ribbon is formed. The used ink ribbon may be detached from the ribbon supply reel by using an adhesive having a weak adhesive force that can be peeled off to the ribbon supply reel. Further, the used ink ribbon may be discharged from the printer together with the cartridge body without being separated from the ribbon supply reel, while being wound around the ribbon take-up ribbon formed of the ribbon drawing film.

[0027]

As described above, according to the ribbon cartridge of the present invention, only the ribbon supply reel around which the ink ribbon is wound is housed rotatably in the cartridge body, and the ribbon winding reel is not housed. Accordingly, the size and cost of the cartridge body can be reduced. Also, the rear end of the ink ribbon drawer is
Adhere to the end of the ink ribbon and pull out the ribbon
Both ends of the lum, each reel receiver of a pair of take-up reel bases
This pair of take-up reels
The ribbon pull-out filter wound between the table reel receivers
Lum as the core and a cylindrical shape with the ribbon drawing film
Since the ribbon take-up reel is formed , the used ink ribbon can be easily taken out from the printer side without being rewound to the ribbon supply reel side in the cartridge body, and the ribbon cartridge can be easily and quickly replaced. Can be done.

Further, the width of the ribbon pull-out film is formed to be wider than the width of the ink ribbon, and both sides of the ribbon pull-out film are engaged with the respective locking claws for winding.
Since the holes are formed, it is possible to easily form a cylindrical ribbon take-up reel having sufficient strength to wind a used ink ribbon by using the ribbon drawing film.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ribbon cartridge as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which a ribbon supply reel is stored in a lower case of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the upper case of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a lower case of the ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the ribbon supply reel.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a ribbon drawing film at the leading end of the ink ribbon wound around the ribbon supply reel is drawn out.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the ribbon supply reel is mounted on a supply reel base of a printer, and a ribbon drawing film is drawn and wound.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a supply reel base of the printer.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a take-up reel base of the printer.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a lower case side of a ribbon cartridge of a conventional example.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of a ribbon cartridge of the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ribbon cartridge 2 ... Cartridge main body 23b ... Ribbon supply port 30 ... Ribbon supply reel 40 ... Ink ribbon 40a ... End-of-winding end part 40b ... Opening hole 41 ... Ribbon pull-out film 41b ... Winding hole 41 ′… Ribbon take-up reel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-8556 (JP, A) JP-A-3-230984 (JP, A) JP-A-60-18374 (JP, A) 164149 (JP, U) Actually open 63-189650 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 17/32

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ribbon cartridge in which a ribbon supply reel around which an ink ribbon is wound is rotatably supported in a cylindrical cartridge body having a ribbon supply port, and a ribbon drawing film is provided at a leading end of the ink ribbon. Then, attach the rear end of the ink ribbon withdrawal
Glue to the end of the ribbon
The ends of each of a pair of take-up reel bases separated by a predetermined distance
Wrapped around the locking claw provided on the tool receiver
Between the reel receivers of the pair of take-up reel bases.
With the attached ribbon drawing film as a core, the ribbon
A ribbon take-up reel
Ribbon cartridge, characterized by being configured to form. Wherein the width of the ribbon lead film formed wider than the width of the ink ribbon, off for this ribbon lead
Winding holes on both sides of the film to engage with each of the locking claws
2. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon cartridge is formed. 3. The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein a cut-out hole is formed at a winding end end of the ink ribbon.
The ribbon cartridge as described. 4. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a winding end of the ink ribbon is detachably adhered to the ribbon supply reel.