JPH0133342Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a flexible cable, in which a conductive foil and an insulating film are pressure-bonded, used in printing devices, and in particular to a flexible printed circuit (hereinafter referred to as FPC).

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in printing devices such as serial printers that print back and forth on recording paper, an FPC has generally been used as a method for connecting a print head, which is a means of printing, to an external circuit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of connecting the print head and connector of a serial printer using a conventional FPC.
It is connected via 4. Since the print head 102 performs printing by reciprocating left and right in the direction of arrow A, the print head is in the state 102' and the FPC is also moved as shown in 101'. In this way, each time the print head 102 moves, the FPC 10
Since the bending operation is performed in the part 1a, an FPC holder 105 is provided in front of the connector 104 to prevent wire breakage, to guide the FPC and improve durability against repeated loads due to bending. This prevents the movement of the FPC from directly acting on the connector 104 and causing poor continuity.
However, the conventional method of providing the FPC holder 105 has the drawbacks of requiring a large area of the external circuit board 103 to which the holder 105 is attached, and increasing the cost of parts and assembly work.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate such drawbacks, and its purpose is to enable connection without shortening the life of the FPC without providing a guide holder when using a connector to connect the FPC to an external circuit board, and to connect the external circuit board. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible cable for a printing device that is inexpensive and highly reliable by reducing the area of the board.

To explain the embodiment of the present invention in detail using figures, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a serial printer using an FPC, which is an embodiment of the present invention, and a perspective view showing the connection between a print head and a connector. Example
A front view and a cross-sectional view of the FPC are shown. As shown in the figure,
The print head 2 is connected to a connector 4 on an external circuit board 3 by an FPC 1. The above connection method and the operation of printing by moving the print head 2 back and forth left and right in the direction of arrow A are the same as in the past, but the present invention
This does not require a holder to guide the FPC 1. As shown in Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a print head 2 that prints by moving in the direction of the print digit (in the direction of arrow A) with respect to the recording paper, and a circuit board 3 fixed to the circuit board 3 that supplies power to the print head 2. This is a flexible cable (FPC) that connects the connector 4. this
The FPC 1 is provided with a plurality of conductor foils that electrically connect the print head 2 and the connector 4. Near one end, conductor foils extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of the print head 2 are arranged in parallel. A terminal portion is formed. The FPC 1 also has another terminal section connected to the print head 2 at the other end, and a terminal section connected to each other to connect the print head 2.
A cable portion is formed that extends in the direction of movement. A cutout 1b opened in the direction of the cable portion is formed between the end portion 1a of the cable portion and the terminal portion described above, and a plurality of conductor foils are inserted into the cutout 1b.
It is arranged to bypass b.

Therefore, even if the bending of the cable section changes as the print head 2 moves, the provision of this notch 1b makes it difficult for the bending of the cable section to be transmitted to the terminal section, and the connection between the connector 4 and the terminal section is reduced. Position fluctuations are effectively prevented. Further, a film-like insulator 5 is pressure-bonded to the peripheral portion 1b inserted into the connector 4 for reinforcement.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which U
This is an example in which the notch part is deeper than the insertion part of the connector, and the load on the connector can be further reduced. To explain in detail, 11
c is a conductor foil that is inserted into the connector to establish conduction. 11d is a film that insulates the conductive foil 11c from both sides. An insulator 5 for reinforcement is press-bonded to the portion to be inserted into the connector.

As explained above, the present invention provides a flexible cable for a printing device, characterized in that the corner of the L-shaped connection part of the flexible cable with an external circuit board has a U-shaped notch along the conductor foil. Because of this, this invention enables a low-cost and highly reliable connection between the print head and an external circuit board.
Printer, thermal printer, fax, etc.
It is widely applicable to printing devices using FPC,
It does not limit the scope of claims.

As described above, the flexible cable of the printing apparatus according to the present invention has the following remarkable effects.

In other words, by providing a notch between the terminal and the cable, the displacement and load fluctuations applied to the terminal by the cable that bends as the printing means moves are less likely to be transmitted to the terminal. , it became possible to obtain a highly reliable electrical connection.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a serial printer using an FPC according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a print head and a connector are connected; Fig. 2 is a front view a, a cross-sectional view b, and a Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connection between the print head and connector of a serial printer using a conventional FPC. 1 is an FPC, 2 is a print head, 3 is an external circuit board, 4 is a connector, 5 is an insulator, and 105 is a holder.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] Conductive foil is formed on the surface of the film to connect the printing means of a printing device that prints on the recording paper by energizing the printing means that moves relative to the recording paper and an external circuit. The flexible cable includes: a cable portion in which a plurality of the conductor foils extending in the direction of movement of the printing means are arranged in parallel, and is provided with a bend whose position moves as the printing means moves; a terminal portion in which a plurality of conductor foils extending in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction are arranged in parallel near the end portion 1a; and another terminal portion arranged at the other end of the cable portion; A flexible cable for a printing apparatus, characterized in that a notch 1b opened in the direction of the cable part is formed between the terminal part and the end part 1a of the cable part.