JPH018372Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel ribbon cassette case. More specifically, the present invention relates to a ribbon cassette case that can be manufactured at low cost with a reduced number of parts.

Ink ribbons used in high-speed printers and the like are usually endless ribbons that are housed in a case and handled as a ribbon cassette for easy replacement. Conventionally, such ribbon cassettes have been equipped with a winding mechanism that winds the ink ribbon into the ribbon cassette when driven by a printer, etc., and a brake spring that applies appropriate tension to the ink ribbon pulled out from the ribbon cassette. , only the ink ribbon has been replaced. However, since the ink ribbon has an endless structure and is impregnated with ink, it is extremely troublesome to replace it. In view of the above, there is a strong demand for ribbon cassettes to be manufactured at low cost so that the ribbon cassette itself containing an approximate endless ribbon can be used as a replacement item.

On the other hand, the brake spring incorporated in the ribbon cassette is required to have the function of squeezing the thin ink ribbon inserted between the brake spring and the side wall with a certain force, and the brake spring is already bent when configured. It is necessary that the Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, although the brake spring 107 has a simple shape,
It is not formed integrally with the case body 101, but is formed separately from a metal such as spring steel or a spring piece such as a plastic plate, and is assembled to the case body 101.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention has provided a ribbon cassette case in which a brake spring is integrally formed, and as a result of intensive studies to reduce the price of the ribbon cassette, the present inventor has developed a ribbon storage section, a ribbon feeding section, and a ribbon feeding section. A ribbon cassette case comprising a case body having a case body and a lid body that is placed on the case body, the case body having a ribbon discharging portion extending from one side wall to the other side wall facing each other. A brake spring is integrally formed, and a slit is formed between the brake spring and the bottom of the ribbon delivery section, and a pin protruding from the back surface of the lid is integrally formed. The pin is configured to press the brake spring in a state where the brake spring is placed over the case body, and the tip of the brake spring is brought into contact with the other side wall, and the ribbon is delivered at the portion where the brake spring is formed. We have now discovered the new fact that the above object can be achieved by a ribbon cassette case in which an opening is formed by cutting out a portion of the outer side wall of the ribbon cassette case, and have now completed the present invention.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of the ribbon cassette case of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a side view of essential parts of the ribbon cassette case shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 3. A line sectional view and FIG. 5 are plan views showing another embodiment of the case body of the present invention.

In Figures 2 to 4, 1 is the case body;
The case body 1 has a ribbon storage section 1a, a ribbon feeding section 1b, and a ribbon feeding section 1c. The case body 1 is integrally formed with a U-shaped bottom 3 and side walls 4, 5, and 6 rising from the periphery of the bottom. An engagement hole 4a is formed in the upper end surface of the side wall 4, into which an engagement pin 2a protruding from the back surface of the lid body 2 is inserted. Matching pin 2a and engagement hole 4a
It is assembled so that it does not come off easily,
It is considered to be a one-piece case. A brake spring 7 is integrally formed in the case body 1 and extends from one side wall 5 to the other side wall 6 of the opposing side walls 5 and 6 of the ribbon delivery portion 1c. When the lid 2 is not covering the case body 1, the tip 7a of the brake spring 7 is not in contact with the other side wall 6. Moreover, the brake spring 7 is continuous only to one side wall 5,
The bottom portion 3 is provided with a slit portion A that is not continuous. On the other hand, a pin 8 is provided protruding from the back surface of the lid 2 at a location substantially corresponding to the center of the brake spring 7, and the pin 8 is formed integrally with the lid 2. A tapered surface 8a is provided at the tip of the pin 8, and the lid body 2 is connected to the case body 1.
As the brake spring 7 is placed over the other side wall 6, the brake spring 7 is pressed toward the other side wall 6. When the lid 2 is placed over the case body 1, the tip 7a of the brake spring 7 is in contact with the other side wall 6, as shown by the two-dot chain line.

An opening having substantially the same surface as the brake spring 7 is formed in the outer side wall 5 of the ribbon delivery portion 1c at a portion where the brake spring 7 is formed.

The operation of the ribbon cassette case constructed as described above will be explained. When the ink ribbon 9 is attached to the case body 1, the brake spring 7 is separated from the other side walls, so it can be easily attached. Next, when the lid body 2 is placed over the case body 1, the brake spring 7 is pressed by the pin 8 and presses the other side wall 6 via the ink ribbon 9. Thus, the ink ribbon 9 is pinched between the brake spring 7 and the other side wall 6, and as the feeding section 1b feeds the ink ribbon 9 into the storage section 1a, the ink ribbon 9 is pushed into the brake spring 7.
is pulled out against the braking force. Therefore, the ink ribbon 9 always maintains an appropriate tension, and can function suitably for operations such as printing by a printer.

Moreover, in the present invention, since an opening is formed in the outer side wall of the ribbon delivery section, when the ink ribbon 9 is jammed between the braking spring 7 and the side wall 6, it is passed through the opening and into the slit section A. The blockage can be removed by inserting a stick or the like and moving the ink ribbon 9. Further, the feeding state of the ink ribbon 9 can be constantly observed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pin 9 is described as having a rectangular cross section, but it is of course possible to have other shapes, such as a circular cross section. Further, in the above embodiment, a tapered surface is formed at the tip of the pin 8, but the pin 8 itself may be provided with an inclined protrusion, or the brake spring 7 may be formed with a tapered surface. .

Note that when the brake spring 7 is bent by the pin 8, the lid body 2 receives the reaction force, so the engagement pin 2
It is preferable to fix by fitting the hole 4a into the engagement hole 4a.

Further, as a preferable embodiment, if a slit portion A is provided between the brake spring 7 and the bottom portion 3, the amount of deflection of the brake spring 7 can be increased, and the deflection direction can be made only in the direction of the other side wall 6. Can be done.

Further, the spring strength of the brake spring 7 can be changed as appropriate by selecting the thickness and position of the pin 8, so that the tension applied to the ink ribbon 9 can be adjusted appropriately.

In the embodiment (FIG. 2), the brake spring 7 extends from the side wall 5 to the side wall 6, but it is configured to extend from the side wall 6 to the side wall 5, with the tip end touching the side wall 5. You may touch them.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case body 1 is formed in a U-shape, but as shown in FIG. It is also possible to provide a ribbon storage section 11a in the center. In this case, a side wall 16 is formed on the ribbon delivery portion 11c, and a side wall 15 of the case body 11 is formed on the side wall 16.
A brake spring 7 extending from the front side may be brought into contact with the brake spring 7.

The material of the case body and lid of this invention is
ABS resin, allyl resin, polyacetal resin,
A flexible plastic material such as nylon resin is preferably used.

As mentioned above, the ribbon cassette case of this invention has a brake spring integrally formed.
In the manufacture of ribbon cassettes, the cost of assembling a brake spring is no longer necessary, and manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the ribbon cassette case of the present invention can reduce variations in the strength of the brake springs, and can also easily remove clogged ink ribbons, so its practical value is extremely high. be.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a case body using a conventional brake spring, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the ribbon cassette case of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is the ribbon cassette shown in Fig. 2. A side view of the main parts of the case, Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 3,
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the case body according to the present invention. Main symbols in the drawing: 1: Case body, 1a: Ribbon storage section, 1b: Ribbon feeding section, 1c: Ribbon feeding section, 2: Lid, 4, 5, 6: Side wall, 7: Brake spring, 7a: Brake Tip of spring, 8: Pin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A ribbon cassette case consisting of a case body having a ribbon storage section, a ribbon feeding section, and a ribbon feeding section, and a lid body placed over the case body, the case body having side walls facing each other from the ribbon feeding section. A brake spring extending from one side wall to the other side wall is integrally formed, and a slit portion is formed between the brake spring and the bottom of the ribbon delivery portion, and the lid body has a slit portion formed from the back side thereof. A protruding pin is integrally formed, and the pin presses the brake spring when the lid is placed on the case body, so that the tip of the brake spring comes into contact with the other side wall, A ribbon cassette case in which an opening is formed by cutting out a portion of the outer side wall of the ribbon delivery section in the region where the brake spring is formed.