JPH0386571A - Ribbon separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the frictional force of a ribbon to stabilize a ribbon running and conduct a stable printing without the possibility of breaking paper by a method wherein a ribbon separator is provided with holes, and the holes are uniformly formed not only on positions opposed to printing pins on a printing head but also on other positions. CONSTITUTION:A ribbon separator 22 provided with a large number of holes 23 is mounted on the front surface of a printing head 6 through a gap for inserting an ink ribbon. The holes 23 are uniformly provided not only on positions opposed to printing pins 9 but also on other positions. The hole 23 opposed to the printing pins 9 is as large in size as it covers two printing pins 9. In this manner, the ribbon separator 22 is so constructed as to be uniformly and continuously provided with the relatively small holes 23 including the holes for penetrating the printing pins 9. Therefore, the frictional force of the ribbon can be so reduced that the ribbon can run stably, and ink stains on paper can be also prevented. In addition, the break of the paper caused by the upward movement of the paper or the longitudinal movement of the printing head 6 can be prevented, and a stable printing can be performed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding the ribbon separator of a high-speed wire dot printer in which multiple print heads perform printing while shuttle-moving left and right, the ribbon separator reduces the frictional force of the ribbon to stabilize the ribbon running, and also improves the paper flow. In order to ensure stable printing without tearing, a high-speed wire dot printer has multiple print heads arranged side by side that print while shuttle-moving from side to side. In the ribbon separator provided to move together with the print head, holes are evenly provided in locations other than those facing the print pins of the print head.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a ribbon separator for a high-speed wire dot printer in which a plurality of print heads perform printing while shuttle-moving from side to side.

In impact printers, which print by placing an ink ribbon close to the paper, it is necessary to protect the paper from ink stains, and to prevent the ribbon from moving due to the complicated movements of the paper that change depending on the paper's perforations and folds. A ribbon separator is required between the paper and the ribbon to protect the paper. This ribbon separator needs to have a penetrating portion (hole) so that the printing pin can apply pressure to the paper through the ribbon.

[Conventional technology]

An impact printer (shuttle printer) to which the present invention is applied includes a paper feeding unit 1, a printing unit 2, and an ink ribbon supply mechanism 3, as shown in the external perspective view of FIG.

As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 4, the paper feeding unit 1 is
Rotatable platen roll 4 and paper (continuous form) 10
0 upwardly.

The printing unit 2 includes a frame 7 to which a plurality of print heads 6 are attached, mounted on a shuttle 8 that reciprocates within a predetermined range in the left-right direction. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5, the print heads 6 are divided into three sets each consisting of eight print heads arranged in two rows.
It is equipped with a total of 24 printing pins 9, and each printing pin 9 is
It is located on a straight line that is somewhat inclined with respect to the left-right direction (directions of arrows A and B). This print head 6 is capable of printing 24 dots by printing while reciprocating in the left and right direction within an area corresponding to 12 printing pins in the left and right direction as the shuttle 8 moves back and forth. The shuttle 8 is reciprocated by a near motor (not shown).

The ink ribbon supply mechanism 3 feeds an ink ribbon from an ink ribbon cassette (not shown) to the front surface of the printing unit 2.

When printing, the paper 100 is line-feeded by the rotation of the tractor 5 of the paper feeding unit L, the ink ribbon is run in a predetermined direction by the ink ribbon supply mechanism 3, and the print head 6 is moved back and forth within a predetermined range to print. conduct.

The ribbon separator used in this printer is used to prevent paper from being contaminated by unnecessary parts of the ink ribbon sliding into contact with each other, and is attached to the front of the print head 6 through a gap for inserting the ink ribbon. . This ribbon separator has a diameter of 0.05 to 0.05, which does not interfere with the printing operation by the printing pin 9. The ribbon separator is made of, for example, a stainless steel plate with a thickness of In+m and rigidity, and the ribbon separator includes:
In order to perform high-speed printing, holes are provided to cover a plurality of printing pins arranged in multiple stages as described above. An example of forming this hole is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the case of FIG. 6, the ribbon separator 10A has a plurality of circular holes 11A each covering four printing pins 9.
is provided.

Further, in the case of FIG. 7, a plurality of oval holes 11B each covering two printing pins 9 are provided in the ribbon separator IOB.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the case of FIG. 6, since the hole 11A is relatively large, ribbon contamination is likely to occur, and the load associated with the movement of the paper is large, so the paper may be torn or the ribbon separator IOA may be easily deformed depending on the paper.

On the other hand, in the case of Fig. 7, the hole 11B for pin penetration is small and the oval direction is aligned with the paper running direction (upward in Fig. 7), which prevents ink stains and prevents folding of the paper. You can see the measures taken to prevent the eyes from tearing. However, as the print head moves left and right, it gets caught on the left and right end faces of the paper and the feed holes, and it is not a complete measure against paper stains.

Therefore, it is desirable that the hole in the ribbon separator is as large as possible for the printing pin, but if this is done, it becomes difficult for the printing pin to pass through the hole, resulting in blurred or impossible printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon separator that can reduce the frictional force of the ribbon to stabilize the ribbon's running and enable stable printing without tearing the paper.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a high-speed wire dot printer in which a plurality of print heads installed in parallel print while shuttle-moving from side to side. In the ribbon separator provided so as to move together with the ribbon separator, holes are evenly provided in locations other than those facing the printing pins of the printing head.

[Function] The structure has holes evenly formed in areas other than those facing the printing pin, but this means that relatively small holes are evenly formed, including holes for penetrating the printing pin. There is.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frictional force of the ribbon, stabilize the ribbon running, and prevent ink from staining the paper. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the paper from tearing due to upward movement of the paper and movement of the print head in the left and right directions, and stable printing becomes possible.

[Example] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the printing unit of this example (Figure 1(a) is a front view showing the outline of the structure of the printing unit, and Figure 1(b) is a detailed diagram of section C in Figure 1(a). ), FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the structure of the same print head, in which 21 is a print unit and 22 is a ribbon separator.

The printing unit 21 is the same as the conventional one except for the ribbon separator 22.

The ribbon separator 22 has a large number of holes 23, and is attached to the front surface of the print head 6 with a gap for inserting the ink ribbon therethrough. The hole 23 is C in Fig. 1(a).
As shown in Figure 1, which is a detailed view of the part, holes 23 are provided evenly in locations other than those facing the printing pins, and the holes 23 at the locations facing the printing pins 9 are large enough to cover the two printing pins. It's sato.

In this way, the ribbon separator 22 has a structure in which comparatively small holes 23 including holes for penetrating the printing pins 9 are evenly and continuously formed.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frictional force of the ribbon, stabilize the ribbon running, and prevent ink from staining the paper. Further, it is possible to prevent the paper from tearing due to upward movement of the paper and movement of the print head 6 in the left and right directions, and stable printing is possible.

In this example, the hole 23 has a circular shape, but it may have another shape, such as an elliptical hole or a diamond shape.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform stable printing without causing paper stains due to the ink ribbon.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1(a) and 1(b) are structural schematic diagrams of a printing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a print head; and FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a print head to which the present invention is applied. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing details of the main parts of Figure 4, Figure 6 is an explanation of the shape and arrangement of holes in a conventional ribbon separator. Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of the shape and arrangement of holes in another conventional ribbon separator, in which 6 is a print head, 9 is a print pin, and 23 is a hole. (a) Schematic explanatory diagram of the structure of the printing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1. Figure 2. External perspective view of an impact printer to which the present invention is applied. Figure 3. MflA perspective view of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing details of the main parts of Figure 4.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A high-speed wire dot printer in which a plurality of print heads (6) arranged in parallel print while shuttle-moving from side to side, is provided with a plurality of print heads (6) located between the paper and the ink ribbon.
), wherein the ribbon separator is provided so as to move with the printing head (6), wherein holes (23) are evenly provided in locations other than those facing the printing pins (9) of the printing head (6).