JPH0410870B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a serial printer device that forms prints using thermal transfer dots that perform multicolor printing, and particularly relates to the structure of a print section.

In recent years, the demand for multicolor printing has increased, and various devices, including inkjet systems, have been developed and put into practical use.

Printer devices using color ink ribbons are being actively developed and put into practical use, including a thermal method using a thermal head and an impact dot method. Color ink ribbons are expensive, and therefore there is a demand for a printer that eliminates waste as much as possible, has low running costs, and has a high processing speed.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an outline of the printing section of the printer device, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the color ink ribbon.

As shown in Fig. 3, the thermal transfer printer has side frames 1 on both sides.
A platen 2 is rotatably supported on the shaft.

A paper 3 is wound around the platen 2 as shown by the two-dot chain line, and the paper 3 is fed in the direction of arrow A in the figure by sprocket wheels 5a, 5b, etc.

On the other hand, a carrier 6 is slidably engaged with a guide shaft 7 provided in parallel with the platen 2 on the front side of the platen 2, in the lower part of the figure.
is similarly screwed into a feed screw 8 provided parallel to the platen 2.

The feed screw 8 is connected to a motor 10 via a belt 9 or the like, and therefore, the feed screw 8 can reciprocate the carrier 6 in the direction of arrow B-C in the figure depending on the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 10. I can do it.

A printing head 12 is installed in the carrier 6 surrounded by an ink ribbon cassette 11, and the printing head 12 is provided with a plurality of heating elements.

Ink ribbon 1 is placed in ink ribbon cassette 11.
1a is built in with a part thereof exposed on the platen 2 side.

At both ends of the ink ribbon cassette 11, there are ribbon guides 15a for moving the ink ribbon 11a in and out, and
15b is provided protrudingly, and the ink ribbon 11a is stretched between the ribbon guides.

Further, in the drawing of the ink ribbon cassette 11, a take-up spool 16 is provided on the left side, and a supply spool 17 is provided on the right side.
The shaft 16a can be connected to an external drive source.

Therefore, when this ink ribbon cassette 11 is mounted on the carrier 6, the take-up spool 16 rotates in conjunction with the printing operation of the printer, and the ink ribbon 1
It is designed to wind up 1a.

That is, when the carrier 6 moves in the direction of arrow C,
The take-up spool 16 is configured to rotate in the direction of arrow D and take up the ink ribbon 11a.

Printing is performed by operating the printing head 12 and melting the ink on the ink ribbon 11a onto the paper 3 on the platen 2 via the ink ribbon 11a by the heat of the heating element.

The print head 12 moves as the carrier 6 moves in the direction of the arrow C and performs the above printing, but at this time the ink ribbon 11a is wound up in the direction of the arrow E by the take-up spool 16 as described above. It will be done.

When one line of printing is completed, the print head 12 returns in the direction of arrow B, but at this time the ink ribbon 11
Winding of a is not performed.

When the print head 12 returns to the predetermined position, the sprocket wheels 5a, 5b, etc. are driven to feed the paper 3 by a predetermined feed amount in the direction of the arrow A, and the print head 12 moves in the direction of the arrow again. However, printing continues.

Next, the case where multicolor printing is performed in such a printer device will be explained.The ink ribbon 11a has a structure as shown in FIG. 4.

That is, the ink ribbon 11a is provided with color-coded ink areas in multiple stages in the width direction, for example,
The black, yellow, red, and blue color regions 18a to 18d are formed by impregnating each color ink.

When performing multicolor printing using such an ink ribbon 11a, only the ink ribbon cassette 11 is swung in a direction perpendicular to the arrow B-C direction by a swiveling mechanism (not shown in FIG. 3). , a desired color band is positioned in front of the printing head 12 and printing is performed in the manner described above.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As explained above, printing is performed by moving the printing head in a predetermined direction and winding up the ink ribbon.

Therefore, printing is performed only in one direction, and no printing is performed when the printing head returns in the opposite direction.

Therefore, the time required to return in the opposite direction becomes a loss time and becomes an obstacle to speeding up printing. Also, when using a color ink ribbon for line break multicolor printing, out of the multiple color bands of the color ink ribbon, only one color band is used when printing one line, so other color bands are used. The problem was that there was a lot of waste, and running costs were high.

[Means for solving problems]

The above problem consists of a carrier provided to reciprocate in parallel with the platen, first and second print heads mounted in parallel on the carrier, and the first and second print heads. A plurality of ink ribbon cassettes are arranged side by side so as to expose the ink ribbons on the front surfaces of each print head, and the stacked cassettes are vertically swung to place a desired ink ribbon on the front surfaces of the first and second print heads. a swinging means positioned at the ink ribbon, and when the carrier moves in a predetermined direction, the first print head presses the print medium via the ink ribbon and the second print head is retracted from the ink ribbon. , when the carrier moves in the opposite direction, the first print head retracts from the ink ribbon, and the second print head presses the print medium through the ink ribbon; The thermal transfer printer device of the present invention is equipped with a winding mechanism that drives a winding mechanism for a cassette containing an ink ribbon that is being printed during printing, thereby making it possible to print in multiple colors and in both forward and reverse directions. It will be resolved.

[Effect]

That is, the carrier is provided with two print heads and a plurality of ink ribbon cassettes each containing ink ribbon of a different color, with a portion exposed in front of the print head, and for example, the print head moves to the right. When the print head moves to the left, the print head installed on the left side of the carrier is used, and when the print head moves to the left, the print head installed on the right side of the carrier is used. In addition, ink ribbon cassettes are stacked in multiple stages as dedicated cassettes for each color, and cassettes are selected and used according to color signals, eliminating wasted ink ribbon, speeding up printing and reducing running costs. be measured.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1a is a plan view schematically showing a printing section of a printer according to the present invention, FIG. 1b is a view taken along arrow F in FIG.

In the figure, 18 is a carrier, 19 and 20 are guide shafts, 21 is a belt, 22a and 22b are printing heads, 23a to 23d are ink ribbon cassettes, 23a' to 23d' are ink ribbons, and 24 is a mounting table 25 is a fulcrum. , 26 and 29 are pins, 27 is a head retraction cam, 27a and 28a are grooves, 28 is a shift cam, 30a and 30b are winding shafts, 31a and 31
b is an engaging portion, 32 is a rack, 33 is a pinion, 3
4, 35a, 35b, 37 are gears, 36a, 36
b is a clutch, 38 is a housing, 39 is a take-up roller, and 40 is a supply roller. Identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a multicolor printer device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a sheet of paper 3 is wound around the platen 2 as shown by the two-dot chain line, and the sheet of paper 3 is fed in the direction of arrow A in the figure by means of a sprocket pulley (not shown) or the like.

On the other hand, on the front side of the platen 2, on the right side in the figure, a carrier 18 is slidably engaged with guide shafts 19 and 20 provided parallel to the platen 2.
Further, the carrier 18 is similarly engaged with a belt 21 provided parallel to the platen 2.

In Figure A, the belt 21 is configured to reciprocate in the direction of the arrow B-C by a drive mechanism (not shown), and therefore the carrier 18 is similarly reciprocated in the direction of the arrow B-C in the figure. You can exercise.

In the carrier 18, print heads 22a and 22b are arranged parallel to the platen 2, and the print head 22a has, for example, an ink ribbon cassette 23a containing a black ink ribbon 23a' and an ink ribbon cassette 23b containing a yellow ink ribbon 23b'. Set 2
3b, in the print head 22b, an ink ribbon cassette 23c containing a red ink ribbon 23c' and an ink ribbon cassette 23d containing a blue ink ribbon 23d' are used to store the respective ink ribbons 23a' to 23d'.
A total of four printers 23d' are stacked on a mounting table 24 provided on the carrier 18, two at the top and two at the top, so that a portion of the printer head 23d' is exposed on the front surface of the print head.

The print heads 22a and 22b are constituted by thermal heads that form prints by dots.

The printing heads 22a and 22b are rotatably attached to the carrier 18 at a fulcrum 25, as shown in FIG. The pin 26 is slidably engaged with an eccentric groove 27a of a head retraction cam 27 rotatably provided on the carrier 18.

Therefore, when the head retracting cam 27 rotates in the direction of the arrow G, the pin 26 slides in the groove 27a and is pushed down, causing the printing heads 22a and 22b to rotate in the direction of the arrow H about the fulcrum 25.

The head retraction cam 27 is connected to the print head 22a and
22b, and are driven by separately provided motors (not shown).

When one print head rotates so as to come into pressure contact with platen 2, the other print head
This action is performed alternately and never rotates in the same direction.

In addition, as shown in Figure b, the ink ribbon cassette 2
As mentioned above, a total of four cassettes 3a to 3d are mounted on the mounting table 24, two on the top and two on the top, but in order to position the desired cassettes on the print heads 22a and 22b, a swinging mechanism using a shift cam 28 is provided. There is.

That is, the shift cam 2 is provided with a groove 28a in which a pin 29 provided on the side surface of the mounting table 24 is slidably engaged.
8 is rotatably provided on the carrier 18, and the rotation shaft 28b of the shift cam 28 is provided eccentrically.

Therefore, when the shift cam 28 is rotated in the direction of the arrow I, the pin 29 engaged with the groove 28a is pushed up and shifts the ink ribbon cassette in the direction of the arrow J.

The figure shows a state in which the ink ribbon cassettes 23a and 23c are selected, but by shifting as described above, the ink ribbon cassette 2
3b and 23d can be selected.

Further, as shown in Figure a, the carrier 18 has winding shafts 30a and 30b arranged in parallel for winding the ink ribbon into the cassette. The winding shafts 30a and 30 shown in FIG.
It meshes with a gear 37 provided at b.

To explain the ink ribbon winding mechanism, as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the pinion 33 is moved by the arrow B of the carrier 18.
- Rotates as it moves in the C direction.

A gear 34 is meshed with the pinion 33, and via the gear 34 is meshed with a clutch 36a or 36b meshed with gears 35a and 35b provided on the winding shafts 30a and 30b.

The clutch 36a is connected to the gear 35a, and the clutch 36a is connected to the gear 35a.
b is adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow K-L as soon as it meshes with the gear 35b, so that when the clutch rotates in the direction of the arrow L by a rotation mechanism (not shown) and meshes with the gear 34, As the pinion 33 rotates, the ink ribbon is wound into the cassette.

That is, in Figure a, the clutch 36a is indicated by the arrow L.
When the carrier 18 moves in the direction of arrow C, the pinion 33
gear 34 in the direction of arrow N, clutch 36a in the direction of arrow O, gear 35a in the direction of arrow P
Of the ink ribbons 23a' and 23b', the ribbon of the cassette which is engaged with the gear 37 provided on the winding shaft 30a is wound up by the winding shaft 30a.

The meshing operation between the clutch and the gear 34 is linked to the operation of the printing head by a mechanism not shown. For example, when the printing head 22a protrudes toward the platen 2, the clutch 36a and the gear 34 mesh, and printing is started. When the head 22a is retracted from the platen 2, the clutch 36a is disengaged from the gear 34.

The structure of the ink ribbon cassette 23a will be explained below by illustrating the ink ribbon cassette 23a in FIG.

The ink ribbon cassette 23a is used for the print head 22a located on the left side of the platen 2, and is used for the print head 22a located on the right side.
For b, there is an ink ribbon cassette 23c formed completely symmetrically, as shown by the two-dot chain line.

The ink ribbon cassette 23a has a casing 38, and has ribbon guides 38a and 38b protruding from both ends thereof, through which the ink ribbon 23a' enters and exits, and the ink ribbon 23a' is stretched between the ribbon guides. It's getting old.

Further, in the drawing of the ink ribbon cassette 23a, a winding roller 39 is provided above and a supply roller 40 is provided below, and the gear 39a of the winding roller 39 meshes with the gear 37 of the winding shaft 30a.
It is designed to be connected to an external drive source.

Therefore, in this ink ribbon cassette 23a, the take-up roller 39 moves in the direction of arrow Q as shown in FIG. The ink ribbon 23a' is rotated to wind up the ink ribbon 23a' in the direction of arrow R.

That is, when the printing head 22a mounted on the carrier 18 performs printing while moving in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIG.
a' or 23b' is adapted to be continuously fed out from the ink ribbon cassette 23a or 23b and wound up.

On the other hand, when printing is performed while the print head 22b moves in the direction of arrow B, the ink ribbon 23
The ink ribbon c' or 23d' is continuously fed out from the ink ribbon cassette 23c or 23d and wound up.

For printing, one of the print heads 22a or 22b is operated, one of the ink ribbons 23a' to 23d' is selected on the paper 3 on the platen 2, and the print magnet is printed via the ink ribbon while running in a predetermined direction. Printing is performed by colliding the wires or by melting the ink on the ink ribbon by the heat of the thermal head.

When printing in one direction is completed, the print head is next changed, a different ink ribbon is selected, and printing is performed while running in the opposite direction.

When the specified printing is completed, a sprocket pulley (not shown) is driven by a line feed command, and the paper 3
is moved in the direction of arrow A by a predetermined feed amount, and printing is continued again.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, by using the printer device of the present invention, reciprocating printing using the print head becomes possible, printing speed is improved, and the ink ribbons are made independent so that only the required one can be selected and used. By doing so, we were able to reduce running costs, and by rationalizing the mechanism, we were able to achieve simplification and downsizing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1a is a plan view showing an overview of the printing section of a printer device according to the present invention, FIG. 1b is a view taken in the direction of arrow F in FIG. The figure is a plan view showing an outline of the printing section of the printer device, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the color ink ribbon. In the figure, 2 is a platen, 3 is paper, 18 is a carrier, 18a to 18d are ink ribbons, 1
9, 20 are guide shafts, 21 is a belt, 22
a and 22b are printing heads, 23a to 23d are ink ribbon cassettes, 23a' to 23d' are ink ribbons, 24 is a mounting table, 25 is a fulcrum, 26 and 29 are pins, 27 is a head retraction cam, 27a and 28a are grooves, 28 is a shift cam, 30a, 30b are winding shafts, 31a, 31b are engaging portions, 32 is a rack, 3
3 is a pinion, 34, 35a, 35b, 37 are gears, 36a, 36b are clutches, 38 is a housing, 3
9 is a take-up roller, and 40 is a supply roller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A carrier provided to reciprocate in parallel to the platen; first and second print heads mounted in parallel on the carrier; A plurality of ink ribbon cassettes are arranged side by side so that the ink ribbon is exposed on the front surface of each print head, and the stacked ink ribbon cassettes are swung vertically to transfer a desired ink ribbon to the first and second ink ribbons. a swinging means positioned in front of the print head; and when the carrier moves in a predetermined direction, the first print head presses the print medium via the ink ribbon, and at the same time pushes the second print head. When the ink ribbon is retracted and the carrier moves in the opposite direction, the first print head retracts from the ink ribbon and the second print head presses the print medium through the ink ribbon. A printing means and a winding means for driving a winding mechanism of an ink ribbon cassette containing the ink ribbon being printed during the printing are provided to enable multicolor printing in both forward and reverse directions. Features of thermal transfer printer equipment.