JPH0452061Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention is an ink ribbon for supplying an endless ink ribbon in a folded state to a main cassette having an ink ribbon drive mechanism or a ribbon storage section of a printer. Regarding subcassettes.

More specifically, the main part of the endless ink ribbon is folded and stored in a box-like case that is open on one side, and a part of the ink ribbon is positioned on the outer surface of the side wall of the box-like case, and a part of the ink ribbon is placed on the outside of the side wall of the box-like case. Pulling out the cover along the longitudinal direction of one set of opposite side walls of the box-like case on one side of one set of two sets of opposite side sides of the cover that closes the opening. an ink ribbon sub-cassette, which has an operating part for the ink ribbon sub-cassette, and has a locking piece on the other side thereof that can be freely engaged with and detached from the side wall of the box-like case facing the ink ribbon sub-cassette in the drawing operation direction; Regarding.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of ink ribbon sub-cassette, the sides of the other set of covers are formed in a straight line parallel to each other and have a width slightly smaller than the spacing between the opposing side walls of the box-like case. was.

In this type of ink ribbon sub-cassette, when replenishing the endless ink ribbon to the main cassette or printer, the entire sub-cassette is turned over and placed in the ribbon storage section with its cover facing downward, and then the endless ink ribbon is placed in a box-like shape. The method used is to pull out only the cover while holding the case, and then remove the box-like case from the ribbon storage section.

[The problem that the idea aims to solve]

However, in the conventional ink ribbon sub-cassette, the locking piece provided on one side of the cover is only engaged and held by the side wall of the box-shaped case, and the other parts are free to move relative to the box-shaped case. in a state. Therefore, when the sub-cassette is turned over, it is necessary to hold the entire cover by hand to prevent the cover from falling off.As a result, not only does the ribbon replenishment work become complicated, but if the holding method is not perfect, The middle portion of the cover may bend downward and the ink ribbon may jump out and hang from the gap created between the cover and the box-like case.

In particular, immediately before placing the sub-cassette in the ribbon storage section, the operator must remove his/her hand from the cover, which tends to cause the ink ribbon to fly out as described above.

An object of the present invention is to provide a useful ink ribbon sub-cassette that can reliably and quickly replenish ink ribbons.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the ink ribbon sub-cassette according to the present invention, the cover is attached to at least one of the longitudinally intermediate portion of at least one side of the other set of sides of the cover and the side wall of the box-like case opposite thereto. The feature is that a deflection prevention piece is formed to prevent the cover from deflecting outward from the case while allowing the cover to be pulled out, and its functions and effects are as follows. .

[Function] Even if the entire sub-cassette is reversed in order to replenish the endless ink ribbon to the main cassette or printer, at least two consecutive sides of the cover can be pulled out into the box-like case by the locking piece and the deflection prevention piece. Because it is held in an operable state, even if you do not press the cover by hand, or even if you do not press the cover properly, the middle part of the cover will not bend or deform significantly downward. It is possible to satisfactorily suppress the stored ink ribbon from popping out due to the downward bending deformation of the intermediate portion.

Moreover, the engagement of the locking piece and the anti-deflection action of the anti-deflection piece can be automatically released as the cover is pulled out using the operating section.

[Effect of idea]

As a result, even if the box-shaped case and cover are handled roughly, the stored ink ribbon can be effectively prevented from popping out, and there is no need for a special release operation for the locking piece and the deflection prevention piece. It has become possible to replenish ink ribbons more reliably and quickly than before.

Further, the ink ribbon has a guide member for inserting and holding the ribbon, and the deflection prevention piece is provided on the cover so as to be able to engage and detach from the through hole formed in the side wall of the box-like case. If the guide member is removably held on the outer surface of the side wall of the box-shaped case while covering the deflection preventing piece that protrudes outside the case through the through hole, the guide member can be attached to the printing head of the ink ribbon. By effectively utilizing the guide member provided to facilitate the installation of the ink ribbon sub-cassette, the deflection prevention piece protruding outside the case through the through hole can be prevented from coming into contact with other objects during packaging or transportation of the ink ribbon sub-cassette. This has the effect of reliably preventing bending and deformation due to contact.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The ink ribbon sub-cassette consists of a case 1 made of paper or synthetic resin that is assembled into a rectangular box shape that opens upward, and a cover 2 made of paper or synthetic resin that closes the opening of this box-like case 1. It is configured.

Among the side walls 1a and 1b of the box-shaped case 1, two sets of adjacent side walls 1a and 1b facing each other in a diagonal direction
A slit-shaped ribbon outlet 3, 3 is formed between the ends of the box-shaped case 1 to allow the endless ink ribbon R folded and stored in a zigzag manner to be drawn out of the case. A part of the endless ink ribbon R pulled out of the case through the ribbon outlets 3, 3 is arranged along the outer surface of the side walls 1a, 1b between the ribbon outlets 3, 3.

The four sides 2a, 2b, 2c of the cover 2,
An operation for pulling out the cover 2 along the longitudinal direction of a pair of opposing side walls 1b, 1b of the box-like case 1 is provided on one side 2a of one pair of opposing sides 2d. The portion 4 is bent into a substantially U-shape.

On the other side 2b of one set of the cover 2, a locking piece 6 is formed which can be freely engaged with and detached from the through hole 5 formed in the side wall 1a of the box-like case 1 facing the cover 2 from the pulling direction. has been done.

Among the side sides 2c and 2d of the other pair of the cover 2, a longitudinally intermediate portion of one side 2c is engaged with a through hole 7 formed in the side wall 1b of the box-like case 1 opposite thereto. A deflection preventing piece 8 is formed which is removable and prevents the cover 2 from deflecting outward from the case in the engaged state.

This deflection prevention piece 8 includes an engagement release guide surface 8a in an inclined position that guides the deflection prevention piece 8 to move from the through hole 7 in the engagement release direction as the cover 2 is pulled out by the operating section 4. A regulating surface 8b is formed that comes into contact with the outer surface of the side wall 1b at the periphery of the through hole 7 during engagement to prevent disengagement due to outward deflection of the side wall 1b.

A ribbon attachment guide member 9 made of synthetic resin is inserted and held in a portion of the ink ribbon R located along the outer surface of the side walls 1a and 1b.

As shown in FIG. 3, a recess 9a is formed in the left and right center portions of the guide member 9 so that it can be attached to the print head from above. Insertion hole 9
b, 9b are formed, and furthermore, at the lower part of the recess 9a, a pair of left and right tongue pieces 10, 10, which are formed by punching outward from the side wall 1b of the box-like case 1, are attached and held in a removable manner. Recesses 9c, 9c
is formed.

The pair of tongue pieces 10, 10 are formed directly below the through hole 7, and a deflection prevention piece 8 that protrudes outside the case through the through hole 7 is held and held by the tongue pieces 10, 10. It is configured to be protected by a guide member 9.

Therefore, by making effective use of the guide member 9 provided to facilitate the attachment of the ink ribbon R to the printing head, the ink ribbon R can be inserted through the through hole 7 into the case when packaging or transporting the ink ribbon sub-cassette. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the deflection prevention piece 8 projecting outward from being bent or deformed due to contact with other objects.

By attaching the guide member 9 to the print head, it can be used as it is as a guide member for the endless ink ribbon R to travel with respect to the print head.

In the ink ribbon sub-cassette constructed as described above, even if the entire sub-cassette is reversed in order to replenish the endless ink ribbon R to the main cassette or the ribbon storage section of the printer, the two continuous sides of the cover 2 2b and 2c are held in the box-like case 1 in a state where they can be pulled out by the locking piece 6 and the deflection preventing piece 8, so there is no need to hold down the cover 2 by hand or how to hold the cover 2. Even if the cover 2 is incomplete, the intermediate portion of the cover 2 will not be significantly bent downward, and the stored ink ribbon R can be effectively prevented from flying out due to such downward bending deformation of the middle portion of the cover. .

Furthermore, as the cover 2 is pulled out by the operating section 4, the engagement of the locking piece 6 and the anti-deflection action of the anti-deflection piece 8 can be automatically released. No special release operation is required for the deflection prevention piece 8, and the endless ink ribbon R can be replenished that much more quickly.

Moreover, since a deflection preventing piece 8 is formed on the cover 2 side and a through hole 7 is formed in the side wall 1b of the box-like case 1, the box-like case 1 can be removed from the ribbon storage section after the cover 2 is pulled out. At this time, there is no protrusion on the side of the box-shaped case 1 that could catch the endless ink ribbon R, and only the box-shaped case 1 can be smoothly removed without disturbing the posture of the endless ink ribbon R supplied to the ribbon storage section. can do.

Next, another example will be described.

[] In the above embodiment, one side 2c of the other pair of sides 2c and 2d of the cover 2
A deflection preventing piece 8 is formed at the longitudinally intermediate portion of the 2, but as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to form deflection prevention sides 8, 8 at the longitudinally intermediate portions of d, respectively.

[] As shown in FIG. 6, the deflection prevention pieces 8, 8 formed at the longitudinal intermediate portions of both sides 2c, 2d of the cover 2 are configured to have a substantially triangular shape in plan view. Good too.

[] In the above embodiment, the deflection prevention piece 8 is formed on the cover 2 side, but it may be formed on the side wall 1b side of the box-shaped case 1.

[] As shown in FIG. 7, the deflection prevention piece 8
a protrusion 8A formed on the side 2c side of the cover 2 and having a substantially L-shape in side view; and the box-shaped case 1.
It may also be implemented by comprising a protruding piece 8B formed on the side wall 1b side and having a substantially L-shape in plan view.

In this embodiment, L on the box-like case 1 side
When the engagement with the L-shaped protrusion 8A of the cover 2 is released, the L-shaped protrusion 8B
The box-shaped case 1 uses its own elastic restoring force.
It is configured to automatically return to a flush position located in the same plane as the side wall 1b of.

[] In short, the deflection preventing piece 8 may be any member as long as it can contact and prevent the cover 2 from being deflected out of the case while allowing the cover 2 to be pulled out. ,
The formation position, material, etc. can be changed in various ways.

[] In the above-mentioned embodiment, an embodiment was described in which the endless ink ribbon R was fitted with the ribbon mounting guide member 9, but an ink type that does not have the ribbon mounting guide member 9 as described above It can also be applied to ribbon subcassettes.

[] Shapes of the box-like case 1 and cover 2,
The size can be varied depending on the type of endless ink ribbon R, etc.

[] In the above embodiment, the operating portion 4 is bent into a U-shape, but is not limited to this shape. For example, the operating portion 4 may be bent into an L-shape with respect to the cover 2. Alternatively, it may be formed in a straight line with the cover 2. In short, the operation section 4 can be any one that can pull out the cover 2 along the longitudinal direction of the side walls 1b, 1b of the box-like case 1.
It may be configured in any shape.

Note that although reference numerals are written in the claims section of the utility model registration for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure of the attached drawings by such entry.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the ink ribbon sub-cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the whole, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the whole when assembled,
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the ribbon mounting guide member, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the main parts during assembly. 5 to 7 show different embodiments, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views of the main parts, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the main parts. 1...Box-shaped case, 1a, 1b...Side wall, 2...
...cover, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d...side, 4
...Operation unit, 6...Locking piece, 7...Through hole, 8...
... Deflection prevention piece, 9... Guide member for ribbon attachment.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. A main part of an endless ink ribbon R is folded and stored in a box-like case 1 that is open on one side, and a part of this ink ribbon R is attached to the side wall 1a of the box-like case 1, 1b, two opposing sides 2a, 2b, 2 of the cover 2 which closes the opening of the box-like case 1 and are located on the outer surface of the box-like case 1;
An operation part 4 for pulling out the cover 2 along the longitudinal direction of a pair of opposing side walls 1b, 1b of the box-like case 1 is provided on one side 2a of one of the pairs of side walls 1b, 2d. , and a locking piece 6 is formed on the other side 2b of the ink ribbon sub-cassette, which can be freely engaged with and detached from the side wall 1b of the box-like case 1 facing the other side 2b from the drawing operation direction. At least one of the longitudinally intermediate portion of at least one side 2c of the other pair of sides 2c and 2d of the cover 2 and the side wall 1b of the box-like case 1 opposite thereto is provided with the above-mentioned An ink ribbon sub-cassette in which a deflection preventing piece 8 is formed to abut against and prevent the cover 2 from deflecting outward from the case in a state where the cover 2 is allowed to be pulled out. 2. The ink ribbon R has a guide member 9 for inserting and holding the ribbon, and the deflection prevention piece 8 can be freely engaged with and detached from the through hole 7 formed in the side wall 1b of the box-like case 1. cover 2
The guide member 9 is provided on the side wall 1 of the box-shaped case 1 in a state where the guide member 9 covers the deflection prevention piece 8 that protrudes outside the case through the through hole 7.
The ink ribbon sub-cassette according to claim 1, wherein the ink ribbon sub-cassette is detachably held on the outer surface of the ink ribbon sub-cassette.