JPH0640131A - Method of marking ribbon cassete - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carve reliably a clear and semipermanent mark, by a method wherein the mark is carved in at least one surface of a ribbon cassette holding a ribbon by a laser beam. CONSTITUTION:A fiqure or letter part is carved in, for example, a case side surface which is opposite to a printing part of an endless ink ribbon cassette by making use of a leaser beam. A carbon dioxide gas laser or YAG laser or excimer laser is used and the beam may be either pulse or continuous one. The pluse width and an output condition can be decided appropriately by physical properties, a spot diameter, processing dimensions, processing time and a processing condition of an irradiated material. Since the foregoing marking method is a noncontacting one for which the leaser beam are used, operation after that can be performed continuously as it is without taking off the cassette from a line after completion of an assembly process.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention does not have a traveling drive body for driving a ribbon and a case for accommodating the ribbon and the traveling drive body, or a traveling drive body for driving and traveling the ribbon, and is for replacement. The present invention relates to a wide range of ribbon cassette marking methods including ribbon cassette components such as a ribbon-containing sub-cassette or a ribbon-wound ribbon core. More specifically, the present invention relates to a marking method that can perform clear and semi-permanent marking, and that can improve the work efficiency by making the cassette manufacturing process continuous.

In the present specification, the term "ribbon cassette" means (1) characters and symbols are thermally transferred onto a synthetic resin film by using a thermal head, the film is cut at an appropriate location, and then the back surface of the film is cut. Ink ribbon cassette used in tape printers, which sticks the printed tape by peeling off the separator on the side of files, stationery, etc. (3) An endless ink ribbon cassette for running the ink ribbon, (3) an ink ribbon cassette wound around a supply spool and a take-up spool so that the ink ribbon can run.
It is a broad concept including a ribbon cassette and the like in which a correction ribbon having a transfer coating film provided on a base material is wound so as to be able to run across a supply spool and a take-up spool.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Fixed marking items such as a brand and a model name attached to a ribbon cassette case are stamped on a die of a cassette case. It is impossible for variable display items such as numbers and other special notes.
Therefore, conventionally, the above-mentioned items that cannot be attached at the time of molding have been marked by stamping with ink or sticking a seal. This stamping and sticking of a sticker require man-hours if manually performed, and there is a limit to automation. In any case, once the assembled ribbon cassette is removed from the production line, it is carried out in another independent process.

[0004]

However, in the conventional stamping method, the problem that the transfer is apt to occur and the mark is unclear, and the ink is used even if the mark is sharp immediately after stamping, the time is not enough. There is a problem that characters tend to disappear with the passage of, and there is a risk that they will be tampered with.

Further, if dust adheres to the case before stamping, the mark will be chipped when the dust is removed after stamping. Further, it is difficult to stamp the curved case. Further, it is necessary to independently provide the stamping process, and continuous flow work cannot be performed, which causes a problem in work efficiency.

The method of sticking a sticker also has a problem of peeling of the sticker and work efficiency.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ribbon cassette marking method capable of reliably obtaining a clear and semi-permanent mark and continuing the manufacturing process. .

[0008]

A ribbon cassette marking method of the present invention is a ribbon cassette marking method comprising a ribbon and a case accommodating the ribbon, wherein at least one surface of the case is marked by laser light. It is characterized by engraving.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A ribbon cassette marking method of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a marking method) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a ribbon cassette to which the marking method of the present invention is applied. The ribbon cassette shown in FIG. 1 is an endless ink ribbon cassette, and a mark M is formed on the side surface of the case opposite to the printing portion. The position of the mark M is not particularly limited in the present invention, and it can be engraved at a desired position on the case.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of the marking portion. In the marking method of the present invention, a number or character portion is engraved using laser light. As the laser, a carbon dioxide gas laser, a YAG laser, an excimer laser, or the like can be used, and either pulsed light or continuous light may be used.

The pulse width and output conditions differ depending on the physical properties (softening temperature, melting temperature, vaporization temperature) of the irradiated object, spot diameter, processing size, processing time, processing state, etc., but in the case of pulsed light, pulse frequency Is usually from 1 to 150
kHz or 1 to 200 pps, preferably 2 to 50 k
Hz or in the range of 10 to 50 pps.

The laser output is not particularly limited, but the average output is preferably 1 to 150 W, more preferably 10 to 50 W. When the laser output is less than 1 W, the irradiated body becomes unmelted, while when it exceeds 150 W, the irradiated body is completely melted and melted and the surface cannot be processed.

The spot diameter of the laser beam varies depending on the size of the number or character to be marked, but when the number or character is divided into bits to be marked, it is generally 100 mμ to 0.3 mm, and the number or character is When traced, it is approximately 100 mμ to 1 mm.

Since the marking method of the present invention is a non-contact method using laser light, the subsequent operations can be continuously performed without removing the cassette from the line after the assembly process is completed. In addition, it is possible to distinguish it from the imitation product by filling it in under special conditions and giving the character a character.

[0016]

As described above, according to the marking method of the present invention, since the marks are formed by using the laser beam, it is possible to clearly and semi-permanently mark letters and numbers. It is also possible to mark on a curved case. Further, it is not necessary to independently provide a stamping step and the like, and it is possible to continuously perform the marking operation on the assembled cassette without removing it from the line, so that the working efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a ribbon cassette to which a marking method of the present invention is applied.

2 is a partially enlarged explanatory view of a marking portion of the ribbon cassette shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M mark

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for marking a ribbon cassette comprising a ribbon and a case accommodating the ribbon, wherein a mark is formed on at least one surface of the case by laser light. .