JPH06766U - Ink ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To improve the handling and to enable stable use of the ink impregnated body over a long period of time. An urging spring (31) for urging an ink impregnated body (21) to separate it from a transfer roller (25), and an ink using the rotator (16) as a drive source when the feed rotator (16) rotates. A pressure contact means (40) for contacting the impregnated body (21) against the transfer roller (25) against the biasing force of the biasing spring (31) is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette used in a printer or the like.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 3 to 6 show a conventional configuration of a conventional ink ribbon cassette. In these figures, 11 is a case body of the ink ribbon cassette. The case body 11 accommodates an ink ribbon 15, an ink roller 21 as an ink impregnation body, a transfer roller 25, and the like.

Here, the ink roller 21 is impregnated with ink, and is provided so as to be capable of being pressed against and separated from the transfer roller 25. Specifically, the ink roller 21 is eccentrically attached to the ink roller hub 23 having the sloping portion 23a, and is eccentrically moved by using the sloping portion 23a of the hub 23 to press the transfer roller 25. -It is configured to be separated.

It should be noted that, in FIG. 4, the ink roller 21 is not in contact with the transfer roller 25 when the slanted portion 23 a of the ink roller hub 23 is aligned with “0”. When the gripping portion 23a is set to "1", the ink roller 21 is in pressure contact with the transfer roller 25.

Then, the ink ribbon cassette is shipped in a state in which the groove 23a of the ink roller hub 23 is set to “0” (that is, the ink roller 21 and the transfer roller 25 are in a non-contact state). This is because when the ink roller 21 is pressed against the transfer roller 25 for a long time in an unused state, excess ink accumulates on the transfer roller 25 and causes uneven printing. Therefore, at the stage of using the ink ribbon cassette, the user performs an operation of adjusting the sled portion 23a of the ink roller hub 23 to "1".

Further, the ink ribbon 15 is pulled out from the case body 11 and supplied to a printing unit (print head having a predetermined number of pins, a platen) (not shown) of the printer, and cooperates with each pin of the printing head to platen the platen. It is configured to print characters and the like on the paper sent to. Then, the used ink ribbon 15 portion is drawn into the case body 11 by the pair of ribbon feed gears 16 and 17, and is moved in a predetermined direction while being in contact with the transfer roller 25 to transfer (supplement) the ink from the ink roller 21. ) It is. In FIG. 3, 19 is a spring for pressing the ribbon feed gear 17 against the ribbon feed gear 16.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, in the above-mentioned ink ribbon cassette, the user has to rotate the sled portion 23a of the ink roller hub 23 to press the ink roller 21 against the transfer roller 25 at the use stage. It is complicated and can be forgotten.

When such a situation occurs, the ink ribbon 15 is used without being supplied with ink. Here, since the ink serves as a kind of lubricant, the ink ribbon 15 is deteriorated at an early stage when ink is not replenished, and the life of the ink ribbon cassette is shortened.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink ribbon cassette that can be used stably for a long period of time while improving the ease of handling.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The ink ribbon cassette according to the present invention includes a feed rotating body that rotates in a predetermined direction to run the ink ribbon, a transfer roller that is provided so as to contact the ink ribbon, and an impregnated ink that is pressed against the transfer roller.・ An ink ribbon cassette including a separable ink impregnating body, which is formed so that ink is transferred from the ink impregnating body to the ink ribbon via the transfer roller when the ink impregnating body is pressed against the transfer roller. A biasing spring for biasing the ink impregnated body to separate it from the transfer roller, and a transfer roller against the biasing force of the biasing spring using the feed rotating body as a drive source when the feed rotating body rotates. It is characterized in that a pressure contacting means for pressure contacting is provided.

[0011]

[Action]

 In the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the feed rotating body is rotated in the predetermined direction, the ink ribbon travels, and the pressure contact mechanism is operated by using the feed rotating body as a drive source to cause the ink impregnated body to urge the spring. It is pressed against the transfer roller against the urging force of. As a result, the ink in the ink-impregnated body is transferred (supplied) to the ink ribbon via the transfer roller. On the other hand, when the feed rotation body is stopped, the ink impregnated body is separated from the transfer roller by the urging force of the urging spring.

As described above, when the feed rotating body is rotated (that is, when the ink ribbon cassette is used), the ink impregnated body is automatically brought into pressure contact with the transfer roller to replenish the ink ribbon with ink, which improves the handleability. It can be used stably over a long period of time.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ink ribbon cassette 10 according to this embodiment is configured to be used by being mounted on a carrier (not shown) of a printer. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink ribbon cassette 10 includes an ink ribbon 15, a pair of ribbon feed gears 16 and 17, an ink roller 21 as an ink impregnating body, and a transfer roller 25 as shown in FIGS. Further, the cassette 10 includes a biasing spring 31 and a pressing means 40, which are characteristic parts of the cassette 10. The same parts as those in FIGS. 3 to 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the ribbon feed gears 16 and 17 are formed so as to be rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. In this embodiment, the ribbon feed gear 16 is connected to a drive shaft (not shown) on the printer body side when the carrier is mounted, and is rotated in the arrow direction via the drive shaft. The ink roller 21 has elasticity and is rotatably provided via the ink roller hub 23.

The urging spring 31 is means for urging the ink roller 21 to separate it from the transfer roller 25. In this embodiment, the urging spring 31 is formed of a leaf spring that presses the peripheral surface of the engagement gear 41, which will be described later, and has a spring constant as small as possible within a range in which the ink roller 21 can be separated from the transfer roller. Is formed.

The pressing means 40 is means for pressing the ink roller 21 against the transfer roller 25 against the urging force of the urging spring 31 by using the gear 16 as a driving source when the ribbon feed gear 16 rotates. In the present embodiment, the pressure contact means 40 cooperates with the engagement gear 41 which is concentrically connected to the ink roller hub 23 and meshes with the ribbon feed gear 16, and the rotary shaft 23 a of the ink roller hub 23 to cooperate with the ink roller 21. A guide groove 45 for guiding movement along an arc centered on the axis of the feed gear 16 is included. The guide groove 45 is formed in an arc shape centered on the shaft center of the ribbon feed gear 16, and its width is selected so that the rotary shaft 23a of the ink roller hub 23 can be slidably fitted therein. There is.

Next, the operation will be described. After the ink ribbon cassette 10 is mounted on the carrier of the printer, the ribbon feed gear 16 is rotated in the arrow direction in order to perform a printing operation using the cassette 10, and the ink ribbon 15 runs. At this time, the engagement gear 41 meshed with the ribbon feed gear 16 is urged in the arrow F direction by the rotation of the feed gear 16 and moves along the guide groove 45 against the urging force of the urging spring 31. . As a result, the outer peripheral surface 22 of the ink roller 21 is pressed against the transfer roller 25 as shown in FIG. As a result, the ink of the ink roller 21 is transferred (supplemented) to the ink ribbon 15 via the transfer roller 25.

As described above, when the ink ribbon cassette 10 is used, the ink roller 21 is automatically pressed against the transfer roller 25 and the ink is replenished to the ink ribbon 15. Therefore, the ink ribbon 15 is used without ink replenishment. Things like that will disappear.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the biasing spring 31 that biases the ink roller 21 to separate it from the transfer roller 25 and the ink roller 21 using the gear 16 as a drive source when the ribbon feed gear 16 rotates. Since the press contact means 40 for pressing the transfer roller 25 against the urging force of the urging spring 31 is provided, when the ink ribbon cassette 10 is used (that is, when the ribbon feed gear 16 rotates), Since the ink roller 21 is pressed against the transfer roller 25 to replenish the ink ribbon 15, the ink ribbon 15 is not used without replenishing the ink. As a result, the ink ribbon cassette 10 can be used stably for a long period of time while improving the handleability.

In the above embodiment, the pressure contact means 40 is formed of the engagement gear 41 and the like. However, when the ribbon feed gear 16 rotates, the ink roller 21 is pressed against the transfer roller 25 by using the gear 16 as a drive source. Any structure may be used as long as it is possible.

[0021]

[Effect of device]

 According to the present invention, a biasing spring that biases the ink roller to separate it from the transfer roller, and a transfer roller that resists the biasing force of the ink roller using the gear as a drive source when the ribbon feed gear rotates. Since the pressure contact means for contacting with the pressure roller is provided, when the ink ribbon cassette is used (that is, when the ribbon feed gear rotates), the ink roller is automatically pressure contacted with the transfer roller to replenish the ink ribbon. . Therefore, the ink ribbon is not used without replenishing the ink, and the handleability can be improved and the ink ribbon can be stably used for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the ink roller is pressed against the transfer roller when the ribbon feed gear of the embodiment is rotated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an internal configuration of a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which an ink roller and a transfer roller are separated from each other in a conventional link ribbon cassette.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which an ink roller and a transfer roller are pressed against each other in a conventional ink ribbon cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Ink Ribbon Cassette 15 Ink Ribbon 16 Ribbon Feed Gear (Rotator for Feed) 21 Ink Roller (Ink Impregnator) 25 Transfer Roller 31 Energizing Spring 40 Pressing Means

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A feed rotator that rotates in a predetermined direction to run an ink ribbon, a transfer roller that is provided so as to contact the ink ribbon, and a transfer roller that is impregnated with ink and that can be pressed against and separated from the transfer roller. And an ink impregnated body, the ink impregnated body being formed so that the ink is transferred from the ink impregnated body to the ink ribbon via the transfer roller when the ink impregnated body is pressed against the transfer roller. An urging spring that urges the transfer roller away from the transfer roller; and a pressure contact unit that presses the ink impregnated body against the transfer roller against the urging force of the urging spring when the feed rotating body rotates. An ink ribbon cassette characterized by being provided with.