JPH08192559A - Ink ribbon assembly assembling method and assembling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an ink ribbon assembly in which an adhesive tape can be attached to the ink side of an ink ribbon. [Configuration] Ink ribbon 3 and end tape (first guide tape) 5 and ink ribbon and leader tape (second guide tape)
In the case of connecting the guide tape 7) of (1) with an adhesive tape, the ink of the ink ribbon 3 is partially peeled in advance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is a method of assembling an ink ribbon assembly to be housed in a cassette case, which is useful for manufacturing an ink ribbon cassette having an ink ribbon housed in a cassette case. And an assembling device.

[0002]

Printers are used as output devices for word processors and computers to print characters and graphics on paper. One of the printing methods of a printer is a thermal transfer method. The thermal transfer method is characterized by the print head and the ink ribbon. The print head is a dense collection of fine heater elements. The elements of the heater of the print head can be heated and cooled in a short time for each element. The ink ribbon is a base film coated with ink on one side. To print on paper by the thermal transfer method, the ink surface of the ink ribbon is brought into close contact with the paper, and the ink is heated by the print head from the base surface of the ink ribbon. Then, the ink peels from the ink ribbon and adheres to the paper.

An ink ribbon used in a thermal transfer printer is disclosed in JP-A-2-72989 and JP-A-3-1978.
The ink ribbon cassette is supplied in the state of being incorporated in the cassette case as described in (1). The ink ribbon cassette contains two hubs, and a leader tape and an end tape are locked to each hub. The long ink ribbon is arranged between the leader tape and the end tape. The ink ribbon is wound on the hub on the side where the end tape is locked in the initial state, and is wound on the hub on the side where the leader tape is locked as it is used. ink ribbon·
The cassette leader tape serves to guide the leading end portion of the ink ribbon to the take-up hub when the ink ribbon cassette is first used. The end tape serves as an indicator that the ink ribbon runs out while the ink ribbon is being used. The printer has a mechanism for detecting the end of the end tape in order to detect the end of the ink ribbon. The printer is
When the tip of the end tape is detected while using the ink ribbon cassette, it is determined that the ink ribbon has approached the end, and the printing operation is stopped.

Ink ribbon cassettes are industrially manufactured in large quantities. In order to manufacture the ink ribbon cassette, the cassette case portion and the ink ribbon portion incorporated in the cassette case are separately manufactured. Finally, the ink ribbon cassette is completed by incorporating the ink ribbon portion into the cassette case portion.
The cassette case portion is called a cassette case assembly, and is a combination of a cassette case body and a tape guide for guiding the ink ribbon inside the cassette case. The ink ribbon portion is called an ink ribbon assembly, and two hubs are attached to both ends of the ink ribbon via guide tapes. The steps of assembling the cassette case assembly, the step of assembling the ink ribbon assembly, and the step of incorporating the ink ribbon assembly into the cassette case assembly are processed by dedicated automatic machines. In order to assemble the ink ribbon assembly, first, an end tape having a length of about 20 cm is prepared. Next, the first hub is locked to one end of the end tape, and the leading end of the ink ribbon is connected to the other end. After that, the first hub is rotated and the ink ribbon is wound around the hub together with the end tape for about 100 m. Next, the ink ribbon is cut. Finally, the rear end of the ink ribbon is connected to one end of the leader tape of about 20 cm, and the second hub is locked to the other end of the leader tape to complete the ink ribbon assembly. Adhesive tape is used to connect the ink ribbon and the end tape and the ink ribbon and the leader tape. To connect the ink ribbon and the end tape, first, the ends of the ink ribbon and the end tape are butted. Next, an adhesive tape is attached to the butted portion. The ink ribbon and leader tape are also connected by adhesive tape. An apparatus for assembling an ink ribbon assembly is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1277.
61 (B65H19 / 18) is known. This device is a device that automatically winds an end tape, an ink ribbon, and a leader tape around a winding core in this order.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional ink ribbon
The assembly has a problem that it is necessary to attach the adhesive tape to the base side of the ink ribbon when connecting the ink ribbon and the leader tape and the ink ribbon and the end tape with the adhesive tape. The reason for this is that if the adhesive tape is attached to the ink side of the ink ribbon, the adhesive tape peels off together with the ink applied to the ink ribbon, and the adhesive tape is peeled off from the ink ribbon. If the adhesive tape is attached to the base surface of the ink ribbon, the print head may collide with the adhesive tape when the printer fails to detect the end of the ink ribbon. if,
When the print head collides with the adhesive tape, the heater element of the print head may be contaminated by the adhesive material of the adhesive tape, or the heater element of the print head may be mechanically damaged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means by which an adhesive tape can be applied to the ink side of the ink ribbon when assembling the ink ribbon assembly.
Further, the conventional ink ribbon assembly has a problem that it is difficult to handle. For example, when the ink ribbon assembly is assembled into the cassette case assembly, if the ink ribbon assembly is handled and lifted, the leader tape at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbon assembly may become loose and get entangled.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of finishing an ink ribbon assembly for easy handling. The present invention relates to an ink ribbon and an end tape (first guide tape) and an ink ribbon and a leader tape (second guide tape).
The guide tape) is connected by an adhesive tape, and the means for partially peeling off the ink of the ink ribbon is taken in advance. Further, according to the present invention, the end tape (first guide tape), the ink ribbon, and the leader tape (second guide tape) are wound on the first hub in this order, and then the end of the leader tape is connected. The means for fixing the hub to the outermost circumference of the leader tape is taken.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the end portion of the first guide tape 5 is supplied to the first hub 140 by supplying the ink ribbon 3 having one surface coated with the ink from the supply means 2 of the ink ribbon. And the end of the second guide tape 7 is locked to the second hub 143 between the other end of the first guide tape 5 and the other end of the second guide tape 7. In a method of assembling an ink ribbon assembly in which a predetermined length of the ink ribbon 3 is connected, a step of peeling off ink at a leading end of the ink ribbon 3 and cutting the first guide tape 5 into a predetermined length. And connecting one end of the first guide tape 5 to the first hub 140 and the other end of the first guide tape 5 to the leading end of the ink ribbon 3. And the step Rotating the first hub 140 to wind the ink ribbon 3 around the outer circumference of the first hub 140 by a predetermined length, and peeling off the ink at the end portion of the ink ribbon 3. Cutting the ink ribbon 3 at the end portion of the ink ribbon 3, cutting the second guide tape 7 to a predetermined length, and cutting one end of the second guide tape 7 The other end of the second guide tape 7 is connected to the end of the ink ribbon 3 and the other end of the second guide tape 7 is connected to the second hub 1.
43, and the method of assembling the ink ribbon assembly.

The present invention also provides an ink ribbon supply means 2 for supplying an ink ribbon 3, a first guide tape supply means 4 for supplying a first guide tape 5, and a second guide tape supply means 4.
Second guide tape supplying means 6 for supplying the guide tape 7 and hub supplying means 8 for supplying the hubs 140 and 143.
And a peeling means 10 for partially peeling the ink of the ink ribbon 3 supplied from the ink ribbon supply means 2.
And the portion of the ink ribbon 3 from which the ink has been peeled off is first
Ribbon cutting means 11 for cutting the end of the ribbon and the second end
And the first hub 14 supplied from the hub supply means 8.
The first hub positioning means 12 for positioning 0, the second hub positioning means 13 for positioning the second hub 143 supplied from the hub supply means 8, and the first guide tape supplying means 4 The first guide tape cutting means 14 for cutting the first guide tape 5 into a predetermined length, and the first guide tape on the first hub 140 positioned on the first hub positioning means 12. 5
The first connecting means 18 for connecting the ends of the ink ribbon 3 and the first end of the ink ribbon 3 cut by the ink ribbon cutting means 11 and the portion where the ink is peeled by the peeling means 10 and the first A second connecting means 19 for connecting the other end of the guide tape 5 and the first hub 140 positioned by the first hub positioning means 13.
Drive means 20 for rotating and driving, and second guide tape cutting means 21 for cutting the second guide tape 7 supplied from the second guide tape supply means 6 into a predetermined length.
And the second end of the ink ribbon 3 cut by the ink ribbon cutting means 11 and the peeling means 1
The third connecting means 22 for connecting the portion where the ink is peeled off by 0 to the end of the second guide tape 7;
Of the second guide tape 7 to the second hub 143 positioned on the hub positioning means 13 of the second connecting means 23, and a fourth connecting means 23 for connecting the other end of the second guide tape 7 to the second hub 143. It is an assembly device.

The method of the present invention also includes the first hub 140.
By rotating the second guide tape 7
Is wound around the outer periphery of the first hub 140, thereby bringing the second hub 143 to which the end of the second guide tape 7 is connected closer to the first hub 140; Attaching the second hub 143 to the outermost circumference of the second guide tape 7 wound around the outer circumference of the hub 140. In addition, the device of the present invention, after the second hub 143 is connected to the second guide tape 7,
The first hub 140 is rotationally driven to drive the second hub 1
Hub attachment means 24 for attaching 43 to the outer circumference of the second guide tape 7 is also included.

[0010]

[Operation] By taking the above means, the ink can be partially peeled from the ink ribbon. Therefore, when connecting the ink ribbon and the guide tape with the adhesive tape, even if the adhesive tape is attached from the ink side of the ink ribbon, the adhesive tape and the ink ribbon do not come off. Further, the second hub of the ink ribbon assembly is fixed to the outer circumference of the leader tape by taking the above-mentioned means, which has the effect of facilitating the handling of the ink ribbon assembly.

[0011]

EXAMPLE The process of assembling the ink ribbon assembly shown in FIG. 22 comprises two steps, a first half step A and a second half step B, as shown in FIG. The first half of the process A is the first
The process of winding the end tape 5 on the hub 140 (see FIG. 22) and winding the ink ribbon 3 on the outer side of the end tape 5. In the latter half of the process B, the leader tape 7 is wound on the outside of the ink ribbon 3 and the second hub 143
(See FIG. 22). FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of an apparatus for assembling an ink ribbon assembly embodying the present invention. The device 1 is composed of two parts, a lower half part and an upper half part, with a turntable 25 arranged substantially in the center of the device 1 as a boundary. The apparatus 1 is configured to process the first half of the process A in the lower half and process the second half of the process B in the upper half. The assembling apparatus 1 includes an ink ribbon 3, an end tape 5 as a first guide tape, and a leader tape 7 as a second guide tape as materials for the ink ribbon assembly.
And four supply means 2, 4 for respectively supplying two hubs
6, 8 and a discharging means 9 for discharging the completed ink ribbon assembly by combining the supplied materials.

The ink ribbon supply means 2 supplies the ink ribbon 3 from the ink ribbon supply reel 15 to other means of the apparatus 1. The first guide tape supply means 4 is
The end tape 5 is supplied from the end tape supply reel 16 to other means of the apparatus 1. The second guide tape supply means 6 supplies the leader tape 7 from the leader tape supply reel 17 to other means of the apparatus 1. The hub supply means 8 is a device 1 from a parts feeder (not shown).
The hub towards other means of. The ejecting means 9 ejects the completed ink ribbon assembly toward the outside of the apparatus 1. Reference numeral 10 is a peeling means. The peeling unit 10 partially peels the ink applied to the ink ribbon 3 supplied from the ink ribbon supply unit 2. Reference numeral 11 is an ink ribbon cutting means. The ink ribbon cutting means 11 is a means for cutting the ink ribbon 3 as needed, and cuts the ink ribbon 3 at the portion where the ink is peeled by the peeling means 10 into a first end and a second end. To do.

Reference numeral 12 is a first hub positioning means. The first hub positioning means 12 positions the first hub 140 supplied from the hub supply means 8. There are two sets of the first hub positioning means 12, which are mounted on the turntable 25. First hub positioning means 12
Moves between positions 12A and 12B depending on the rotational position of the turntable 25. When the first hub positioning means 12 at the position 12A moves toward the position 12B, the first hub positioning means 1 located at the position 12B 1
2 moves toward the position of 12A. 13 is a second hub positioning means. Second hub positioning means 13
Positions the second hub 143 supplied from the hub supply means 8. Reference numeral 14 is a first guide tape cutting means. The first guide tape cutting means 14 cuts the end tape 5 supplied from the first guide tape supply means 4 into a predetermined length.

Reference numeral 18 is a first connecting means. The first connecting means 18 connects the end of the end tape 5 cut by the first guide tape cutting means 14 to the first hub 140 positioned by the first hub positioning means 12 (step A ₁ ). Reference numeral 19 is a second connecting means. The second connecting means 19 is the first end of the ink ribbon 3 cut by the ink ribbon cutting means 11, and is the peeling means 10.
The end of the end tape 5 is connected to the portion where the ink is peeled off by (step A ₂ ). Reference numeral 20 is a rotation driving means. The rotation driving means 20 rotationally drives the first hub 140 positioned by the first hub positioning means 12, and winds the end tape 5 and the ink ribbon 3 around the outer periphery of the first hub (step A). Reference numeral 21 is a second guide tape cutting means. The second guide tape cutting means 21 cuts the leader tape 7 supplied from the second guide tape supply means 6 into a predetermined length. 22 is a third connecting means. The third connecting means 22 connects the second end of the ink ribbon 3 cut by the ink ribbon cutting means 11 and the portion where the ink is peeled off by the peeling means 10 and the end of the leader tape 7 (step B ₁ ). Reference numeral 23 is a fourth connecting means. The fourth connecting means 23 connects the other end of the leader tape 7 to the second hub 143 positioned by the second hub positioning means 13 (step B ₂ ).

Reference numeral 24 is a hub attaching means. The hub attaching means 24 rotates the first hub 140 after the second hub 143 is connected to the leader tape 7, and attaches the second hub 143 to the outer circumference of the leader tape 7. The ink ribbon supply means 2 is composed of an ink ribbon reel stand 26, a tacho roller 27, a tension arm 28 and an air column 29. Ink ribbon reel stand 2
6 rotationally drives the ink ribbon supply reel 15 in which the ink ribbon 3 is wound long. The tacho roller 27 rotates with the running of the ink ribbon 3 and detects the running of the ink ribbon 3. The tacho roller 27 is used for detecting the traveling speed of the ink ribbon 3 and measuring the traveling distance. The tension arm 28 detects the tension of the ink ribbon 3.
The air column 29 controls the slack of the ink ribbon 3. The ink ribbon 3 is supplied from the ink ribbon reel stand 26, and the tacho roller 27 and the tension arm 28 are provided.
And the peeling means 10 via the air column 29.
The ink ribbon 3 has two sides, an ink side coated with ink and a base side not coated with ink. The ink ribbon 3 is guided so that the ink side faces the peeling means 10 and the base side faces the turntable 25.

The first guide tape supply means 4 comprises an end tape reel stand 30, an end tape drive mechanism 31, and an air column 32. End tape
The reel stand 30 rotationally drives the end tape supply reel 16 in which the end tape 5 is wound long. The end tape drive mechanism 31 sends the end tape 5 to the air column 32. The end tape 5 is an end tape drive mechanism 31
And the action of the air column 32, the air column 32
The slack is controlled to be almost constant inside the. Second
The guide tape supply means 6 is a leader / reel stand 3
3, leader tape drive mechanism 34 and air column 35
It consists of Leader tape reel stand 33
Drives the leader tape supply reel 17 in which the leader tape 7 is wound long. The leader tape drive mechanism 34 sends the leader tape 7 to the air column 35. The leader tape 7 has a leader tape drive mechanism 34.
And the action of the air column 35, the air column 35
The slack is controlled to be almost constant inside the.

The hub supply means 8 comprises the parts feeder 3
6, a hub rail 37 and a supply arm 38. The parts feeder 36
The rails 37 are sequentially supplied one by one. The hub rail 37 supplies the hub from the parts feeder 36.
It is moved toward the arm 38. Supply Arm 38
Is provided with an extension arm 40 that is rotatable about a rotation shaft 39 and that is extendable. Supply Arm 38
Receives one hub from the hub rail 37 and attaches it to the second hub positioning means 13 and continues to the hub rail 37.
One hub is received from and mounted on the first hub positioning means 12 at the position 12A.

The discharging means 9 comprises a parts handler 41 and a moving rail 42. Parts handler 4
1 is movable along the moving rail 42. The position of the parts handler 41 shown in FIG. 1 is the discharging position 43, and the discharging position 43 is the position where the parts handler 41 discharges the completed ink ribbon assembly to the outside of the apparatus 1. The parts handler 41 moves the positions of 12A of the first hub positioning means 12, the position of the hub attaching means 24, and the discharging position 43 to each other. The parts handler 41 first receives the wound ink ribbon assembly at the position 12A, moves it toward the hub attaching means 24, and once
Release the assembly. Next, after the operation of the hub attaching means 24 is completed, the ink ribbon assembly is received again from the hub attaching means 24 and moved to the ejection position 43.
Then, the ink ribbon assembly is ejected out of the apparatus 1.

2 and 5 show the structure of the peeling means 10. The peeling means 10 is a capstan roller 4
4, a pressure bonding mechanism 45, and a peeling sensor 48. The capstan roller 44 is attached to the panel base and is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). The entire crimping mechanism 45 is movable back and forth with respect to the capstan roller 44. Ink ribbon 3
Passes through a guide roller 46 fixed to the panel base, and then passes between the capstan roller 44 and the pressure bonding mechanism 45. The ink side of the ink ribbon 3 faces the pressure bonding mechanism 45 side, and the base side of the ink ribbon 3 faces the capstan roller 44 side.
47 is an adhesive tape. Reference numeral 49 is the supply reel, and 50 is the take-up reel. Supply reel 49
Is attached to the crimping mechanism 45, and the take-up reel 50 is attached to the panel base. The adhesive tape 47 is sent out from the supply reel 49 and wound by the take-up reel 50. A guide 51, a pinch roller 52, and a guide 53 are provided in the traveling path of the adhesive tape 47.
And a tension arm 54 is provided. The pinch roller 52 is mounted on the moving base 55. The moving base 55 is mounted on the crimping mechanism 45, and the movement of the cylinder 56 causes the crimping mechanism 45 to move.
Can be moved on. The tension arm 54 has a shaft 5
It is possible to swing around 7, and absorbs the looseness of the adhesive tape 47. The adhesive tape 47 has one surface coated with the adhesive, and the side facing the capstan roller 44 is coated with the adhesive.

Further, pressing rollers 58 and 59 are attached to the crimping mechanism 45. Pressing roller 58,
Rollers 60 and 61 are attached to the tip of 59. The rollers 60 and 61 contact the outer circumference of the capstan roller 44 at the position where the pressure bonding mechanism 45 advances toward the capstan roller 44. There is a gap between the rollers 60 and 61, and the pinch roller 52 can pass therethrough.
The sensor 48 is arranged on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the ink ribbon 3 as viewed from the capstan roller 44. The sensor 48 includes a light emitting unit that emits detection light and a light receiving unit that receives the detection light with the ink ribbon 3 interposed therebetween. The sensor 48 detects a passing state of a portion of the ink ribbon 3 where the ink is peeled off.

The operation of the peeling means 10 is as follows.
Of the capstan roller 44. When the crimping mechanism 45 approaches the capstan roller 44, the rollers 60 and 61 first contact the outer circumference of the capstan roller 44. Then, the ink ribbon 3
Is wound around the outer periphery of the capstan roller 44 by the rollers 60 and 61 so as to be in close contact therewith. Continuing,
The cylinder 56 operates so that the pinch roller 52 reaches the outer circumference of the capstan roller 44. Then, the ink side of the ink ribbon 3 and the side of the adhesive tape 47 to which the adhesive is applied adhere to each other. The capstan roller 44 then rotates. Then, the ink of the ink ribbon 3 is transferred to the adhesive tape 47 side, and the ink is peeled off.
The part of the ink ribbon 3 where the ink is peeled off is only the part where the adhesive tape 47 is in contact with the ink ribbon 3. The sensor 48 detects a portion of the ink ribbon 3 where the ink is peeled off. After removing a predetermined length of ink, first separate the pinch roller 52 from the capstan roller 44,
Then, the rollers 60 and 61 are released.

The ink ribbon cutting means 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 cuts the portion of the ink ribbon 3 where the ink has been peeled off, which is in the running path of the ink ribbon 3. The ink ribbon 3 is cut by the ink ribbon cutting means 11, so that the end tape 5 is connected to one end of the ink ribbon 3.
The leader tape 7 is connected to the other end. The connecting portion of the ink ribbon 3 needs to peel off the ink from both the portion connecting the end tape 5 and the portion connecting the leader tape 7, but the peeling means 10 includes a portion to which the end tape 5 is connected and a leader. The part to which the tape 7 is connected is peeled off at once. The ink ribbon cutting means 11 is
The ink stripped portion of the ink ribbon 3 is cut into a first end and a second end. The first hub positioning means 12 is attached to the turntable 25. The turntable 25 moves by rotating as necessary,
The first positioning means 12 moves as the turntable 25 rotates. The first hub positioning means 12 is composed of a winding shaft 62 and a ribbon holder 63 as shown in FIG. A hub is attached to the winding shaft 62. The ribbon holder 63 has a suction surface 64. The suction surface 64 makes surface contact with the ink ribbon 3. The suction surface 64 is provided with a large number of small holes connected to a negative pressure source (not shown). The ribbon holder 63 can be fixed by adsorbing the ink ribbon 3 to the adsorbing surface 64 as needed. The guide 104 of the ink ribbon 3 rotates together with the ribbon holder 63 so that the turntable 2 can rotate.
It is attached to 5. The guide 104 is located between the winding shaft 62 and the ribbon holder 63, and
End tape 5 running from 3 toward winding shaft 62
Alternatively, the ink ribbon 3 is guided.

Second hub positioning means 13 shown in FIG.
Are attached to the moving block 65. The moving block 65 is slidably attached to the rail 150 fixed to the panel base. 66 is this drive cylinder. The end of the rod 67 of the cylinder 66 is connected to the moving block 65. When the cylinder 66 operates, the moving block 65 moves, and the second hub positioning means 13 reciprocates between the position shown in 13A and the position shown in 13B. The second hub positioning means 13 has one
It is on the same plane as the first hub positioning means 12 attached to the turntable 25 at the positions 3A and 13B. 68 is a cylinder integrally attached to the moving block 65. A rotation drive block 69 is attached to the rod of the cylinder 68. The rotary drive block 69 is rack-shaped and meshes with the pinion of the second hub positioning means 13. When the cylinder 68 operates, the second
The hub positioning means 13 moves from the position 13A to the position 13B. At that time, the rotary drive block 69 moves to rotate the second hub positioning means 13 in the counterclockwise direction so that the leader tape 7 stretched between the first hub positioning means 12 and the second hub positioning means 12 is moved to the second hub positioning means. It is wound around the outer circumference of the second hub 143 mounted on the No. 13. The first guide tape cutting means 14 shown in FIG. 3 includes a cutter 70, an end tape holder 73, an end carry 71, and a length keeper 72. Of these, end carry 7
Reference numeral 1 is a constituent element of the first guide tape cutting means 14, and also serves as a constituent element of other means described later.

The end tape holder 73 of the first guide tape cutting means 14 is composed of an upstream holder 74 and a downstream holder 75. The upstream holder 74 and the downstream holder 75 are arranged in the traveling path of the end tape 5, and are arranged downstream of the air column 32.
The end tape 5 reaches the end tape holder 73 after passing through the end tape drive mechanism 31 and the air column 32. The upstream holder 74 and the downstream holder 75 are
Each of the surfaces in contact with the end tape 5 is provided with tape suction surfaces 76 and 77 connected to a negative pressure source (not shown).
The upstream holder 74 is connected to the cylinder 78.
The upstream holder 74 is movable in the left-right direction in the drawing along the longitudinal direction of the end tape 5 by the operation of the cylinder 78. The upstream holder 74 separates from the downstream holder 75 when it moves to the left, and contacts the downstream holder 75 when it moves to the right. The upstream holder 74 shown in FIG.
The position of indicates the position at the right end and in contact with the downstream holder 75. The downstream holder 75 is connected to the cylinder 79. The downstream holder 75 can be moved up and down (perpendicular to the paper surface) along the width direction of the end tape 5 by the operation of the cylinder 79. The downstream holder 75 contacts the end tape 5 at the raised position,
At the lowered position, the end tape 5 is completely separated from the running path. The tape suction surfaces 76 and 77 are adjacent to each other and form substantially the same plane when the upstream holder 74 moves to the right and the downstream holder 75 is in the raised position.

The cutter 70 of the first guide tape cutting means 14 moves between the upstream side holder 74 and the downstream side holder 75 when the upstream side holder 74 moves to the right side and is in a position in contact with the downstream side holder 75. It is arranged so that it can pass through. The cutter 70 can cut the end tape 5 held by the end tape holder 73 between the upstream holder 74 and the downstream holder 75. As shown in FIG. 5, the end carrier 71
Are attached to the end carriage 80 via rails 82. The end carriage 80 is attached to the sub panel 81 via a cylinder 83. The sub-panel 81 is fixed to the panel base. The end carrier 71 is movable back and forth with respect to the ribbon holder 63 along the rail 82, and
Is the cylinder 8 together with the end carriage 80.
It is possible to move left and right along the line 3. The end carrier 71 shown in FIG. 3 has a suction surface 8 on the surface facing the ribbon holder 63.
It is equipped with 4. The suction surface 84 is a surface provided with a large number of small holes connected to a negative pressure source (not shown), and can hold the end tape 5 by suction if necessary. End carry 71
Can reciprocate left and right between the positions 71A and 71B shown in FIG. 3 together with the carriage 80 shown in FIG. FIG.
As shown, the position 71A of the end carrier 71 is the position where the center position of the suction surface 84 faces the position between the second connecting means 19 and the ribbon holder 63. The position 71B of the end carrier 71 is a position where the central position of the suction surface 84 faces the position between the upstream holder 74 and the downstream holder 75 of the end tape holder 73. Further, the end carrier 71 can be moved forward so as to come into close contact with the tape suction surfaces 76 and 77 of the end tape holder 73 at the position indicated by 71B.

First guide tape cutting means 1 shown in FIG.
The 4th length keeper 72 includes a vertical movement guide 85 and a horizontal movement guide 86. Length keeper 7
Reference numeral 2 denotes a running path of the end tape 5, which is meandered to maintain the end tape 5 at a predetermined length. The vertical movement guide 85 is shown in FIG.
Also, as shown in a part of the configuration, upper and lower pins 87 and 88 capable of projecting in the traveling path of the end tape 5 are provided. The vertical movement guide 85 is integrally attached to the downstream side holder 75 of the end tape holder 73, and
It goes up and down as it goes up and down 5. Upper and lower pins 87,8
8 is placed on the traveling path of the end tape 5 at a position where the vertical movement guide 85 is raised, and deviated from the traveling route of the end tape 5 at a position where the vertical movement guide 85 is lowered. The horizontal movement guide 86 has a fork-like shape and is provided at its tip with horizontal movement pins 89 and 90 which are provided on the traveling path of the end tape 5. The positions of the horizontal moving pins 89 and 90 in the height direction are positions on the traveling path of the end tape 5. The horizontal movement guide 86 is attached to the panel base via a slide rail 91. The horizontal movement guide 86 is moved along the slide rail 91 by the operation of the cylinder 92.
It can be moved back and forth with respect to the vertical movement guide 85. The position of the horizontal movement guide 86 shown in FIG. 3 is a position retracted with respect to the vertical movement guide 85. Horizontal movement pin 89,
90 passes over the upper and lower pins 87 and 88 at a position where the horizontal movement guide 86 has advanced with respect to the vertical movement guide 85. When the horizontal movement guide 86 is retracted, the upper and lower pins 87, 8
8 and the horizontal movement pins 89 and 90, the end tape 5 meanders at the position where the horizontal movement guide 86 has advanced.

Next, in the first guide tape cutting means 14,
The operation of cutting the end tape 5 into a predetermined length will be described. For that purpose, first, as a preparation step, the end carry 71
To the position shown in 71B of FIG. 3, and the end tape holder 7
The upstream holder 74 of No. 3 is set to the left position, the downstream holder 75 is set to the lowered position, and the horizontal movement guide 86 is set to the retracted position. Then, the tip of the end tape 5 is positioned at the right end of the upstream holder 74, and is fixed to the tape suction surface 76 by negative pressure. After completing the above preparation steps,
The end carrier 71 at the position 71B is moved forward to bring the suction surface 84 of the end carrier 71 into close contact with the tape suction surface 76 of the upstream holder 74. End carry 71 in that state
The tape suction surface 76 of the upstream holder 74.
To the released state. Then, the tip of the end tape 5 is released from the end tape holder 73 and held by the end carrier 71. In that state, the end carrier 71 is moved to the position indicated by 71A. Then, the end tape 5 is passed between the end tape holder 73 and the end carry 71 at the position indicated by 71A. Then, the downstream holder 75 is raised together with the vertical movement guide 85. Then, the horizontal movement guide 86 is moved forward. Then,
The end tape 5 meanders between the length keeper 72 and the pins 89, 87, 90, 88 of the horizontal movement guide 86, and the end tape 5 having a predetermined length is obtained. If you do,
The upstream side holder 74 and the downstream side holder 75 are placed in a suction state,
The end tape 5 is sucked and fixed to the tape suction surfaces 76 and 77. Finally, the cutter 70 is operated to cut the end tape 5 between the upstream holder 74 and the downstream holder 75.

The first connecting means 18 shown in FIG. 3 comprises an end carrier 71, an end splicer 93 and an end tape holder 73. The structure of the end carrier 71 is as described above, but when it acts as the first connecting means 18, it moves between three positions 71B, 71C and 71D. The position indicated by 71B is the same as when it operates as a component of the first guide tape cutting means 14, and the position indicated by 71C is 7 for the end carrier 71 itself.
The position near the left end of the suction surface 84 of the end carrier 71 is on the path between the position shown in FIG. The vicinity of the left end of the suction surface 84 is a position in contact with the outer circumference of the winding shaft 62. End splicer 93
Is composed of the adhesive tape supply reel 94 shown in FIG. 1 and the splice head 95 shown in FIG. The adhesive tape supply reel 94 is fixed to the panel base,
The adhesive tape 96 is supplied. The splice head 95
A polygonal roller 97 is provided at one end. Adhesive tape 96
Is guided by the guide 98 and is guided to the outer circumference of the polygonal roller 97. The polygonal roller 97 is rotatable about the shaft 99 in the counterclockwise direction. The polygonal roller 97 is intermittently rotated by a rotating means (not shown) so that one piece of the outer periphery always faces the end tape holder 73. The adhesive surface of the adhesive tape 96 faces the outer periphery of the polygonal roller 97.
100 is an adhesive tape cutter. Adhesive tape cutter 1
00 cuts the adhesive tape 96 into a predetermined length. The splice head 95 advances or retracts toward the end tape holder 73. In FIG. 3, the splice head 95 is
The position retracted from the end tape holder 73 is shown. The splice head 95 reaches the tape suction surfaces 76 and 77 of the end tape holder 73 at the forward position. The end splicer 93 presses the cut piece of the adhesive tape 96 against the end tape holder 73 at the forward position.

The first connecting means 18 is an end carrier 71.
Is held by the downstream side holder 75 of the end tape holder 73, and the end of the end tape 5 to which the cut piece of the adhesive tape 96 is attached is taken out from the end tape holder 73, and
It is handed over to the winding shaft 62 of the hub positioning means 12.
The second connecting means 19 shown in FIG.
It is composed of an end splicer 93, an end tape holder 73, and a ribbon leader holder 101. The structure of the end carry 71 is as described above, but when the end carry 71 operates as the second connecting means 19,
Move between the position shown at B and the position shown at 71A. The configurations of the end splicer 93 and the end tape holder 73 are as described above. Like the ribbon holder 63, the ribbon reader holder 101 includes a suction surface 102 having a large number of small holes connected to a negative pressure source (not shown). The ribbon leader holder 101 is at the same height as the ribbon holder 63 and is movable between the position shown at 101A and the position shown at 101B. A guide 103 is provided adjacent to the ribbon leader holder 101 and guides the ribbon tape 3 toward the ribbon leader holder 101.
The guide 103 is provided integrally with the ribbon leader holder 101, and moves along with the movement of the ribbon leader holder 101. The position shown in 101A is the ribbon holder 6
In a position adjacent to 3, the suction surface 64 and the suction surface 102 form the same plane. In the position shown in 101B, when the end carrier 71 is in the position shown in 71A, the suction surface 102 of the ribbon reader holder 101 and the suction surface 84 of the end carrier 71 are close to each other, and the left end of the suction surface 102 is the suction surface 84. The position is almost in the center. When the ribbon carrier holder 101 is at the position 101B and the end carrier 71 is at the position 71A, if the end carrier 71 slightly moves to the ribbon reader holder 101, the suction surface 102 and the suction surface 84 are separated from each other. Contact.

The second connecting means 19 is an end carrier 71.
Is held by the upstream holder 74 of the end tape holder 73, and the leading end of the end tape 5 to which the cut piece of the adhesive tape 96 is attached is taken out from the end tape holder 73.
Hand over to the ribbon leader holder 101. The rotation driving means 20 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged so as to be below the winding shaft 62 when the first hub positioning means 12 is at the position 12B. The rotary drive means 20 is composed of a motor and a magnetic clutch. The motor of the rotation driving means 20 is connected to the winding shaft 62 by the magnetic clutch when the winding shaft 62 is located on the magnetic clutch, and the winding shaft 6
The first hub a attached to No. 2 is rotationally driven. The second guide tape cutting means 21 shown in FIG.
Leader tape holder 106, first leader carrier 1
07 and the length keeper 108.

The leader tape holder 106 of the second guide tape cutting means 21 comprises an upstream holder 109 and a downstream holder 110. The leader tape holder 106 is arranged in the traveling path of the leader tape 7. The upstream holder 109 and the downstream holder 110 are
Tape suction surfaces 111 and 11 each having a small hole connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) at a portion of the running path of the leader tape 7.
2 is provided. Each of the tape suction surfaces 111 and 112 can suck and hold the leader tape 7 as needed. The upstream holder 109 is movable in the left-right direction on the drawing along the traveling path of the leader tape 7. When the upstream holder 109 moves to the left, the downstream holder 1
The downstream holder 11 when it moves away from 10 and moves to the right
Touch 0. The position shown in FIG. 4 is the position where the upstream holder 109 has moved to the right. The downstream holder 110 is vertically movable with respect to the leader tape 7 along the width direction of the leader tape 7. The downstream holder 110 is located on the running path of the leader tape 7 at the raised position, and departs from the running path of the leader tape 7 at the lowered position. The tape suction surfaces 111 and 112 are adjacent to each other when the upstream holder 109 moves to the right and the downstream holder 110 is in a raised position, and can form substantially the same plane. . Second guide tape cutting means 2
The first cutter 105 is arranged so that it can pass between the tape suction surface 111 and the tape suction surface 112 when the upstream holder 109 moves to the right and the downstream holder 110 is in the raised position. The cutter 105 has a tape suction surface 11
The leader tape 7 fixed to 1,112 is cut.

The first leader carrier 107 of the second guide tape cutting means 21 has a suction surface 113 for holding the leader tape 7. The suction surface 113 is a plane having a large number of small holes connected to a negative pressure source (not shown). The first leader carrier 107 is on the traveling path of the leader tape 7, and is moved by a moving mechanism (not shown).
It can move between the position shown at 107A and the position shown at 107B. The position shown at 107A is a position facing the ribbon holder 63 of the first hub positioning means 12 at the position shown at 12A. The position indicated by 107B is a position where the suction surface 113 of the first leader carrier 107 is close to the suction surfaces 111 and 112 of the leader tape holder 106, and half of the entire length of the suction surface 113 faces the suction surface 111, The other half is the position facing the suction surface 112.
The leader tape carrier 107 is slightly movable toward the leader tape holder 106 from the position indicated by 107B to the position where the suction surface 113 and the suction surfaces 111 and 112 contact each other. The length keeper 108 of the second guide tape cutting means 21 is composed of a vertical movement guide 114 and a horizontal movement guide 115. Vertical movement guide 1
Reference numeral 14 is movable up and down with respect to the traveling path of the leader tape 7 by a vertical movement mechanism (not shown). The vertical movement guide 114 engages with the traveling path of the leader tape 7 at the raised position, and deviates from the traveling path of the leader tape 7 at the lowered position.
It has. The horizontal movement guide 115 includes the cylinder 11
By the operation of 8, it is possible to move back and forth with respect to the vertical movement guide 114. The position shown in FIG. 4 is a position where the horizontal movement guide 115 is retracted from the vertical movement guide 114. The horizontal movement guide 115 is provided with horizontal movement pins 119 and 119 that are arranged on the traveling path of the leader tape 7 at the forward position. The length skipper 108 has the pins 117, 119, 116,
The leader tape 7 is meandered by 119.

The second guide tape cutting means 21 has a function of cutting the leader tape 7 into a predetermined length. For that purpose, as a preparation step, the first leader carrier 10
7 is positioned at 107B, the upstream side holder 109 of the leader tape holder 106 is moved to the right side, the downstream side holder 110 is set to the lowered position, and the vertical movement guide 114 of the length keeper 108 is lowered to move horizontally. The guide 115 is retracted from the running path of the leader tape 7. Then, the leading end of the leader tape 7 is sucked and fixed to the tape suction surface 111 of the upstream holder 109.
When the above preparation is completed, the first leader carrier 107 at the position 107B is attached to the leader tape holder 10
Then, the suction surface 113 of the first leader carrier 107 is brought into close contact with the suction surface 111 of the upstream holder 109. Next, the suction surface 113 is brought into a suction state, and the suction surface 1
Release the negative pressure of 11. Then, leader tape 7
The leading end of is carried by the first leader carrier 107. Then, the first leader carrier 107 is moved from the position shown in 107B to the position shown in 107A. Then, the leader tape 7 is stretched between the first leader carrier 107 at the position 107A and the air column 35 shown in FIG. Next, the length skipper 10
The vertical movement guide 114 of 8 is raised, and then the horizontal movement guide 115 is advanced toward the vertical movement guide 114. Then, the leader tape 7 has pins 117, 1
It meanders by 19,116,119. After that, the downstream holder 110 of the leader tape holder 106 is moved from the lowered position to the raised position, and the suction surface 111 of the upstream holder 109 and the suction surface 112 of the downstream holder 110 are brought into a suction state. Finally, the cutter 105 is operated to cut the leader tape 7, and the leader tape 7 is cut into a predetermined length.

The third connecting means 22 comprises a first leader carrier 107, a leader splicer 120 and a leader tape holder 106. When the first reader carrier 107 operates as a component of the third connecting means 22, the first reader carrier 107 has three elements 107B, 107A and 107C.
Move between two positions. First leader carrier 107
The positions 107A and 107B of are the same positions as the second guide tape cutting means 21. First leader carrier 1
The position shown at 107C of 07 is the first position at the position of 12A.
Suction surface 6 of the ribbon holder 63 of the hub positioning means 12
4 is in contact with almost the right half of the suction surface 113 of the first leader carrier 107. The leader splicer 120 of the third connecting means 22 is composed of the adhesive tape supply reel 121 shown in FIG. 1 and the splice head 122 shown in FIG. The adhesive tape supply reel 121 supplies the adhesive tape 123 to the splice head 122. The splice head 122 has a polygonal roller 124 at its tip.
It has. The splice head 122 is advanceable with respect to the leader tape holder 106. The outer periphery of the polygonal roller 124 can hold the adhesive tape 123 by negative pressure. The adhesive tape 123 is guided to the outer periphery of the polygonal roller 124 so that the adhesive surface faces outward. One side 125 of the polygonal roller 124 is located at the position where the splice head 122 has advanced and the leader tape holder 10
It is possible to contact the six suction surfaces 111, 112. 126
Is an adhesive tape cutter. Adhesive tape cutter 126
Cuts the adhesive tape 123 sucked and held by the polygonal roller 124 so that the side 125 holds the adhesive tape 123 having a predetermined length.

The third connecting means 22 connects the leading end of the leader tape 7 with the cut piece of the adhesive tape 123 held by the first leader carrier 107 to the upstream side holder 109 of the leader tape holder 106 to the leader end. The tape is taken out from the tape holder 106, and the first hub positioning means 12
And hand it over to the ribbon holder 63. Fourth connection means 2
3 comprises a second leader carrier 127, a leader splicer 120 and a leader tape holder 106. Second leader carrier 1 of fourth connecting means 23
27 is provided on the same plane as the moving plane of the first leader carrier 107. Second leader carrier 127
Has a suction surface 128 for sucking and holding the leader tape 7 by negative pressure on the side where the leader tape 7 is present. The second leader carrier 127 can be moved along the traveling path of the leader tape 7 by a moving mechanism (not shown), and can be moved to 127A, 127B, 127C and 1A.
It can be moved to the position of 27D. The position indicated by 127A of the second leader carrier 127 is a position closer to the left side in the drawing with respect to the leader tape holder 106, and when the leader splicer 120 advances toward the leader tape holder 106, the leader splicer It is a position that does not hinder the operation of 120. The position indicated by 127B of the second leader carrier 127 is the same as the position indicated by 107B of the first leader carrier 107. When the second leader carrier 127 comes to the position shown in 127B, the first leader carrier 107 is in a position other than the position shown in 107B in advance, and the first leader carrier 107 is set to 1 position.
When it comes to the position shown in 07B, the second leader carriers 127 have moved to the position shown in 127A so as not to interfere with each other. The position indicated by 127C of the second leader carrier 127 is on the extension line of the running path of the leader tape 7, and the second leader carrier 12
The left side portion of the suction surface 128 of No. 7 in the drawing is a position facing the second hub positioning means 13. The position indicated by 127D of the second leader carrier 127 is a position where the left side portion of the suction surface 128 is in contact with the outer circumference of the second hub positioning means 13 located at the position indicated by 13A.

The fourth connecting means 23 is held by the second leader carrier 127 on the downstream side holder 110 of the leader tape holder 106, and the cut end of the leader tape 7 to which the cut piece of the adhesive tape 123 is attached is attached to the leader. The tape is taken out from the tape holder 106, and the second hub positioning means 13
Connect to. The hub attaching means 24 shown in FIG. 6 includes a glasses table 129 and an attaching arm 130. The eyeglass table 129 is a table on which the ink ribbon assembly is temporarily mounted, and the attachment arm 13
0 attaches the hub on the side to which the leader tape is connected to the outer circumference of the hub on the side on which the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon assembly is wound. The glasses table 129 includes a winding shaft 131 and a slide shaft 132. Winding shaft 1
The reference numeral 31 includes a support plate 133 around the periphery thereof.
The winding shaft 131 projects above the support plate 133. When the hub around which the ink ribbon is wound is mounted on the winding shaft 131, the support plate 133 can mount the hub around which the ink ribbon is wound. The winding shaft 131 can be rotated clockwise by a drive source (not shown). further,
The winding shaft 131 can lock the rotation of the winding shaft 131 by a lock mechanism (not shown). The slide shaft 132 is movable along the rail 134, and is movable from the position shown at 132A to the position shown at 132B. A hub on the side to which the leader tape 7 is connected can be attached to the slide shaft 132. 151 is a pullback cylinder. The slide shaft 132 is initially in the position shown at 132A. When the winding shaft 131 is driven to rotate clockwise, the slide shaft 132 is pulled by the leader tape 7 and
Slide to the position shown in 2B. After that, after the ink ribbon assembly is removed from the eyeglass table 129, the pullback cylinder 151 operates and the slide shaft 13
2 is returned from the position indicated by 132B to the position indicated by 132A.

The attachment arm 130 has a blade 135 attached to the tip of the cylinder 136. When the cylinder 136 operates, the blades 135 and the outer circumference of the hub mounted on the hoisting shaft 131 and 132
It advances toward between the hubs attached to the slide shaft 132 at the position B. When the blade 135 moves forward,
The winding shaft 131 is locked so as not to rotate. The operation of this device will be described below. 7 to 13 sequentially show a main part of a portion for performing the process A of the first half of the process of assembling the ink ribbon assembly. The process of the first half is a process of connecting the end tape 5 having a predetermined length to the first hub 140 and winding the ink ribbon 3 around the end tape 5.

(FIG. 7) First Connection Means 18 (Step A ₁ ) FIG. 7 shows the initial state of the apparatus 1. The ink ribbon 3 passes through the peeling means 10, and its tip is fixed to the ribbon leader holder 101 of the second connecting means 19. At this time, the ink of the portion of the ink ribbon 3 fixed to the ribbon leader holder 101 is removed by the peeling means 10.
Has been peeled off. The peeling in this initial state is
The apparatus 1 is manually operated, and when the peeled portion reaches the ribbon leader holder 101, the ribbon leader holder 101 is put into a suction state and the ink ribbon cutting means 11 is operated. The leading end of the end tape 5 is held by the upstream holder 74 of the end tape holder 73. The adhesive tape 96 is cut into a predetermined length and faces the end tape holder 73. Further, the first hub 140 is attached to the winding shaft 62 at the position 12B.

(FIG. 8) In the initial state as described above, first, the downstream side holder 75 of the end tape holder 73 moves from the raised position to the lowered position. Then, the downstream side holder 75 of the end tape holder 73 and the length keeper 7
2 is out of the path of the end tape 5. Next, the cut piece of the adhesive tape 96 is attached to the leading end of the end tape 5 held by the upstream side holder 74 of the end tape holder 73. When the adhesive tape 96 is attached to the leading end of the end tape 5, half of the entire length of the adhesive tape 96 is attached to the end tape 5, and the other half is a free end. After that, the end carrier 71 moves from the position 71A to the position 71B and pulls the end tape 5 from the upstream holder 74.

(FIG. 9) Second Connecting Means 19 (Step A ₂ ) Next, the leader carrier 71 moves from the position 71B to the position 71A while holding the leading end of the end tape 5. The end tape 5 is stretched between the end tape holders 73 and 71A as the leader carrier 71 moves. Next, the downstream holder 75 is raised. Then, the downstream side holder 75 and the length keeper 72 come to the position where the end tape 5 passes. Next, the ribbon leader holder 101 is moved from the position 101A to the position 101B. Then, the right half of the suction surface 84 of the leader carrier 71 in the drawing and the left half of the suction surface 102 of the ribbon leader holder 101 in the drawing are in close contact with each other. The leading end of the end tape 5 held by the leader carrier 71 and the ribbon leader carrier 101
The leading end of the ink ribbon 3 held by the adhesive tape 96 adheres to the suction surface 84 and the suction surface 102.
Connected by.

(FIG. 10) At the same time as the ribbon leader holder 101 is moved, the horizontal movement guide 8 of the length keeper 72 is moved.
6 is advanced toward the vertical movement guide 85. Then, the end tape 5 meanders at the portion of the length keeper 72. After that, the upstream side holder 74 and the downstream side holder 75 of the end tape holder 73 are put into a suction state, and the end tape 5 is fixed. In this state, the end tape 5 has a predetermined length from the left end of the downstream side holder 75 in the drawing to the left end of the ribbon leader holder 101. After the end tape 5 is fixed by the end tape holder 73, the cutter 70 is operated to cut the end tape 5 between the upstream holder 74 and the downstream holder 75. Then, the upstream holder 74 is shifted to the left side in the drawing. Then, the leading end of the new end tape 5 is formed in the upstream holder 74, and the cut end of the end tape 5 remains in the downstream holder 75. In this state, the adhesive tape 96 is attached to the cut end of the end tape 5 fixed to the downstream holder 75. The adhesive tape 96 is attached so that the right half on the drawing is the cut end of the end tape 5 and the left half is the free end. After the adhesive tape 96 is attached to the cut end of the end tape 5, the suction surface 84 of the end carrier 71 is released and the leading end of the end tape 5 is released from the end carrier 71.

(FIG. 11) Next, the ribbon leader holder 1
01 is returned from the position shown in 101B to the position shown in 101A so that it is adjacent to the ribbon holder 63. If you do,
The suction surface 102 of the ribbon leader holder 101 is released, and the leading end of the ribbon tape 3 held is released. Subsequently, the horizontal movement guide 86 of the length keeper 72
Is retracted from the vertical movement guide 85. The ribbon tape 3 is loosened when the ribbon leader holder 101 is moved to the position 101A and when the horizontal movement guide 86 of the length keeper 72 is retracted. The slack of the ribbon tape 3 is caused by the air column 29 shown in FIG.
Absorbed by Therefore, when the vertical movement guide 85 retracts, the adhesive tape 9 of the ribbon tape 3 and the end tape 5 held by the ribbon leader holder 101 is removed.
The connecting portion 142 according to 6 once moves in the direction shown by the arrow 141. Next, the end carrier 71 is moved to the position 71B, and the suction surface 77 of the downstream holder 75 and the suction surface 84 of the end carrier 71 are brought into close contact with each other. Then, the cut end of the end tape 5 is moved together with the adhesive tape 96 from the downstream holder 75 to the end carrier 71. End carry 71
When the cut end of the end tape 5 is pulled at the position indicated by 71B, the end carry 71 is moved to the position indicated by 71C.

(FIG. 12) (First connection means 18) Next, the end carrier 71 is moved from the position 71C to 71D.
Move it to the position shown in. Then, the end carry 7
The cut end of the end tape 5 held by the first hub 1 is attached to the winding shaft 62 by the adhesive tape 96.
It is connected to the outer circumference of 40. The end carrier 71 releases the cut end of the end tape 5 after connecting the cut end of the end tape 5 to the first hub 140, and from the position indicated by 71D,
71C to the position shown in FIG. Then, the drive shaft 20 shown in FIG. 3 rotates the winding shaft 62 clockwise in the drawing. Then, the end tape 5 having a predetermined length is first wound around the outer periphery of the first hub 140, and then the ink ribbon 3 is wound up. On the other hand, the upstream side holder 74 of the end tape holder 73 is moved to the right side in the drawing to be adjacent to the downstream side holder 75. Further, the downstream side holder 75 is moved to the lowered position, and the downstream side holder 75 is moved.
Is removed from the running path of the end tape 5. After that, a new adhesive tape 96 is attached to the leading end of the end tape 5 held by the upstream holder 74.

(FIG. 13) When the winding of the ink ribbon 3 around the first hub 140 is completed, the rotation of the winding shaft 62 is stopped and the peeling means 10 is operated. In operation of the peeling means 10, first, the pressing rollers 58 and 59 are pressed against the outer circumference of the capstan 44, and then the pinch roller 52 is pressed against the outer circumference of the capstan 44. Then, the capstan 44 is rotated clockwise in the drawing. Then, the ink of the length in which the pinch roller 52 contacts the ink ribbon 3 is peeled from the ink ribbon 3. When the capstan 44 rotates, the ink ribbon 3 will move to the first hub 14
The ink ribbon 3 is sent out toward 0, but the sent-out ink ribbon 3 is taken up by rotating the take-up shaft 62. When the predetermined length of ink is peeled from the ink ribbon 3, the pinch roller 52 is first retracted from the capstan 44. The ink ribbon 3 is continuously fed toward the first hub 140 by the pressing rollers 58 and 59 if the capstan 44 is rotating even after the pinch roller 52 retracts from the capstan 44. The portion of the ink ribbon 3 from which the ink has been peeled off is the ribbon holder 6
3 and the ribbon leader holder 101, the capstan 44 is stopped and the pressing rollers 58, 59
Retreat. The stop position of the ink ribbon 3 is set when the pressing rollers 58 and 59 retract from the capstan 44.
The central portion of the ink stripped portion of the ink ribbon 3 is at the cutting position of the ink ribbon cutting means 11.

Next, when the running of the ink ribbon 3 is stopped, the ribbon holder 63 and the ribbon leader holder 1 are
The ink ribbon 3 is fixed to the ribbon holder 63 and the ribbon leader holder 101 with the adsorption surface of No. 01 being in an adsorption state. Then, the ink ribbon cutting means 11 cuts the ink ribbon 3. Then, the ink ribbon 3
The part from which the ink has been peeled is cut so that it exists in both the ribbon holder 63 and the ribbon leader holder 101. In this state, the first hub positioning means 12 is rotated by rotating the turntable 25 shown in FIG. 1, and the new first hub positioning means 12 is moved to the position shown in 12B, as shown in FIG. Return to the state of 14
19 to 19 sequentially show the main part of the part that processes the latter half of the steps of assembling the ink ribbon assembly. The second half of the process is a continuation of the first half of the process, in which a leader tape of a predetermined length is spliced to the ink ribbon cut end, and the second hub is connected to the other end of the leader tape. It is a process. When the steps of the latter half of the process are completed, the ink ribbon assembly is almost completed.

(FIG. 14) FIG. 14 shows the apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Shows the initial state of. A first hub 140, around which the ink ribbon 3 is wound, is mounted on the winding shaft 62 of the first hub positioning means 12 located at the position 12A. The cut end of the ink ribbon 3 is fixed to the ribbon holder 63. A second hub 143 is attached to the second hub positioning means 13 located at the position 13A. The upstream holder 109 of the leader tape holder 106 is shifted to the right side in the drawing, and the leading end of the leader tape 7 is fixed. The downstream side holder 110 of the leader tape holder 106 is shifted downward and is out of the running path of the leader tape 7. The adhesive tape 123 is arranged at a position facing the upstream holder 109 of the leader tape holder 106. The vertical movement guide 114 of the length keeper 108 is in the lowered position, and the horizontal movement guide 115 is the vertical movement guide 114.
It is in a retracted position. First leader carrier 107
Is 107A on the extension of the running path of the leader tape 7.
And the second leader carrier 127 is at the position shown in FIG.
7A. First, the adhesive tape 123 is attached to the leading end of the leader tape 7 held by the upstream holder 109 of the leader tape holder 106. Adhesive tape 12
At the position where 3 is pasted, approximately half of the entire length of the adhesive tape 123 is applied to the leading end of the leader tape 7, and the other half is left free.

(FIG. 15) Next, the first leader carrier 10
7 is moved from the position indicated by 107A to the position indicated by 107B. Then, the leading end of the leader tape 7 held by the upstream holder 109 is connected to the first leader carrier 10
Move to 7. After that, the first leader carrier 107
Move to position A. Then, leader tape 7
Are pulled out by the leader carrier 107. In this state, the vertical movement guide 114 of the length keeper 108 is moved to the raised position.

(FIG. 16) Next, the first leader carrier 1
The horizontal movement guide 115 is moved toward the vertical movement guide 114 of the length keeper 108 while keeping 07 at the position indicated by 107A. Then, Lengskipa 1
08, so that the leader tape 7 has a predetermined length,
Make the leader tape 7 meander. Next, the cutter 105 is operated to move the leader tape 7 between the upstream side holder 109 and the downstream side holder 110 of the leader tape holder 106.
Disconnect. When the leader tape 7 is cut by the cutter 105, the leader tape 7 is cut into a predetermined length. After that, the horizontal movement guide 115 of the length keeper 108 is retracted from the vertical movement guide 114. Then, the first leader carrier 107 is moved from the position indicated by 107A to the position indicated by 107C.

(FIG. 17) Third connecting means 22 (step B ₁ ) When the first leader carrier 107 is moved to the position indicated by 107C, the leader tape 7 held by the first leader carrier 107 is led. The end is connected to the cut end of the ink ribbon 3 held by the ribbon holder 63 by the adhesive tape 123. First leader carrier 10
After bringing 7 into contact with the ribbon holder 63 at the position indicated by 107C, the first leader carrier 107 is returned to the position indicated by 107A again. Next, the upstream side holder 109 of the leader tape holder 106 is shifted to the left side in the drawing, and then the leader tape 7 held by the downstream side holder 110.
Adhesive tape 123 is attached to the cut end. Adhesive tape 123
As for the position of sticking, the right half of the entire length of the adhesive tape 123 is applied to the cut end of the leader tape 7, and the left half is the free end. And the second leader carry 127
Is moved from the position indicated by 127A to the position indicated by 127B and brought into contact with the downstream holder 110. Thereafter, the cut end of the leader tape 7 held by the downstream holder 110 is transferred to the second leader carrier 127. Then, the second leader carrier 127 is moved from the position shown at 127B to the position shown at 127C.

(FIG. 18) Hub Attaching Means 24 (Step B ₂ ) Next, the vertical movement guide 114 of the length keeper 108 is moved to the lowered position, and the length keeper 108 is removed from the path of the leader tape 7. Further, the upstream holder 109 of the leader tape holder 106 is shifted to the right side in the drawing. After that, the second leader carry 127 is 127
The position indicated by C is moved to the position indicated by 127D. At this time, the ribbon holder 6 of the first hub positioning means 12
3 releases the end of the fixed ink ribbon 3. The winding shaft 62 absorbs the slack of the leader tape 7 by rotating clockwise in the drawing. At the position indicated by 127D of the second leader carrier 127, the left side portion of the suction surface 128 of the second leader carrier 127 in the drawing is on the outer periphery of the second hub 143 mounted on the second hub positioning means 13. This is the position of contact. When the second leader carrier 127 contacts the second hub 143, the cut end of the leader tape 7 is connected to the outer circumference of the second hub 143 by the adhesive tape 123. After that, the second leader carrier 127 returns from the position shown at 127D to the position shown at 127A through the position shown at 127C. Then, the second hub positioning means 13 rotates from the position shown in 13A to 13B while rotating counterclockwise in the drawing.
Move to the position shown in. After the leader tape 7 is connected to the outer circumference of the second hub 143 by the adhesive tape 123, the second tape 143 is rotated so that the leader tape 7 is completely attached to the outer circumference of the second hub 143 by the adhesive tape 123. Connected to.

(FIG. 19) The position 13B of the second hub positioning means 13 is located at 1 of the first hub positioning means 12.
It is a position adjacent to the position shown in 2A. The assembly of the ink ribbon assembly 144 is completed when the second hub positioning means 13 reaches the position shown in 13B.
That is, in the ink ribbon assembly 144, the end tape 5 is first wound around the outer circumference of the first hub 140, the ink ribbon 3 is wound around the outer circumference of the end tape 5, and the leader tape 7 is wound around the outer side of the ink ribbon 3. At the same time, the second hub 143 is connected to one end of the leader tape 7.

(FIG. 1) Next, the operation of the discharging means 9 will be described with reference to FIG. The parts handler 41 has fingers 154 on its lower surface for gripping the ink ribbon assembly 144. The fingers 154 correspond to the ink ribbon assembly 1
Forty-four moving poles 152 for sandwiching the first hub 140 and a pair of opening / closing fingers for sandwiching the second hub 143 are provided. First, the parts handler 41 operates forward (downward in FIG. 1) along the moving rail 42 from the position shown in FIG. Next, the parts handler 41 rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise around the shaft 155 at the position of the turntable 25 to bring the fingers to the position facing the turntable 25. The fingers then descend to grip and lift the ink ribbon assembly 144 on the turntable 25. Next, the parts pandora 41 is rotated clockwise by 90 ° to bring the finger 154 to a position facing the hub attaching means 24. The fingers 154 then descend to release the ink ribbon assembly 144 and raise it to place the ink ribbon assembly 144 on the hub attachment means 24. Thus, the ink ribbon assembly 144 moves from the turntable 25 to the hub attachment means 24.

(FIG. 20) FIGS. 20 and 21 show the operation of the essential parts of the hub attaching means 24 shown in FIG. The assembled ink ribbon assembly 144 mounted on the first hub positioning means 12 in the position 12A and the second hub positioning means 13 in the position 13B as described above is ejected as shown in FIG. Hub attachment means 2 by means of parts handler 41 of means 9
Moved to 4. At this time, the first hub positioning means 12
The first hub 140 attached to the
The second hub 143 mounted on the second hub positioning means 13 is moved to the slide shaft 132. When the first hub 140 is attached to the winding shaft 131,
Rotate clockwise on the drawing. Then, the slide shaft 132 at the position indicated by 132A is attached to the leader tape 7
And is moved toward the position indicated by 132B.

(FIG. 21) When the slide shaft 132 reaches the position indicated by 132B, the winding shaft 131 is completely locked so as not to rotate. The second hub 143 attached to the slide shaft 132 is freely rotatable on the slide shaft 132. Therefore, when the winding shaft 131 is locked in rotation, the leader tape 7 wound on the outer circumference of the second hub 143 moves to the outer circumference of the first hub 140. Next, the blade 135 of the attachment arm 130
The first hub 14 of the ink ribbon assembly 144
The outermost circumference of the leader tape 7 wound around 0 and the second hub 1
It advances toward between the outer circumferences of 43. The advanced position of the blade 135 is a position where the tip 145 of the blade 135 contacts the outermost circumference of the leader tape 7 and the outer circumference of the second hub 143. Then, since the rotation of the winding shaft 131 is locked, a part of the adhesive tape 123 attached to the outer periphery of the second hub 143 is peeled off from the outer periphery of the second hub 143 and attached to the outer periphery of the leader tape 7. To do. As a result, the outer circumferences of the second hub 143 and the leader tape 7 are integrally connected by the adhesive tape 123.

FIG. 22 shows the appearance of the final ink ribbon assembly 144 which has been processed by the hub attaching means 24. The end tape 5 is wound around the outer periphery of the first hub 140. The ink ribbon 3 is wound around the outer circumference of the end tape 5. A leader tape 7 is wound around the outer circumference of the ink ribbon 3. And leader tape 7
The cut end 146 is attached to the outer circumference of the leader tape 7 by the adhesive tape 123, and the second hub 143 is also attached to the outer circumference of the leader tape 7 by the adhesive tape 123. Device 1 shown in FIG.
22 assembles the ink ribbon assembly 144 shown in FIG. 22 by the configuration and method as described above. Then, the ink ribbon assembly 144 is ejected from the hub attaching means 24 toward the outside of the apparatus 1 by the ejecting means 9 shown in FIG.

The method of assembling the above ink ribbon assembly is summarized as follows. 1. (Step of Peeling Ink of Leading End of Ink Ribbon 3) In this step, the ink of the leading end of the ink ribbon 3 supplied from the ink ribbon supplying means 2 shown in FIG.
It is a stage of peeling by 0. The length of peeling the ink is the length of the adhesive tape 96 attached to the leading end of the ink ribbon 3. 2. (Step of cutting the first guide tape to a predetermined length) At this step, the first guide tape feeding means 4 shown in FIG.
This is a step of cutting the end tape 5 supplied from the first guide tape cutting means 14 into a predetermined length.
The cut length of the end tape 5 is the length wound around the first hub 140 of the ink ribbon assembly 144.

3. (Step of connecting one end of the first guide tape to the first hub and connecting the other end of the first guide tape to the leading end of the ink ribbon) This step has a predetermined length. One end of the cut end tape 5 is connected to the outer periphery of the first hub 140 by an adhesive tape 96 (step A ₁ ), and the other end of the cut end tape 5 is adhered to the leading end of the ink ribbon 3. Tape 96
This is the step of connecting (process A ₂ ) by. 4. (Step of winding the ink ribbon around the outer circumference of the first hub for a predetermined length by rotating the first hub) In this step, the first hub 140 positioned on the first hub positioning means 12 is moved. It is a stage in which the end tape 5 and the ink ribbon 3 are wound around the outer periphery of the first hub 140 by being rotationally driven by the driving means 20.

5. (Step of peeling off ink at the end portion of the ink ribbon) In this step, the ink at the end portion of the ink ribbon 3 is peeled off after the ink ribbon 3 having a predetermined length is wound around the first hub 140. It is a stage of peeling by 10.
The length for peeling the ink from the ink ribbon 3 is the length for sticking the adhesive tape 123 on the end portion. 6. (Step of Cutting Ink Ribbon at End of Ink Ribbon) In this step, the ink ribbon 3 having a predetermined length is wound around the first hub 140 and then the ink ribbon 3 is cut. The cutting position is a portion where the ink is peeled off. 7. (Step of cutting the second guide tape into a predetermined length) In this step, the leader tape 7 supplied from the second guide tape supply means 6 is cut into the second guide tape cutting means 2
It is a step of cutting into a predetermined length by 1. The length of cutting the leader tape 7 is the length of the leader tape 7 wound around the ink ribbon assembly 144.

8. (Step of connecting one end of the second guide tape to the end of the ink ribbon and connecting the other end of the second guide tape to the second hub) In this step, the cut leader tape 7 is cut. One end of the leader tape 7 is connected to the end of the ink ribbon 3 by the adhesive tape 123 (step B ₁ ), and the other end of the leader tape 7 is connected to the outer periphery of the second hub 143 by the adhesive tape 123 (step B _2). ) Is a stage. At this stage, the ink ribbon assembly 144 is completed. 9. (Step of attaching the second hub to the outermost circumference of the second guide tape wound around the outer circumference of the first hub) In this step, as shown in FIG. 22, the second hub is wound around the outer circumference of the first hub 140. The second hub 1 is provided on the outermost circumference of the leader tape 7.
In this step, 43 is attached by the adhesive tape 123.

The present invention can show embodiments other than the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, in the description of the operation sequence of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, after connecting the leading end of the end tape 5 and the leading end of the ribbon tape 3 with the adhesive tape 96, the length keeper 72 It is described that the end tape 5 is cut by the cutter 70 by operating the. However, the end tape 5 may be cut into a predetermined length before connecting the end tape 5 and the ribbon tape 3. If the end tape 5 is cut to a predetermined length before connecting the end tape 5 and the ribbon tape 3, the end tape 5 can be cut to a predetermined length without depending on the state of the ribbon tape 3. it can. Then, the ribbon tape 3 becomes the present first hub 1.
While wound on 40, the end tape 5 can be prepared for winding on the next first hub 140. As a result, the entire processing time of the winding process can be shortened. Not limited to this example, the device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has many sequences that can operate in parallel,
It is desirable that the independently operable sequences operate in parallel as much as possible.

Further, as the apparatus for carrying out the present invention, several structural examples can be considered in addition to the example shown in FIG. For example, in the device shown in FIG. 1, an adhesive tape was used to connect the hub and the end tape, but it is extremely easy to change to substitute an adhesive. Further, when peeling ink from the ink ribbon 3, the peeling means 10 shown in FIG. Although it is configured to be peeled off at one time, it may be peeled off separately.

[0062]

According to the ink ribbon assembling method and the assembling apparatus embodying the present invention, the adhesive tape is attached to the ink side of the ink ribbon when connecting the ink ribbon and the leader tape and the ink ribbon and the end tape. Will be possible. Therefore, it is possible to provide a good quality ink ribbon cassette without the risk that the print head of the printer collides with the adhesive tape. Also, according to the ink ribbon assembling method and the assembling apparatus of the present invention, the second hub of the ink ribbon assembly is attached to the outer circumference of the leader tape. Therefore, there is an effect that the handling of the ink ribbon assembly is easy and the configuration of the assembly process of the ink ribbon cassette can be configured easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the peeling means 10.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the ink ribbon cutting means 11 and the guide tape cutting means 14.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a second hub positioning means 13, a second guide tape cutting means 21, a third connecting means 22, and a fourth connecting means 23.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a peeling means 10 and an end carrier 71, FIG.
It is the perspective view seen from the arrow A of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the hub attaching means 24.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the first half process.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the first half process.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the first half process.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion where a first half process is performed.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the first half process.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the first half process.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the first half process.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the latter half process.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the latter half process.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the latter half process.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of only an essential part of a portion for performing the latter half of the process.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of only an essential part of a portion for performing the latter half process.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of only a main part of a portion for performing the latter half process.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing an essential part of the hub attaching means 24 before attaching the hub.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a main part of the hub attaching means 24 after the hub is attached.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon assembly.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of first and second steps A and B.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Ink Ribbon Supply Means 3 Ink Ribbon 4 First Guide Tape Supply Means 5 First Guide Tape 6 Second Guide Tape Supply Means 7 Second Guide Tape 8 Hub Supply Means 10 Peeling Means 11 Ink Ribbon Cutting Means 12th 1 hub positioning means 13 2nd hub positioning means 14 1st guide tape cutting means 18 1st connecting means 19 2nd connecting means 20 rotation drive means 21 2nd guide tape cutting means 22 3rd connecting means 23 Fourth Connection Means 24 Hub Attaching Means 47 Adhesive Tape 123 Adhesive Tape 140 First Hub 143 Second Hub

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshihiro Todoroki 4-33-3 Kokuryo-cho, Chofu-shi, Tokyo Within Otari Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yamada 2606 Akabane, Kaicho, Haga-gun, Tochigi Kao Corporation Information Science Institute (72) Inventor Nobuo Suzuki 2606 Akabane, Kai-cho, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture Kao Stock Company Information Science Laboratory (72) Inventor Seiji Kosano 2-3 Fumika, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Kao Stock Company Tokyo Factory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. By supplying an ink ribbon coated with ink on one side from an ink ribbon supply means,
An end of the first guide tape is locked to the first hub, an end of the second guide tape is locked to the second hub, and the other end of the first guide tape and the second guide are locked. A method of assembling an ink ribbon assembly in which a predetermined length of the ink ribbon is connected between the other ends of the tape, wherein the ink at the leading end of the ink ribbon is peeled off, and the first guide tape is predetermined. And cutting one end of the first guide tape to the first hub and the other end of the first guide tape to the leading end of the ink ribbon. Connecting, winding the ink ribbon around the outer periphery of the first hub for a predetermined length by rotating the first hub, and peeling off ink at the end portion of the ink ribbon. And a. Cutting the ink ribbon at the end of the ribbon, cutting the second guide tape to a predetermined length, and connecting one end of the second guide tape to the end of the ink ribbon. And connecting the other end of the second guide tape to the second hub. 2. An end of the first guide tape is locked to the first hub and a second hub is fixed to the second hub by supplying an ink ribbon having ink applied to one side from the ink ribbon supply means. Assembling an ink ribbon assembly in which the end of the guide tape is locked and the predetermined length of the ink ribbon is connected between the other end of the first guide tape and the other end of the second guide tape. In the apparatus, an ink ribbon supply means for supplying an ink ribbon, a first guide tape supply means for supplying a first guide tape, a second guide tape supply means for supplying a second guide tape, Hub supply means for supplying a hub, peeling means for partially peeling off the ink of the ink ribbon fed from the ink ribbon feeding means, and peeling of the ink of the ink ribbon Ink ribbon cutting means for cutting the opened portion into first and second ends, first hub positioning means for positioning the first hub supplied from the hub supply means, and supply from the hub supply means Second hub positioning means for positioning the second hub, and first guide tape cutting means for cutting the first guide tape supplied from the first guide tape supply means into a predetermined length. A first connecting means for connecting an end of the first guide tape to the first hub positioned by the first hub positioning means; a first connecting means for the ink ribbon cut by the ink ribbon cutting means; Positioned on the first hub positioning means and at the end, second connecting means for connecting the portion where the ink is peeled off by the peeling means and the other one end of the first guide tape. The was first
Drive means for rotationally driving the hub, second guide tape cutting means for cutting the second guide tape supplied from the second guide tape supply means to a predetermined length, and the ink ribbon cutting means. The second end of the cut ink ribbon, the third connecting means for connecting the portion where the ink is peeled by the peeling means and the end of the second guide tape, and the second hub positioning means And a fourth connecting means for connecting the other end of the second guide tape to the positioned second hub, the apparatus for assembling an ink ribbon assembly. 3. An end portion of the first guide tape is locked to the first hub and a second hub is fixed to the second hub by supplying the ink ribbon having the ink applied on one side from the ink ribbon supplying means 2. By locking the end of the second guide tape,
A method of assembling an ink ribbon assembly in which a predetermined length of the ink ribbon is connected between the other end of the guide tape and the other end of the second guide tape, the ink at the leading end of the ink ribbon is Peeling, cutting the first guide tape to a predetermined length, connecting one end of the first guide tape to the first hub, and removing the first guide tape from the first guide tape. Connecting the other end to the leading end of the ink ribbon, and winding the ink ribbon around the outer circumference of the first hub for a predetermined length by rotating the first hub. Peeling off the ink from the end portion of the ink ribbon, cutting the ink ribbon at the end portion of the ink ribbon, and cutting the second guide tape to a predetermined length. Disconnecting, connecting one end of the second guide tape to the end of the ink ribbon, and connecting the other end of the second guide tape to the second hub, By rotating the first hub, the second guide tape is wound around the outer periphery of the first hub, and thereby the second hub to which the end of the second guide tape is connected is A method of assembling an ink ribbon assembly, comprising: bringing the second hub closer to the first hub; and attaching the second hub to the outermost circumference of the second guide tape wound around the outer circumference of the first hub. 4. The end of the first guide tape is locked to the first hub and the second hub is fixed to the second hub by supplying the ink ribbon coated with ink on one side from the ink ribbon supplying means. Assembling an ink ribbon assembly in which the end of the guide tape is locked and the predetermined length of the ink ribbon is connected between the other end of the first guide tape and the other end of the second guide tape. In the apparatus, an ink ribbon supply means for supplying an ink ribbon, a first guide tape supply means for supplying a first guide tape, a second guide tape supply means for supplying a second guide tape, Hub supplying means for supplying a hub, peeling means for partially peeling off the ink of the ink ribbon supplied from the ink ribbon feeding means, and peeling of the ink of the ink ribbon Ink ribbon cutting means for cutting the opened portion into first and second ends, first hub positioning means for positioning the first hub supplied from the hub supply means, and supply from the hub supply means Second hub positioning means for positioning the second hub, and first guide tape cutting means for cutting the first guide tape supplied from the first guide tape supply means into a predetermined length. A first connecting means for connecting an end of the first guide tape to the first hub positioned by the first hub positioning means; a first connecting means for the ink ribbon cut by the ink ribbon cutting means; Positioned on the first hub positioning means and at the end, second connecting means for connecting the portion where the ink is peeled off by the peeling means and the other one end of the first guide tape. The was first
Drive means for rotationally driving the hub, second guide tape cutting means for cutting the second guide tape supplied from the second guide tape supply means to a predetermined length, and the ink ribbon cutting means. The second end of the cut ink ribbon, the third connecting means for connecting the portion where the ink is peeled off by the peeling means and the end of the second guide tape, and the second hub positioning means Fourth connecting means for connecting the other end of the second guide tape to the positioned second hub; and the second hub after the second hub is connected to the second guide tape. 1. An apparatus for assembling an ink ribbon assembly, comprising: a hub attaching unit that rotationally drives one hub and attaches the second hub to an outer circumference of the second guide tape. 5. The apparatus for assembling an ink ribbon assembly according to claim 2, wherein the peeling means is means for peeling the ink with an adhesive tape that attracts the ink of the ink ribbon. 6. The apparatus for assembling an ink ribbon assembly according to claim 4, wherein the hub attaching means is means for attaching the second hub to the outer periphery of the second guide tape with an adhesive tape.