CONSUMABLE CASSETTE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

Abstract

In a consumable cassette having a recording material storage section 2 and an ink sheet storage section 1, a space 65 where a constituting component such as a supply roller 56 is to be disposed is formed in the cassette, when the cassette is attached to a recording apparatus. A movable member is movably disposed to cover the space, when the cassette is removed from the recording apparatus. Therefore, rigidity of the cassette is improved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary recording apparatus in which a consumable cassette is to be used according to the present invention as viewed from a side surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an exemplary recording apparatus in which the consumable cassette is to be used according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are perspective views schematically illustrating a first embodiment of the consumable cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 3A illustrates that the cassette is removed from a recording apparatus, FIG. 3B is a perspective view from which the recording apparatus is omitted and which illustrates that the cassette is disposed in the recording apparatus, and FIG. 3C is a perspective view illustrating a state as viewed from a direction reverse to that of FIG. 3B, the recording apparatus being omitted from FIG. 3C.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are perspective views schematically illustrating a second embodiment of the consumable cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 4A illustrates that the cassette is removed from a recording apparatus, FIG. 4B is a perspective view from which the recording apparatus is omitted and which illustrates that the cassette is disposed in the recording apparatus, and FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram viewed from a side surface.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views schematically illustrating a third embodiment of the consumable cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 5A illustrates that the cassette is removed from a recording apparatus, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view from which the recording apparatus is omitted and which illustrates that the cassette is disposed in the recording apparatus.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views schematically illustrating a fourth embodiment of the consumable cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 6A illustrates that the cassette is removed from a recording apparatus, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view from which the recording apparatus is omitted and which illustrates that the cassette is disposed in the recording apparatus.

Claims

1. A consumable cassette comprising: a recording material storage section to store a recording material; andan ink sheet storage section to store an ink sheet,the consumable cassette being detachably attached to a recording apparatus,the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section being stacked and being provided with a space formed between the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section in a state in which the consumable cassette is attached to the recording apparatus so that a part of a recording mechanism of the recording apparatus is disposed in the space,the consumable cassette further comprising:a movable member being movable so as to cover the space when the consumable cassette is removed from the recording apparatus and to open the space when the consumable cassette is attached to the recording apparatus.

2. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the ink sheet storage section is disposed above the recording material storage section via the space in a state in which the recording material storage section is disposed downwards in a gravity direction.

3. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the recording material is conveyed from the consumable cassette by switchback or a U-turn path.

4. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein when the consumable cassette is removed from the recording apparatus, the movable member regulates movement of the recording material of the recording material storage section to cover the recording material of the recording material storage section and the ink sheet of the ink sheet storage section.

5. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is rotatable in an angle range of 0 degree to 90 degrees between the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section, and has a function of a support which keeps a constant distance between both of the storage sections and a function of a lid of the recording material storage section.

6. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the movable member covers the ink sheet of the ink sheet storage section, has a curved surface which forms a part of a conveyance path of the recording material, and is detachably attached to the recording material storage section.

7. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is attached movably along a slide guide portion of the recording material storage section, functions as a reinforcing member of the consumable cassette at a time when the cassette is removed from the recording apparatus, and is removed from the recording apparatus at a time when the cassette is attached to the recording apparatus.

8. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the movable member includes a rotary member rotatable in a horizontal direction between the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section, functions as a support which keeps a constant distance between the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section at a time when the cassette is removed from the recording apparatus, and is rotated by a guide portion of the recording apparatus to be held by a side edge portion of the recording apparatus in a stored state at a time when the cassette is attached to the recording apparatus.

9. A recording apparatus comprising: a loading section to which a consumable cassette is to be loaded, the consumable cassette comprising: a recording material storage section to store a recording material; and an ink sheet storage section to store an ink sheet,the recording apparatus further comprising:a recording mechanism including a recording material conveyance mechanism which operates the recording material storage section, an ink sheet conveyance mechanism which operates the ink sheet storage section and a recording head; andan operation mechanism which allows a movable member to cover a space, when the consumable cassette is removed from the recording apparatus, and to open the space, when the consumable cassette is attached to the recording apparatus, the space being formed between the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section in a state in which the consumable cassette constituted by stacking the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section is attached to the recording apparatus, a part of the recording mechanism of the recording apparatus being disposed in the space.

10. A recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording head is a thermal head by which ink is melted and transferred from the ink sheet to the recording material to record an image.