CONSUMABLE CASSETTE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

Abstract

In a consumable cassette detachably attached to a recording apparatus and containing a recording material and an ink sheet, a recording material storage section is constantly partially connected to an ink sheet storage section so as to be relatively displaceable in a direction in which the section disunite from or unite with each other, the sections disunite from each other, when the cassette is attached to the recording apparatus, and the sections unite with each other, when the cassette is removed from the recording apparatus.

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 and 3B 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, and 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.

FIGS. 4A and 4B 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, and 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.

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, 6B and 6C 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, 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, and FIG. 6C is a perspective view from which the recording apparatus is omitted and which illustrates a state as viewed from a direction reverse to that of FIG. 6B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views schematically illustrating a fifth embodiment of the consumable cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 7A illustrates that the cassette is removed from a recording apparatus, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view from which the recording apparatus is omitted and which illustrates that the cassette is disposed in the recording apparatus.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views schematically illustrating a sixth embodiment of the consumable cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 8A illustrates that the cassette is removed from a recording apparatus, and FIG. 8B 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 consumable cassette further comprising:an operation structure to connect the recording material storage section to the ink sheet storage section and to displace the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section in a direction in which the sections come away from each other and a direction in which the sections come close to each other.

2. The consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein when the consumable cassette is attached to the recording apparatus, the recording material storage section disunites from the ink sheet storage section; and when the consumable cassette is removed from the recording apparatus, the recording material storage section comes close to the ink sheet storage section to unite with the ink sheet storage section.

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

4. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the recording material is conveyed from the consumable cassette by switchback.

5. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the operation structure urges the ink sheet storage section in such a direction that the ink sheet storage section comes close to the recording material storage section to unite with the recording material storage section, shifts to a united state, when the consumable cassette is removed from the recording apparatus, and shifts to a disunited state against the urging force, when the consumable cassette is attached to the recording apparatus.

6. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein when the consumable cassette is removed from the recording apparatus, the operation structure urges the ink sheet storage section so as to regulate movement of the recording material of the recording material storage section, and urges the recording material storage section to protect the ink sheet of the ink sheet storage section.

7. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein when the recording material storage section is united with the ink sheet storage section, the ink sheet storage section functions as a lid or a pressing member of the recording material storage section so as to protect the ink sheet of the ink sheet storage section.

8. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein when the consumable cassette is attached to the recording apparatus, the recording material storage section is disunited from the ink sheet storage section, the ink sheet storage section is recordably disposed in the recording apparatus, and the recording material storage section is opened in a position where the recording material is supplied to a recording position of the recording apparatus.

9. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the operation structure is a rotary member which rotatably connects the recording material storage section to the ink sheet storage section.

10. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the operation structure is a slide member which slidably connects the recording material storage section to the ink sheet storage section.

11. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the operation structure is an expansion and contraction member which expandably/contractibly connects the recording material storage section to the ink sheet storage section.

12. A consumable cassette according to claim 1, wherein the operation structure is an elastic member which elastically displaceably connects the recording material storage section to the ink sheet storage section.

13. 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 structure to connect the recording material storage section to the ink sheet storage section and to displace the recording material storage section and the ink sheet storage section in a direction in which the sections come away from each other and a direction in which the sections come close to each other.

14. A recording apparatus according to claim 13, 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.