Patent Application
20070274756
An ink ribbon cassette and a printer according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
According to the present embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
The first case 5 is formed from a resin material. As shown in
As shown in
Like the first case 5, the second case 13 is formed from a resin material. As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, as shown in
A fitting member (not shown) for fitting the first case 5 to the second case 13 is integrally formed on each of the first case 5 and the second case 13. The shaft bearings 6a and 6b of the first case 5 and shaft bearings 14a and 14b of the second case 13 are disposed so as to rotatably support the supply core 3 with the ink ribbon 2 wound therearound. The shaft bearings 7a and 7b of the first case 5 and the shaft bearings 15a and 15b of the second case 13 are disposed so as to rotatably support the take-up core 4 with the ink ribbon 2 wound therearound. By fitting the first case 5 to the second case 13 using the fitting members, the ink ribbon cassette 1 is formed.
In the ink ribbon cassette 1 having such a structure according to the present embodiment, all of the positioning holes 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d into which the positioning pins attached to the printing apparatus are inserted when the ink ribbon cassette 1 is mounted in the printing apparatus are formed in only the second case 13. Consequently, the positional shifts of the positioning holes 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d due to the accuracy with which the first case 5 and the second case 13 are formed can be prevented when the first case 5 and the second case 13 are fitted together. Thus, when the ink ribbon cassette 1 is mounted in the printing apparatus, the positioning pins attached to the printing apparatus are accurately inserted into the positioning holes 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of the ink ribbon cassette 1 in the printing apparatus.
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Various modifications can be made as needed. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the positioning holes 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d are formed in the supply-side container 14, the take-up side container 15, and the second side wall 17 of the second case 13, respectively. However, the structure is not limited thereto. Even when the positioning holes 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d are formed in the supply-side container 6, the take-up side container 7, and the second side wall 9 of the first case 5, respectively, the same advantage can be provided.
As shown in a front elevational view of
Furthermore, a supply bobbin 125 and a take-up bobbin 124 are rotatably disposed on the rear side wall 102f of the housing 102. The supply bobbin 125 and the take-up bobbin 124 protrude into the cassette mounting unit 122 of the printer 101 and fit a supply shaft 119 and a take-up shaft 120 contained in the ribbon cassette 121, respectively. In order to determine the position of the leading end of the ribbon cassette 121, a third positioning pin 102g and a fourth positioning pin 102h are provided so as to extend perpendicularly from the inner surface of the rear side wall 102f with a predetermined pitch therebetween.
As shown by cross-sectional views in
The head supporter 106 includes a head support portion 106a with the head mount 105 attached thereon and an extending portion 106b. The extending portion 106b extends from the head supporter 106 to the right in the drawing so as to have the shape of a cranked curve. A heat sink unit 106c is attached to the extending portion 106b so as to dissipate heat generated by the thermal head 104. A support arm 106d is attached downward on the right end of the heat sink unit 106c in the drawing. The support arm 106d is swingably supported by a support shaft 107, which bridges between the side walls of the housing 102 and is supported by the side walls of the housing 102. That is, the head supporter 106 swings about the support shaft 107 so that the thermal head 104 can be brought into contact with and move away from the platen roller 103 (i.e., head-down and head-up operations). In addition, the head support portion 106a of the head supporter 106 supports the lower end of a first coil spring 108. The upper end of the first coil spring 108 elastically presses against a pressure plate 109a of a pressure member 109. The pressure member 109 includes the elongated pressure plate 109a disposed parallel to the lengthwise direction of the thermal head 104 at one end. Either end of the pressure plate 109a is coupled with one end of each of two pivoting arms 109b. Additionally, the other ends of the two pivoting arms 109b are supported by the support shaft 107. When the pivoting arms 109b pivot about the support shaft 107, the pressure plate 109a moves upward and downward.
In the pressure member 109, part of the pivoting arm 109b is cut and is bent perpendicularly so as to form a stop 109c. The extending portion 106b of the head supporter 106 is latched to the stop 109c. Since the pressure member 109 is elastically pressed upward by a resilient member (not shown) at all times, the head supporter 106 and the pressure member 109 pivot upwards about the support shaft 107 when the pressure of the pressure plate 109a by a cam member 110 (described below) is released. Thus, the thermal head 104 moves upward. In addition, when the pressure plate 109a is pressed by the cam member 110 rotatably supported by a support shaft 110a, which is supported by the front side wall 102a, the pressure member 109 can move upward and downward.
According to the present embodiment, a guide member 111, which is separated from the head supporter 106, is disposed so as to surround the head mount 105 having the thermal head 104 mounted thereon. The guide member 111 is slightly smaller in size than a rectangular opening hole 121f (described below) formed in the ribbon cassette 121. The guide member 111 includes a bottom wall 111d having such a size that the bottom wall 111d can vertically pass through the opening hole 121f, two end walls 111e and 111f extending from the two sides of the bottom wall 111d in a feeding direction of an ink ribbon 118, and two side walls (not shown) vertically extending from the other two sides of the bottom wall 111d. The guide member 111 has a U-shaped cross section in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon 118 so as to be open on the side remote from the platen roller 103. The thermal head mount 105 of the thermal head 104 is disposed in a space 111a formed by the bottom wall 111d, the end walls 111e and 111f, and the two side walls. Furthermore, an opening 111b is formed in the bottom wall 111d so as to extend in the widthwise direction of the ink ribbon 118 and expose a plurality of the heating elements of the thermal head 104.
At the lower left corner of the guide member 111 in the drawing, a separation roller 111c is rotatably supported so as to separate the ink ribbon 118 that is fused to a recording paper sheet 117 when a printing operation is performed from the recording paper sheet 117 (described below). Additionally, an optical ribbon sensor 112 is disposed in the space 111a of the guide member 111 at the left of the opening 111b (downstream of the thermal head 104 in the feed direction of the recording paper sheet 117 indicated by arrow C, which will be described below). This ribbon sensor 112 detects the ink surface of the ink ribbon 118 (described below) and allows the start position of the ink ribbon 118 to be aligned with the print start position.
The guide member 111 is pressed by the resilient material (not shown) upward in a direction away from the platen roller 103 at all times. As shown in
On the right of the platen roller 103 in the drawing, a first paper feed roller and a first pressure roller that presses against the first paper feed roller (neither is shown) are disposed. On the left of the platen roller 103 in the drawing, a second paper feed roller 113 and a second pressure roller 116 are disposed. The second paper feed roller 113 can rotate in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions by means of a driving force generated by a driving source (not shown). The second pressure roller 116 is pressed against the second paper feed roller 113 by a pressing force generated by a second coil spring 115 via a lever 114 and is driven by the second paper feed roller 113. In addition, the recording paper sheet 117, which is a printable thick sheet, is fed by the first paper feed roller and the first pressure roller that presses against the first paper feed roller in the direction indicated by arrow C between the thermal head 104 in the head-up state and the platen roller 103. Subsequently, the recording paper sheet 117 is pinched by the second paper feed roller 113 and the second pressure roller 116. The recording paper sheet 117 pinched by the second paper feed roller 113 and the second pressure roller 116 can be transported by the rotating second paper feed roller 113 in the direction indicated by arrow C and in the opposite direction indicated by arrow D. The recording paper sheet 117 is fed to the nip formed by the platen roller 103 and the thermal head 104 and is transported in the direction indicated by arrow C. A sheet sensor (not shown) is disposed upstream of the platen roller 103 in the feed direction in which the recording paper sheet 117 is normally fed. When the sheet sensor detects the leading edge 117a of the recording paper sheet 117 pinched by the second paper feed roller 113 and the second pressure roller 116 and identifies a print start point, the rotation of the second paper feed roller 113 temporarily stops.
Furthermore, the ink ribbon 118 is entrained above the recording paper sheet 117 between the thermal head 104 in the head-up state and the platen roller 103.
The width of the ink ribbon 118 is slightly greater than that of the recording paper sheet 117. The lower surface of the ink ribbon 118 shown in the drawing (the surface facing the recording paper sheet 117) has an ink surface thereon. The ink surface is slightly longer than the printable area of the recording paper sheet 117. For example, yellow (Y) ink, cyan (C) ink, or magenta (M) ink is applied to the ink surface.
A first marker including two black lines is formed in a transparent area between the C-color ink surface and Y-color ink surface. A second marker including one black line is formed in an area between the Y-color ink surface and M-color ink surface and in an area between the M-color ink surface and C-color ink surface. When the ribbon sensor 112 detects the first marker, the beginning of the first Y-color ink surface is identified. Similarly, when the ribbon sensor 112 detects the second marker, the beginning of the M-color ink surface or the C-color ink surface is identified. A transparent space portion is formed between the first marker (or the second marker) and the ink surface. The size of the space portion is slightly smaller than the distance between the heating element of the thermal head 104 and the ribbon sensor 112.
The ink ribbon 118 has a wide width and a long length. One end portion of the ink ribbon 118 is wound around the supply shaft 119. The other end portion is wound around the take-up shaft 120. The ink ribbon 118 is then stored in the ribbon cassette 121.
The ribbon cassette 121 includes a first container 121a for containing the supply shaft 119 with the unused ink ribbon 118 wound therearound and a second container 121b for containing the take-up shaft 120 with the used ink ribbon 118 wound therearound. A side of the first container 121a is connected to a side of the second container 121b in parallel with a predetermined spacing therebetween using two connecting members 121c.
A supply port 121d that allows the ink ribbon 118 wound around the supply shaft 119 to be drawn therethrough is formed in the first container 121a of the ribbon cassette 121 on the side adjacent to the connecting members 121c. In addition, a take-up port 121e is formed in the second container 121b on the side adjacent to the connecting members 121c.
The opening hole 121f is formed between the first container 121a and the second container 121b. The opening hole 121f allows the ink ribbon 118 that is drawn from the supply port 121d of the first container 121a and is collected into the take-up port 121e of the second container 121b to be exposed therethrough. In this embodiment, the opening hole 121f also allows the guide member 111 moving vertically to pass therethrough.
That is, the ribbon cassette 121 includes the rectangular opening hole 121f surrounded by the first container 121a, the second container 121b, and the two connecting members 121c and a substantially elliptical side wall (not shown) obtained by integrating the rear ends of the first container 121a and the second container 121b and one of the connecting members 121c that connects the rear ends thereof to each other. In this side wall, first and second positioning holes (not shown) for positioning the rear end of the ribbon cassette 121 are formed so as to correspond to the first and second positioning pins 102c and 102d of the printer 101, respectively. Additionally, in the rear wall, a latching hole (a latching member) to which the claw member (not shown) is latched is provided in order to secure and lock the ribbon cassette 121 disposed in the cassette mounting unit 122.
Additionally, circular side walls (top-side side walls) are formed on top portions of the first and second containers 121a and 121b that become the leading end when the two containers are inserted into the cassette mounting unit 122 of the printer 101. In order to determine the position of the leading end of the ribbon cassette 121, third and fourth positioning holes (not shown) are formed in the circular side walls so as to correspond to the third and fourth positioning pins 102g and 102h of the printer 101, respectively.
Furthermore, a sheet guide 123 is disposed in the feed path of the recording paper sheet 117 between the platen roller 103 and the second paper feed roller 113 so as to prevent the fed recording paper sheet 117 from deflecting downward. For example, a reflecting plate 123a having a glossy reflecting surface subjected to mirror finish is bonded to the sheet guide 123 using an adhesive agent.
A method for mounting the ribbon cassette 121 in the printer 101 having such a structure of this embodiment is now herein described. In the printer 101 according to this embodiment, the above-described guide member 111 is used as a guide member that guides the insertion of the ribbon cassette 121.
That is, the thermal head 104 is moved to the head-up position and the guide member 111 is raised. Thereafter, the ribbon cassette 121 is inserted into the cassette mounting unit 122 formed inside the housing 102 such that the opening hole 121f of the ribbon cassette 121 is inserted along the wall having the opening 111b of the guide member 111 formed therein, the side wall of the first container 121a that contains the supply shaft 119 of the ribbon cassette 121 is inserted along the end walls 111e extending vertically from the bottom wall 111d upstream in the ink ribbon feed direction, and the side wall of the second container 121b that contains the take-up shaft 120 of the ribbon cassette 121 is inserted along the end walls 111f extending vertically from the bottom wall 111d downstream in the ink ribbon feed direction. Thus, the ribbon cassette 121 is mounted in the cassette mounting unit 122.
At that time, at the front end of the ribbon cassette 121, the first and second positioning holes formed on the ribbon cassette 121 are engaged with the first and second positioning pins 102c and 102d formed on the printer 101, and the supply shaft 119 and the take-up shaft 120 contained in the above-described containers 121a and 121b fit the supply bobbin 125 and the take-up bobbin 124 of the printer 101. At the rear end of the ribbon cassette 121, the third and fourth positioning holes formed on the ribbon cassette 121 are engaged with the third and fourth positioning pins 102g and 102h formed on the printer 101. Thereafter, the claw member 102e serving as a latching member formed in the front side wall 102a of the printer 101 is latched to the latching hole serving as a latching member formed in the side wall. Thus, the operation of mounting the ribbon cassette 121 in the printer 101 is completed.
As noted above, in the printer 101 according to the present embodiment, by using the bottom wall 111d of the guide member 111 as a guide member for guiding the ribbon cassette 121 when being mounted, vertical swings of the ribbon cassette 121 in the cassette mounting unit 122 can be prevented. Furthermore, by using the end walls 111e and 111f extending vertically from the bottom wall 111d of the guide member 111 as guide members, horizontal swings of the ribbon cassette 121 in the cassette mounting unit 122 can be prevented. Accordingly, the operation of fitting the ends of the supply shaft 119 and the take-up shaft 120 to the supply bobbin 125 and the take-up bobbin 124 can be simply and reliably carried out in the deepest area of the cassette mounting unit 122. In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the separation roller 111c has a structure so as to move vertically together with the guide member 111, the operation of mounting the ribbon cassette 121 in the cassette mounting unit 122 is simplified, compared with a printer having a structure in which the separation roller is supported at a predetermined location in the cassette mounting unit 122. Thus, the operability can be increased.
The operation of the printer 101 having such a structure is briefly described next.
In an initial state of the printer 101, which is a print standby state, the thermal head 104 is in a head-up state. Also, the guide member 111 is raised, and therefore, the guide member 111 is separated from the platen roller 103. In such an initial state, which is a print standby state, the take-up shaft 120 rotates so as to take up the ink ribbon 118. The ribbon sensor 112 detects the first marker to align the beginning of the first Y-color ink surface with a predetermined position. Thereafter, the recording paper sheet 117 is fed to a space between the thermal head 104 (the guide member 111) in the initial state and the platen roller 103 from the left in the direction indicated by arrow C. The leading edge 117a of the recording paper sheet 117 is pinched by the second paper feed roller 113 and the second pressure roller 116 and is aligned with a predetermined position.
After the beginnings of the recording paper sheet 117 and the ink ribbon 118 are aligned, the cam member 110 is pivoted to press the pressure plate 109a of the pressure member 109 downward. Accordingly, the head supporter 106 pivots downward via the first coil spring 108, and therefore, the thermal head 104 starts to move downward. At the same time, the guide member 111 independently moves downward. Before the thermal head 104 is in tight contact with the platen roller 103, the lower surface of the guide member 111 presses against the recording paper sheet 117 so that the recording paper sheet 117 is reliably in contact with the peripheral surface of the platen roller 103. Therefore, even when the recording paper sheet 117 is curled, the guide member 111 can reliably press the curled recording paper sheet 117 against the platen roller 103. After the guide member 111 is lowered, the thermal head 104 moving downward presses the ink ribbon 118 and the recording paper sheet 117 against the platen roller 103.
Subsequently, the plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 104 are selectively heated in accordance with the print information and the recording paper sheet 117 is fed in the direction indicated by arrow C. Thus, the ink on the first Y-color ink surface of the ink ribbon 118 is transferred to the recording paper sheet 117, and therefore, a Y-color image is printed on the recording paper sheet 117. Thereafter, the thermal head 104 is moved upward and the guide member 111 is raised. Also, the recording paper sheet 117 is back-fed in a direction indicated by arrow D. Subsequently, the beginning of the recording paper sheet 117 is aligned with the predetermined position again and the thermal head 104 is moved downward. The ink on the M-color ink surface of the ink ribbon 118 is printed on the Y-color image, and therefore, an M-color image is overprinted on the Y-color image. By repeating such a printing operation, a desired color image can be printed on the recording paper sheet 117.
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Instead, various modifications can be made as needed.
For example, the above-described guide member may be pressed by a resilient member at all times so as to be located at a position remote from the platen in the print standby state of the printer by a predetermined distance. By causing the thermal head moving from the head-up position to the head-down position to be brought into contact with the bottom wall of the hollow guide member, the guide member may be moved to a position close to the platen against the pressing force of the resilient member. By releasing the contact of the thermal head moving from the head-down position to the head-up position with the bottom wall of the hollow guide member, the guide member may be moved to the position remote from the platen by the predetermined distance again.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-143154 | May 2006 | JP | national |
| 2006-143155 | May 2006 | JP | national |
