Claims
- 1. An ink ribbon feeder for feeding an ink ribbon in an ink ribbon feeding direction, comprising:
- a feed roll winding thereover the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon having a first edge and a second edge extending in the ribbon feeding direction and determining a width of the ink ribbon therebetween;
- a feed roll support section for rotatably supporting the feed roll;
- a take-up roll positioned downstream of the feed roll in the ink ribbon feeding direction for taking up the ink ribbon fed from the feed roll;
- a take-up roll support section for rotatably supporting the take-up roll;
- a first driving section drivingly connected to the take-up roll for rotating the take-up roll in a ribbon take-up direction;
- a second driving section drivingly connected to the feed roll for rotating the feed roll in a direction opposite the ribbon take-up direction;
- a recording unit provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and positioned below the ink ribbon and in contact therewith for forming an inked image on a recording medium while pressing the ink ribbon toward the recording medium;
- a tension adjusting member provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and having an upper portion formed with an elongated sliding surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the ink ribbon feeding direction, the tension adjusting member having a first end at a side of the first edge and a second end at a side of the second edge, and the sliding surface being in sliding contact with a lower surface of the ink ribbon for applying tension thereto;
- adjusting means adjusting a height of at least one of the first end and the second end of the tension member relative to the recording unit for equalizing distribution of a tension of the ink ribbon in the width of the ink ribbon; and
- a support frame supporting the recording unit, the take-up roll support section, and the feed roll support section, the adjusting means being provided at the support frame, wherein the first end of the tension adjusting means has a first upper end and a first lower end, and the second end of the tension adjusting means has a second upper end and a second lower end, and the adjusting means comprises:
- a spacer provided between the first lower end and the support frame for increasing a height of the first upper end to change a height between the first and second upper ends;
- a first screw engaged with the first lower end and with the support frame interposing the spacer therebetween; and
- a second screw engaged with the second lower end with the support frame.
- 2. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting means further comprises a second spacer provided between the second lower end and the support frame, the second spacer having a width different from a width of the first spacer, the second screw being engaged with the second lower end and with the support frame interposing therebetween the second spacer.
- 3. An ink ribbon feeder for feeding an ink ribbon in an ink ribbon feeding direction, comprising:
- a feed roll winding thereover the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon having a first edge and a second edge extending in the ribbon reeding direction and determining a width of the ink ribbon therebetween;
- a feed roll support section for rotatably supporting the feed roll;
- a take-up roll positioned downstream of the feed roll in the ink ribbon feeding direction for taking up the ink ribbon fed from the feed roll;
- a take-up roll support section for rotatably supporting the take-up roll;
- a first driving section drivingly connected to the take-up roll for rotating the take-up roll in a ribbon take-up direction;
- a second driving section drivingly connected to the feed roll for rotating the feed roll in a direction opposite the ribbon take-up direction;
- a recording unit provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and positioned below the ink ribbon and in contact therewith for forming an inked image on a recording medium while pressing the ink ribbon toward the recording medium;
- a tension adjusting member provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and having an upper portion formed with an elongated sliding surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the ink ribbon feeding direction, the tension adjusting member having a first end at a side of the first edge and a second end at a side of the second edge, and the sliding surface being in sliding contact with a lower surface of the ink ribbon for applying tension thereto;
- adjusting means adjusting a height of at least one of the first end and the second end of the tension member relative to the recording unit for equalizing distribution of a tension of the ink ribbon in the width of the ribbon; and
- a support frame supporting the recording unit, the take-up roll support section, and the feed roll support section, the adjusting means being provided at the support frame, wherein the support frame has an upwardly extending rib formed with a vertically extending slot, and the adjusting means comprises:
- a first screw extending through the vertically extending slot and engaged with the one end of the tension adjusting member for fixing the one end of the tension adjusting member to the upwardly extending rib, a fixing position of the first screw relative to the slot determining a height of the one end of the tension adjusting member; and
- a second screw engaged with the rib and the other end of the tension adjusting member.
- 4. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rib is formed with a second vertically extending slot, the second screw extending through the second vertically extending slot and engaged with the other end of the tension adjusting member for fixing the other end of the tension adjusting member to the upwardly extending rib, a fixing position of the second screw relative to the second slot determining a height of the other end of the tension adjusting member.
- 5. An ink ribbon feeder for feeding an ink ribbon in an ink ribbon feeding direction, comprising:
- a feed roll winding thereover the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon having a first edge and a second edge extending in the ribbon reeding direction and determining a width of the ink ribbon therebetween;
- a feed roll support section for rotatably supporting the feed roll;
- a take-up roll positioned downstream of the feed roll in the ink ribbon feeding direction for taking up the ink ribbon fed from the feed roll;
- a take-up roll support section for rotatably supporting the take-up roll;
- a first driving section drivingly connected to the take-up roll for rotating the take-up roll in a ribbon take-up direction;
- a second driving section drivingly connected to the feed roll for rotating the feed roll in a direction opposite the ribbon take-up direction;
- a recording unit provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and positioned below the ink ribbon and in contact therewith for forming an inked image on a recording medium while pressing the ink ribbon toward the recording medium;
- a tension adjusting member provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and having an upper portion formed with an elongated sliding surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the ink ribbon feeding direction, the tension adjusting member having a first end at a side of the first edge and a second end at a side of the second edge, and the sliding surface being in sliding contact with a lower surface of the ink ribbon for applying tension thereto;
- adjusting means adjusting a height of at least one of the first end and the second end of the tension member relative to the recording unit for equalizing distribution of a tension of the ink ribbon in the width of the ribbon; and
- a support frame supporting the recording unit, the take-up roll support section, and the feed roll support section, the adjusting means being provided at the support frame, wherein the first end of the tension adjusting means has a first upper end and a first lower end, and the second end of the tension adjusting means has a second upper end and a second lower end, and the adjusting means comprises:
- a first fixing screw for fixing the first lower end to the support frame;
- a first adjusting screw engaged with the first lower end and seated on the support frame for adjusting a distance between the first lower end and the support frame by the rotation of the first adjusting screw, so that a height of the first upper end is adjustable; and
- a second fixing screw for fixing the second lower end to the support frame.
- 6. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adjusting means further comprises a second adjusting screw engaged with the second lower end and seated on the support frame for adjusting a distance between the second lower end and the support frame by the rotation of the second adjusting screw, so that a height of the second upper end is adjustable.
- 7. An ink ribbon feeder for feeding an ink ribbon in an ink ribbon feeding direction, comprising:
- a feed roll winding thereover the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon having a first edge and a second edge extending in the ribbon reeding direction and determining a width of the ink ribbon therebetween;
- a feed roll support section for rotatably supporting the feed roll;
- a take-up roll positioned downstream of the feed roll in the ink ribbon feeding direction for taking up the ink ribbon fed from the feed roll;
- a take-up roll support section for rotatably supporting the take-up roll;
- a first driving section drivingly connected to the take-up roll for rotating the take-up roll in a ribbon take-up direction;
- a second driving section drivingly connected to the feed roll for rotating the feed roll in a direction opposite the ribbon take-up direction;
- a recording unit provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and positioned below the ink ribbon and in contact therewith for forming an inked image on a recording medium while pressing the ink ribbon toward the recording medium;
- a tension adjusting member provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and having an upper portion formed with an elongated sliding surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the ink ribbon feeding direction, the tension adjusting member having a first end at a side of the first edge and a second end at a side of the second edge, and the sliding surface being in sliding contact with a lower surface of the ink ribbon for applying tension thereto;
- adjusting means adjusting a height of at least one of the first end and the second end of the tension member relative to the recording unit for equalizing distribution of a tension of the ink ribbon in the width of the ribbon; and
- a support frame supporting the recording unit, the take-up roll support section, and the feed roll support section, the adjusting means being provided at the support frame, the support frame having an upwardly projecting rib at a position between the recording unit and the feed roll, and the upwardly projecting rib having a top end surface in contact with the ink ribbon.
- 8. An ink ribbon feeder for feeding an ink ribbon in an ink ribbon feeding direction, comprising:
- a feed roll winding thereover the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon having a first edge and a second edge extending in the ribbon reeding direction and determining a width of the ink ribbon therebetween;
- a feed roll support section for rotatably supporting the feed roll;
- a take-up roll positioned downstream of the feed roll in the ink ribbon feeding direction for taking up the ink ribbon fed from the feed roll;
- a take-up roll support section for rotatably supporting the take-up roll;
- a first driving section drivingly connected to the take-up roll for rotating the take-up roll in a ribbon take-up direction;
- a second driving section drivingly connected to the feed roll for rotating the feed roll in a direction opposite the ribbon take-up direction;
- a recording unit provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and positioned below the ink ribbon and in contact therewith for forming an inked image on a recording medium while pressing the ink ribbon toward the recording medium;
- a tension adjusting member provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and having an upper portion formed with an elongated sliding surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the ink ribbon feeding direction, the tension adjusting member having a first end at a side of the first edge and a second end at a side of the second edge, and the sliding surface being in sliding contact with a lower surface of the ink ribbon for applying tension thereto;
- adjusting means adjusting a height of at least one of the first end and the second end of the tension member relative to the recording unit for equalizing distribution of a tension of the ink ribbon in the width of the ribbon; and
- a support frame supporting the recording unit, the take-up roll support section, and the feed roll support section, the adjusting means being provided at the support frame, wherein the tension adjusting member is positioned downstream of the recording unit in the ink ribbon feeding direction to also serve as a separation member for separating the ink ribbon from the recording sheet which has been printed by a combination of the ink ribbon and the recording unit.
- 9. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a support frame supporting the recording unit, the take-up roll support section, and the feed roll support section, the adjusting means being provided at the support frame.
- 10. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first end of the tension adjusting means has a first upper end and a first lower end, and the second end of the tension adjusting means has a second upper end and a second lower end,
- and wherein the adjusting means comprises:
- a spacer provided between the first lower end and the support frame for increasing a height of the first upper end to change a height between the first and second upper ends;
- a first screw engaged with the first lower end and with the support frame interposing the spacer therebetween; and
- a second screw engaged with the second lower end with the support frame.
- 11. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adjusting means further comprises a second spacer provided between the second lower end and the support frame, the second spacer having a width different from a width of the first spacer, the second screw being engaged with the second lower end and with the support frame interposing therebetween the second spacer.
- 12. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support frame has an upwardly extending rib formed with a vertically extending slot;
- and wherein the adjusting means comprises:
- a first screw extending through the vertically extending slot and engaged with the one end of the tension adjusting member for fixing the one end of the tension adjusting member to the upwardly extending rib, a fixing position of the first screw relative to the vertically extending slot determining a height of the one end of the tension adjusting member; and
- a second screw engaged with the upwardly extending rib and the other end of the tension adjusting member.
- 13. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rib is formed with a second vertically extending slot, the second screw extending through the second vertically extending slot and engaged with the other end of the tension adjusting member for fixing the other end of the tension adjusting member to the upwardly extending rib, a fixing position of the second screw relative to the second vertically extending slot determining a height of the other end of the tension adjusting member.
- 14. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first end of the tension adjusting means has a first upper end and a first lower end, and the second end of the tension adjusting means has a second upper end and a second lower end;
- and wherein the adjusting means comprises:
- a first fixing screw for fixing the first lower end to the support frame;
- a first adjusting screw engaged with the first lower end and seated on the support frame for adjusting a distance between the first lower end and the support frame by the rotation of the first adjusting screw, so that a height of the first upper end is adjustable; and
- a second fixing screw for fixing the second lower end to the support frame.
- 15. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the adjusting means further comprises a second adjusting screw engaged with the second lower end and seated on the support frame for adjusting a distance between the second lower end and the support frame by the rotation of the second adjusting screw, so that a height of the second upper end is adjustable.
- 16. The ink ribbon feeder as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a support frame supporting the recording unit, the take-up roll support section, and the feed roll support section, the adjusting means being provided at the support frame, the support frame having an upwardly projecting rib at a position between the recording unit and the feed roll, and the upwardly projecting rib having a top end surface in contact with the ink ribbon.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9-1291 |
Jan 1997 |
JPX |
|
10-001767 |
Jan 1998 |
JPX |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION
The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/996,205 filed Dec. 22, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
58-16866 |
Jan 1983 |
JPX |
64-45672 |
Feb 1989 |
JPX |
9-193520 |
Jul 1997 |
JPX |
9-234892 |
Sep 1997 |
JPX |
1498367 |
Jan 1978 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Patent Abstract of Japan, Publication No. 60250976, 12-11-85. |
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 63 135276, Jul. 6, 1988. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
996205 |
Dec 1997 |
|