Ink sheet cartridge and exchangeable ink-sheet set mounted on the ink sheet cartridge

Abstract
An ink sheet cartridge includes a cartridge body 30 rotatably supporting four spools 36, 37, 38, 39. The spool 38 includes a first rotation member 56 having a transmission gear 47 and a shaft member 48 having a flange 48a. The first rotation member 46 is undetachably engaged with the shaft member 48 within a support hole 50 formed to the cartridge body 30 while interposing a side plate 51a between the transmission gear 47 and the flange 48a. An intermediate connector 46 includes resilient pawls 59 and projections 61 for engaging respective mating grooves 60 and locking grooves 62 formed to a takeup-side core tube 41, and is engaged with the flange 48a of the shaft member 48.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to an image forming device, an ink sheet cartridge for use in the image forming device, and an exchangeable ink-sheet set available for the ink sheet cartridge.




2. Related Art




Usually, a thermal printer uses an ink ribbon cartridge for printing an image on a recording sheet in terms of ease of exchange and handling. When the thermal printer is a line printer, an ink ribbon cartridge including a wide ink sheet is used. As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. HEI-6-81749 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. HEI-10-193732, this type of conventional ink sheet cartridges include a cartridge body, a supply-side member, a takeup-side member, and an ink sheet wound around the supply-side and takeup-side members. The supply-side and takeup-side members are rotatably supported on the cartridge body and detached from the cartridge body when replacing the ink sheet.




The cartridge body includes a pair of covering portions for covering over the upper and lower sides of the outer peripheral surfaces of the supply-side and takeup-side members. The covering portions have a semi-circular cross-sectional shape. Also, the cartridge body is formed in a frame-like shape so as to define a center space where the ink sheet is exposed. Providing the covering portions to the cartridge body increases rigidity of the cartridge body. However, this arrangement increases production cost.




According to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. HEI-10-193732, when the above-described ink sheet cartridge is accommodated in the image forming device, a thermal head provided to the image forming device is positioned below the center space so as to slidingly contact the lower surface of the ink sheet exposed therefrom. On the other hand, a recording sheet is brought into contact with the upper surface of the exposed portion of the ink sheet. After printing is performed on the recording sheet by the thermal head, the recording sheet is transported along a U-shaped sheet passage extending upwardly. This configuration requires a transport chute at the main body or a cover of the image forming device for separating the recording sheet from the ink sheet, and the attachment position of the transport chute is severely restricted to prevent the transport chute from being an obstacle against exchange of the ink sheet cartridge.




On the other hand, according to Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. HEI-6-81749, the thermal head is provided in sliding contact with the upper surface of the ink sheet, and the recording sheet is transported into abutment with the lower surface of the ink sheet. After printing is performed, the recording sheet is discharged out of the image forming device at a position below the ink sheet cartridge. A front side of the main body case is provided with a door, through which the ink sheet cartridge is inserted into the main body case. Also, a sheet cassette for accommodating the recording sheets is provided next to a side of the main body case close to the door at a position lower than the ink sheet cartridge. The sheet cassette is detachable from the front portion of the main body case.




However, with this configuration, an additional working space is required in front of the main body case for exchanging the recording sheets and the ink sheet cartridge. Because a space for disposing a control board, which controls operation of the image forming device, is also required in the main body case, the main body case has undesirably a large size. Moreover, when recording sheet jamming occurs, the ink sheet cartridge must be removed from the main body case in order to remove the jammed recording sheet from the lower side of the ink sheet cartridge.




Incidentally, each of the supply-side member and the takeup-side member has a core tube for winding thereon the ink sheet and a pair of spools attached to right and left ends of the core tube. One of the pair of spools is provided with a gear. When assembling the ink sheet cartridge into the image forming device, first the spools are engaged with the corresponding ends of the core tubes, and the core tubes are mounted on the cartridge body case via the spools. Then, the ink sheet cartridge is mounted to the main body of the image forming device such that the gears of the spools are meshed with corresponding gears provided to the main body case. With this configuration, the driving power is transmitted from the main body of the image forming device to the spools via the gears, thereby rotating the core tubes for feeding the ink sheet.




However, there has been a danger that a user may erroneously attach the supply-side and takeup-side members on the cartridge body. For example, the left and the right of the members may be opposite. If the members are erroneously attached to the cartridge body, upper and lower surfaces of an ink sheet will be reversed, so that printing operation becomes inoperative. Also, if the gear is set at erroneous side of the cartridge body, supply of the ink sheet becomes impossible. However, attachment work for attaching the members and spools at correct positions and orientations is bothering and troublesome for a user.




Moreover, an ink sheet having an ink quality different from a regular ink sheet, such as those of different manufacturer, may be accidentally used. When an ink sheet having a width, a dimension, a sheet material, and an ink material different from those of a regular ink sheet is incorporated into the ink sheet cartridge and used in the image forming device, normal printing will be prevented. This will undesirably degrade a quality of recorded images, which should have an excellent image quality otherwise.




The conventional image forming device is also provided with a torque limiter at the power transmission portion of the main body case. The torque limiter enables taking up of the ink sheet with a proper tension, and also prevents excessive tension from being applied to the ink sheet by providing slippage at the power transmitting region when a torque value is exceeded a maximum torque value so as to reduce power transmission from the main body to the takeup-side member.




The maximum torque value required for taking-up the ink sheet differs in accordance with a thickness, a width, and a material of the ink sheet. However, because the torque limiter is provided to the main body case of the image forming device, it is difficult and troublesome to change the maximum torque value each time and every time a different ink sheet is used.




There has been also provided a torque transmission mechanism where one end of each core tube is formed with a notched groove open to the one end, and one of the pair of spools is provided with an engagement projection engageable with the notched groove. With this configuration, torque is transmitted to the core tubes for taking up the ink sheet with a proper tension, and the torque limiter provided to the main body case of the image forming device can be dispensed with.




However, because the maximum torque value differs in accordance with the ink sheet as described above, a dimension of inner and outer diameters of the core tube where the ink sheet is wound around also differs. Accordingly, each time when a different type of ink sheet is used, spools having a corresponding diameter are needed. This causes increase in production cost.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore an objective of the present invention to overcome the above-described drawbacks, and to provide an ink sheet cartridge and an exchangeable ink-sheet set used in the ink sheet cartridge enabling a user to easily exchange the ink-sheet set and preventing assembly of ink-sheet sets other than regular ink-sheet sets.




It is another objective of the present invention to provide an ink sheet cartridge and an exchangeable ink-sheet set available for the ink sheet cartridge capable of providing an optimum transmission torque in accordance with a thickness, a width, and a material of the ink sheet to be used.




In order to achieve the above and other objectives, there is provided




There is also provided an ink sheet cartridge including four spools, a cartridge body that rotatably supports the four spools, an intermediate connector having a substantially-cylindrical shape and detachably connected to one of the four spools and unconnected to remaining three of the four spools, a supply-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube. The intermediate connector and the remaining three of the four spools are detachably engaged with the corresponding ends of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube.




There is also provided and ink sheet cartridge including four spools, a cartridge body that rotatably supports the four spools, a supply-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube. The four spools are detachably engaged with the corresponding ends of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube, and one of the four spools has an engagement pawl, and one of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube is provided with an engagement member for engageing the engagement pawl.




There is also provided an ink sheet set detachably mountable on an ink sheet cartridge including four spools, a cartridge body freely rotatably supporting the four spools, and an intermediate connector having a substantially-cylindrical shape and connected to one of the four spools and unconnected to remaining three of the four spools. The ink sheet set includes a supply-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube. Each of the ends of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube is detachably engageable with corresponding one of the intermediate connector and the remaining three of the four spools.




There is also provided an ink sheet set detachably mountable on an ink sheet cartridge including four spools and a cartridge body rotatably supporting the four spools, one of the four spools having an engagement pawl. The ink sheet set includes a supply-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube. Each of the ends of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube detachably engages corresponding one of the four spools, and one of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube is provided with an engagement member for engaging the engagement pawl.




There is also provided an ink sheet set detachably mountable on an ink sheet cartridge including four spools and a cartridge body freely rotatably supporting the four spools. The ink sheet set includes a supply-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube, and an intermediate connector having a substantially-cylindrical shape. The intermediate connector is detachably engaged with one of the ends of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube and unengaged with remaining three of the ends of the supply-side core tube and takeup-side core tube. The intermediate connector and the remaining three of the ends are engageable with corresponding ones of the four spools.




There is also provided an intermediate connector for use in an ink sheet cartridge of an image forming device, the ink sheet cartridge including four spools each having an outer diameter portion, a cartridge body freely rotatably supporting the four spools, a pair of core tubes each having two ends and an inner diameter portion, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the pair of core tubes. The intermediate connector includes a body having a substantially-cylindrical shape having a first portion that is insertable into the inner diameter portion of one of the pair of core tubes and a second portion integrally formed with the first portion. The second portion has an inner diameter portion receivable the outer diameter portion of one of the four spools, thereby connecting the one of the four spools with the one of the pair of core tubes.




There is also provided a cartridge set used in an ink sheet cartridge of an image forming device, the ink sheet cartridge including four spools and a cartridge body freely rotatably supporting the four spools. The cartridge set includes a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, and an intermediate connector having a substantially-cylindrical shape. The intermediate connector connects one of the two ends of the takeup-side core tube and one of the four spools.




There is also provide a core tube used in an ink sheet cartridge of an image forming device, and ink sheet cartridge including four spools, a cartridge body rotatably supporting the four spools, and an intermediate connector detachably connected to one of the four spools. The core tube includes a body having a cylindrical shape with two ends opposite from each other. One of the two ends is engageable with the intermediate connector.




There is also provided a core tube detachably mountable on an ink sheet cartridge including four spools and a cartridge body rotatably supporting the four spools, one of the four spools having an engagement pawl. The core tube includes a cylindrical body having two ends opposite from each other. One of the two ends is detachably engageable with the one of the four spools. The cylindrical body includes an engagement member for engaging the engagement pawl.




There is provided an ink sheet set including a supply-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube, and an intermediate connector having a substantially-cylindrical shape, the intermediate connector being engaged with one of the ends of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube.




There is provided an intermediate connector for use in an ink sheet set including a pair of core tubes each having two ends and an inner diameter portion, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the pair of core tubes. The intermediate connector includes a body having a substantially-cylindrical shape having a first portion that is insertable into the inner diameter portion of one of the pair of core tubes and a second portion integrally formed with the first portion.




There is provided a core tube used in an ink sheet set including an intermediate connector and an ink sheet. The core tube includes a body having a cylindrical shape with two ends opposite from each other. One of the two ends is engageable with the intermediate connector.




There is provided a core tube used in an ink sheet cartridge. The core tube includes a cylindrical body having two ends detachably engageable with a specific spool having an engagement pawl. The cylindrical body includes an engagement member for engaging the engagement pawl.




There is provided an ink sheet cartridge including at least three spools, a cartridge body that rotatably supports the spools, an intermediate connector having a substantially-cylindrical shape and detachably connected to one of the at least three spools and unconnected to remaining spools of the at least three spools, a supply-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, a takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube. The intermediate connector and the remaining spools of the at least three spools are detachably engaged with the corresponding ends of the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube.




There is provided an ink sheet cartridge including a tube-like supply-side member having two ends opposite from each other, a shaft being provided at the two ends respectively, a tube-like takeup-side member having two ends opposite from each other, a shaft being provided at one end, an intermediate connector having a substantially-cylindrical shape and detachably connected to the other end of the tube-like takeup-side member, a specific spool detachably engageable to the intermediate connector, the specific spool having a shaft, a cartridge body that rotatably supports the shafts, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the tube-like supply-side member and the tube-like takeup-side member.




There is provided an ink sheet cartridge including a tube-like supply-side member having two ends at which a shaft being provided at the two ends respectively, a tube-like is takeup-side member having two ends opposite from each other, a shaft being provided at one end and an engageable member being provided at the other end, a specific spool detachably engageable to the other end of the tube-like takeup-side member, the specific spool having a shaft and an engageable pawl opposite to the shaft, the engageable pawl being engageable with the engageable member of the tube-like takeup-side member, a cartridge body that rotatably supports the shafts, and an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the tube-like supply-side member and the tube-like takeup-side member.




There is provided an ink sheet cartridge including a supply-side core tube having two ends, a takeup-side core tube having two ends, at least two spools that includes a specific spool having an engagement pawl, each spools being detachably engageable with corresponding core tube respectively, and a cartridge body that rotatably supports the spools, an ink sheet wound around and expanding between the supply-side core tube and the takeup-side core tube. One of the supply-side core tube and takeup-side core tube includes an engagement member for engaging the engagement pawl of the specific spool.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a cross-sectional side view showing a facsimile device in which an ink sheet cartridge of the present invention is used;





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional partial side showing an ink sheet passage and a recording sheet passage near a printing portion of the facsimile device of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a plan view showing an ink sheet cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view showing the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 3

as viewed from a front left side thereof;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view showing the ink sheet cartridge as viewed from a front right side thereof;





FIG. 6

is a right side view showing the ink sheet cartridge;





FIG. 7

is a left side view showing the ink sheet cartridge;





FIG. 8

is an exploded perspective view showing components of the ink sheet cartridge where the ink sheet cartridge is turned upside down;





FIG. 9

is an exploded perspective view of a takeup-side left spool;




FIG.


10


(


a


) is a front view showing the a first rotation member of the takeup-side left spool of

FIG. 9

,




FIG.


10


(


b


) is a cross-sectional view of the first rotation member taken along the line Xb—Xb in FIG.


10


(


a


);




FIG.


10


(


c


) is a left side view of the first rotation member;




FIG.


10


(


d


) is a right side view of the first rotation member;




FIG.


11


(


a


) is front view showing a shaft member of the takeup-side left spool of

FIG. 9

;




FIG.


11


(


b


) is a cross-sectional view of the shaft member taken along the line XIb—XIb of FIG.


11


(


a


);




FIG.


11


(


c


) is a right side view of the shaft member;




FIG.


11


(


d


) is a perspective view of the shaft member;




FIG.


11


(


e


) is a perspective view of the shaft member;




FIG.


12


(


a


) is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate connector of the takeup-side left spool of

FIG. 9

taken along a line XIIa—XIIa of FIG.


12


(


e


);




FIG.


12


(


b


) is a front view showing the intermediate connector and an end portion of a core tube;




FIG.


12


(


c


) is a bottom view showing the intermediate connector;




FIG.


12


(


d


) is a rear view showing the intermediate connector;




FIG.


12


(


e


) is a top view showing the intermediate connector;




FIG.


13


(


a


) is a perspective view showing the intermediate connector;




FIG.


13


(


b


) is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate connector taken along the line XIIIb—XIIIb of FIG.


13


(


a


);




FIG.


13


(


c


) is a left side view of the intermediate connector;




FIG.


13


(


d


) is a right side view of the intermediate connector;




FIG.


14


(


a


) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the first rotation member and the shaft member engaged with each other and the intermediate connector engaged with the core tube;




FIG.


14


(


b


) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the complete assemble of the first rotation member, the shaft member, the intermediate connector, and the core tube;





FIG. 15

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV—XV of FIG.


14


(


b


);





FIG. 16

is an exploded perspective view showing components of an ink sheet cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention where the ink sheet cartridge is turned upside down;





FIG. 17

is an exploded perspective view of a takeup-side left spool of the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 16

;




FIG.


18


(


a


) is a cross-sectional view of a takeup-side core tube of the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 16

;




FIG.


18


(


b


) is a cross-sectional view of the takeup-side core tube taken along the line XVIIIb—XVIIIb of FIG.


18


(


b


);




FIG.


18


(


c


) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the complete assemble of the first rotation member, the shaft member, and the takeup-side core tube of

FIG. 16

;




FIG.


19


(


a


) is an enlarged cross-sectional partial view of an ink sheet cartridge according to a first modification of the second embodiment of the present invention;




FIG.


19


(


b


) is a cross-sectional partial view of the ink sheet cartridge taken along a line XIXb—XIXb of FIG.


19


(


a


);





FIG. 20

is a cross-sectional view of a takeup-side core tube of an ink sheet cartridge according to a second modification of the second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 21

is an exploded perspective view showing components of an ink sheet cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention where the ink sheet cartridge is turned upside down;





FIG. 22

is an exploded perspective view of a takeup-side left spool and other components of the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 21

;




FIG.


23


(


a


) is a partial cross-sectional view of an intermediate connector of the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 21

;




FIG.


23


(


b


) is a partially cross-sectional view of the intermediate connector of FIG.


23


(


a


);





FIG. 24

is a cross-sectional view showing the left end portion of the core tube and other components of the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 21

;





FIG. 25

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the complete assemble of the first rotation member, the shaft member, the intermediate connector, and the takeup-side core tube;





FIG. 26

is an exploded perspective view showing components of an ink sheet cartridge according to a forth embodiment of the present invention where the ink sheet cartridge is turned upside down;





FIG. 27

is an exploded perspective view of a takeup-side left spool and other components of the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 26

;





FIG. 28

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the complete assemble of a first rotation member, a shaft member, a torque limiter, and a takeup-side core tube of

FIG. 26

;





FIG. 29

is a perspective view showing an example of modified ink sheet cartridge;





FIG. 30

is a perspective view showing the ink sheet cartridge of

FIG. 29

;





FIG. 31

is a perspective view showing a supply-side spool member according to the present invention;





FIG. 32

is a perspective view showing a takeup-side spool member according to the present invention; and




FIG.


33


(


a


) is a top view of a takeup-side core tube according the first embodiment;




FIG.


33


(


b


) is a front view of the takeup-side core tube;




FIG.


33


(


c


) is a left side view of the takeup-side core tube;




FIG.


33


(


d


) is a right side view of the takeup-side core tube;




FIG.


33


(


e


) is a rear view of the takekup-side core tube;




FIG.


33


(


f


) is a bottom view of the takeup-side core tube;




FIG.


33


(


g


) is a cross-sectional view of the takeup-side core tube taken along a line XXXIIIg—XXXIIIg of FIG.


33


(


c


);




FIG.


33


(


h


) is a perspective view showing the left side end of the takeup-side core tube;




FIG.


33


(


i


) is a top view of the takeup-side core tube in engagement with a resilient pawl;




FIG.


34


(


a


) is a top view of the cartridge body with the takeup-side left spool supported thereon;




FIG.


34


(


b


) is a front view of the cartridge body of FIG.


34


(


a


);




FIG.


34


(


c


) is a left side view of the cartridge body of FIG.


34


(


a


);




FIG.


34


(


d


) is a right side view of the cartridge body of FIG.


34


(


a


);




FIG.


34


(


e


) is a rear view of the cartridge body of FIG.


34


(


a


);




FIG.


34


(


f


) is a bottom view of the cartridge body of FIG.


34


(


a


);




FIG.


34


(


g


) is a perspective view of the takeup-side left spool supported on the cartridge body of FIG.


34


(


a


);




FIG.


34


(


h


) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XXXIVh—XXXIVh of FIG.


34


(


a


); and




FIG.


34


(


i


) is a cross sectional view of the takeup-side spool of FIG.


37


(


g


) taken along a line XXXIVi—XXXIVi.











PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




Next, a facsimile device and ink sheet cartridges according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to drawings.




First, a facsimile device


1


shown in

FIG. 1

will be described. The facsimile device


1


includes ordinary facsimile functions including a function for reading an image from an original


8


and transmits its image data as facsimile data to another facsimile device through a transmission line, such as a telephone line, and a function for receiving facsimile data transmitted from other facsimile device through the transmission line and forming an image on a recording sheet


4


based on the facsimile data. In addition, the facsimile device


1


also includes a printer function for forming an image based on print data transmitted via a printer cable or radio beam, such as infrared rays, from a personal computer and a word processor.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the facsimile device


1


includes a main body case


2


, an upper cover


6


, an operation panel


3


, a sheet feed stand


5


, and an original stand


7


. Although not shown in the drawings, a handset is provided on one side of the main body case


2


. The main body case


2


has an upper opening. The upper cover


6


is positioned to cover the upper opening of the main body case


2


. A pivot point


6




a


is provided at an upper rear end of the main body case


2


, so that the upper cover


6


is pivotally movable in a vertical direction about the pivot point


6




a


at a rear end of the upper cover


6


. The operation panel


3


is provided to an upper front portion of the upper cover


6


, and includes key switches


3




a


and a liquid crystal display


3




b.


The operation panel


3


is also pivotally movable about its rear end such that its front end is moved upwardly in order to remove the original


8


jammed thereat, for example. The sheet feed stand


5


is provided at the upper rear portion of the main body case


2


, and is pivotally movable about a pivot point


5




a


at the rear end of the upper cover


6


. The paper feed stand


5


mounts thereon a stack of recording sheets


4


in a slanted orientation such that leading ends of the recording sheets


4


are positioned lower than the trailing ends thereof. The original stand


7


is detachably provided at an upper intermediate portion between the front and rear ends of the main body case


2


.




In the main body case


2


, there are provided below the operation panel


3


a pair of feed rollers


9


, a contact type image scanner portion (CIS)


10


, an original holder


11


, and a pair of original discharge rollers


12


. The feed rollers


9


transfer the original


8


from the original stand


7


. The original holder


11


is positioned above a reading portion of the CIS


10


.




In the main body case


2


, there are also provided a sheet feed portion


14


at a position below the sheet feed stand


5


. The sheet feed portion


14


includes a sheet supply roller


15


and a separation pad


16


. The sheet supply roller


15


transports each one of the recording sheets


4


from the sheet feed stand


5


. The separation pad


16


is urged against an upper peripheral surface of the sheet feed roller


15


.




Below the sheet feed portion


14


, there are provided a roller shaped platen


17


, a spring


18


, a print stand


19


, a thermal head


22


, an accommodating portion


13


, and a tension member


23


. The thermal head


22


is a line printer having a heat generating register that generates heat when applied with electric current in accordance with image data. The thermal head


22


is positioned, while facing its recording surface upward, on the print stand


19


. The print stand


19


is urged toward a lower surface of the platen


17


by the spring


18


. Accordingly, the thermal head


22


is urged to contact the recording surface of the platen


17


, thereby defining a print portion


17




a


between the thermal head


22


and the platen


17


. The accommodating portion


13


accommodates therein an ink sheet cartridge


20


in such a manner that the cartridge


20


exceeds the front and rear ends of the print stand


19


. The tension member


23


is made of a spring like plate segment.




Incidentally, the upper cover


6


is formed with a plurality of rib like upper chute portions


27


extending from rear to front over the platen


17


and downwardly protruding from the lower surface of the upper cover


6


.




Next, the ink sheet cartridge


20


will be described. As shown in

FIGS. 3

to


5


, the ink sheet cartridge


20


includes a cartridge body


30


, a supply side member


25


, a takeup side member


26


, and an ink sheet


21


. The cartridge body


30


includes a partitioning plate


24


. The ink sheet


21


is wound around and extending between the supply side member


25


and the takeup side member


26


. The ink sheet


21


has an ink surface on which an ink layer is formed.




When the ink sheet cartridge


20


is assembled in the accommodating portion


13


of the main body case


2


, the supply side member


25


is positioned at the rear side of the main body case


2


, and the takeup side member


26


is positioned at the front side thereof at a position lower than the supply side member


25


, thereby providing a front-low rear-high orientation (hip-up orientation) of the ink sheet cartridge


20


. With this configuration, a relatively large space is defined at the lower rear portion of the main body case


2


below the accommodating portion


13


. In this large space, a control baseboard


29


for executing various operation of the facsimile device


1


is positioned. As shown in

FIG. 1

, the partitioning plate


24


is disposed above the takeup side member


26


. The partitioning plate


24


and the upper chute portions


27


together serve as a transporting chute. Also, the ink sheet


21


of the ink sheet cartridge


20


extends over the thermal head


22


and a top


23




a


of the tension member


23


as shown in

FIG. 2

, while facing the ink surface upward.




For printing, the recording sheet


4


is brought overlapped with the ink surface of the ink sheet


21


. Then, both the recording sheet


4


and the ink sheet


21


are nipped at the print portion


17




a,


and an image is formed on the recording sheet


4


by the thermal head


22


. Then, the recording sheet


4


is fed alone between the upper chute portions


27


and an upper surface of the partitioning plate


24


. Then, the recording sheet


4


is discharged out of the main body case


2


via a pair of sheet discharge rollers


28


.




On the other hand, the ink sheet


21


is bent downwardly at the top


23




a


of the tension member


23


and separated from the recording sheet


4


. Then, the ink sheet


21


passes below the partitioning plate


24


and reaches the lower peripheral surface of the takeup side member


26


for being winding thereover.




Details of the ink sheet cartridge


20


will be described further with reference to

FIGS. 3 through 11

. As shown in

FIGS. 5 and 8

, the supply side member


25


includes a left spool


36


, a right spool


37


, and a cylindrical core tube


40


. Also, the takeup side member


26


includes a left spool


38


, an intermediate connector


56


, a right spool


39


, and a cylindrical core tube


41


. The ink sheet


21


includes a wide resin film having the ink surface, and is wound around the core tubes


40


,


41


. The core tubes


40


,


41


are formed of a rigid paper. The spools


36


,


37


are detachably insertable into left and right ends of the core tube


40


. The spool


39


is detachably insertable into right end of the core tube


41


.




The spools


36


,


37


,


39


are formed from a synthetic resin by injection molding technique. As shown in

FIG. 8

, the spools


37


,


39


include a shaft


44


integrally formed with a flange


43


. The spool


36


includes a shaft


42




b


integrally formed with a flange


43


. The remaining spool


38


is a composite member including a plurality of components. Details will be described later.




As shown in

FIGS. 3

to


5


, the cartridge body


30


includes a pair of left and right side plates


31




a,




31




b,


an upper cover segment


32


, and the partitioning plate


24


, all integrally formed with each other from a synthetic resin by injection molding. The left and right side plates


31




a,




31




b


extend from the supply side to the takeup side, and are positioned beside the left and right edges of the ink sheet


21


. The upper cover segment


32


is bridged between the left and right side plates


31




a


and


31




b


, and covers over an upper area of the supply-side sheet roll. The partitioning plate


24


is bridged between the left and right side plates


31




a


and


31




b


, and covers an upper area of the takeup-side sheet roll. The upper surface of the partitioning plate


24


is formed with a plurality of rib-like projections


24




a


protruding upwardly. With this configuration, the upper cover segment


32


, the partitioning plate


24


, and the left and right side plates


31




a


,


31




b


define an open area among them where the ink sheet


21


is exposed. Although the cartridge body


30


has the above-described simple configuration, because the partitioning plate


24


has a function to connect together the left and right side plates


31




a


,


31




b


, the partitioning plate


24


maintains the rigidity of the cartridge body


30


.




With this configuration, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, when the ink sheet cartridge


20


is accommodated in the accommodating portion


13


of the main body case


2


, the platen


17


is positioned above the open area, whereas the print stand


19


, the thermal head


22


, and the tension member


23


are positioned below the open area.




As shown in

FIGS. 3

to


5


, fin like knob portions


35


,


35


protrude upwardly from left and right sides of the partitioning plate


24


so that the user can hold the ink sheet cartridge


20


by the knob protrusions


35


,


35


. That is, when removing the ink sheet cartridge


20


from the accommodating portion


13


, a user can easily lift up the ink sheet cartridge


20


from the main body case


2


by holding the knob portions


35


,


35


with his or her fingers. Therefore, the user can easily exchange the ink sheet


21


. Also, because the user can hold the knob portions


35


,


35


without directly touching the ink sheet


21


, user's hands will not be dirtied by the ink. It should be noted that these fin like knob portions


35


,


35


can protrude upwardly from the left and right side plates


31




a


,


31




b


instead.




As shown in

FIG. 8

, the right side plate


31




b


is formed with a pair of shaft support grooves


33


at its supply side and takeup side for rotatably supporting the shafts


44


of corresponding ones of the right spool


37


and the right spool


39


. The left side plate


31




a


is formed with a shaft support groove


33


at its supply side for rotatably supporting the shaft


42




b


of the left spool


36


, and a shaft hole


50


at its takeup side for rotatably supporting the left spool


38


. Each shaft support groove


33


is formed with an open portion at its lower portion, through which the shaft


44


,


42




b


of the corresponding spool


36


,


37


,


39


is forcibly pushed into the shaft support groove


33


.




Also, each shaft support groove


33


is in communication with a slit like relief groove


34


extending radially outwardly from each shaft support groove


33


. When the shafts


44


,


42




b


are pushed into the respective shaft support grooves


33


, the open portions of the shaft support grooves


33


resiliently expand because of the relief grooves


34


. Upon complete insertion of the shafts


44


,


42




b


into the shaft support grooves


33


, the open portions restore their original shape to prevent the shafts


44


,


42




b


from being disengaged from the shaft support grooves


33


.




As shown in

FIG. 8

, the spools


37


,


39


have a configuration identical with each other. Each of the spools


37


,


39


includes an inner sleeve


42


, the flange


43


, and the cylindrical shaft


44


. The inner sleeve


42


is engageable with a right end inner peripheral surface of corresponding one of the supply-side core tube


40


and the takeup-side core tube


41


. The flange


43


has a diameter greater than that of the inner sleeve


42


, and the shaft


44


has a diameter smaller than that of the inner sleeve


42


.




The supply-side left spool


36


includes an inner sleeve


42


, the shaft


42




b


, the large diameter flange


43


, and a gear wheel


45


. The inner sleeve


42


is engageable with a left-side inner-peripheral surface of the supply-side core tube


40


. The inner sleeve


42


has an engaging pawl


42




a


for engaging a notched groove (not shown) formed in the core tube


40


. The shaft


42




b


is positioned outwardly of the flange


43


, and the gear wheel


45


is positioned outwardly of the shaft


42




b


. The shaft


42




b


is positioned between the flange


43


and the gear wheel


45


.




As shown in

FIGS. 8 and 9

, the takeup-side left spool


38


includes a first rotation member


46


and a shaft member


48


, each formed from synthetic resin, such as nylon resin, and produced by injection molding. Once the first rotating member


46


and the shaft member


48


are fitted each other in the shaft hole


50


while the side plate


31




a


interposed therebetween, the first rotating member


46


and the shaft member


48


are unreleasable from each other. That is, the first rotation member


46


engages the shaft member


48


in a manner that the user is unable or hard to disengage the first rotation member


46


from the shaft member


48


.




As shown in FIGS.


10


(


a


) through


10


(


d


), the first rotation member


46


includes a transmission gear


47


. The transmission gear


47


has an inner peripheral surface formed with an inner sleeve


46




a


extending from the inner peripheral surface in an axial direction of the transmission gear


47


. The inner sleeve


46




a


is formed with a slot


46




c


and a rod-like resilient member


51


provided integrally with the inner sleeve


46




a


. Both the slot


46




c


and the resilient member


51


extend in the axial direction. The resilient member


51


has a free end integrally provided with an engagement pawl


51




a


, which projects radially outwardly. A base portion


46




b


is provided at a radially outer side of the inner sleeve


46




a


. As shown in FIGS.


10


(


a


) and


10


(


b


), the base portion


46




b


includes three sector pieces equally subdivided in a circumferential direction, thereby defining generally-rectangular-shaped fitting holes


53


between neighboring sector pieces of the base portion


46




b


. Stepped portions


53




a


are provided at radially outer side of the fitting holes


53


. As shown in FIG.


10


(


a


), positioning projections


54


are provided integrally with the three sector pieces of the base portion


46




b


. Each positioning projection


54


is provided at a position confronting the shaft member


48


and protrudes in the axial direction and extends in a radial direction of the base portion


46




b.






Next, detailed description for the shaft member


48


will be provided while referring to FIGS.


11


(


a


) through


11


(


c


). The shaft member


48


has a sleeve base


48




b


. The sleeve base


48




b


has one end provided with a disk-like flange


48




a


protruding radially outwardly, and another end provided with a guide portion


48




c


extending in an axial direction. The guide portion


48




c


is formed with a cutout guide groove


48




d


at its free end, and has a radius smaller than that of the sleeve base


48




b


. The above-described resilient member


51


and the engagement pawl


51




a


of the first rotation member


46


penetrate through the inner peripheral space of the sleeve base


48




b


and the guide portion


48




c


. Three engaging members


52


extend from a radially intermediate portion of the flange


48




a


in a direction opposite to the sleeve base


48




b


. An engagement pawl


52




a


is formed to end portion of each engaging member


52


for locking engagement with each stepped portion


53




a


in a manner described later. Positioning holes


55


and locking holes


71


are formed in alternation at a base end portion of the sleeve base


48




b


and the flange


48




a


. The positioning holes


55


are for engagement with the positioning projections


54


of the first rotation member


46


. The locking holes


71


are positioned radially outwardly of the positioning holes


55


.




With this arrangement, the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


are fit to the shaft hole


50


of the cartridge body


30


in the following manner. First, the resilient member


51


of the first rotation member


46


is inserted into the shaft hole


50


from outside to inside as shown in FIG.


9


. Next, the three engaging members


52


of the shaft member


48


are inserted into the engagement holes


53


of the first rotation member


46


from the inner inside of the left side plate


31




a


while sandwiching the left side plate


31




a


between the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


. Accordingly, the engagement pawl


52




a


of each engaging member


52


is brought into locking engagement with each stepped portion


53




a


. Consequently, the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


are connected together and held at the shaft hole


50


unreleaseable from the cartridge body


30


.




At this time, the positioning projections


54


of the first rotation member


46


also engage respective positioning holes


55


of the shaft member


48


. Also, the resilient member


51


engages the cutout guide groove


48




d


of the guide portion


48




c


. As shown in FIG.


11


(


c


), the positioning holes


55


have a shape different from each other at every angular position. Also, the shapes of the complementary positioning protrusions


54


also differ from each other at every angular position. With this configuration, the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


are attached each other only with a predetermined correct orientation. It should be noted that when the resilient member


51


is inserted in the cutout guide groove


48




d


, the engagement pawl


51




a


of the resilient member


51


is outwardly urged to protrude in the radial direction from the guide portion


48




c


as shown in FIG.


14


(


a


).




Further, when the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


are in engagement with each other, the sleeve base


48




b


of the shaft member


48


and the base portion


46




b


of the first rotation member


46


together define a cylindrical member. As shown in FIGS.


14


(


a


) and


14


(


b


), the cylindrical member serves as a positioning portion for defining a rotation axis of the transmission gear


47


, i.e., that of the takeup-side spool


38


, with respect to the shaft hole


50


.




FIGS.


34


(


a


) to


34


(


f


) and


34


(


h


) shows the resultant cartridge body


30


with the spool


38


supported within the shaft hole


50


in the above-described manner as viewed from different aspects. Also, FIGS.


34


(


g


) and


34


(


i


) show the spool


38


supported within the shaft hole


50


and surrounding components.




Next, the intermediate connector


56


will be described while referring to FIGS.


12


(


a


) through


12


(


e


) and FIGS.


13


(


a


) to


13


(


d


). The intermediate connector


56


is interposed between the end of the core tube


41


and the shaft member


48


of the spool


38


. The intermediate connector


56


includes a sleeve base


57


. The sleeve base


57


has at its base-end side an inner peripheral surface


57




a


with a uniform inner diameter D


1


. As shown in FIG.


11


(


a


), the sleeve base


48




b


of the shaft member


48


also has an outer diameter of D


1


. The sleeve base


48




b


of the shaft member


48


is inserted into and rotatably fitted in the sleeve base


57


.




On the other hand, a free end of the sleeve base


57


is subdivided into three segments in its circumferential direction, thereby providing cam segments


58


. As shown in FIGS.


13


(


a


) to


13


(


d


), each cam segment


58


has an uneven inner peripheral surface including a long surface


58




a


and a short surface


58




b


. The inner peripheral surfaces of the cam segments


58


provide an inner diameter where the guide portion


48




c


of the shaft member


48


is rotatably fitted.




As described above, the engagement pawl


51




a


of the resilient member


51


is urged outwardly in the radial direction and protrudes from the guide portion


48




c


. Therefore, when the shaft member


48


rotates in an unwinding direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG.


13


(


b


), the engagement pawl


51




a


slidingly moves on the long surfaces


58




a


of the cam segments


58


against resilient force of the resilient member


51


. Therefore, the intermediate connector


56


stays still without rotating even when the resilient member


51


, i.e., the spool


38


, rotates.




On the other hand, when the resilient member


51


rotates in a winding direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG.


13


(


b


), the engagement pawl


51




a


is brought in abutment with one of the short surface


58




b


of the cam segment


58


and in engagement with one of the spaces defined by adjacent two cam segments


58


. With this engagement, the intermediate connector


56


rotates integrally with the rotation of the shaft member


48


.




That is, the engagement pawl


51




a


can rotate the intermediate connector


56


in the winding direction B, but is prevented from rotating the intermediate connector


56


in the unwinding direction A.




The sleeve base


57


of the intermediate connector


56


has an outermost sleeve portion


57




b


having an outer diameter equal to an outer diameter of the core tube


41


. As shown in FIGS.


12


(


b


),


12


(


c


), and


12


(


d


), a pair of rib-like projections


61


extend from the outermost sleeve portion


57




b


in the axial direction thereof, and as shown in FIG.


12


(


b


) one end of the core tube


41


is formed with cutout locking grooves


62


(only one is shown in FIG.


12


(


b


)), with which the projections


61


are engaged. Consequently, rotation of the intermediate connector


56


integrally rotates the core tube


41


. With this configuration, transmission torque transmitted from main body side of the facsimile device


1


can be transmitted to the takeup-side member


26


without fail.




Further, as shown in FIGS.


12


(


b


) to


12


(


e


) and FIGS.


33


(


a


) to


33


(


i


), a pair of resilient pawls


59


,


59


are formed extending in the axial direction from the outermost sleeve portion


57




b


of the intermediate connector


56


, and a pair of mating grooves


60


are formed at the left end of the core tube


41


. The mating grooves


60


are used for preventing rotation and have an L-shape in a plan view. When the sleeve base


57


of the intermediate connector


56


is inserted into the left end of the core tube


41


, each resilient pawl


59


engages the corresponding mating groove


60


. This arrangement prevents an ink-sheet set (described later) having no mating groove at its takeup-side core tube from being installed into the ink sheet cartridge


20


of the present invention because it is unable to insert the spool


38


to the core tube. This prevents mistaking installation of an ink sheet having a quality different from that of the regular ink sheet


21


, such as those of different manufacturer, and accordingly prevents troubles in printing, such as degradation of printing quality, caused by mistaking installation of an ink sheet. It should be noted that only one resilient pawl


59


and one mating groove


60


can be formed instead.




Next, installation of an exchangeable ink-sheet set onto the cartridge body


30


will be described. The exchangeable ink-sheet set is a set of the supply-side core tube


40


, a new ink sheet


21


wound thereover, and the takeup-side core tube


41


. A leading end of the new ink sheet


21


is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the core tube


41


by an adhesive tape. It is preferable that the ink sheet


21


has a width equal to a distance from an end of the outermost sleeve portion


57




b


of the intermediate connector


56


fitted with the core tube


41


to right end of the core tube


41


.




The intermediate connector


56


can be fitted with the left end of the core tube


41


beforehand if desired. In this case, any assembly error with respect to the takeup-side spool


38


can be avoided in case of exchange of the ink-sheet set, thereby facilitating the exchanging work.




The first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


has already been unreleasably installed to the shaft hole


50


of the cartridge body


30


in a manner described above and shown in FIG.


14


(


a


). Also, the intermediate connector


56


is provisionally unreleasably fitted with the left end of the takeup-side core tube


41


.




First, the takeup-side right spool


39


is inserted into the right end of the core tube


41


, and the supply-side spools


36


and


37


are inserted into the respective ends of the supply-side core tube


40


as shown in FIG.


8


. Next, the sleeve base


48




b


of the shaft member


48


is inserted into the inner peripheral surface


57




a


of the intermediate connector


56


. Then, the intermediate connector


56


is rotated relatively to the shaft member


48


so that the engagement pawl


51




a


fits in one of the spaces defined by adjacent two cam segments


58


in a manner described above. Because only by inserting the sleeve base


48




b


into the inner peripheral surface


57




a


, the engagement pawl


51




a


can be engaged with the cam segment


58


, attachment and detachment work can be facilitated.




Because one spool, i.e., the takeup-side left spool


38


, is unreleasably held on the cartridge body


30


as described above, a user can easily recognize the position of the transmission gear


47


with respect to the cartridge body


30


. Consequently, the user can easily attach the spools


36


,


37


,


39


to respective ends of the core tubes


40


,


41


with proper orientations. Thus, replacement of ink-sheet sets can be performed promptly and easily.




Next, the spools


36


,


37


,


39


are fitted with the corresponding shaft support grooves


33


,


33


,


33


of the cartridge body


30


. Then, the core tube


41


is manually rotated in the winding direction B to remove a slack of the ink sheet


21


.




When the ink sheet cartridge


20


is accommodated to the accommodating portion


13


of the facsimile device


1


, the left and right side plates


31




a


,


31




b


of the cartridge body


30


are held at their predetermined postures. At this time, inner peripheral surfaces of the shafts


44


,


44


of the spools


37


,


39


engage respective shafts (not shown) protruding from one side of the main body case


2


of the facsimile device


1


. At the same time, the gear wheel


45


of the spool


36


and the transmission gear


47


of the spool


38


are respectively in meshing engagement with power transmission gears (not shown) provided to the main body case


2


. Further, inner surfaces of an outer sleeve portion


36




a


of the spool


36


shown in FIG.


8


and the outer sleeve portion


51




b


of the spool


38


are engaged with corresponding shafts (not shown) resiliently protruding from another side of the main body case


2


of the facsimile device


1


. This arrangement enables the supply side member


25


and the takeup side member


26


to smoothly rotate.




Printing is started upon operation of the control baseboard


29


based on either a printing command inputted from the operation panel


3


, a printing command received from an external computer (not shown), or facsimile data transmitted from other facsimile device via a public line. Once the printing is started, first the sheet supply roller


15


rotates to start supply of the recording sheet


4


. After a sheet sensor (not shown) has detected the leading end of the recording sheet


4


, the recording sheet


4


is further transported by a predetermined distance. When the leading end approaches the platen


17


, a driving force is transmitted to the platen


17


and also to the gear wheel


45


and the transmission gear


47


of the ink sheet cartridge


20


. Because the engagement pawl


51




a


of the resilient member


51


has already brought into engagement with the space between the neighboring cam segments


58


of the intermediate connector


56


as shown in

FIG. 15

, the rotation of the transmission gear


47


is reliably transmitted to the core tube


41


. As a result, transportation of the ink sheet


21


is performed concurrent with the transportation of the recording sheet


4


, and printing is performed onto the recording sheet


4


by the thermal head


22


.




Specifically, the heat generating resistor of the thermal head


22


generates heat in accordance with the print data, while both the ink sheet


21


and the recording sheet


4


are nipped at the printing portion


17




a


between the platen


17


and the thermal head


22


. The heat from the thermal head


22


selectively melts the ink on the ink sheet


21


, and the melted ink is transferred onto a bottom surface of the recording sheet


4


, thereby forming an ink image thereon at every one line basis. It should be noted that the ink on the recording sheet


4


is cooled off meanwhile and keeps clinging on the recording sheet


4


.




After the printing, the ink sheet


21


alone is largely bent downwardly at the top


23




a


of the tension member


23


and separated from the recording sheet


4


. Then, the ink sheet


21


is fed toward the lower outer peripheral portion of the takeup-side member


26


as shown in FIG.


2


. On the other hand, the recording sheet


4


is transported along the upper surface of the partitioning plate


24


. At this time, the knob portions


35


,


35


positioned at left and right ends of the partitioning plate


24


serves as guides for guiding the left and right edges of the recording sheet


4


.




Incidentally, one end of the partitioning plate


24


close to the tension member


23


functions to bend the leading portion of the recording sheet


4


downwardly. This surely allows the leading end of the recording sheet


4


to ride over the upper surface of the partitioning plate


24


, thereby reliably preventing the recording sheet


4


from being transported downwardly along with the ink sheet


21


. In this way, the ink sheet


21


is easily and surely separated from the recording sheet


4


by the tension member


23


and the partitioning plate


24


.




Also, because the center space of the ink sheet cartridge


20


is defined between the supply-side member


25


and the partitioning plate


24


, the recording sheet


4


is promptly separated from the ink sheet


21


immediately after the printing by simply traveling the recording sheet


4


along the upper surface of the partitioning plate


24


. This results in a simple and compact structure of the ink sheet cartridge


20


and the facsimile device


1


, and reduces production costs.




The plurality of rib-like projections


24




a


of the partitioning plate


24


extend in the sheet transporting direction. Therefore, the printed surface, i.e., the bottom surface, of the recording sheet


4


is subject to less friction from the partitioning plate


24


when the recording sheet


4


passes along the partitioning plate


24


. This configuration reduces contamination of the recording sheet


4


with an ink, which has accidentally been deposited on the partitioning plate


24


.




As described above, according to the first embodiment, because the partitioning plate


24


serves as the lower transporting chute, the recording sheet


4


can be reliably introduced into the space between the upper chute portion


27


and the partitioning plate


24


. When the upper cover


6


are pivotally lifted up about the pivot point


6




a,


the upper chute portion


27


is also lifted up. Further, because the ink sheet cartridge


20


is set in the hip-up orientation, and because the recording sheet


4


is transported from the upper rear portion to the lower front end of the main body case


2


along the upper side of the ink sheet cartridge


20


, when sheet jamming occurs, a large open space can be provided between the upper chute portion


27


and the partitioning plate


24


by simply lifting up the upper cover


6


. Accordingly, a jammed recording sheet


4


can be easily removed, and the transporting chute defined by the partitioning plate


24


and the upper chute portion


27


will not obstruct exchange of the ink sheet cartridge


20


.




If a pair of upper and lower parts of transporting chute are formed as components separated from the ink sheet cartridge, there is a need to remove the transporting chute from the main body case of the facsimile device every time the user replaces the ink sheet. However, according to the configuration of the present invention, there is no need for the user to remove the transporting chute when replacing the ink sheet.




Next, an ink sheet cartridge


120


according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to

FIGS. 16

to


18


(


c


). The ink sheet cartridge


120


has the similar configuration as the ink sheet cartridge


20


of the first embodiment. However, the ink sheet cartridge


120


has a takeup-side core tube


141


different from the core tube


41


, and does not include the intermediate connector


56


. Other components are the same as that of the first embodiment, so these components are assigned with the same numberings, and detailed explanations for these components will be omitted.




As shown in

FIGS. 16

,


17


,


18


(


a


), and


18


(


b


), the core tube


141


is formed with an attachment hole


65


at its left end portion. The attachment hole


65


has a generally rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a radially outer section and a radially inner section, each open at the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the core tube


141


, respectively. The radially outer section has an area greater than that of the radially inner section. As shown in FIGS.


18


(


a


) and


18


(


b


), a separate engagement projecting member


66


formed of a synthetic resin is inserted into the attachment hole


65


from the outside of the core tube


141


, and fixed thereto by an adhesive agent. The engagement projecting member


66


has a radially outer portion and radially inner portion integrally formed with the radially outer portion. The radially outer portion complementarily engages the radially outer section of the attachment hole


65


, so that the engagement projecting member


66


cannot drop radially inwardly into the core tube


141


. Moreover, the radially outer portion has an outer arcuate surface whose radius of curvature is equal to that of the outer peripheral surface of the core tube


141


. The radially inner portion of the engagement projecting member


66


protrudes toward a center axis of the core tube


141


to provide an engagement portion


66




a


. As will be described later, the engagement portion


66




a


is abuttable on the side surface of the engagement pawl


51




a


provided at the tip end of the resilient member


51


.




Incidentally, the attachment hole


65


shown in FIGS.


18


(


a


) and


18


(


b


) is formed with a stepped portion at the boundary between the radially outer section and the radially inner section. However, an attachment hole having a sector shape in cross-section in which a radially outer section has a circumferential length grater than that of a radially inner section can be used instead. In this case, an engagement projection has a complementary sector shape in cross-section. This arrangement also prevents the engagement projection from being dropped into the internal of the core tube


141


.




Next, installation of an exchangeable ink-sheet set onto the cartridge body


30


will be described. The exchangeable ink-sheet set is a set of the supply-side core tube


40


, a new ink sheet


21


wound thereover, and the takeup-side core tube


141


. The engagement projecting member


66


is provisionally fixed to the attachment hole


65


of the core tube


141


. The ink sheet


21


has a width preferably equal to a distance between the right and left ends of the core tube


141


. A leading end of the ink sheet


21


is provisionally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the core tube


141


by an adhesive tape. Further, the shaft member


48


and the first rotation member


46


are unreleasably assembled into the shaft hole


50


of the cartridge body


30


in the same manner as in the above-describe first embodiment. That is, the resilient member


51


is inserted in the cutout guide groove


48




d


, and the engagement pawl


51




a


is outwardly urged to protrude in the radial direction from the guide portion


48




c.






First, the supply-side left and right spools


36


and


37


are respectively inserted into the left and right ends of the supply-side core tube


40


in the same manner as in the first embodiment.




Then, the guide portion


48




c


of the shaft member


48


is directly inserted into the left end of the core tube


141


. At this time, because the free end of the resilient member


51


is urged radially outwardly, the resilient member


51


will be deformingly bent as shown in FIG.


18


(


c


) such that the engagement pawl


51




a


is in sliding relation with the inner peripheral surface of the core tube


141


. When the guide portion


48




c


is inserted into the core tube


141


by a relatively large predetermined depth, then the spool


38


is rotated in the winding up direction B so that the engagement pawl


51




a


is brought into abutment with the side surface of the engagement portion


66




a


as shown in FIG.


18


(


a


). This configuration provides a torque transmission mechanism. Then, the spools


39


,


36


,


37


are fitted at the corresponding shaft support grooves


33


of the cartridge body


30


.




Because only one spool, i.e., the takeup-side left spool


38


, is unreleasably held on the cartridge body


30


as described above, a user can easily recognize the position of the transmission gear


47


with respect to the cartridge body


30


. Consequently, the user can easily attach the spools


36


,


37


,


39


to respective ends of the core tubes


40


,


141


with proper orientations when the user replaces the ink-sheet set. Thus, replacement of ink-sheet sets can be performed promptly and easily.




Also, the above configuration prevents the ink sheet cartridge


120


of the present embodiment from accommodating an ink-sheet set having a takeup-side core tube provided with no engagement portion


66




a


, and therefore reliably prevents misuse of an ink sheet having a quality different from that of the ink sheet


21


of the present invention in the facsimile device


1


. Consequently, degradation of printing quality and any printing deficiency caused by the misuse can be obviated.




When the resultant ink sheet cartridge


120


assembled with the ink-sheet set is mounted on the accommodating portion


13


, the inner peripheral surface of the core tube


141


is supported concentrically by the sleeve base


48




b


of the spool


38


. Because the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


of the spool


38


are integrally fitted with each other, and because the engagement pawl


51




a


is in abutment with the engagement portion


66




a,


the rotation force from the transmission gear


47


in the winding direction B can be transmitted to the core tube


141


. In this way, feeding of the ink sheet


21


is performed.




Next, a first modification of the second embodiment will be described while referring to FIGS.


19


(


a


) and


19


(


b


). According to the present modification, as shown in FIGS.


19


(


a


) and


19


(


b


), a takeup-side core tube


141




a


is formed with an engagement hole


67


instead of the attachment hole


65


. The engagement hole


67


has a rectangular shape extending in the axial direction. When the spool


38


is inserted into the core tube


141




a


, the resilient member


51


is deformed while the engagement pawl


51




a


is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the core tube


141




a.


Then, the engagement pawl


51




a


is brought into engagement with the engagement hole


67


. In this modification also, an inner diameter of the core tube


141




a


is set equal to an outer diameter of the sleeve base


48




b


of the shaft member


48


.




Accordingly, a driving force from the main body of the facsimile device


1


is transmitted to the core tube


141




a


via the transmission gear


47


and the resilient member


51


. Function and effect is the same as those of the second embodiment.





FIG. 20

shows a second modification of the second embodiment. As shown in

FIG. 20

, a takeup-side core tube


141




b


has a spline-like inner shape in cross-sectional view. That is, the core tube


141




b


has an inner peripheral surface formed with a plurality of engagement grooves


68


defined by a plurality of ribs extending in the axial direction of the core tube


141




b


. With this configuration, the engagement pawl


51




a


of the spool


38


engages one of the plurality of engagement grooves


68


. Function and effect are approximately the same as those of the second embodiment. The engagement grooves


68


can be formed to either the entire length of the core tube


141




b


in the axial direction or only a predetermined depth from the left side of the core tube


141




b


as long as the engagement pawl


51




a


can engage.




It should be noted that in case of the second modification, the resilient member


51


can be dispensed with, and a cross-sectional shape of the sleeve base


48




b


of the spool


38


can be made in conformance with the engagement groove


68


of the core tube


141




b


. Also, only a single engagement groove can be formed.




According to a further alternative, an engagement projection


66


can be provided at one end of the core tube


40


, and the small diameter inner sleeve


42


of the supply side spool


36


can be provided with an engagement pawl (not shown) engageable with the engagement projection


66


. In the latter case, the resilient member


51


at the first rotation member


46


can be dispensed with, and instead, the above described engagement portion


66




a


can be engaged with the cutout guide groove


48




d


at the guide portion


48




c


of the shaft member


48


.




Next, an ink sheet cartridge


220


according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to

FIGS. 21

to


25


. The ink sheet cartridge


220


is similar to the ink sheet cartridge


20


of the first embodiment except that the ink sheet cartridge


220


includes a takeup-side core tube


241


and the intermediate connector


70


different from the takeup-side core tube


41


and the intermediate connector


56


. Details will be described below.




As shown in

FIGS. 21 and 22

, the takeup-side core tube


241


is formed with a mating groove


60


at its left end. The core tube


241


has a different inner diameter depend on the kind of the ink sheet


21


that is wound therearound, such as a sheet material, a width, and a thickness of the ink sheet


21


.




The intermediate connector


70


is a sleeve like member produced from a synthetic resin by an injection molding, and has a size in conformance with the inner diameter of the core tube


241


. The intermediate connector


70


includes a sleeve portion


70




a


, a flange portion


70




b


, first locking projections


72


, and a second locking projection


73


, all integrally formed one another.




The sleeve portion


70




a


is tightly fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the core tube


241


. As shown in

FIG. 22

, the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion


70




a


is formed with a plurality of cutout grooves


74


and a plurality of ribs


75


extending in the axial direction thereof. The cutout grooves


74


facilitate flex of the sleeve portion


70




a


when inserted into the core tube


241


. On the other hand, the ribs


75


facilitate insertion of the sleeve portion


70




a


into the core tube


241


.




The flange portion


70




b


is slidable on the periferal surface of the sleeve base


48




b


of the shaft member


48


. The first locking projections


72


protrude from one side surface of the flange portion


70




b


for engagement with the locking holes


71


of the flange


48




a


. The second locking projection


73


protrudes radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion


70




a


. As shown in FIGS.


23


(


a


) and


23


(


b


), the second locking projection


73


has a bifurcated form and, as shown in

FIG. 25

, is engageable with the mating groove


60


of the core tube


241


.




Next, installation of an exchangeable ink-sheet set onto the cartridge body


30


of the ink sheet cartridge


220


will be described. The exchangeable ink-sheet set is a set of the supply-side core tube


40


, a new ink sheet


21


wound therearound, the takeup-side core tube


241


, and the intermediate connector


70


. The intermediate connector


70


can be fitted with the left end of the core tube


241


beforehand. Alternatively, the intermediate connector


70


can be prepared as an optional piece.




The ink sheet


21


has a width preferably equal to a distance between the right and left ends of the core tube


241


. A leading end of the ink sheet


21


is provisionally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the core tube


241


by an adhesive tape. Also, the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


are unreleaseably assembled together to the shaft hole


50


so as to provide the takeup-side left spool


38


as shown in FIG.


25


.




First, the intermediate connector


70


is interposed between the left end of the take-up side core tube


241


and shaft portion


48


of the take-up side left spool


38


. Then, the shaft portion


48


is inserted into the core tube


241


such that the sleeve portion


70




a


of the intermediate connector


70


is tightly fitted between the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve base


48




b


and the inner peripheral surface of the core tube


241


. At this time, the first locking projections


72


are engaged with the first locking holes


71


, and the second locking projection


73


is engaged with the mating groove


60


.




It should be noted that the intermediate connector


70


can be provisionally mounted over the sleeve base


48




b


such that the first locking projections


72


are engaged with the locking holes


71


of the flange


48




a.






Then, the takeup-side right spool


39


is inserted into the right end of the core tube


241


, and the supply side left and right spools


36


and


37


are respectively inserted into the left and right ends of the supply-side core tube


40


.




Because the first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


are integrally fitted with each other, and because the intermediate connector


70


having the first and second locking projections


72


,


73


is interposed between the spool


38


and the core tube


241


, the rotation force of the transmission gear


47


in the winding direction can be transmitted to the core tube


241


.




According to the above-described third embodiment, the intermediate connector


70


can be inserted into only the left end of the core tube


241


. Therefore, an ink-sheet set having a takeup-side core tube whose inner diameter is not matched with the intermediate connector


70


of the present embodiment, such as an ink-sheet set of other manufacturers, cannot be assembled into the ink sheet cartridge


220


. This prevents misuse of an ink sheet having a quality different from the regular ink sheet


21


. Consequently, degradation of printing quality and any printing deficiency caused by the misuse can be obviated.




Because various intermediate connectors


70


can be prepared in conformance with the inner diameter of the core tube


241


, an optimum one of the intermediate connectors


70


can be replaceably used in accordance with the kind of the ink sheet


21


to be used. Accordingly, a user can simply use an exchangeable ink-sheet set, which includes the ink sheet


21


, the core tubes


40


,


241


, and the corresponding intermediate connector


70


without preparing different left spools


38


for different ink sheets.




Further, because the first locking projections


72


are engaged with the corresponding locking holes


71


, the locking position can be sufficiently far from the rotation center of the spool


38


. As a result, force of transmission torque from the shaft member


48


to the intermediate connector


70


can be less. Consequently, thickness of the flange portion


70




b


can be reduced, and so the intermediate connector


70


can be made in a compact size.




It should be noted that in the present third embodiment the resilient member


51


and the engagement pawl


51




a


can be dispensed with. Alternatively, the engagement pawl


51




a


can engage an engagement hole (not shown) formed to the core tube


241


having a relatively small inner diameter.




Next, an ink sheet cartridge


320


according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to

FIGS. 26

to


28


.




As shown in

FIG. 26

, the ink sheet cartridge


320


of the fourth embodiment has the similar configuration as the ink sheet cartridge


20


of the first embodiment. However the ink sheet cartridge


320


includes a takeup-side core tube


341


different from the takeup-side core tube


41


and also includes a torque limiter


80


instead of the intermediate connector


56


. Details will be described next. Any other components and configurations are the same as that of the first embodiment, so these components are assigned with the same numberings, and the explanation for those will be omitted.




The takeup-side core tube


341


has a left-side inner peripheral surface formed with no protrusion, and has a left-side inner diameter with a relatively small size.




As shown in

FIGS. 26 and 27

, the torque limiter


80


is formed to a sleeve-like shape from a material having high friction coefficient, such as a rubber, for interposing between the sleeve base


48




b


of the takeup-side left spool


38


and the takeup-side core tube


341


. The torque limiter


80


includes a small diameter sleeve portion


80




a


and a large diameter flange portion


80




b


integrally formed therewith. The sleeve portion


80




a


has an outer diameter corresponding to the left-end inner diameter of the core tube


341


, so that the sleeve portion


80




a


is inserted into and fits the left end of the core tube


341


.




Both the sleeve portion


80




a


and the flange portion


80




b


have an inner diameter corresponding the sleeve base


48




b


of the left spool


38


, so that the sleeve base


48




b


is inserted into and fits the sleeve portion


80




a


and the flange portion


80




b


. The flange portion


80




b


is slidable on the surface of the flange


48




a


protruding from the sleeve base


48




b.






Next, installation of an exchangeable ink-sheet set onto the cartridge body


30


of the ink sheet cartridge


320


will be described. The exchangeable ink-sheet set is a set of the supply-side core tube


40


, a new ink sheet


21


wound thereover, the takeup-side core tube


341


, and the torque limiter


80


. If desired, the torque limiter


80


can be provisionally attached to the left end of the core tube


341


. A width of the ink sheet


21


is preferably equal to a distance between the right end of the core tube


341


and the outer side end of the flange portion


80




b


of the torque limiter


80


attached to the left end of the core tube


341


. A leading end of the new ink sheet


21


is provisionally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the core tube


341


by an adhesive tape.




The first rotation member


46


and the shaft member


48


are provisionally undetachably assembled together to the shaft hole


50


of the cartridge body


30


to provide the takeup-side left spool


38


.




First, the takeup-side right spool


39


is inserted into the right end of the core tube


341


, and the supply-side left and right spools


36


and


37


are respectively inserted into the left and right ends of the supply-side core tube


40


in a manner shown in FIG.


26


.




Next, the sleeve base


48




b


of the spool


38


is inserted into the sleeve portion


80




a


of the torque limiter


80


. As a result, the core tube


341


and the sleeve base


48




b


are tightly fitted together because of the resilient force of the sleeve portion


80




a


of the torque limiter


80


such that the sleeve portion


80




a


is tightly fitted into a space between the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve base


48




b


and the inner peripheral surface of the core tube


341


as shown in FIG.


28


. With this configuration, the rotation force of the transmission gear


47


in the winding direction can be reliably transmitted to the core tube


341


.




However, when a torque value exceeds a maximum torque value of the torque limiter


80


, slippage occurs at the torque limiter


80


. Therefore, excessive tension will not be imparted on the ink sheet


21


, and forcible takeup of the ink sheet


21


is prevented. Accordingly, accidental breakage of the ink sheet


21


is prevented. It should be noted that the maximum torque value of the torque limiter


80


is defined as a torque value at which the torque limiter


80


can transmit a maximum rotation force.




Also, the maximum torque value of the torque limiter


80


can be selectively set in accordance with a thickness, a width, and a material of the ink sheet


21


to be used. Therefore, a preferable one of the torque limiters


80


can be selectively attached to the end of the core tube


341


. Consequently, it is unnecessary for the user to re-set the maximum torque value at the main body side of the facsimile device


1


in accordance of the ink sheet


21


to use. Mere installation of the ink-sheet set completes the adjustment of the maximum torque value because the torque limiter


80


appropriate for the ink sheet


21


is included in the ink-sheet set.




As described above, the left end of the takeup-side core tube


341


can be inserted with only the torque limiter


80


. Therefore, an ink-sheet set having a takeup-side core tube with different inner diameter, such as ink-sheet sets produced by different manufacturers, cannot be used in the ink sheet cartridge


320


of the present invention. This prevents misuse of an ink sheet of other company having a quality different from that of the regular ink sheet


21


in the facsimile device


1


.




Further, only the core tube


341


having left end fitted with the torque limiter


80


can be complementarily fitted with the spool


38


. In other words, a core tube of different manufacture provided with no torque limiter cannot be fitted with the spool


38


of the present invention. Therefore, misuse of the ink sheet of other manufactures having a quality different from the regular ink sheet


21


can be reliably prevented.




Consequently, degradation of printing quality and any printing deficiency caused by the misuse can be obviated.




It should be noted that the resilient member


51


and the engagement pawl


51




a


can be dispensed with in this embodiment.




While some exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many possible modifications and variations which may be made in these exemplary embodiments while yet retaining many of the novel features and advantages of the invention.




For example, although the facsimile device


1


is described in the above embodiments, the present invention is available for various image forming device, such as a printer, a copying machine, and a multi-function device incorporating these functions.




Also, the above-described facsimile device


1


defines the transport path for the recording sheet


4


extending in a substantially straight direction from the rear to the front of the main body case


2


. However, the present invention can be also applied to a facsimile device defining a transport path extending in a U shape so that a transport direction of a recording medium is reversed. In this case, as shown in

FIG. 29

, the knob portion


35


for providing a grip portion to a user can be formed to the partitioning plate


24


at a position other than the left and right sides thereof.




Also, as shown

FIGS. 29 and 30

, a guide plate


90


can be provided to the cartridge case so as to surround the outer periphery of the takeup-side left spool


38


. Because there is no need to remove the takeup-side left spool


38


from the cartridge body


30


, it is not preferable that the operator unnecessarily access the takeup-side left spool


38


. The guide plate


90


prevents the user from accessing the spool


38


by an accident.




Moreover, in the above-described embodiments, the takeup-side left spool


38


is undetachable from the cartridge body


30


. However, any one of the spools


36


,


37


,


39


can be undetachably supported by the cartridge body


30


instead of the spool


38


as long as the user can easily recognize the positions and orientations of the spools with respect to the cartridge body


30


and core tubes when replacing the ink sheet


21


.




In the above-described embodiments and modifications the supply-side left spool


36


and the supply-side right spool


37


are formed as separate components. However, a supply-side spool member


400


shown in

FIG. 31

can be used instead. As shown, the supply-side spool member


400


includes a left spool member


436


and a right spool member


437


connected to each other by a connection rod


450


, and also includes a separate flange


443


. The left spool member


436


, the right spool member


437


, and the connection rod


450


are formed integrally with one another. Alternatively, these components can be formed as components separated from one another and attached together by adhesive or the like.




The supply-side spool member


400


is inserted into and penetrates through the supply-side core tube


40


from its left end so that the right spool member


437


protrudes from the right end of the core tube


40


. Then, the flange


443


is mounted on the right spool member


437


.




Similarly, a takeup-side spool member


500


shown in

FIG. 32

can be used instead of the takeup-side left spool


38


and the takeup-side right spool


39


of the above-described second embodiment. The takeup-side spool member


500


includes a left spool member


538


and a right spool member


539


connected by a connection rod


550


, and also includes a separate flange


543


engageable with the right spool member


539


. The left spool member


538


includes a first rotation member


546


and a shaft member


548


. The first rotation member


546


has the same configuration as that of the above-described first rotation member


46


. That is, the first rotation member


546


is formed with a transmission gear


547


, a resilient member


551


urged outwardly in the radial direction, an engagement pawl


551




a


formed at a tip end of the resilient member


551


, and the like. The shaft member


548


is unreleasably engageable with the first rotation member


546


, and has the same configuration as that of the above-described shaft member


48


. That is, the shaft member


548


includes a sleeve base


548




b,


a guide portion formed with a guide groove


548




c


through which the engagement pawl


551




a


protrudes outwardly, and the like.




The takeup-side spool member


500


is inserted into and penetrates through the supply-side core tube


141


(


141




a


) from its left end so that the right spool member


539


protrudes from the right end of the core tube


141


(


141




a


). Then, the flange


543


is mounted on the right spool member


539


.




It should be noted that although the right spool member


539


is unreleasably mounted to the left side plate


31




a


of the cartridge body


30


, the takeup-side spool member


500


is able to slightly pivot with respect to the left side plate


31




a


, so that a user can replace the ink sheet without detaching the takeup-side spool member


500


from the cartridge body


30


.




Although the supply-side spool member


400


and the takeup-side spool member


500


shown in

FIGS. 31 and 32

include the connection rods


450


,


550


having a smaller diameter than that of the right spool members


437


,


539


, the connection rods


450


,


550


can be dispensed with, and the right spool members


437


,


539


can be formed in an extended form to integrally connect the left spool members


436


,


538


.




Moreover, the supply-side spool member


400


and the takeup-side spool member


500


or the connection rods


450


,


550


can have a hollow inside throughout their longitudinal length.




Any combinations of ones of the supply-side left and right spools


36


,


37


, the takeup-side left and right spools


38


,


39


, the supply-side spool member


400


, and the takeup-side spool member


500


can be used. That is, when the supply-side left and right spools


36


,


37


and the takeup-side spool member


500


are used, three separate components are supported on the cartridge body


30


. When the supply-side spool member


400


and the takeup-side left and right spools


38


,


39


are used, three separate components are supported on the cartridge body


30


. When the supply-side spool member


400


and the takeup-side spool member


500


are used, only two separate members are supported on the cartridge body


30


.




Although in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the spool


38


is engaged with the takeup-side core tube, the ink sheet cartridge can be configured so that the spool


38


engages the supply-side core tube.



Claims
  • 1. An ink sheet cartridge of an image forming device, the ink sheet cartridge including:four spools; a cartridge body rotatably supporting the four spools; an intermediate connector detachably connected to one of the four spools; and a pair of core tubes, one core tube of the pair of core tubes comprising a body having a cylindrical shape with two ends opposite from each other, one of the two ends detachably engaged with the intermediate connector.
  • 2. The ink sheet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed with at least one engagement groove that is engageable with an engagement protrusion formed to the intermediate connector.
  • 3. The ink sheet cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the body has an outer diameter equal to an outermost diameter of the intermediate connector.
  • 4. The ink sheet cartridge according to claim 2, wherein a number of engagement grooves formed to the body is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of engagement protrusions formed to the intermediate connector.
  • 5. The ink sheet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a rotational direction of the body is regulated by the engagement of the intermediate connector to the body.
  • 6. A combination of a core tube and an intermediate connector used in an ink sheet set including an ink sheet stretched between the core tube and a second tube, the core tube comprising a body having a cylindrical shape with two ends opposite from each other, one of the two ends detachably engaged with the intermediate connector, wherein the body has an outer diameter equal to an outermost diameter of the intermediate connector.
  • 7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the body is formed with at least one engagement groove that is engaged with an engagement protrusion formed to the intermediate connector.
  • 8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein a number of engagement grooves formed to the body is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of engagement protrusions formed to the intermediate connector.
  • 9. The combination according to claim 6, wherein a rotational direction of the body is regulated by the detachable engagement of the intermediate connector to the body.
  • 10. A core tube used in an ink sheet set including an intermediate connector and an ink sheet with a predetermined width, the core tube comprising a body having a cylindrical shape with two ends opposite from each other, one of the two ends detachably engaged with the intermediate connector, wherein a total width of the body with the intermediate connector engaged to the body is equal to the predetermined width of the ink sheet.
  • 11. The core tube according to claim 10, wherein a rotational direction of the body is regulated by the engagement of the intermediate connector to the body.
  • 12. An ink sheet set used with an intermediate connector engageable with a spool having a gear, comprising:an ink sheet having a predetermined width; a supply-side core tube around which the ink sheet is wound; and a takeup-side core tube for taking up the ink sheet, the takeup-side core tube having two ends opposite from each other, one of the two ends detachably engaged with the intermediate connector, wherein a total width of the takeup-side core tube with the intermediate connector engaged to the takeup-side core tube is equal to a width of the supply-side core tube.
  • 13. The ink sheet set according to claim 12, wherein the total width of the takeup-side core tube with the intermediate connector engaged to the takeup-side core tube is equal to the predetermined width of the ink sheet, and the width of the supply-side core tube is equal to the predetermined width of the ink sheet.
  • 14. The ink sheet set according to claim 12, wherein a rotational direction of the takeup-side core tube is regulated by the engagement of the intermediate connector to the body.
  • 15. A combination of a core tube and an intermediate connector engageable with a first spool having a gear, the core tube around which an ink sheet having a predetermined width is wound, the core tube being rotatably and detachably mountable onto an ink sheet cartridge by the first spool and a second spool, the core tube comprising:a body having two ends opposite from one another, one of the two ends being engageable with the intermediate connector, another one of the two ends being engageable with the second spool, wherein the body is mountable onto the ink sheet cartridge by the first spool and the second spool only in a condition where the body is engaged with the intermediate connector at the one of the two ends.
  • 16. The combination of a core tube and an intermediate connector according to claim 15, wherein a rotational direction of the body is regulated by the engagement of the intermediate connector to the body.
  • 17. A set of core tubes used in an ink sheet set including an intermediate connector and an ink sheet having a predetermined width, the set of core tubes comprising:a supply-side core tube around which the ink sheet is wound, the supply-side core tube having a width substantially equal to the predetermined width of the ink sheet; and a takeup-side core tube around which the ink sheet is wound, the takeup-side core tube having a width shorter than the width of the supply-side core tube.
  • 18. The core tube according to claim 17, wherein the takeup-side core tube is engaged with the intermediate connector and a rotational direction of the takeup-side core tube is regulated by the engagement of the intermediate connector to the takeup-side core tube.
Priority Claims (8)
Number Date Country Kind
2000-096817 Mar 2000 JP
2000-096818 Mar 2000 JP
2000-096819 Mar 2000 JP
2000-096820 Mar 2000 JP
2000-096821 Mar 2000 JP
2000-096822 Mar 2000 JP
2000-096823 Mar 2000 JP
2001-047772 Feb 2001 JP
Parent Case Info

This is a Division of application Ser. No. 09/820,704 filed Mar. 30, 2001. The entire disclosure of the prior application(s) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

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