RECORDING SHEET/INK SHEET INTEGRAL CASSETTE AND PRINTER APPARATUS UTILIZING THE SAME

Abstract

The recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette includes a recording sheet containing portion constituted of a substantially rectangular frame member which has a first aperture for sheet feeding, pressurization and recording sheet loading, and a second aperture for feeding the recording sheet to a surface opposed to the first aperture, an ink sheet containing portion for containing an ink sheet to be fed, and an ink sheet winding portion for winding up the ink sheet fed from the ink sheet containing portion. The ink sheet winding portion is positioned along a side of the substantially rectangular shape, the second aperture is positioned on a side opposed to the side, and the ink sheet containing portion is provided along the second aperture, and a third aperture for feeding and driving the recording sheet is provided in an intermediate portion between the ink sheet containing portion and the ink sheet winding portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an assembling method for the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing an assembling method for the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an assembling method for the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an assembling method for the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a printer utilizing the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a printer utilizing the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a thermal head unit of the printer utilizing the recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of a photoreflector.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state of mounting of the cassette into the head unit.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state of mounting of the cassette into the head unit.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a state where the cassette is mounted with respect to the head unit in the printer.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a state where the cassette is mounted with respect to the head unit in the printer.

FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C are views showing recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassettes of the present invention of 3 types, different in sizes of recording sheets therein.

FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C are views showing recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassettes of the present invention of 3 types, different in sizes of recording sheets therein.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the cassette in a state mounted in the printer, with the recording sheet and a protective sheet being omitted.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship among an urging member, the cassette and the recording sheet.

FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C are views showing a relationship between a separating pawl and a recording sheet, in case of a cassette employing an urging member.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are views showing a relationship between a separating pawl and a recording sheet, in case of a cassette not employing an urging member.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a printer operation.

FIG. 22 is a view showing a printer operation.

FIG. 23 is a view showing a printer operation.

FIG. 24 is a view showing a printer operation.

FIG. 25 is a view showing a printer operation.

FIG. 26 is a view showing a printer operation.

FIG. 27 is a view showing a printer operation.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are views showing a method for detecting presence/absence of the recording sheet.

FIG. 29 is a view showing a method for detecting presence/absence of the recording sheet.

FIG. 30 is a view showing a running state of the ink sheet.

FIG. 31 is a view showing a running state of the ink sheet.

FIGS. 32A and 32B are views showing a first example of a common structure of a prior thermal transfer printer.

FIGS. 33A and 33B are views showing a second example of the common structure of the prior thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 34 is a view showing a relationship between a recording sheet size and a coated portion of the ink sheet.

Claims

1. A cassette containing a recording sheet and detachably mountable in a main body of an apparatus, comprising: a recording sheet containing portion for containing a recording sheet, including a feeding aperture for feeding the contained recording sheet;a first protruded portion, protruded from the recording sheet containing portion and containing therein an ink sheet for supply wound on a first shaft; anda second protruded portion, protruded from the recording sheet containing portion and containing therein a second shaft for winding the ink sheet from the first protruded portion;wherein an aperture for a feeding roller, for contacting a feeding roller of the main body of the apparatus with the recording sheet contained in the cassette when the cassette is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, is formed in a position between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion and opposed to the ink sheet exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion.

2. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein a space is formed between the ink sheet, which is exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion, and the recording sheet containing portion in such a manner, when the cassette is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, that a recording head for transferring an ink of the ink sheet, which is exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion, onto the recording sheet can be positioned between the ink sheet, which is exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion, and the recording sheet containing portion.

3. The cassette according to claim 2, wherein, when the cassette is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, the recording sheet to which the ink of the ink sheet is to be transferred, is conveyed by a side thereof opposite to the space of the ink sheet, which is exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion.

4. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet containing portion further includes a loading aperture for loading the recording sheet at a side opposite to the aperture for feeding roller thereof.

5. The cassette according to claim 4, wherein, when the cassette is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, a pressurizing member for pressurizing the recording sheet to the feeding roller pressurizes the recording sheet through the loading aperture.

6. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet containing portion includes a separating pawl for separating the contained recording sheets.

7. A printer apparatus capable of detachably mounting a cassette containing a recording sheet, which includes a recording sheet containing portion for containing a recording sheet, having a feeding aperture for feeding the contained recording sheet, a first protruded portion, protruded from the recording sheet containing portion and containing therein an ink sheet for supply wound on a first shaft, and a second protruded portion, protruded from the recording sheet containing portion and containing therein a second shaft for winding the ink sheet from the first protruded portion, the printer apparatus comprising: a feeding roller for feeding the recording sheet through an aperture for feeding roller, provided in a position between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion and opposed to the ink sheet exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion;a recording head for transferring an ink of the ink sheet, which is exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion, onto the recording sheet; andconveying means which conveys the recording sheet, conveyed from the recording sheet containing portion, at a side opposite to the aperture for feeding roller of the ink sheet, which is exposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion.

8. A recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette comprising: a recording sheet containing portion constituted of a substantially rectangular frame member which has a first aperture for loading the recording sheet, and a second aperture for feeding the recording sheet to a surface opposed to the first aperture;an ink sheet containing portion for containing an ink sheet to be fed; andan ink sheet winding portion for winding up the ink sheet fed from the ink sheet containing portion;wherein the ink sheet winding portion is positioned along a side of the substantially rectangular shape, the second aperture is positioned on a side opposed to the above-mentioned side, and the ink sheet containing portion is provided along the second aperture, and a third aperture for feeding and driving the recording sheet is provided between the ink sheet containing portion and the ink sheet winding portion.

9. The recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette according to claim 8, wherein the recording sheet, after a feeding from the third aperture and after a change in the conveying direction, is conveyed for printing.

10. The recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette according to claim 8, wherein the recording sheet containing portion includes a separating pawl capable of separating the recording sheets in a stacked state.

11. The recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette according to claim 8, further comprising urging means which urges the recording sheet, contained in the recording sheet containing portion, to a side of the recording sheet containing portion.

12. A printer apparatus comprising: a cassette containing portion for positioning and containing a recording sheet/ink sheet integral cassette which includes a recording sheet containing portion for loading a recording sheet, an ink sheet containing portion for containing an ink sheet to be fed, and an ink sheet winding portion for winding up the ink sheet fed from the ink sheet containing portion;feeding means which, when the cassette is contained in the cassette containing portion, is positioned between the ink sheet containing portion and the ink sheet winding portion of the cassette and serves to feed the recording sheet loaded in the recording sheet containing portion;pressurization means which pressurizes the recording sheet to the feeding means;a thermal head for executing a printing on the recording sheet; andconveying means which conveys the recording sheet, fed by the feeding means, toward the thermal head;wherein the ink sheet is wound from the ink sheet containing portion to the ink sheet winding portion, in order to execute a recording with the thermal head, on the recording sheet conveyed to the thermal head.

13. The printer apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, when the cassette is available in plural types according to sizes of the recording sheet, the ink sheet containing portions and the ink sheet winding portions of the cassettes have a same size in an axial direction of bobbins thereof.

14. The printer apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising, when the cassette is available in plural types according to sizes of the recording sheet, identification means which identifies the type of the cassette.

15. The printer apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising detection means which detects presence/absence of the recording sheet in the recording sheet containing portion.

16. The printer apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising rotation means which rotates the recording sheet by 90° after the recording sheet, contained in the recording sheet containing portion, is discharged from the printer apparatus and before it is conveyed into the printer apparatus.

17. A cassette containing a recording sheet and detachably mountable in a main body of an apparatus, comprising: a housing including a feeding aperture for feeding the recording sheet;an ink sheet containing portion provided in the housing and containing an ink sheet for supply, wound on a first shaft parallel to the recording sheet contained in the housing; andan ink sheet winding portion provided in the housing and serving to wind up the ink sheet fed from the ink sheet containing portion on a second shaft parallel to the recording sheet contained in the casing;wherein an aperture, for contacting a feeding roller of the main body of the apparatus with the recording sheet contained in the cassette when the cassette is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, is formed in a position between the ink sheet containing portion and the ink sheet winding portion.

18. The cassette according to claim 17, comprising a first case constituting the housing, wherein the ink sheet containing portion and the ink sheet winding portion are formed in a second case mounted on the first case.

19. The cassette according to claim 17, wherein the ink sheet winding portion is positioned along an end portion of the ink sheet winding portion.

20. The cassette according to claim 17, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are so positioned, when the cassette is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, as to be parallel to a rotary axis of the feeding roller in the main body of the apparatus.