JPH10119376A - Spool in ink ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a spool in ink ribbon cartridge for ensuring correct use of printer while facilitating the assembling work by preventing a code ring from being fitted to a different spool. SOLUTION: A stop part 23 for fitting a code ring 5 later to a spool 2 is provided for any one of a cap 20 or the code ring 5. Since the cap 20 is previously fixed to the spool 2 or formed integrally therewith and then the cord ring 5 is applied over the cap 20 while being guided, assembling work is facilitated. Furthermore, since the stop part 23 serves as a stopper in the direction for removing the cord ring 5, the code ring 5 can be removed only after collapsing the stop part 23 and thereby the code ring 5 is prevented from being fitted to a different spool or ink ribbon unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spool for a cartridge equipped with an ink ribbon used in various printers utilizing electric heat energy, for example, a heating vaporization type or a heating sublimation type printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A commonly used vaporizing or sublimation type printer uses an ink ribbon coated with a sublimable dye and a heat-sensitive head. Electric energy is applied to the heating head, and the heat energy generated from the heating head causes the sublimable dye on the ink ribbon to be sublimated and transferred onto photographic paper.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, an ink ribbon used for such a vaporization type or sublimation type printer includes a supply spool around which an unused ink ribbon is wound and a winding spool around which a used ink ribbon is wound. An ink ribbon unit is formed with the take-up spool, the ink ribbon unit is housed in a predetermined cartridge, and the cartridge is mounted on a predetermined printer for use.

That is, the ink ribbon unit winds an ink ribbon 1 having a predetermined length around a supply spool 2, connects a free end of the ink ribbon 1 to a take-up spool 3, and sequentially takes up the take-up spool 3. Each spool of the ink ribbon unit is rotatably supported and stored in a predetermined shell 4.

A supply spool 2 around which an unused ink ribbon 1 is wound, and a take-up spool 3 around which a used ink ribbon is wound, are each formed into a cylindrical shaft with an external drive shaft engaged with one end. Parts 2a, 3a are provided, rod-shaped shaft parts 2b, 3b are provided at the other end, and spool flanges 2c, 2d, 3c, 3d are provided adjacent to the shaft parts.
Are provided, and the ink ribbon 1 is wound inside each flange portion. A code ring 5 is attached to one end of the supply spool 2 via a cap 6.

The shell 4 is provided with a window hole 7 at the center thereof facing the heat generating head of the printer, a first bearing 8 is integrally formed on one side wall 4a side, and the other side wall 4b side. , A second bearing 9 is provided. The first bearing 8 is connected to a wall 11 via a reinforcing rib 10.
The second bearing 9 is U-shaped rib 12
It is reinforced with.

The mounting structure of the cord ring 5 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 9, the cap 6 is
a, a body 6b into which the code ring 5 fits, and a shaft 6c attached to the end of the supply spool 2.
The outer periphery of the body portion 6b has dimensional accuracy substantially matching the inner diameter of the shaft hole 5c of the code ring 5, and the outer periphery of the shaft portion 6c has dimensional accuracy almost matching the inner diameter of the supply spool 2. The code ring 5 is fitted to the portion 6b, and the shaft portion 6c of the cap 6 is inserted into the end of the supply spool 2 in a press-fit state, and the spool flange 2d and the cap flange 6a
And the code ring 5 is supported between them.

The code ring 5 has a hot stamping surface 5a, a gear portion 5b, and a shaft hole 5c, and stores information such as the type of the ink ribbon unit on the hot stamping surface 5a.
For example, it is displayed by a bar code or the like, and when used in a printer, the bar code is read by the reading function of the printer to obtain information on the ink ribbon unit, and the ink ribbon unit is compatible. Is determined.

[0009]

In the supply spool of this type of ink ribbon unit, since the code ring is sandwiched between the cap and the spool to perform the assembling operation, the cap body and the code ring having high dimensional accuracy are provided. The work of fitting the shaft hole of the cap and the work of fitting the shaft part of the cap to the spool is troublesome, and the fitting of the cap to the spool after the code ring is fitted to the cap. However, there is a problem that the positioning of the fitting is difficult due to being hidden, and the workability of assembling is poor.

Further, some users purchase an inexpensive low-quality ink ribbon unit, pull out the cap, replace only the code ring, put it in a predetermined shell, and misuse it to fit the printer. result,
In addition to the problem that the printer breaks down, there is also a problem that an inexpensive and poor-quality ink ribbon unit is illegally sold by replacing only the code ring.

[0011] Therefore, the conventional spool for the ink ribbon cartridge must be solved in order to facilitate the assembling work, and to prevent the improper use and sale of the ink ribbon unit which is not compatible with the printer. have.

[0012]

As a specific means for solving the problems of the prior art, the present invention relates to a spool provided with a cord ring wound with an ink ribbon and housed in a cartridge, and equipped with a code ring via a cap. In addition, the present invention provides a spool for an ink ribbon cartridge, characterized in that a locking portion to which a code ring can be attached later is provided on either the cap or the code ring.

In the present invention, the cap or the code ring is provided with a locking portion to which the code ring can be attached later to the spool, so that the cap is previously attached or formed integrally with the spool. Since the code ring is attached by guiding the cap, the workability of assembly is easy, and the locking part plays the role of a stopper in the direction of removing the code ring, so the locking part is destroyed Otherwise, the code ring cannot be removed, and the code ring cannot be replaced with another ink ribbon unit.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. For easy understanding, the same parts as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. Figure 1
FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment according to the present invention.
3 is an exploded view of a main part of the supply spool 2 in the ink ribbon cartridge spool. FIG. 2 shows an assembling sequence, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the main part in a completed state. The supply spool 2 shown in the drawing has a shaft portion 2a on one end side with which a drive unit is engaged, similarly to the conventional example, and has spool flanges 2c and 2d near both ends.

The cord ring 5 attached to the supply spool 2 has a hot stamping surface 5a and a gear portion 5b on the outer peripheral surface and a shaft hole 5c at the center as in the conventional example. .

The cap 20 to which the code ring 5 is attached has a body 21 in which the code ring 5 is fitted, a shaft 22 in which the supply spool 2 is fitted, and a locking portion 23. I have. In addition, in the cap 20,
A rod-shaped shaft portion 2d for engaging with a predetermined shell is provided.

As shown, the locking portion 23 is formed by a plurality of elastic claw members. One end of the claw member is formed integrally with the cap 20, and the claw member is formed in a cut-and-raised state as a whole with a predetermined width and thickness, so that elasticity is provided as a whole.

That is, one end of the claw member is connected to the free end side of the cap 20 and is formed so as to rise in a tapered shape toward the body 21 side of the cap. It is formed in.
The maximum spread of the claw member is formed so as to slightly exceed the outer diameter of the body 21. Note that the free end 23a of the claw member extends along the side surface of the body 21 so that the cap 2
It is bent toward the center of 0.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cap 20 thus formed is integrally attached to the supply spool 2 in advance, and then the cord ring 5 is inserted from the free end side of the cap 20. Let it. The cap 20 may be attached in a press-fitted state, or may be attached, for example, by inserting it into a hole of the supply spool 2 with an adhesive applied to the shaft portion 22. In any case, since the code ring 5 is not fitted to the cap 20, it can be easily attached to the hole of the supply spool 2.

When the shaft hole 5c of the code ring 5 is pushed into the cap 20 attached to the supply spool 2 so as to be fitted, the center position of the shaft hole 5c is guided by the presence of the locking portion 23. In addition to being inevitably positioned, the locking portion 23 is reduced in diameter by its own elasticity to allow the code ring 5 to pass therethrough.
1 fits tightly.

When the cord ring 5 is fitted in a proper position in a proper state, the locking portion 23 is released from the shaft hole 5c to restore the expanded state, and the free end 23a is moved to the outer edge of the shaft hole 5c. And acts as a stopper for the code ring 5 to come off, and once the code ring 5 is fitted, it cannot be easily removed.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the spool. In the second embodiment, the cap 20 is integrally formed at the end of the supply spool 2 from the beginning.
That is, when forming the supply spool 2, the cord ring 5
Except for the above, all necessary parts for the spool are integrally formed together.

At this time, a locking portion 23 having the same elasticity as in the first embodiment is formed integrally with a portion corresponding to the cap 20. In the locking portion 23 as well, the free end 23a side is formed to have a larger diameter than the body portion 21, and the free end is formed by bending inward.

The cord ring 5 formed separately
Is pushed in from the front end side of the cap 20 so that the locking portion 23 is reduced in diameter by its own elasticity, allowing the cord ring 5 to pass therethrough, and the code ring 5 is fitted into an appropriate position of the body portion 21. When the locking ring 23 is released from the shaft hole 5c, the free end 23a contacts the outer edge of the shaft hole 5c, and the cord ring 5 does not come off.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a configuration is provided in which a locking portion 23 is provided on the cord ring 5 side. That is, a plurality of tongue-shaped locking portions 23 are formed at the shaft hole 5c portion of the code ring 5, and the tongue-shaped locking portions 23 are formed in the shaft hole 5c.
And is formed to be inclined so as to follow the insertion direction of the code ring 5.

A plurality of recesses 24 are formed in the body 21 of the cap 20 integrally formed with the supply spool 2 corresponding to the locking portions 23. In this case, the concave portion 24 is formed slightly wider than the width of the locking portion 23, and it is sufficient if the cutout and raised end of the tongue piece constituting the locking portion 23 is hooked. Therefore, the concave portion 24 is not limited to the rectangular shape as illustrated, and may be formed continuously in a groove shape or a step shape along the peripheral surface of the body portion 21.

The thus formed cord ring 5 is inserted from the free end side of the cap 20 into the locking portion 23 and the concave portion 2 in advance.
4 are inserted in a direction substantially coincident with the locking portion 2.
3 is pushed and expanded at the end of the body portion 21 by its own elasticity, is forcibly pushed in while rubbing the outer peripheral surface of the body portion 21, and the code ring 5 is inserted to an appropriate position. Then, the push-spreading action of the locking portion 23 is released, and the locking portion 23 is snapped into or engaged with the concave portion 24.

After the engaging portion 23 is once fitted or engaged with the concave portion 24 by the action of inserting the cord ring 5 into the cap 20, even if the cord ring 5 is pulled out, the engaging portion 23 is Unless you forcibly destroy
The cord ring 5 cannot be pulled out.

In any of the above-described embodiments, since the elastic locking portion 23 is provided, the attachment of the cord ring 5 can be performed after the attachment of the cap 20, thereby supplying the cap 20. The cord ring 5 can be integrally attached or formed first so as not to be detached from the spool 2, and the cord ring 5 can be mechanically incorporated later, so that the number of parts is reduced and the workability of assembly is reduced. It is significantly improved.

Further, by forming the supply spool 2 and the cap 20 integrally, the two are formed of the same material, which is disadvantageous in that they are conventionally formed of different materials. When the ribbon is wound and used in the printer, the heat generated by the high temperature atmosphere on the printer causes the spool and cap to loosen due to the deformation or peeling phenomenon due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between them. Can be prevented.

[0031]

As described above, the ink ribbon cartridge spool according to the present invention is a spool in which an ink ribbon is wound and housed in a cartridge, and is provided with a code ring via a cap. Alternatively, the cap is attached to the spool first, or the spool and cap are integrally formed, and then the cap is guided As a result, the cord ring can be attached simply by later inserting the cord ring, and an excellent effect that the workability of assembling is remarkably improved.

Further, since the cap is formed integrally with the spool, the cap cannot be removed, and the cord ring attached via the locking portion is difficult to remove from the spool. Become
It has an excellent effect that the code ring cannot be replaced with another spool.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an ink ribbon cartridge spool according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an assembling order in the spool of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of the spool of the embodiment after assembly.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of an ink ribbon cartridge spool according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of a main part of an ink ribbon cartridge spool according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is partially cut away.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of the spool of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cartridge.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing only a main part of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ink ribbon; 2 supply spool; 3 take-up spool; 2a, 3a cylindrical shaft; 2b, 3b rod-shaped shaft; 2c, 3c, 2d, 3d spool flange;
4 Shell; 5 Cord ring; 5a Hot stamping surface; 5b Gear portion; 5c Shaft hole; 6, 20 Cap; 6b, 21 Body portion; 6c, 22 Shaft portion;
3 Locking portion; 23a Free end; 24 Recess.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A spool provided with a code ring via a cap, wherein the ink ribbon is wound and housed in a cartridge, and a code ring is attached to either the cap or the code ring. A spool for an ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: 2. The ink ribbon cartridge spool according to claim 1, wherein the cap is formed integrally with the spool. 3. The spool for an ink ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is a plurality of claw members which are inclined in one direction and have elasticity.