JPS6347179A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the space efficiency, by sliding a magazine for containing cassettes from the interior of a printer to the front of the printer, and enabling free mounting/dismounting of an ink film cassette through single lever action thus enabling replacement of cassette in front of a recorder. CONSTITUTION:When a magazine 3 for containing cassettes is drawn out from a printer body and a magazine lever 28 is rotated in the direction I, a board member 29 is slid in the direction H by an integral pin 30 thereby the supporting force of winding cores 14, 15 being provided by spring members 31, 32 of feed and wind attachments 24, 25 is eliminated and the winding cores 14, 15 are disengaged from a feed gear 26 and a wind gear 27 thus enabling replacement of ink film cassette 6. When the cassette 6 is replaced and a magazine lever 28 is rotated in the direction J, the feed and wind attachments 24, 25 are energized by the spring members 31, 32 in the direction G so as to support the winding cores 14, 15, thereby the winding core 14 engages with the feed gear 26 and the wind gear 27 thus finishing replacement of the cassette 6. Therefore, the magazine 3 for containing cassette is pushed in the set in right place in the printer body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device f that performs recording by melting or sublimating the ink portion of a thermal transfer ink film onto recording paper.

[Conventional technology]

In conventional thermal transfer printers, the ink film that is the recording medium is not made into a cassette. Instead, the ink film is wound around two cores with both ends of the ink film wound, and then the recording device is moved upwards to send the ink film. Or even if it is in a cassette, the recording paper is fed from the front or bottom of the case of the recording device, ejected to the top of the case, and the ink film is placed in the direction of paper transport, as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-165277. It was designed to be replaced from the side of the case, which is perpendicular to the case.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has the following problems. If the ink film is not made into a cassette, it is very troublesome to replace the ink film, and when replacing the ink film, the ink film may be scratched or wrinkled, resulting in a dirty recorded image.

Furthermore, even if the ink film is in a cassette, in the structure of JP-A-60-165277, the ink film cassette is replaced from the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper and the ink film, so the operation surface is located on the front side of the device and on the side of the device. In addition to having two or three surfaces including the top of the device, which impairs operability, it is also necessary to provide a space for converting ink film cassettes on the side of the device, and other devices must be installed side by side. There are problems such as not being able to.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems.The purpose of the present invention is to convert the ink film, which is a recording medium, into a cassette, so that the ink film cassette can be exchanged from the front of the recording device, and the ink film can be replaced in one click. To provide a compact thermal transfer recording device in which a cassette can be attached and detached.

[Means for solving problems]

The thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention has an ink film cassette in which an ink film as a recording medium is wound around a pair of cores and is integrated into a case; and a cassette storage magazine for storing the ink film cassette. A gear for causing the cassette storage magazine to slide back and forth within the recording device case and for transmitting torque to the core to the cassette storage magazine, and an attachment for engaging and disengaging the core and the gear; It is characterized in that it includes a spring member, a plate member, and a lever, and the cassette storage magazine also serves as an attachment/detachment mechanism for the ink film cassette.

[For production]

According to the above configuration of the present invention, the ink film stored in the ink film cassette is free from scratches and wrinkles when the ink film cassette is replaced, and a good recorded image can be obtained.In addition, the ink film cassette can be replaced at the front of the recording apparatus. It is space efficient because it can
Moreover, the ink film cassette can be easily attached and detached.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

1 and 2 show the external appearance of a thermal transfer recording device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the main body of the device, and the front part of the main body 1 is provided with a switch panel 2 and a cassette storage. The magazine 3 slides in the direction of arrow A, and can accommodate the ink film cassette 6 as shown in FIG. 4 is a paper guide, and arrow B points the recording paper 5.
An opening is provided at the front of the apparatus main body 1 so that paper can be fed in the direction of the arrow A and discharged in the direction of the arrow A. The inside of the apparatus main body 1 has a structure 9 as shown in FIG. 3, with a platen 7 disposed in the center, and a head 9 and rollers 10 . It is pressed against the platen 7. 12 is an unused ink film, and 13 is a used ink film, which are wound around a pair of cores 14 and 15 and incorporated into the ink film cassette 6. 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a locking lever, which is rotatably supported on a shaft 17, is pressed against a spring member 18 by a spring member 19 provided on the case 1, and is biased in the direction of the arrow by a spring member 20. It engages with the magazine 3 and stores the cassette storage magazine 3.
is locked in place. When the recording paper 5 is conveyed in the direction of arrow C by paper feed rollers 22 and 25 and is centered at a predetermined position, the hend 9 and rollers 10 and 11 are pressed against the platen 7 by the hend holder 8, and the recording paper 5 is moved in the direction of the arrow C. recording is started at the same time as the ink film is transported in the winding direction E and the ink film is wound up in the winding direction E. When the recording of the first color (yellow) is completed, the hend 9 and roller 1
The pressure on the platen 7 at 0°11 is released, the recording paper 5 is again conveyed in the direction of arrow C, and is centered at a predetermined position, whereupon the second color (magenta) is recorded in the same way as yellow.This printing apparatus In the case of , full color is obtained by recording in the three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan, and when the recording in the three colors is completed, the recording paper 5 is discharged in the direction of the arrow.

When a predetermined amount of ink film has been used and the ink film cassette 6 needs to be replaced, when the switch panel 2 is operated to slide the hend holder 8, the hend 9 and rollers 10 and 11 are moved to slide the ink film cassette 6 and the cassette storage magazine 3. Rotate to the position shown in FIG. 4 where it will not impair operation. Next, the locking lever 16 is rotated in the direction of arrow F to disengage from the cassette storage magazine 3, and the cassette storage magazine 3 slides to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure while being guided by the rail 21 by the biasing force of the spring member 20. .

Furthermore, the cassette storage magazine 3 is pulled out until the ink film cassette 6 can be replaced, and the ink film cassette 6 is replaced.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the attachment/detachment mechanism of the ink film cassette B. Figure 5 shows the ink film cassette 6 correctly placed in the cassette storage magazine 3, where 24 is a supply matanthiment, 25 is a winding attachment, 26 is a supply gear, 27 is a winding gear, and 28 is a magazine lever. , 29 are plate members. The supply attachment 24 and the winding attachment 25 are
In order to support the cores 14 and 15 of the ink film supported by the ink film cassette 6 between predetermined axes, the cassette storage magazine 3 is equipped with a cassette and a nozzle so as to be slidable in the directions of the arrows G and 'H. Ne members 31 and 32
is energized in the direction of arrow G to support the winding cores 14 and 15,
Winding core 14 and supply gear 26 and winding core 15 and winding gear 27
is engaged.

The supply gear 26 engages with a load means (not shown) that applies a tension e to the ink film, applies a feeding load to the supply core 14, and drives a winding gear 27 (not shown, which engages tightly and A winding force is applied to the winding core 15.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the ink film cassette 6 can be taken out from the cassette storage magazine 3. When the magazine lever 28 is rotated in the direction of the arrow H in FIG. Spring member 31
．． 52 to support the winding cores 14 and 15 is no longer present, and as shown in FIG. The ink film cassette 6 is now ready for replacement. When the ink film cassette 6 is replaced and the magazine lever 28 is rotated in the direction of the arrow J, the supply attachment 24 and the winding attachment 25 are urged in the direction of the arrow G by the spring members 51 and 32 to support the cores 14 and 15. Winding core 1
4 and the supply gear 26, and the winding core 15 and the winding gear 27 are engaged, and the exchange of the ink film cassette 6 is completed. Next, by pushing the cassette storage magazine 3 in the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. 4, the cassette storage magazine 3 is locked by the locking lever 16 and correctly inserted into the main body of the apparatus.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the cassette storage magazine is slid from the inside of the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus, and the ink film cassette can be freely attached and detached with a single lever operation, so that the following effects can be expected.

1) Since the ink film cassette can be replaced outside the loading unit, operability is excellent, and there is no need to put one's hand inside the unit, increasing safety.

2) Since the ink film cassette can be replaced with a single lever operation, there is no need to worry about scratches or wrinkles on the ink film, and good recorded images can be obtained.

5) The cassette storage magazine slides in the recording paper insertion and conveyance direction (front of the device), improving space efficiency when installing other devices.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing an external view of a thermal transfer recording apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the internal structure of a thermal transfer recording apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing an attachment/detachment mechanism for an ink film cassette in an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Device body 2... Sinch panel 3... Cassette storage magazine 4... Paper guide 5... Recording paper 6... ...Ink film cassette 7...
Platen 8...Head halter 9...Head 10...Roller 11...Self...Roller 12...Unused ink film 13...
- Used ink film 14... Supply core 15... Take-up core 16... Locking lever 17... Rotating shaft 18...・Spring 19...Locking lever once contact part 20...Spring 21...Guide rail 22...Paper feed roller 26...Paper Feed roller 24... Supply attachment 25... Winding attachment 26...
・Supply gear 27...Take-up gear 28...Magazine lever 2? ...Plate member 30 ... Bin 31 ... Spring 52 ... Spring or more

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In a thermal transfer recording device that performs recording by melting or sublimating the ink portion of a thermal transfer ink film and transferring it onto a recording paper, an ink film cassette in which the thermal transfer ink film is wound around a pair of cores and installed in a case and a cassette storage magazine that slides back and forth within a recording device case for storing the ink film cassette. (2) The cassette storage magazine includes a gear for transmitting torque to the winding core, an attachment and a spring member for engaging the winding core and the gear with a biasing force, and a spring member that opposes the biasing force of the attachment. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a release means capable of releasing the engagement between the winding core and the gear. (3) The release means slides the plate member that engages with the attachment and the plate member in the core axis direction against the urging force of the attachment by the spring member, and the release means slides the plate member that engages with the attachment in the core axial direction, so that the gear and the core 3. The printing device according to claim 2, further comprising a lever pivotally supported on said cassette storage magazine, which can release the engagement of said cassette storage magazine. (4) The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 5, wherein the ink film cassette attaching/detaching mechanism is comprised of the gear, the engaging means of the core, and the releasing means.