[0001] This invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette, and more particularly an ink ribbon
cassette in which an ink ribbon already used can be replaced with an ink ribbon not
yet used.
Description of the Related Art:
[0002] A thermal transfer printer in the prior art in which a plurality of heat generating
elements are selectively driven in response to a recording signal while a thermal
head is being moved along a platen, ink of an ink ribbon is melted and transferred
to a recording paper to perform a desired recording has been widely utilized as an
output device for a computer, a word processor and the like due to its easiness in
maintenance, low noise or a high quality printing and the like.
[0003] The prior art ink ribbon cassette 1 used in such a thermal transfer printer as above
is made such that a long ink ribbon 3 having an ink layer coated on its surface is
stored in a space within a lower case 2a and an upper case (not shown) constituting
the main body case 2 as shown in Fig. 7.
[0004] In addition, both ends of the ink ribbon 3 are rotatably pivoted to the lower case
2a and the upper case.
[0005] Between a supply reel 4 and a take-up reel 5 within the main body 2 is formed a ribbon
drawing path 7 having a plurality of guide members 6 arranged therein to draw the
ink ribbon 3, and then the zig-zag formed ink ribbon 3 is drawn in the ribbon drawing
path 7.
[0006] In addition, the ribbon drawing path 7 is formed with a concave-shaped ribbon drawing
section 8 for once drawing the ink ribbon 3 out of the main body case 2. Into this
concave-shaped ribbon drawing section 8 is inserted a recording head of a thermal
transfer printer (not shown) and then ink of the ink ribbon 3 is transferred to the
recording paper through moving-up or moving-down of the recording head.
[0007] The ink ribbon cassette 1 having such a configuration as above is made such that
the lower case 2a and the upper case (not shown) are fixed to each other by melting
and the like and they are integrally assembled.
[0008] However, it was normally found in the prior art ink ribbon cassette 1 that upon completion
of use of the ink ribbon 3, the main body case 2 was wasted together with the ink
ribbon, resulting in that there occurred a possibility that dusts were increased to
cause an environmental problem or the like to be generated and at the same time an
expenditure of component parts of the main body case 2 was increased and the cost
of the ink ribbon cassette 1 was increased.
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a ink ribbon cassette in which
such problems as above can be solved, the ink ribbon already used can be replaced
with the ink ribbon not yet used without wasting the main body case 2 and then the
main body case 2 can be used again.
[0010] As a first solving means for solving the aforesaid matter, the ink ribbon cassette
of the present invention is comprised of an ink ribbon; a main body case composed
of an upper case and a lower case for storing the ink ribbon therein; a take-up reel
and a supply reel having the ink ribbon wound therearound, rotatably pivoted and supported
at the upper case and the lower case; a ribbon drawing section where the ink ribbon
is once drawn between the take-up reel and the supply reel from the main body case
to an external side, wherein the upper case can be divided into a first case positioned
at the ribbon drawing side and a second case having shaft bearing sections capable
of pivotally supporting the take-up reel and the supply reel, and the second case
is removably attached to the lower case.
[0011] Preferably, the second case is removably attached to the lower case through a snap
fitting.
[0012] Preferably, the ink ribbon already used can be replaced with an ink ribbon not yet
used under a state in which the second case is being removed from the lower case.
[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view for showing an ink ribbon cassette of the present
invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view for showing a substantial part of an ink ribbon of the
present invention.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view for showing a second case of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating an assembling method of the
present invention.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view for showing an ink ribbon cassette of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is an illustrative view for showing a method for replacing an ink ribbon of
an ink ribbon cassette of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a top plan view for showing the prior art ink ribbon cassette.
[0014] Referring now to the drawings, one preferred embodiment of the ink ribbon cassette
of the present invention will be described as follows. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective
view for showing the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged
view for showing a substantial part of the ink ribbon of the present invention, Fig.
3 is a perspective view for showing a second case of the present invention, Fig. 4
is an exploded perspective view for illustrating an assembling method of the present
invention, Fig. 5 is a perspective view for showing an ink ribbon cassette of the
present invention, and Fig. 6 is an illustrative view for showing a method for replacing
an ink ribbon already used with an ink ribbon not yet used.
[0015] At first, as shown in Fig. 1, an ink ribbon cassette 10 of the present invention
is constructed such that a main body case 21 having an inner hollow cavity and whose
outer shell is comprised of a lower case 11 and an upper case 18 is made of material
such as synthetic resin and the like and arranged.
[0016] The lower case 11 is made such that a pair of shaft bearing sections 11a comprised
of holes are formed at a substantial central section of a bottom plate 11p, wherein
a first engaging section 11c protruded upwardly is formed at the central section of
the side section 11b of the rear side of each of the shaft bearing sections 11a and
hook-like second engaging sections 11f, 11f are formed inside both right and left
sides 11e and 11d.
[0017] In addition, a first side wall 11g having a predetermined height is protruded and
formed at a front side of the bearing section 11a, and second side walls 11j, 11j
at predetermined clearances 11h, 11h are formed outside the section where both right
and left ends of the first side wall 11g are opposed to each other and the second
side wall 11j, 11j are formed at the same height as that of the first side wall 11g.
[0018] Each of the second side walls 11j, 11j is extended to form from the front side of
the lower case 11 to a location near the central section of each of the right and
left side sections 11e, 11d, respectively.
[0019] The lower case 11 is formed with an ink ribbon drawing path 12 where the ink ribbon
15 to be described later is being zig-zag formed and drawn near a location including
two clearances 11h, 11h at the front side of the bearing sections 11a, 11a.
[0020] This ink ribbon drawing path 12 is set such that a pair of rollers 13, 13 are rotatably
pivoted in the holes 11k, 11k of the lower case 11 and each of a plurality of pin
rollers 14 is rotatably pivoted at each of a plurality of pins 11m of the lower case
11.
[0021] Additionally, each of the second side walls 11j extended and formed at the right
and left side sections 11e, 11d has third engaging sections 11n comprised of a pair
of rectangular holes which are formed at locations opposite to each other, fixing
legs 19b of the first case 19 of the upper case 18 to be described later are snap
engaged with the third engaging sections 11n so as to cause the first case 19 to be
fixed to the lower case 11.
[0022] In addition, the ribbon drawing path 12 is formed with a concave-shaped ribbon drawing
section 12a where the ink ribbon 15 to be described later is once drawn out of the
main body case 21 to an external part. A recording head (not shown) at a printer side
is positioned at the ribbon drawing section 12a in such a manner that the head can
be moved up and down.
[0023] An ink ribbon 15 coated with an ink layer of desired color is mounted on the surface
of a substrate material comprised of a long thin film-like plastic film on the bottom
plate 11p of the lower case 11 and then stored in the main body case 21.
[0024] The ink ribbon 15 is formed with a black-colored ink section 15a shown in Fig. 2
having the ink layer coated on its front surface side and sensor sections 15b, 15c
of zebra patterns at each of both ends of one side and the other side of the ink section
15a are formed outside of the ink section 15a.
[0025] The rear surfaces at the extremity ends having the sensor sections 15b, 15c formed
thereat are coated with viscous adhesive agent (not shown) not hardened, with a single
surface adhesive tape.
[0026] The extremity end of one sensor section 15b, for example, is adhered to the first
reel 16 comprised of a supply reel and further the extremity end of the sensor section
15c at the other side is adhered to the second reel 17 comprised of a take-up reel,
respectively, and the ink ribbon 15 is wound around the first reel 16.
[0027] The first and second reels 16, 17 are made such that their lower ends shown in the
figure are pivotally supported at shaft bearing sections 11a, 11a of the lower case
11 and their upper ends shown in the figure are pivotally supported at the shaft bearing
sections 20a, 20a of the upper case to be described later and they can be rotated.
[0028] An upper case 18 formed in the substantial same shape as that of the lower case 11
as seen in its top plan view is arranged above the ink ribbon 15 mounted at the lower
case 11, and the upper case 18 is formed such that the first case 19 and the second
case 20 are integerally formed and can be separated from each other.
[0029] The first case 19 is formed such that the upper plate 19d is formed to cover the
ink ribbon 15 drawn in the ribbon drawing path 12, the upper plate 19d is provided
with a pair of rotatable rollers 13 and some pins (not shown) at positions opposing
against a plurality of pins 11m of the lower case 11 so as to pivotally support each
of the pin rollers 14.
[0030] In addition, the first case 19 is formed with a concave-shaped ribbon drawing section
19a of the same shape as that described above at the section where the concave-shaped
ribbon drawing section 12a of the lower case 11 is positioned. Further, the first
case 19 is made such that a pair of fixing legs 19b are projected and formed from
both right and left sides in a downward direction, the pair of fixing legs 19b are
snap fitted to the third engaging sections 11n of the lower case 11, the first case
19 is fixed to the lower case 11, thereafter the first case 19 is press fitted with
pins into the holes formed in the first side wall 11g or the second side wall 11j
of the lower case 11 and fixed there.
[0031] Further, the second case 20 forming the upper case 18 together with the first case
19 is formed with a pair of shaft bearing sections 20a, 20a comprised of shaft holes
for rotatably pivoting the first reel 16 and the second reel 17 on the upper plate
20f placed at positions opposite to the shaft bearing sections 11a, 11a of the lower
case 11.
[0032] In addition, an outer circumferential section of the second case 20 is formed with
a side wall 20b having a predetermined height for shielding an inner section of the
main body case 21 and further a central inner section of a rearward segment of the
side wall 20b is formed with a first engaging section 20c having a mountain-shaped
extremity end.
[0033] This first engaging section 20c can be snap fitted with the first engaging section
11c of the lower case 11, the first engaging section 20c of the second case 20 is
snap fitted with the first engaging section 11c of the lower case 11 to enable the
second case 20 to be removably fixed to the lower case 11.
[0034] In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the right and left side walls 20b of the second
case 20 are formed with hook-like second engaging sections 20d at their lower sides,
the second engaging sections 20d are snap fitted with the second engaging sections
11f of the lower case 11 and even if an external pressure is applied to the side walls
20b, the side walls 20b are not deformed.
[0035] In addition, each of fork-like third engaging sections 20e, 20e protruded outside
in parallel direction in respect to the upper plate 20f is formed at an outer circumferential
section of the second case 20 and near the shaft bearing sections 20a, 20a, and then
the third engaging sections 20e, 20e are engaged with the engaging sections 19c of
the first case 19 alternatively in a horizontal direction.
[0036] Due to this fact, even if the ink ribbon cassette 10 of the present invention is
installed on a carriage for a printer or the like not shown and a certain degree of
vibration or the like is applied to the ink ribbon cassette 10 during printing operation,
it is possible to prevent each of the upper plates 19d, 20f from being vibrated and
further prevent any irregular sound or the like from being generated.
[0037] Assembling of the ink ribbon cassette 10 of the present invention is carried out
such that at first the rollers 13 are assembled in the holes 11k positioned at the
ribbon drawing section 12 and at the same time the pin rollers are assembled to the
pins 11m.
[0038] Next, the first reel 16 composed of a supply reel having ink ribbon 15 not yet used
wound therearound is inserted into one shaft bearing section 11a. In addition, the
second reel 17 kept at a state in which the ink ribbon 15 is not wound is inserted
into the other shaft bearing section 11a.
[0039] The aforesaid ink ribbon 15 not yet used is set such that the sensor section 15b
at one side end section of it is adhered to the first reel 16, the ink ribbon 15 is
wound around the first reel 16 and the sensor section 15c at the other end of the
winding terminal side is adhered to the ink ribbon 15 not yet used wound around the
first reel 16.
[0040] Then, the sensor section 15c at the other end adhered to the ink ribbon 15 wound
around the first reel 16 is peeled off and then the sensor section 15c is drawn in
the ribbon drawing path 12 and then drawn out to the second reel 17 side. Then, the
ink ribbon 15 not yet used is drawn in the ribbon drawing path 12.
[0041] Then, the extremity end of the sensor section 15c drawn out to the second reel 17
side is adhered to the second reel 17. When this adhesion is carried out, since the
adhesive agent adhered to the outer circumference of the aforesaid ink ribbon 15 is
yet left at the sensor section 15b, it is not especially necessary to coat the adhesive
agent to it.
[0042] Then, the first case 19 constituting a part of the upper case 18 is applied to cover
the ribbon drawing path 12 having the ink ribbon 15 drawn therearound, the fixing
legs 19b of the first case 19 are engaged with the third engaging sections 11n of
the lower case 11, the first case 19 is snap fitted with the lower case 11 and fixed
there. After this setting, the pins (not shown) of the first case 19 are press fitted
to either the first side walls 11g or the second side walls 11j of the lower case
11 by a press fitting machine or the like (not shown) and fixed there.
[0043] Then, the second case 20 is applied to cover the first reel 16 and the second reel
17 pivotally supported on the lower case 11. Then, the first engaging section 20c
of the second case 20 is snap engaged with the first engaging section 11c of the lower
case 11 and the second engaging section 20d is snap fitted with the second engaging
sections 11f of the lower case 11, respectively, and concurrently the third engaging
sections 20d of the second case 20 are engaged with the engaging sections 19c of the
first case 19 to cause the divided first and second cases 19, 20 to be integrally
assembled, and the second case 20 is removably fixed to the lower case 11 to complete
an assembling of the ink ribbon cassette 10 of the present invention.
[0044] The ink ribbon cassette 10, assembled in this order, is mounted on a carriage for
a thermal transfer printer (not shown), a desired image is printed on a recording
paper by a thermal head (not shown) while this carriage is being moved along a platen
(not shown), the take-up reel 17 is rotated to take up the ink ribbon 15 already used.
[0045] Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, a method for replacing the ink ribbon 15 already used
in the ink ribbon cassette 10 of the present invention as described above with an
ink ribbon 15 not yet used will be described as follows. At first, an item in which
an ink ribbon 15' not yet used but wound like a pan-cake is prepared in advance on
the second reel 17 as shown in Fig. 6. As the reel for winding up the ink ribbon 15'
not yet used therearound, any one of the first reel 16 and the second reel 17 can
be similarly used.
[0046] It is assumed that the ink ribbon 15 stored in the ribbon cassette 10 as shown in
Fig. 5 is an ink ribbon already used, wherein the second case 20 is manually pulled
up to disengage the snap-engagement between the lower case 11 and the second case
20 and to remove the second case 20 from the lower case 11.
[0047] Then, the ink ribbon cassette 10 is set such that as shown in Fig. 4, the first reel
having the adhered sensor section 15b already finished in taking-up operation and
the second reel 17 having the ink ribbon 15 already used and taken up are exposed.
[0048] From this state, the second reel 17 is manually rotated in a clockwise direction
to cause all the remained portions which is not taken up of the sensor section 15b
wound around the first reel 16 are taken up.
[0049] Then, upon stopping of the clockwise rotation of the first reel 16, the extremity
end of the sensor section 15b' of the ink ribbon 15' formed in a pan-cake shape not
yet used for preparation as described above is adhered to the outer circumference
of the ink ribbon 15 already used and taken up on the second reel 17 as shown in Fig.
6.
[0050] When this adhering operation is carried out, the adhesive agent is yet adhered to
the sensor section 15b' when the sensor section 15b' is peeled off from the ink ribbon
15' not yet used, so that it is not especially necessary to coat the adhesive agent
to it.
[0051] Then, the first reel 16 is manually rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to cause
the ink ribbon 15 already used and taken up on the second reel 17 to be rewound slightly
on the first reel 16.
[0052] During this rewinding-up operation for the ink ribbon 15 already used, the sensor
section 15b' of the ink ribbon 15' not yet used is drawn in the ribbon drawing path
12 and then exposed at the first reel 16.
[0053] The sensor section 15b' of the ink ribbon 15' not yet used but exposed at the first
reel 16 is peeled off from the ink ribbon 15 already used. Next, the second reel 17
is manually rotated in a clockwise direction and the ink ribbon 15 already used and
slightly rewound on the first reel 16 is taken up again to the second reel 17.
[0054] Then, as the entire ink ribbon 15 is taken up and the rotation of the second reel
17 in a clockwise direction is stopped, the extremity end of the sensor section 15b
of the ink ribbon 15 already used and adhered to the first reel 16 is peeled off from
the first reel 16, the first reel 16 is rotated again in a clockwise direction, the
sensor section 15b of the ink ribbon 15 already used is taken up on the second reel
17 and adhered to the ink ribbon 15 already used in a pan-cake shape wound around
the second reel 17.
[0055] Then, the sensor section 15b of the ink ribbon 15 already used is peeled off and
the extremity end of the sensor section 15b' of the ink ribbon 15' not yet used is
adhered to the first reel 16 having no adhesive agent thereon.
[0056] Then, the second reel 17 having the ink ribbon already used, wound therearound and
formed like a pan-cake is pulled out of the shaft bearing section 11a of the lower
case 11 and the second reel 17 having the ink ribbon 15' not yet used but wound therearound
with the sensor section 15b' being already adhered to the first reel 16 is inserted
into the shaft bearing section 11a.
[0057] Then, the second case 20 of the upper case 18 is applied to cover from above the
first reel 16 and the second reel 17, snap fitted with the lower case 11 and fixed
there to enable the ink ribbon already used to be replaced with the ink ribbon not
yet used .
[0058] The ink ribbon already used is replaced with the ink ribbon not yet used in this
way to enable the ink ribbon already used to be easily replaced with an ink ribbon
not yet used without performing any complex work for drawing the ribbon drawing section
12 for the ink ribbon 15.
[0059] The description above has been made in reference to the case in which the first case
19 is fixed to the lower case 11 by a pin press fitting and the like. However, it
is also applicable that the first case 19 can be fixed to or removed from the lower
case 11 in the same manner as that for the second case 20.
[0060] The ink ribbon cassette can be divided into the first case where the upper case is
positioned at the ribbon drawing section and the second case having the shaft bearing
sections capable of pivotally supporting the take-up reel and the supply reel. Since
the second case is removably fixed to the lower case, it is possible to provide an
ink ribbon cassette in which the second case is fixed to or removed from the lower
case and the ink ribbon already used can be easily replaced with the ink ribbon not
yet used .
[0061] In addition, since the aforesaid second case is removably fixed to the aforesaid
lower case through a snap fitting or engaging, the fixing or removal of the second
case to or from the lower case can be easily carried out.
[0062] Since the aforesaid ink ribbon already used can be replaced with the ink ribbon not
yet used under a state in which the second case is removed from the aforesaid lower
case, the main body case for the ink ribbon cassette already used can be utilized
again and the ink ribbon cassette which is well adapted for environment can be provided
at a low cost.