|
(11) | EP 0 506 351 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
Printer and ink ribbon cartridge for printer Drucker und Tintenstrahlkassette für Drucker Imprimante et cassette de ruban encreur pour imprimante |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The invention relates to a printer, comprising a print head; a paper path for a document to be printed; and an ink ribbon cartridge with a drive motor and transmission means belonging thereto. The invention additionally relates to an ink ribbon cartridge for a printer, which cartridge comprises a frame, an ink ribbon and a drive wheel for driving the ink ribbon, which drive wheel is positioned in such a way that its axle is perpendicular to the horizontal surface of the frame.
[0002] EP-A-0337527 discloses an ink ribbon cartridge with a drive mechanism comprising a pair of drive wheels in driving connection with each other, wherein the wheels form a 90° angle with each other, the axle of the first wheel being perpendicular to the horizontal surface of the cartridge and the axle of the second wheel being parallel with the horizontal surface of the cartridge.
[0003] A couple of mounting movements in different directions were previously needed for locking an ink ribbon cartridge or the mounting required an additional curved mounting movement. To change the ink ribbon cartridge, it was necessary to open different kinds of lock mechanisms. Moreover, different kinds of guide pins were needed for mounting a cartridge, by which pins the cartridge could be positioned accurately in the right place. All the facts mentioned above have made a change of ink ribbon cartridge into a measure requiring accuracy, and it has not always been possible to avoid ink-stained fingers.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems described above by means of a novel printer and ink ribbon cartridge. This object is achieved by means of a printer of the invention, which is characterised in the features presented in claim 1; and by means of an ink ribbon cartridge of the invention, which is characterised in the properties presented in claim 7.
[0005] The invention is based on an idea to use a pair of coupled drive wheels in connection with an ink ribbon cartridge, which wheels form a 90° angle with each other, whereby the drive from the printer to the ink ribbon cartridge can be arranged by means of a straight drive shaft parallel with the cartridge surface. Only one movement in one direction is then needed for changing the cartridge and for coupling the drive shaft.
[0006] The pair of drive wheels serves as a reduction gear, and so the transmission between the drive motor and the drive shaft does not need to transmit any big torque. Due to this the drive wheels and the drive shaft can preferably be manufactured of plastic without losing their reliability.
[0007] For securing the cartridge in place, no separate lock mechanisms are needed, because the torque caused by the drive shaft does not try to move the cartridge in the unmounting direction. Consequently, no separate lock devices are required for the cartridge and it is not necessary to touch the ink ribbon by hand.
[0008] Each drive wheel is changed at each change of cartridge, though they would last a considerably longer time. The reliability of operation is thus guaranteed.
[0009] An advantage of the invention is also that the manufacture, assembly and mounting of the cartridge, i.e. the tolerances, do not influence the drive mechanism in a disadvantageous manner.
[0010] Below the invention is described by means of an embodiment given by way of example only and referring to the enclosed drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a simplified general view of a printer and an ink ribbon cartridge,
Figure 2 the ink ribbon cartridge,
Figure 3 drive wheels of the ink ribbon cartridge on an enlarged scale, and
Figure 4 the arrangement of the ink ribbon cartridge in the printer.
[0011] Figures 1 and 4 show a printer according to the invention, comprising a print head 1, a paper path 2 for a document to be printed and an ink ribbon cartridge 3 with a drive mechanism 4, 5, 6, a drive motor 7 and transmission means 8 to 14 belonging thereto. Figure 4 relates to an area X of Figure 1 and shows the arrangement of the cartridge 3 in the printer in the direction of arrow A, obliquely from below. Figure 1 shows the printer simplified and not all the details thereof are shown. Additionally, Figure 1 shows the ink ribbon cartridge 3 separately from the printer.
[0012] The drive mechanism of the ink ribbon cartridge 3 comprises a pair of drive wheels, which wheels 4 and 5 form a 90° angle with each other. The axle of the first wheel 4 is perpendicular to the level or major surface formed by the cartridge 3 and the axle of the second wheel 5 is parallel with the level formed by the cartridge 3. The drive mechanism comprises further a straight drive shaft 6 positioned between the second wheel 5 and the transmission means 8 to 14. Both drive wheels 4 and 5 are mounted to fixed positions in a frame 3a of the cartridge 3 (see especially Figures 2 and 3). The drive wheels 4 and 5 can be for instance gear wheels, friction wheels or pin wheels. The drive shaft 6 can be a separate part or it can form an integral whole with the second drive pulley 5. Figure 4 may concern both cases, because structures like this do not necessarily differ from each other, as far as appearance is concerned, when the cartridge 3 is fastened to the printer.
[0013] The ink ribbon cartridge 3 of the invention is substantially similar to the prior art ink ribbon cartridges, except for the drive mechanism described above, and includes an ink ribbon 3b, which is folded within the frame 3a in a conventional manner and with which the first drive wheel 4 is in driving contact.
[0014] According to the present invention, it is extremely simple to mount the ink ribbon cartridge 3 in the printer. The cartridge 3 is pushed into guide track 15 of the printer by means of one horizontal movement (arrow B in Figure 1) and the drive shaft 6 is simultaneously coupled between the transmission means 8 to 14 and the second drive wheel 5 of the cartridge 3. Because the drive shaft 6 usually is ready-fastened to the transmission means or fastened to the cartridge 3, no problems are caused by coupling the drive shaft either.
[0015] The drawings and the specification related thereto are only intended to visualize the idea of the invention. One skilled in the art can vary the details of the printer and the ink ribbon cartridge of the invention in many different ways within the scope of the enclosed claims. Thus, a possible alternative in connection with the printer of the invention is that the second drive wheel of the drive mechanism of the ink ribbon cartridge is fastened to the drive shaft, which is made loose, in which case the ink ribbon cartridge comprises only the first drive wheel.
1. A printer, comprising a print head (1); a paper path (2) for a document to be printed;
an ink ribbon cartridge (3) with a drive mechanism (4, 5, 6), and a drive motor (7)
and transmission means (8 to 14) belonging thereto, wherein the drive mechanism of
the ink ribbon cartridge (3) comprises a pair of drive wheels (4,5) in driving connection
with each other, wherein said wheels (4, 5) form a 90° angle with each other, the
axle of the first wheel (4) being perpendicular to the horizontal surface of the cartridge
(3) and the axle of the second wheel (5) being parallel with the horizontal surface
of the cartridge (3), characterised in that the printer further comprises a straight
drive shaft (6) directly connected between the second wheel (5) and the transmission
means (8 to 14), whereby the cartridge (3) may be inserted into the printer horizontally
to drivingly connect said transmission means (8 to 14), said straight drive shaft
(6) and said drive wheels (4, 5).
2. A printer according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive wheels (4, 5) are
gear wheels.
3. A printer according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive wheels (4, 5) are
friction wheels.
4. A printer according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive wheels (4, 5) are
pin wheels.
5. A printer according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that both drive
wheels (4, 5) are mounted in fixed positions in a frame (3a) of the cartridge.
6. A printer according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the drive
shaft (6) forms an integral whole with the second drive wheel (5).
7. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer, which cartridge (3) comprises a frame (3a),
an ink ribbon (3b) and a drive wheel (4) for driving the ink ribbon, which drive wheel
is positioned at one end of the frame (3a) in such a way that its axle is perpendicular
to the horizontal surface of the frame, wherein in driving connection with said drive
wheel (4) is arranged a second drive wheel (5), the axle of which forms a 90° angle
with the axle of the first drive wheel, characterised in that said second drive wheel
(5) is adapted to be coupled to a straight drive shaft (6), said drive shaft (6) being
co-axial with said second drive wheel (5) and being adapted to be directly connected
to transmission means (8 to 14) belonging to a drive motor (7) of said printer whereby
said cartridge (3) may be inserted horizontally into said printer to drivingly connect
said transmission means (8 to 14), said straight drive shaft (6) and said drive wheels
(4, 5).
8. An ink ribbon cartridge according to claim 7, characterised in that said straight
drive shaft (6) forms an integral whole with said second drive wheel (5), one end
of said drive shaft being adapted for connecting to the transmission means (8 to 14)
belonging to the drive motor (7) of said printer.
9. An ink ribbon cartridge according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the drive
wheels (4, 5) are gear wheels.
10. An ink ribbon cartridge according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the drive
wheels (4, 5) are friction wheels.
11. An ink ribbon cartridge according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the drive
wheels (4, 5) are pin wheels.
1. Drucker, mit einem Druckerkopf (1); einer Papierbahn (2) für das zu druckende Dokument;
einer Farbbandkassette (3) mit einem Antriebsmechanismus (4, 5, 6); und einer Antriebsmotor
(7); und dazugehörenden Getriebemitteln (8 bis 14), wobei der Antriebsmechanismus
der Farbbandkassette (3) ein Paar Antriebsräder aufweist, die in einer Antriebsverbindung
zu einander sind und einen Winkel von 90° mit einander bilden, wobei die Achse des
ersten Rades (4) in senkrechter Stellung zur horizontalen Oberfläche der Kassette
(3) ist und die Achse des zweiten Rades (5) parallel mit der horizontalen Oberfläche
der Kassette (3) verläuft, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Drucker weiter eine gerade Antriebswelle (6) hat, die direkt zwischen dem
zweiten Rad (5) und den Getriebemitteln (8 bis 14) verbunden ist, wobei die Kassette
(3) in den Drucker horizontal einführbar ist, um die genannten Getriebemittel (8 bis
14), die genannte gerade Antriebswelle (6) und die genannten Antriebsräder (4, 5)
antreibend zu verbinden.
2. Drucker nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebsräder (4, 5) Zahnräder sind.
3. Drucker nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebsräder (4, 5) Reibräder sind.
4. Drucker nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebsräder (4, 5) Zapfenräder sind.
5. Drucker nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die beiden Antriebsräder (4, 5) in fester Stellung in einem Gestell (3a) der
Kassette einmontiert sind.
6. Drucker nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebswelle (6) ein vollständiges Ganzes mit dem zweiten Treibrad (5)
formt.
7. Farbbandkassette für einen Drucker, mit einem Gestell (3a), einem Farbband (3b) und
einem Treibrad (4) zum Transportieren des Farbbandes, welches Treibrad an einem Ende
des Gestells (3a) derart angeordnet ist, daß dessen Achse sich senkrecht auf die horizontale
Oberfläche des Gestells befindet, wobei in einer Antriebsverbindung mit dem genannten
Rad ein zweites Treibrad (5) angeordnet ist, dessen Achse einen Winkel von 90° mit
der Achse des ersten Treibrads bildet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das genannte zweite Treibrad (5) derart angeordnet ist, daß es mit der geraden
Treibachse (6) zu kuppeln ist, die koaxial mit dem genannten zweiten Treibrad (5)
angeordnet ist, um sich direkt mit den zur Antriebsmotor (7) des genannten Druckers
gehörenden Getriebemitteln (8 bis 14) zu verbinden, wobei die genannte Kassette (3)
in den genannten Drucker horizontal einführbar ist, um die genannten Getriebemittel
(8 bis 14), die genannte gerade Treibachse (6) und die genannten Antriebsräder (4,
5) antreibend zu verbinden.
8. Farbbandkassette nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die genannte gerade Antriebswelle (6) ein vollständiges Ganzes mit dem genannten
zweiten Treibrad (5) formt, wobei das eine Ende der genannten Antriebswelle angeordnet
ist, um sich mit den zur Antriebsmotor gehörenden Getriebemitteln zu verbinden.
9. Farbbandkassette nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebsräder (4, 5) Zahnräder sind.
10. Farbbandkassette nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebsräder (4, 5) Reibräder sind.
11. Farbbandkassette nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebsräder (4, 5) Zapfenräder sind.
1. Imprimante comportant une tête d'impression (1); un chemin de papier (2) pour le document
à imprimer; une cartouche à ruban encreur (3) avec un mécanisme de commande (4, 5,
6) et un moteur de commande (7) et des moyens de transmission (8 à 14) y relatifs,
dont le mécanisme de commande de la cartouche de ruban encreur (3) comporte une paire
de roues d'entraînement (4,5) l'une et l'autre en rapport d'entraînement, lesdites
roues (4,5) formant un angle de 90° l'une avec l'autre, l'axe de la première roue
(4) étant perpendiculaire par rapport à la surface horizontale de la cartouche (3)
et l'axe de la deuxième roue (5) étant parallèle avec la surface horizontale de la
cartouche (3), caractérisé en ce que l'imprimante comporte en outre un axe rectilinéaire
de commande (6) en raccord direct entre la deuxième roue (5) et les moyens de transmission
(8 à 14), suivant quoi la cartouche (3) peut être introduite horizontalement dans
l'imprimante pour raccorder en entraînement lesdites moyens de transmission (8 à 14),
ledit axe rectilinéaire de commande (6) et lesdites roues d'entraînement (4,5).
2. Imprimante selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les roues d'entraînement
(4, 5) sont des roues à engrenage.
3. Imprimante selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les roues d'entraînement
(4, 5) sont des roues à friction.
4. Imprimante selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les roues d'entraînement
(4, 5) sont des roues à picots.
5. Imprimante selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en
ce que les deux roues d'entraînement (4,5) sont montées en position fixe dans un cadre
(3a) de la cartouche.
6. Imprimante selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en
ce que l'axe d'entraînement (6) forme une unité intégrale avec la deuxième roue d'entraînement
(5).
7. Cartouche à ruban encreur d'imprimante, ladite cartouche (3) comportant un cadre (3a),
un ruban encreur (3b) et une roue d'entraînement (4) pour commander le ruban encreur,
dont ladite roue d'entraînement est située à une extrémité du cadre (3a) de telle
façon que son axe d'entraînement est perpendiculaire à la surface horizontale du cadre,
suivant quoi en raccord d'entraînement avec ladite roue d'entraînement une deuxième
roue d'entraînement (5) est agencée dont l'axe d'entraînement forme un angle de 90°
avec l'axe de la première roue d'entraînement, caractérisé en ce que ladite deuxième
roue d'entraînement (5) est adaptée pour le raccord avec l'axe rectilinéaire de commande
(6), ledit axe (6) étant monté co-axial avec ladite deuxième roue d'entraînement (5)
et étant adaptée pour le raccord direct avec les moyens de transmission (8 à 14) se
rapportant au moteur d'entraînement (7) de ladite imprimante dont ladite cartouche
(3) admet l'introduction horizontale dans ladite imprimante pour assurer le raccord
direct en entraînement avec lesdits moyens de transmission (8 à 14), ledit axe rectilinéaire
d'entraînement (6) et lesdites roues d'entraînement (4, 5).
8. Cartouche à ruban encreur d'imprimante, selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en
ce que l'axe rectilinéaire d'entraînement (6) forme une unité intégrale avec ladite
deuxième roue d'entraînement (5), une extrémité dudit axe d'entraînement étant adaptée
pour le raccord avec les moyens de transmission (8 à 14) se rapportant au moteur d'entraînement
(7) de ladite imprimante.
9. Cartouche à ruban encreur d'imprimante, selon la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisée
en ce que les roues d'entraînement (4, 5) sont des roues à engrenage.
10. Cartouche à ruban encreur d'imprimante, selon la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisée
en ce que les roues d'entraînement (4, 5) sont des roues à friction.
11. Cartouche à ruban encreur d'imprimante, selon la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisée
en ce que les roues d'entraînement (4, 5) sont des roues à picots.