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(11) | EP 1 080 931 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Universal ink ribbon core |
| (57) A universal ink ribbon core (10) has three notches (20a,20b,20c) spaced with 90°
intervals between the first and second notches (20a,20b) and between the second and
third notches (20b,20c). In an alternate embodiment, a fourth notch (20d) is provided
spaced at an interval of 150° from either the first notch (20a) or the third notch
(20c). The notches at one end of a core are formed at angular positions which are
the same as the angular positions of the notches at the other end. An ink ribbon core
of the invention may be installed in almost all types of printers. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to ink ribbon cores which are used to carry ink ribbons for printers in a wound manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] For a heat transcript type printer, etc., an ink ribbon comprising a substrate, such as, paper or a plastic film coated with an ink is used.
[0003] With reference to Figures 3(a) and 3(b) for the sake of expediency, explanations will be made about the structure of an ink ribbon core used for unreeling and reeling the ink ribbon.
[0004] Figure 3(a) depicts a case where the ink ribbon cores at the unreeling and reeling sides are rotated in the same directions and Figure 3(b) shows a case in which the ribbon cores at the unreeling and reeling sides are rotated in the opposite directions, respectively. The direction of rotation of ink ribbon cores depends on the type of printer in which the core is used.
[0005] As shown in Figure 3, the ink ribbon R is wound around conventional ink ribbon cores 30, 30', which will be described later. The ink ribbon R unreeled from one of the ink ribbon cores 30, 30' is adapted to be supplied to the printing head (not shown) of the printer so as to enable printing; and thereafter, the ink ribbon R is adapted to be reeled around the other of the ink ribbon cores 30, 30'.
[0006] Figure 5 depicts perspective views of a conventional ribbon core 30 and another conventional ink ribbon core 30'.
[0007] These ink ribbon cores 30, 30' consist of pipes or tubes made of paper, and are formed with a couple of notches 40 or 40' at both ends radially as shown in Figure 5(a) and Figure 5(b), respectively.
[0008] These ink ribbon cores 30, 30' are mounted on a printer so that they are received in the respective receptacles (not shown) of the unreeling and reeling sides of the printer. Projections are formed at both ends of each receptacle of the printer so that these ink ribbon cores 30, 30' will not disengage from the printer.
[0009] Therefore, the ink ribbon cores 30, 30' may be installed in place on the printer provided that the positions and the number of the notches 40, 40' of the ink ribbon cores 30, 30' shown in Figure 5(a) and Figure 5(b) exactly correspond to those of the projections formed on the printer.
[0010] However, as a matter of fact, there are actually no industrial standards as to the positions or number of the projections to be provided in printers; and each printer manufacturer provides projections arbitrarily.
[0011] Therefore, there is a problem that the ink ribbon cores which may be used in a particular printer are necessarily limited.
[0012] On the other hand, from an ink ribbon manufacturer's standpoint, it is cumbersome to be necessary to manufacture different type ink ribbon cores for each printer manufacturer, reducing productivity and increasing manufacturing costs. Materials management also becomes complex.
[0013] Moreover, depending upon the type of printer, the positions or number of the projections may be different on the unreeling side and reeling side. Also, it is possible that the positions or number of the projections provided at one end of the ink ribbon core differ at the other end.
[0014] In those cases, it will become necessary to use different ink ribbon cores at the unreeling side and the reeling side; or ink ribbon cores having different notches at one end than at the other end.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems by providing a pair of cylindrical ink ribbon cores on each of which an ink ribbon is wound to be used in an unreeling side and a reeling side in which a notch is provided at each axial end of each ink ribbon core and the position and the number of the notches in the total four end surfaces of the pair of ink ribbon cores are the same.
[0016] The universality is further enhanced by providing a first notch, a second notch and a third notch formed 90° spaced apart at each end of each of the ink ribbon cores such that the positions of the first, second and third notches at one end correspond to those at the other end. In addition, a fourth notch may be provided in the side opposite from the second notch between the first notch and the third notch, with a spacing of 150° from the first notch or the third notch.
[0017] Owing to the above-mentioned structure, the ribbon cores of the present intention are possessed of the universality that they may be installed in the unreeling and reeling sides of conventional printers of almost all types.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018]
Figure 1 is a front plan view of an ink ribbon core according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front plan view of an ink ribbon core according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3(a) is a perspective view showing an ink ribbon R wound around ink ribbon cores 10, 12 of the present invention or around cores 30, 30' of the prior art and installed in a printer in which the ink ribbon cores at the unreeling and reeling sides are rotated in the same direction;
Figure 3(b) is like Figure 3(a) but showing a case in which the ink ribbon cores at the unreeling and reeling sides are rotated in opposite directions;
Figures 4(a)-(f) are schematic views showing the positions and the number of projections provided in different printers;
Figure 5(a) is a perspective view showing a conventional ink ribbon core; and
Figure 5(b) is a perspective view of another conventional ink ribbon core.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] We have investigated the positions and the number of the projections formed in the receptacles of commercially available printers of each manufacturer.
[0020] As a result, as shown in the conceptual view of Figure 4, it has been found that the existing types are either; (a) having no projections (Figure 4(a)); (b) having a single projection (Figure 4(b)); (c) having two projections with the interval or spacing of 180° (Figure 4(c)); (d) having two projections with a spacing of 90° (Figure 4(d)); (e) having two projections with a spacing of 150° (Figure 4(e)); and (f) having three projections spaced 90° apart (Figure 4(f)).
[0022] It has been found that, even in a single printer, the positions and the number of the projections may be different in the reeling and unreeling sides; and in some cases, the positions or the number of the projections formed at one end of the receptacle was different from those at the other end. But, it has been found that those projections were in fact selected from the above-mentioned arrangements (a) to (f).
[0023] For each printer as afore-mentioned, either a thin type ink ribbon core of about 13mm inside diameter and about 19mm outside diameter, or a fat type ink ribbon core of about 26mm inside diameter and about 32mm outside diameter is used.
[0024] Further, as to the relationship between the location/number of the projections and the size of the ink ribbon core, it has been found that in case of having two projections with the interval of 150°, the fat type ink ribbon core of about 26mm in the inside diameter is used without exception.
[0025] An ink ribbon core of the present invention consists of a pipe or tube made of paper. etc., like the conventional one.
[0026] Figure 1 is a front end view of an ink ribbon core 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] The ink ribbon core 10 is of the thin type of 13mm inside diameter and 19mm outside diameter, and three notches 20a, 20b, and 20c are formed at both ends at intervals or spacings of 90° between the notches.
[0028] This ink ribbon core 10 can be installed in the printer of the types (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Figures 4(a)-(f), by virtue of the notches 20a, 20b, and 20c formed at both ends.
[0029] Figure 2 is a front view of the ink ribbon core 12 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This ink ribbon core 12 is a fat type, of 26mm in the inside diameter and 32mm in the outside diameter, and the 1st notch 22a, the 2nd notch 22b, and the 3rd notch 22c are formed at both ends at intervals of 90°. In addition, the 4th notch 22d is formed at the position 150° away from the 1st notch 22a as illustrated, or alternatively from the 3rd notch 22c, on the side opposed to the 2nd notch between the 1st notch 22a and the 3rd notch 22c.
[0030] This ink ribbon core 12 can be installed in the printer of all types (a) to (f) of Figures 4(a)-(f), by virtue of the notches 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d formed at both ends.
[0031] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate perspective views where the ink ribbon R is wound around the ink ribbon cores 10, 12 of the present invention and installed in a printer. Figure 3(a) shows the case in which the ink ribbon cores at the unreeling and reeling sides are rotated in the same direction and Figure 3(b) shows the case in which the ink ribbon cores at the unreeling and reeling sides are rotated in opposite directions. The directions of rotation of the ink ribbon cores 10, 12 depend on the type of printer in which they are installed.
[0032] Because in case of the ribbon cores 10, 12 of the present invention, the locations and number of the notches 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d correspond to those of the notches 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d at the other end, the direction of installation to the printer is not limited.
[0033] Therefore, the same kind of ink ribbon cores 10, 12, having identical end structures, may be used in the structures of Figure 3(a) and Figure 3(b).
[0034] According to the present invention, no distinction is required between the unreeling side and the reeling side and a single type ink ribbon core can be installed in almost all conventional printers, so that the manufacturing costs may be reduced. Moreover, the necessity of management of a variety of kinds of ink ribbon cores may be done away with.
1. In a pair of cylindrical ink ribbon cores on each of which an ink ribbon is wound
to be used on an unreeling side and a reeling side of a printer, the improvement wherein
at least one notch is provided at each axial end of each ink ribbon core and the position
and the number of said notches in the total four end surfaces of said pair of ink
ribbon cores are the same.
2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein a first notch, a second notch and a third notch
are formed at each end of each of said ink ribbon cores, said second notch being spaced
from said first notch by an interval of 90° and said third notch being spaced from
said second notch by an interval of 90°, such that the angular positions of said first,
second and third notches at one end correspond to the angular positions of said first,
second and third notches at the other end.
3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein a fourth notch is provided in a side of said core
which is opposite from said second notch and between said first notch and said third
notch, with an interval of 150° from either said first notch or said third notch.