JP2000351246A - Ink ribbon core - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit movement of an ink ribbon in the width direction, using one kind of a feeding core regardless of the ink ribbon width. SOLUTION: An ink ribbon core 10 comprises a core part 20 and intermediate members 30, wherein the core part 20 comprises a shaft part 22 and flanges 24, 24 mounted on both end parts of the shaft part 22, with an ink ribbon R wound around the shaft part 22. The intermediate members 30, 30 are mounted in gaps F2, F2 between the ink ribbon R width direction end parts and the flanges 24, 24 so as to fill the gaps F2, F2 for limiting movement of the ink ribbon R in the width direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention belongs to the technical field of an ink ribbon core on which a printing ink ribbon is wound.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where printing is performed using a conventional ink ribbon. FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional ink ribbon core 20 'used in the perspective view of FIG. 6, and the ink ribbon core 20' has a shaft 22 'and two ends of the shaft 22'. It consists of two disk-shaped flanges 24 ', 24' attached. As shown in FIG. 6, the ink ribbon R is wound around the shaft portion 22 'of the ink ribbon core 20', and the ink ribbon R pulled out of the ink ribbon core 20 'is
And printing is performed.

At this time, the movement of the ink ribbon R in the width direction is restricted by the flanges 24 'and 24' of the ink ribbon core 20 'so that the ink ribbon R is supplied to the print head 40 without shifting in the width direction. Has become. As described above, the flange 2 of the ink ribbon core 20 '
In order to reliably restrict the movement of the ink ribbon R in the width direction by 4 'and 24', the flange interval F1 'must be substantially equal to the width R1' of the wound ink ribbon (see FIG. 7). )), Actually, the flange interval F
1-2 m from width R1 'of ink ribbon around which 1' is wound
m is designed to be larger, so the flange 2
A slight gap is formed between 4 ′, 24 ′ and the ink ribbon R so that the ink ribbon R can be smoothly fed. In addition, the flange has a function of restricting the movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction and keeping the ink ribbon core at a predetermined position against vibration and the like during transportation of the ink ribbon core.

The printed ink ribbon R is often wound around a winding ink ribbon core (not shown) having the same structure as the ink ribbon core 20 '.

[0005]

As described above, in order to restrict the movement of the ink ribbon R in the width direction by the flanges 24 ', 24' of the ink ribbon core 20 ', the flange interval F1 of the ink ribbon core 20' is required. 'And the width R1' of the wound ink ribbon must be substantially equal. As shown in FIG. 8, the width R of the wound ink ribbon
If 1 ′ is smaller than the flange interval F1 ′ by, for example, 5 mm or more, both ends of the ink ribbon R and the flange 2
Because of the gaps F2 ', F2' between the ink ribbon R and the ink ribbon R, the ink ribbon R may not move in the width direction due to the flanges 24 ', 24', and may skew. When the ink ribbon R is skewed, the ink ribbon R is not supplied to a predetermined position of the print head 40, and causes printing failure or printing failure. Therefore, the width R of the ink ribbon that can be used is determined by the flange interval F1 ′ of the feeding core 20 ′.
In order to use the ink ribbon R of a limited width 1 ′, a new ink ribbon core 20 ′ must be manufactured, which requires new equipment (die), There was a problem that the cost was high.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink ribbon core comprising a shaft around which an ink ribbon is wound, and flanges formed at both ends of the shaft. The above problem has been solved by an ink ribbon core having an intermediate member provided in at least one gap between the ink ribbon wound around the ink ribbon and the width direction end.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an intermediate member is interposed in at least one of the gaps between the flange and the widthwise end of the ink ribbon wound around the shaft to fill the gap.
Even if the width of the ink ribbon wound around the shaft changes, the movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction is reliably restricted correspondingly.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an ink ribbon core 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The ink ribbon core 10 includes a core portion 20 having a shaft portion 22 and flanges 24, 24, and an intermediate member 30, which will be described later.
For example, it is applied when an ink ribbon R having a width of 5 mm or more is wound.

As shown in FIG. 1, the width R1 of the ink ribbon wound around the shaft portion 22 is, for example, at least 5 mm smaller than the flange interval F1, so that the width between both ends of the ink ribbon R in the width direction and the flange. The gaps F2 and F2 each having a length of 2.5 mm or more are formed between the gaps F2 and F2.
In addition, since the intermediate members 30, 30 are attached and the notch 34 is smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion, it does not easily fall off.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the intermediate member 30 described above. The intermediate member 30 has a through-hole 32 formed by hollowing out the center of an elastic disk-shaped member, and a radial cutout 34 communicating with the through-hole 32 is provided at one place of this member. The outer diameter of the intermediate member 30 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flange 24, and the diameter of the through hole 32 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the shaft portion 22. The width of the notch 34 is smaller than the diameter of the through hole 32, that is, the outer diameter of the shaft portion 22.
The axial thickness S (see FIG. 1) of the intermediate member 30 is
The gaps F2 and F2 between the ends of the ink ribbon R in the width direction and the flanges 24 are slightly smaller than the gaps F2 and F2.
2, formed to be 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm smaller than F2.

The intermediate member 30 is attached to the core portion 20 by fitting the shaft portion 22 into the through hole 32 through the notch 34 by elastic deformation. However, since the notch 34 is smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion, the intermediate member 30 is easily formed. Never fall off.

As described above, even if the width R1 of the ink ribbon wound around the shaft portion 22 is narrower than the flange interval F1 by 5 mm or more, the width direction both ends of the ink ribbon R and the flanges 24, 24, the gaps F2 and F2 are filled, and the movement of the ink ribbon R in the width direction is reliably restricted.

In this embodiment, if a plurality of intermediate members having different thicknesses in the axial direction are prepared, ink ribbons having different widths can be easily handled by exchanging the intermediate members.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon core 12 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The core portion 200 used in this embodiment includes the shaft portion 220 and the flanges 24 and 24 as in the first embodiment.
The shaft portion 220 includes a plurality of guide grooves 222 around the shaft.
Is different from that of the first embodiment. Further, the intermediate member 300 of this embodiment is obtained by forming the intermediate member 30 of the first embodiment into a thinner plate shape. The intermediate member 300 is fitted into the guide groove 222 of the shaft portion 220 and moves in the axial direction. Not fixed.

Although the illustration of the ink ribbon R is omitted in FIG. 3, the ink ribbon core 12 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 for convenience. In this ink ribbon core 12, even when the ink ribbon width R1 wound around the core portion 200 is smaller than the flange interval F1, the intermediate member 300 is fitted into the guide groove 222 suitable for the ink ribbon width R1. By adjusting the gaps F2 and F2 between the both ends of the ink ribbon and the flange 24, the movement of the ink ribbon R in the width direction can be restricted.

In this embodiment, the shaft 2 of the core 200
20, a plurality of guide grooves 222 are formed, and the intermediate member 300 may be fitted into the guide groove 222 at an appropriate position of the shaft 220 according to the width R1 of the ink ribbon R to be wound. Regardless of the axial thickness S (see FIG. 1) of the 300, one kind of the intermediate member 300 can correspond to the ink ribbon R of various widths.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an ink ribbon core 14 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The core portion 20 used in this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and includes a shaft portion 22 and flanges 24,24. Intermediate member 30 attached to shaft portion 22 of core portion 20
Reference numeral 2 denotes a disc-shaped plate having a hollow center and notched in the radial direction. Parts 322a and 322b are formed. This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 for convenience.
Similarly to the first embodiment, when the width R1 of the ink ribbon R wound around the core portion 20 is smaller than the flange interval F1, both ends in the width direction of the ink ribbon R and the flange 2 are formed.
Intermediate member 3 having a thickness suitable for gaps F2 and F2 with 4, 4 and 24
02 is inserted into the shaft portion 22 to fill the gaps F2 and F2, whereby the widthwise movement of the ink ribbon R can be reliably restricted.

In this embodiment, the steps 322 a and 322 b of the intermediate member 302 function as an index indicating the amount of the ink ribbon R wound around the core 20. The step as an index indicating the amount of the ink ribbon R is not limited to the embodiment. For example, a step in the radial direction may be formed on the opposed surface of the notch 34 of the intermediate member 30 shown in FIG. 2 so that the step can be seen when the notch 34 is viewed from the inside in the axial direction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon core 16 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) shows a state where an intermediate member is attached, and FIG. Shows the removed state. The ink ribbon core 16 of this embodiment includes:
In the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, a protrusion 324 projecting in the radial direction is formed on the intermediate member 304. The protrusion 324 facilitates attachment and detachment of the intermediate member 304 to and from the shaft 22. The protrusion 324
Is sized so as not to interfere with other parts such as a printer.

As described above, the ink ribbon cores 10, 12, 14, and 14 according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
16, the shaft portions 2 of the core portions 20 and 200 are not necessarily required.
It is not necessary to attach the intermediate members 30 and 300 to both ends of the shaft members 22 and 220.
In some cases, it may be necessary to attach only to one side of the.

The intermediate members 30, 300 used in the ink ribbon cores 10, 12, 14, 16 of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention generally have elasticity such as sponge, rubber, foam material and the like. The elastic material may be manufactured, or the surface of the elastic material may be sandwiched between plate-like members having appropriate rigidity. As a result, it is possible to reduce the impact due to a drop or the like.

[0022]

According to the above configuration, in the ink ribbon core of the present invention, even if the width of the ink ribbon is changed, the ink ribbon core is not damaged.
Using the different types of ink ribbon cores, it is possible to reliably control the movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an ink ribbon core according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an intermediate member used in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon core according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of an ink ribbon core according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an ink ribbon core according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (a) is a perspective view showing a state where an intermediate member is attached;
FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a state where an intermediate member is removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where printing is performed using a conventional ink ribbon.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional ink ribbon core used in the perspective view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7 when the width of the ink ribbon wound around the ink ribbon core is smaller than a flange interval by a certain degree or more;

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 12, 14, 16: Ink ribbon core 20, 200: Core part 22, 220: Shaft part
24: Flange 30, 300: Intermediate member 322a, 322b: Step 304: Projection R: Ink ribbon

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink ribbon core comprising: a shaft around which an ink ribbon is wound; and flanges formed at both ends of the shaft, wherein the flange and the ink ribbon wound around the shaft are provided. An ink ribbon core, wherein an intermediate member is provided in a gap with at least one of the width direction ends. 2. The ink ribbon core according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the intermediate member is slightly smaller than a gap between the flange and the ink ribbon wound around the shaft. 3. The ink ribbon core according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member has a disk shape in which the center is hollowed out and a part of the intermediate member is cut out in a radial direction with a width smaller than the core shaft diameter. 4. A guide groove is formed around the axis of the shaft portion,
The intermediate member is fitted in the guide groove.
Ink ribbon core according to any of 1 to 3.