JP2505233Y2 - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a thermal transfer printer such as a portable transfer machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer in which a line-shaped print head is pressed against a print surface by a predetermined biasing force, and the print head sequentially prints on the print surface while moving the print head in the sub-scanning direction. In particular, the present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer in which an apparatus main body is positioned and placed on a surface to be printed, and a print head reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction in the apparatus main body to perform printing.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a thermal transfer printer of this type, for example, the one described in JP-A-62-83158 is known.

However, there is no disclosure about a print head protection means in the related art known in the art.

Usually, in the thermal transfer printer of this type, the heat generating portion of the print head is fragile and easily broken, so that the protection means is indispensable.

Therefore, in the conventional thermal transfer printer which does not have the protection means, there is a problem that the print head is easily damaged and worn. Further, when returning the print head to the original position, there is a problem that the print surface is rubbed to wear the print head or stain the print surface.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem in the thermal transfer printer, prevent the print head from rubbing the surface to be printed when the print head returns, and effectively prevent the print head from being damaged or worn. To do.

Therefore, in the apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus main body (10) is positioned and mounted on the surface (100) to be printed, and the apparatus is arranged in accordance with the apparatus described in claim 1. The line-shaped print head (26) in the main body (10) is pressed against the surface to be printed (100) with a predetermined urging force and moved in the sub-scanning direction (A), whereby the print head (26) The surface to be printed (100)
In a thermal transfer printer that prints on a sheet, at the end of the forward pass of the print head (26), it engages with the print head (26) and separates the print head (26) from the print surface (100) and moves to the retracted position. The contact part (12) to
When the print head (26) returns to the beginning of the forward path, the lock mechanism (50) that holds the print head (26) that has been formed on the side of the print head (26) moved to the retracted position is hooked to the head holder (18) and held. A guide part (11) of the device body (10) for releasing the holding by the lock mechanism (50) by disengaging from the head holder (18) is also provided.

According to claim 2, the lower guide part () that guides the head holder (18) supporting the print head (26) while pressing the print head (26) against the print surface (100) in the forward path ( The guide is characterized by being guided by an annular holder guide (40) having an upper stage guide portion (40b) for guiding while being separated from the print surface (100) on the return path.

Action Then, in the apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, the print head (26) is returned while being separated from the printing surface (100) on the return path.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a thermal transfer printer which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. Reference numeral (100) in the figure denotes a print surface such as paper, and the print surface (1
The apparatus main body (10) of the thermal transfer printer is positioned and placed on (00).

The device body (10) has an elongated box shape, and has a rectangular print position confirmation window (10a) on the upper surface and a rectangular print window (10b) on the lower surface. Then
A guide portion (11) is formed near the front (right side in FIG. 2) corner on one side (left side in FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction of the printing window (10b). The guide part (11) may be integrated with the device body (10) or may be separately attached and fixed to the device body (10) by adhesion or the like. The upper surface is provided so that its upper surface is inclined. On the other hand, a contact portion (12) is formed substantially at the center of the printing window (10b) on the other side in the longitudinal direction. The abutting portion (12) may be integrated with the device body (10) or may be a separate member fixed to the device body (10) by adhesion or the like, and is also provided upward. The device body (10) is formed on the inner surface of the front side of the device body (10) so as to be horizontal to the guide protrusion (10c).

In such an apparatus main body (10), frames (13) and (14) are set up facing each other on the left and right in the longitudinal direction. Then, the microswitches (15) and (16) are attached to the inner surfaces of the frames (13) and (14), respectively. Also,
The guide shaft (17) is supported horizontally by those frames (13) and (14). The guide shaft (17) penetrates the head holder (18).

The head holder (18) has a block shape, and a foot (18a) extends downward from one corner on the other side.
Then, the front side is placed on the above-mentioned guide protrusion (10c), and the other side is supported by the guide shaft (17) so that it can slide left and right. Then, the base end of the leaf spring (19) is attached to the lower end of the foot portion (18a) as shown in FIG.

The wire (20) is fixed to the head holder (18). The wire (20) is stretched between the drive pulley (21) and the driven pulley (22). The drive pulley (21) is attached to the rotating shaft of the stepping motor (23). The stepping motor (23) is fixed to the device body (10). Therefore,
When the stepping motor (23) is driven, the drive pulley (21) is rotated to move the wire (20), and the head holder (18) can be reciprocated left and right by being guided by the guide shaft (17).

By the way, the head holder (18) has a spring (24).
-Hang the printing unit (25) through (24). A recess (25a) is formed on the back surface of the printing unit (25).
The recess (25a) and the leaf spring (19) described above form a lock mechanism (50). Further, the print unit (25) includes a print head (26) and a ribbon cassette (27).
Attach.

The print head (26) linearly has a linear heat generating portion from the front side to the other side at the lower end, and has an engaging portion (26a) on the front side surface. The engaging portion (26a) has an inclined surface that engages with the guide portion (11) described above and faces downward.

On the other hand, the ribbon cassette (27) accommodates the feeding core (28) and the winding core (29), and winds the ink ribbon (30) fed from the feeding core (28) under the print head (26). It is wound around the core (29). (31)
Reference numeral (31) is a ribbon guide for guiding the ink ribbon (30) and is provided in the ribbon cassette (27).

Therefore, the print head (26) pushes the heat generating part on the print surface (100) with the ink ribbon (30) sandwiched between the print heads (26) by the urging force of the springs (24), (24) in the device body (10). Hit With the movement of the head holder (18), the head holder (18) reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction shown by the arrow (A) in FIG. 1, and at this time, the ink ribbon (30) is used to sequentially print on the print surface (100). To do.

The thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is constructed as described above, for example. So, now the print position confirmation window (10a)
While checking through, the apparatus main body (10) is positioned and placed on the print surface (100). When a main switch (not shown) is turned on, the stepping motor (23) operates to rotate the drive pulley (21) clockwise in FIG. When the drive pulley (21) rotates clockwise, the wire (20) is moved, the head holder (18) is moved, and the print head (26) is returned to the left in the figure. When reaching the home position, the engaging portion (26) of the print head (26) is
a) Engage the lower surface with the upper surface of the guide part (11) of the device body (10) and lift the print head (26) together with the print unit (25) against the biasing force of the springs (24), (24). .
Then, the print head (26) is retracted to the protection position. After that, the head holder (18) is applied to one micro switch (15) to stop the operation of the stepping motor (23) and stop the movement of the head holder (18).

Next, when a print switch (not shown) is turned on, the stepping motor (23) is activated to drive the drive pulley (21) this time.
Is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. And the wire (2
0) is moved to move the head holder (18) to the right in the figure to disengage the engagement portion (26a) from the guide portion (11).
Then, the print head (26) is pressed against the print surface (100) via the ink ribbon (30) by the urging force of the springs (24) and (24). Then, as the head holder (18) moves, the print head (26) is sent to the right in FIG. At this time, by sequentially sending a print signal to the print head (26), printing is sequentially performed on the print surface (100). Then, while printing, the print head (26) is gradually fed to the right, and when the print head (26) reaches the end of the forward path, the contact portion (12) hits the print unit (25).
Then, the printing unit (25) is tilted clockwise in FIG. 1 to move the leading end heat generating portion away from the printing surface (100) to the retreat position. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the leaf spring (19) engages with the concave portion (25a) of the inclined printing unit (25), the lock mechanism (50) operates, and the print head (26) retracts. Hold. After that, the head holder (18) is applied to the other micro switch (16) to switch the operation of the stepping motor (23). Then, next, the drive pulley (21) is driven in the opposite direction in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the print head (26) is returned while being held in the retracted state by the lock mechanism (50). Therefore, both the print head (26) and the ink ribbon (30) are returned to the original direction without contacting the print surface (100). Then, when the print head (26) returns to the beginning of the forward path and the engaging portion (26a) again engages with the guide portion (11), the print unit (25) is lifted to move the recess (25a) to the leaf spring (19). And the holding by the lock mechanism (50) described above is released. That is,
The engaging portion (26a) and the guide portion (11) not only function to retract the print head (26) to the protective position at the home position, but also return the print head (2) in the retracted state on the return path.
It also has the function of unlocking to release the retention of the retracted state in 6). Then, thereafter, the head holder (18) is again brought into contact with the one micro switch (15) to stop the operation of the stepping motor (23) and stop the movement of the head holder (18).

When printing continuously, the used ink ribbon (30)
And the device body (10) is moved to the desired position on the printing surface (100), and the printing position confirmation window (10a) is displayed again.
Position through. Then, by repeating the above-described operation, it is possible to appropriately perform printing on the printing surface (100) in the same manner.

In the embodiment described above, the leaf spring (19) and the recess (25
The locking mechanism (50) consisting of
A lock mechanism (a) in which a convex portion (18b) shown in FIG. 5 is formed in a) and the convex portion (18b) shown in FIG. 6 enters the concave portion (25a) of the printing unit (25). 50) may be used. Conversely, a lock mechanism may be used in which a concave portion is formed on the foot portion (18a) and a convex portion is formed on the printing unit (25).

Next, FIG. 7 is a partial front view of a thermal transfer printer according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view thereof. In this embodiment, the guide shaft (17) and the guide projection (10) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above are used.
Instead of c), form holder guides (40) and (40).
The holder guides (40) and (40) are annular grooves each having a lower guide section (40a) and an upper guide section (40b),
They are provided so as to face the inner surface of the device body (10) on the front side and the other side, respectively. Then, the both side guide pins (41) and (41) to which the head holder (18) is rotatably attached are fitted to the opposing holder guides (40) and (40), respectively. Then, the drive pulley (21) is rotated by the operation of the stepping motor (23), and the head holder (18) is guided and moved by the holder guides (40) and (40).
As a result, the head holder (18) engages with the lower guide portions (40a) and (40a) on the outward path of the print head (26), and the heat generating portion of the print head (26) is passed through the ink ribbon (30). And press it against the printing surface (100) to move. On the other hand, on the return path, it moves while engaging with the upper guide portions (40b) and (40b) and separating from the print surface (100). Since the head holder (18) is rotatably attached to the guide pins (41) and (41) on both sides,
b) ・ Even when it is in (40b), it moves downward as it is. Therefore, in this embodiment, the contact portion (12) formed in the device body (10) is unnecessary.

Therefore, according to the inventions set forth in claims 1 and 2, the print head is returned while being separated from the print surface on the return path, so that the print head is not damaged or worn without rubbing the print surface. The printing surface can be effectively prevented, and the printed surface is not stained when the ink ribbon is set.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a thermal transfer printer which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower end of a foot portion of a head holder used in the printer, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lock mechanism when the printer is viewed from above, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show other examples of the lock mechanism. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged bottom end of the head holder. 6 is a plan view showing the lock mechanism, FIG. 7 is a partial front view of a thermal transfer printer according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view thereof. (10) …… Main unit (11) …… Guide part (12) …… Abutting part (18) …… Head holder (26) …… Print head (40) …… Holder guide (40a) …… Lower guide Part (40b) …… Upper guide part (50) …… Lock mechanism (100) …… Printed surface (A) …… Sub scanning direction

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An apparatus main body is positioned and placed on a printing surface,
In a thermal transfer printer in which a line-shaped print head in the apparatus main body is pressed against the surface to be printed by a predetermined biasing force and moved in the sub-scanning direction to print on the surface to be printed by the print head. A contact portion that engages with the print head at the end of the forward path of the print head and separates the print head from the surface to be printed and moves to the retracted position on the apparatus main body side, and the retracted position Lock mechanism that locks and holds the print head that has moved to the head holder, and when the print head returns to the beginning of the forward path, engages with it to release the lock with the head holder and release the holding by the lock mechanism. A thermal transfer printer provided with a guide part of the apparatus body. 2. An apparatus main body is positioned and placed on a printing surface,
In a thermal transfer printer in which a line-shaped print head in the apparatus main body is pressed against the surface to be printed by a predetermined biasing force and moved in the sub-scanning direction to print on the surface to be printed by the print head. An annular ring having a lower guide portion for guiding the head holder supporting the print head while pressing the print head against the surface to be printed on the outward path, and an upper guide portion for guiding the head holder while separating from the surface to be printed on the return path. Thermal transfer printer guided by the holder guide.