JP4028695B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer that performs desired recording by writing ink on an ink ribbon onto an intermediate transfer member and retransferring the ink to a predetermined recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a heat generating element of a thermal head is selectively heated based on a predetermined recording signal, the ink on the ink ribbon is melted by this heat and transferred once to an intermediate transfer member, and this ink is re-transferred to a predetermined recording medium. An intermediate transfer type printer that performs desired recording by transferring is known.
[0003]
In such a conventional printer, a head unit and an intermediate transfer unit are attached to a frame of the printer, and a ribbon unit is detachably attached to the frame.
[0004]
The head unit has a pair of head support frames, and a thermal head in which heating elements are arranged in a line is attached between the head support frames.
[0005]
The ribbon unit has a pair of ribbon support frames, and a pair of ribbon rolls around which the ink ribbon is wound are detachably mounted between the ribbon support frames. . The ink ribbon is guided by a guide roller from one ribbon roll, and wound around the other ribbon roll through the front surface of the thermal head of the head unit.
[0006]
The intermediate transfer unit is detachably mounted with a pair of sheet rolls wound with an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer unit has a platen roller facing the thermal head. It is arranged. The intermediate transfer sheet is guided between the thermal head and the platen roller from one sheet roll, sent to a predetermined retransfer position, and then wound around the other sheet roll. .
[0007]
In the printer having such a structure, when the ink ribbon is replaced, the ribbon unit is removed and the ribbon roll is removed from the ribbon support frame. Therefore, in order to attach and detach the ribbon unit, one side of the head unit needs to be opened, and therefore the head unit is cantilevered.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the conventional printer supports the head unit in a cantilevered manner, the head unit cannot be stably supported, and the head is subject to vibration or impact due to transportation or the like. There is a problem in that the unit may be deformed, or even during recording, it may become impossible to perform proper recording due to distortion of the head unit.
[0009]
In addition, since the ribbon roll is detachably attached to the ribbon unit, there is a problem that the ribbon roll may come off due to vibration or the like when transported with the ribbon unit attached. Have.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a printer capable of stably supporting a cantilevered head unit and preventing the ribbon roll of the ribbon unit from coming off. It is intended to provide.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a printer according to the present invention includes a head unit that supports a thermal head on a head support frame, and an ink ribbon that is guided to the thermal head portion of the head unit on the ribbon support frame. A printer comprising: a ribbon unit that supports a pair of ribbon rolls; and an intermediate transfer unit that guides an intermediate transfer member on which ink of the ink ribbon has been transferred by a thermal head and retransfers it to a predetermined recording medium. And one side of the head unit is cantilevered on the frame, a head positioning projection is formed on the head support frame on the other side of the head unit, and formed on the frame on one ribbon support frame of the ribbon unit. A positioning hole that engages with the positioning protrusion formed, and the head on the other ribbon support frame A head positioning hole to be engaged with the head positioning protrusion of the knit is formed, and the ribbon unit is positioned by engaging the positioning hole with the positioning protrusion of the frame while the ribbon unit is mounted. The head positioning hole is engaged with the head positioning protrusion of the head unit to support the other side of the head unit, and the ribbon support frame of the ribbon unit supports the support shaft of the ribbon roll. A ribbon roller attaching / detaching mechanism having a swinging lever attached to the supporting shaft and spring-biased in a direction in pressure contact with the supporting shaft, and the head unit is attached to the ribbon unit when the ribbon unit is attached. A lock consisting of a locking piece that locks the attachment / detachment mechanism by restricting the swing of the moving lever in the retracting direction. It is characterized in that it has provided the click mechanism.
[0012]
According to this invention, with the ribbon unit mounted, the positioning hole is engaged with the positioning protrusion of the frame to position the ribbon unit, and the head positioning hole is engaged with the positioning protrusion of the head unit to Since the other side of the unit is supported, the head unit can be reliably supported, and even when vibration or impact is applied due to transportation, etc., the head unit is reliably prevented from being deformed. It is possible to perform proper recording without any distortion. The ribbon support frame of the ribbon unit is provided with a mechanism for attaching and detaching the ribbon roll having a swinging lever attached to a support roller for supporting the support shaft of the ribbon roll and spring-biased in a direction in pressure contact with the support shaft. In addition, a lock mechanism consisting of a locking piece that locks the attachment / detachment mechanism by restraining the attachment / detachment mechanism from swinging in the retracting direction when the ribbon unit is installed is subjected to vibration during transportation. Even in this case, it is possible to reliably prevent the ribbon roll from coming off the ribbon support frame by the lock mechanism.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. A frame 1 of this printer has a support plate 2 erected on one side, and a surface facing the support plate 2. Is openable and closable by a lid (not shown). A head unit 3 and an intermediate transfer unit 4 are attached to the support plate 2 of the frame 1, and a ribbon unit 5 is detachably attached to the support plate 2. Yes.
[0017]
The head unit 3 has a pair of head support frames 6, 6. Heat generating elements that are driven based on predetermined image information are arranged in a line between the head support frames 6. A thermal head (not shown) is attached. The head unit 3 is cantilevered by fixing one head support frame 6 to the support plate 2. The other head support frame 6 is formed with a head positioning projection 7 projecting outward, and a stopper lever 8 is rotatably attached to the head support frame 6.
[0018]
2 and 3, the ribbon unit 5 has a pair of ribbon support frames 9, 9. Between the ribbon support frames 9, a plurality of support bars 10, 10 are provided. The ribbon support frames 9 are held at predetermined intervals by the support bars 10. Further, a plurality of guide rollers 11 and 11 for guiding an ink ribbon (not shown) are rotatably disposed on one side between the ribbon support frames 9 and at upper and lower ends. In the state where the ribbon unit 5 is mounted on the frame 1, two roll support holes 12, 12 are formed in the ribbon support frame 9 positioned on the support plate 2 side of the frame 1 and spaced apart from each other. Further, positioning holes 14 and 14 are formed in the ribbon support frame 9 to engage with positioning protrusions 13 protruding from the support plate 2 of the frame 1. Further, the other ribbon support frame 9 is formed with two shaft support grooves 15 and 15 which are cut out from the upper end and the lower end toward the center.
[0019]
A pair of ribbon rolls 16 and 16 around which an ink ribbon is wound are detachably mounted between the ribbon support frames 9, and the ink ribbon is guided from one ribbon roll 16. It is guided by the roller 11 and passed through the front surface of the thermal head of the head unit 3 and wound on the other ribbon roll 16. In addition, an engagement recess (not shown) that is engaged with a rotating bobbin 17 attached to the support plate 2 of the frame 1 is formed at one end of each ribbon roll 16. A support shaft 18 extending in the axial direction is formed at the other end of each ribbon roll 16, and the outer periphery of the engagement recess of the ribbon roll 16 is formed in the roll support hole 12 of the ribbon support frame 9. Each ribbon roll 16 can be rotatably supported between the ribbon support frames 9 by supporting the portion and supporting the support shaft 18 of the ribbon roll 16 in the shaft support groove 15.
[0020]
A roll attaching / detaching mechanism 19 is disposed inside the ribbon support frame 9 in which the shaft support groove 15 is formed. The roll attaching / detaching mechanism 19 has a base 20, which is in contact with the support shaft 18 of the ribbon roll 16 at a position corresponding to the deepest part and one side of each shaft support groove 15 of the base 20. The supporting rollers 21 are supported rotatably. A swing arm 22 extending to the other side of each shaft support groove 15 is attached to the base 20, and a support roller 21 a is rotatable at the tip of each swing arm 22. Installed. Further, the middle part of each swing arm 22 is connected by a biasing spring 23 that biases each swing arm 22 in a direction in which the swing arms 22 are attracted to each other. No. 22 is urged in the direction in which the support roller 21a approaches the fixed support roller 21. Further, an operating piece 24 is formed integrally with the other end of each swing arm 22, and the swinging motion is achieved by pushing the operating piece 24 against the biasing force of the biasing spring 23. The arm 22 can be swung in a direction away from the support roller 21 to which the support roller 21a is fixed.
[0021]
Further, a head positioning hole 25 that is engaged with the head positioning projection 7 of the head unit 3 is formed in the ribbon support frame 9 that is located outside when the head is mounted. An engaging portion 26 is formed to which one end portion of the stopper lever 8 of the unit 3 is engaged.
[0022]
Further, the head support frame 6 of the head unit 3 is locked as a lock mechanism that abuts on the operation piece 24 of each swing arm 22 and prevents the swing arm 22 from swinging with the ribbon unit 5 mounted. Pieces 27 and 27 are formed, respectively.
[0023]
A pair of sheet rolls (not shown) around which an intermediate transfer sheet as an intermediate transfer member is wound are detachably mounted on the upper portion of the intermediate transfer unit 4. A platen roller (not shown) is disposed so as to face the thermal head. The intermediate transfer sheet is guided between the thermal head and the platen roller from one sheet roll, sent to a predetermined retransfer position, and then wound around the other sheet roll. .
[0024]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
[0025]
First, in a state where the ink ribbon is drawn from one ribbon roll 16 to the other ribbon roll 16 along the guide roller 11, the outer peripheral portion of the engagement concave portion of the ribbon roll 16 is formed in the roll support hole 12 of the ribbon support frame 9. By engaging the support shaft 18 of each ribbon roll 16 into the shaft support groove 15 against the biasing force of the swing arm 22, the swing arm 22 is attached to the bias spring 23 via the support roller 21. It swings and retreats against the force, and the support shafts 18 are supported by the support rollers 21, 21 a and the ribbon rolls 16 are mounted on the ribbon support frame 9 of the ribbon unit 5.
[0026]
In this state, the ribbon unit 5 is inserted into the frame 1, the positioning hole 14 of the ribbon support frame 9 of the ribbon unit 5 is engaged with the positioning protrusion 13, and the head positioning hole 25 is connected to the head positioning protrusion 7 of the head unit 3. Engage. In this state, each engagement recess of the ribbon roll 16 is engaged with the rotating bobbin 17. Then, by rotating the stopper lever 8, one end portion of the stopper lever 8 is engaged with the engaging portion 26 of the ribbon support frame 9, thereby fixing the ribbon unit 5 to the frame 1. Yes.
[0027]
Thereby, the other of the cantilever support of the head unit 3 can be supported by the ribbon support frame 9 of the ribbon unit 5, and the head unit 3 can be supported reliably. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking piece 27 of the head support frame 6 of the head unit 3 contacts the operation piece 24 of each swing arm 22 of the ribbon unit 5 with the ribbon unit 5 attached. The swinging arm 22 is prevented from swinging, so that the swinging arm 22 does not swing and the ribbon roll 16 is surely removed from the ribbon support frame 9. It can be prevented.
[0028]
In this state, with the thermal head pressed against the platen roller via the ink ribbon and the intermediate transfer sheet, the rotary bobbin 17 is driven to rotate the ribbon roll 16 to convey the ink ribbon. By driving the thermal head based on the information, the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet. The image transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet is transferred to a desired recording medium at the retransfer position.
[0029]
When removing the ribbon unit 5, the ribbon unit 5 can be pulled out and removed by rotating the stopper lever 8 to release the engagement with the engagement portion 26 of the ribbon support frame 9. Then, by operating the operation piece 24 of the ribbon unit 5 to swing the swing arm 22 against the biasing force of the biasing spring 23, the support of the support shaft 18 of the ribbon roll 16 by the support roller 21a is released. Thus, the ribbon roll 16 can be removed from the ribbon support frame 9, and the ribbon roll 16 can be easily replaced.
[0030]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the other of the cantilever supports of the head unit 3 can be supported by the ribbon support frame 9 of the ribbon unit 5 with the ribbon unit 5 attached to the frame 1, so that the head unit 3 can be securely attached. Therefore, when vibration or impact due to transportation or the like is applied, deformation of the head unit 3 or the like can be reliably prevented, and proper recording without distortion of the head unit 3 can be performed.
[0031]
Further, with the ribbon unit 5 mounted, the locking piece 27 of the head support frame 6 of the head unit 3 is brought into contact with the operation piece 24 of each swing arm 22 of the ribbon unit 5, and the swing arm 22 swings. Therefore, the swing arm 22 does not swing, and the ribbon roll 16 can be reliably prevented from coming off from the ribbon support frame 9 even when vibration is applied by transportation or the like. Can do.
[0032]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the thing of said each embodiment, A various change is possible as needed.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the printer according to the present invention, with the ribbon unit mounted, the positioning hole is engaged with the positioning protrusion of the frame to position the ribbon unit, and the head positioning hole is used as the positioning protrusion of the head unit. Since it is engaged to support the other side of the head unit, the head unit can be reliably supported, and even if vibration or impact due to transportation is applied, deformation of the head unit is ensured Therefore, proper recording without distortion of the head unit can be performed.
[0034]
The ribbon support frame of the ribbon unit is provided with a mechanism for attaching and detaching the ribbon roll having a swinging lever attached to a support roller for supporting the support shaft of the ribbon roll and spring-biased in a direction in pressure contact with the support shaft. In addition, since a locking mechanism is provided that includes a locking piece that locks the attaching / detaching mechanism by restraining the swinging lever of the attaching / detaching mechanism in the retracting direction when the ribbon unit is mounted. Even when added, the lock mechanism can reliably prevent the ribbon roll from being detached from the ribbon support frame.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a ribbon support frame portion of the ribbon unit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the ribbon unit roll attaching / detaching mechanism of FIG. 1 and a head support frame of the head unit. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ribbon unit roll attaching / detaching mechanism shown in FIG. And side view of part of head support frame of head unit [Explanation of symbols]
1 Frame 3 Head unit 4 Intermediate transfer unit 5 Ribbon unit 6 Head support frame 7 Head positioning protrusion 8 Stopper lever 9 Ribbon support frame 13 Positioning protrusion 14 Positioning hole 15 Shaft support groove 16 Ribbon roll 19 Roll attaching / detaching mechanism 22 Swing arm 24 Operation Piece 25 head positioning hole 27 locking piece

Claims (1)

A head unit that supports a thermal head on a head support frame, and a ribbon unit that supports a pair of ribbon rolls around which an ink ribbon guided to a thermal head portion of the head unit is wound on a ribbon support frame; An intermediate transfer unit that guides an intermediate transfer body on which ink ribbon ink has been transferred by a thermal head and retransfers it to a predetermined recording medium, and cantilevered one side of the head unit on a frame A head positioning projection is formed on the head support frame on the other side of the head unit, and a positioning hole that engages with the positioning projection formed on the frame is formed on one ribbon support frame of the ribbon unit. At the same time, the other ribbon support frame is engaged with the head positioning protrusion of the head unit. In the state where the positioning hole is formed and the ribbon unit is mounted, the positioning hole is engaged with the positioning protrusion of the frame to position the ribbon unit, and the head positioning hole is set to the head unit. A support roller for supporting the support shaft of the ribbon roll is attached to the ribbon support frame of the ribbon unit so as to support the other side of the head unit by engaging with a head positioning protrusion, and is pressed against the support shaft. A ribbon roll attaching / detaching mechanism having a swing lever that is spring-biased in a direction is provided, and the head unit is restrained from swinging in the retracting direction of the swing lever when the ribbon unit is attached to the head unit. And a locking mechanism comprising a locking piece for locking the attachment / detachment mechanism .

Images