JP6498805B2 - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape cartridge mounted on a tape printer.

  Conventionally, as this type of tape cartridge, a ribbon feeding core that engages with a feeding side drive shaft (ribbon rewinding shaft) of a tape printing apparatus and winds an ink ribbon so as to be fed out, and a winding side of the tape printing apparatus A ribbon winding core that engages with a drive shaft (ribbon winding shaft) and winds up an ink ribbon fed out from a ribbon feeding core is known (see Patent Document 1). The feeding-side drive shaft of the tape printer is a spline shaft, and a spline-like engagement strip that engages with the spline shaft is formed on the inner surface of the ribbon feeding core. That is, the ribbon feeding core is rotated by the feeding-side drive shaft by engaging the spline shaft on the feeding-side drive shaft side with the engagement strip on the ribbon feeding core side. Thus, the ink ribbon once fed out from the ribbon feeding core can be rewound onto the ribbon feeding core.

JP 2010-162736 A

By the way, in this type of tape cartridge, a tension spring for applying a predetermined tension to the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding core is generally incorporated in the winding side drive shaft. Therefore, the ribbon feeding core is configured to rewind the ink ribbon against the urging force of the tension spring, and a stronger force is required to rotate the ribbon feeding core than to rotate the ribbon winding core. It becomes.
However, the conventional tape cartridge is formed such that the engagement strip of the ribbon feeding core protrudes inward from the inner surface of the ribbon feeding core. For this reason, the feeding side drive shaft is engaged inside the ribbon feeding core, and as a result, the engaging position between the feeding side drive shaft and the ribbon feeding core is radially inward. As a result, there is a problem that the force for rotating the ribbon feeding core becomes weak due to the principle of the lever. As a result, the ink ribbon could not be properly rewound.
On the other hand, it is conceivable to move the engagement position radially outward by enlarging the ribbon winding core in the radial direction, but in such a case, due to the increase in the size of the tape cartridge and the arrangement space, There is a problem that the amount of ink ribbon that can be wound around the ribbon feeding core is small.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cartridge that can move the engagement position between the ribbon feeding core and the feeding side drive shaft radially outward without enlarging the ribbon winding core in the radial direction. Yes.

  The tape cartridge of the present invention is a tape cartridge mounted on a tape printer, and is a ribbon feeding core that is wound so that an ink ribbon can be fed, and a ribbon winding core that winds an ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding core. The ribbon feeding core includes a core body around which the ink ribbon is wound, and a shaft engaging portion that is formed at an end portion of the core body and engages with a feeding side drive shaft of the tape printer. The shaft engaging portion protrudes in the axial direction from the end surface of the core body and is formed in a crown shape in which a plurality of convex portions and concave portions are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, and the concave portion is a width of the tape accommodated in the tape cartridge. Accordingly, the length from the bottom surface of the concave portion to the tip of the convex portion in the axial direction is different.

It is the external appearance perspective view which showed the tape printer of the closed state concerning this embodiment. It is the external appearance perspective view which showed the tape printer of the open state. It is the plane sectional view showing the cartridge mounting part and the tape cartridge with which it was mounted. It is the perspective view which showed the cartridge mounting part and the tape cartridge. (A) is the back surface perspective view which showed the ribbon delivery core, (b) is the back surface perspective view which showed the 1st modification of the ribbon delivery core, (c) is the 2nd of the ribbon delivery core. It is the reverse surface perspective view which showed the modification.

  Hereinafter, a tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described together with a tape printer to which the tape cartridge is mounted with reference to the accompanying drawings. This tape printing apparatus performs printing while feeding out a printing tape and an ink ribbon from a mounted tape cartridge, cuts a printed portion of the printing tape, and creates a label (tape piece).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape printing apparatus 1 has an outer shell formed of an apparatus case 11, and a keyboard 12 having various keys is disposed on the upper surface of the front half of the apparatus case 11. On the other hand, an opening / closing lid 13 is widely provided on the upper left surface of the rear half of the device case 11, and a lid opening button 14 for opening the opening / closing lid 13 is provided on the front side of the opening / closing lid 13. Further, a rectangular display 15 for displaying an input result from the keyboard 12 and the like is disposed on the upper right side of the rear half of the device case 11.

  When the lid opening button 14 is pressed to open the opening / closing lid 13, a cartridge mounting portion 21 into which the tape cartridge C is detachably mounted is formed in the inside thereof. The tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 21 with the opening / closing lid 13 being opened.

  A tape discharge port 22 connected to the cartridge mounting portion 21 is formed on the left side of the apparatus case 11, and a tape discharge path 23 is formed between the cartridge mounting portion 21 and the tape discharge port 22. A tape cutter 24 is built in the device case 11 so as to face the tape discharge path 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cartridge mounting portion 21 includes a thermal type print head 31 housed in a head cover 30, a platen drive shaft 32 that faces the print head 31, and a ribbon take-up core described later. A winding-side drive shaft 33 that engages with 43, a feeding-side drive shaft 34 that engages with a ribbon feeding core 42 described later, and a positioning projection 35 of a tape reel 41 described later are disposed. FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the tape cartridge C cut at the center in the vertical direction. The platen drive shaft 32, the take-up drive shaft 33, and the feed-out drive shaft 34 pass through the bottom plate 21a of the cartridge mounting portion 21, and the platen drive shaft 32, the take-up drive shaft are placed in the lower space of the bottom plate 21a. A feed power system (not shown) for driving 33 and the feeding side drive shaft 34 is provided. The details of the winding side drive shaft 33 and the feeding side drive shaft 34 will be described later.

  The print head 31 is constituted by a thermal print head in which a plurality of heating elements (not shown) are arranged vertically. That is, the print head 31 individually drives each heating element to generate heat while sandwiching the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R with a platen roller 44 to be described later. Thermal transfer to the printing tape T in dot units.

  On the other hand, the tape cartridge C includes a tape reel 41 that is wound so that the printing tape T can be fed, a ribbon feeding core 42 that is wound so that the ink ribbon R can be fed, and an ink ribbon R that is fed from the ribbon feeding core 42. It has a ribbon winding core 43 that winds up, a platen roller 44 that faces the print head 31, and a cartridge case 45 that accommodates these. The details of the ribbon feeding core 42 and the ribbon winding core 43 will be described later.

  A head opening 51 through which the head cover 30 is inserted is formed through the cartridge case 45. Although not shown, the top and bottom walls of the cartridge case 45 support a pair of upper and lower feeding side core receiving portions that rotatably support the ribbon feeding core 42 and a ribbon winding core 43 so as to be rotatable. A pair of upper and lower winding side core receiving portions is formed. In each core receiving part on the bottom wall side, insertion openings 52 and 53 for inserting the respective drive shafts 33 and 34 are formed (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom wall of the cartridge case 45 is formed with a first rotation stop hook 54 (rotation stop portion) and a second rotation stop hook 55 that face the insertion openings 52 and 53, respectively. Has been. The first rotation stop hook 54 engages with the ribbon supply core 42 and stops rotation of the ribbon supply core 42. On the other hand, the second anti-rotation hook 55 engages with the ribbon take-up core 43 and stops the rotation of the ribbon take-up core 43.

When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 21, the head opening 51 is inserted into the head cover 30, and the center hole of the tape reel 41 is inserted into the positioning protrusion 35. At the same time, the center hole of the platen roller 44 is fitted to the platen drive shaft 32, the center hole of the ribbon take-up core 43 is fitted to the take-up drive shaft 33, and the feed-side drive shaft 34 is fitted. The center hole of the ribbon feeding core 42 is fitted. As a result, the platen roller 44 is engaged with the platen drive shaft 32, the ribbon take-up core 43 is engaged with the take-up drive shaft 33, and the ribbon feed core 42 is engaged with the feed-out drive shaft 34. The
At this time, the first anti-rotation hook 54 and the second anti-rotation hook 55 are provided with two conical disengagement protrusions 57 and 58 (see FIG. 4) having a conical shape formed on the bottom plate 21a of the cartridge mounting portion 21. Engage with each other, and the engagement with the ribbon feeding core 42 and the ribbon winding core 43 and the rotation stop are released. That is, the first anti-rotation hook 54 and the second anti-rotation hook 55 are engaged with the ribbon supply core 42 and the ribbon take-up core 43 only when the tape cartridge C is not mounted, and the ribbon supply core 42 and the ribbon take-up core 43 are engaged. 43 is configured to stop rotation.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printing tape T is fed out from the tape reel 41 inserted into the positioning protrusion 35, passes through the opposing position between the print head 31 and the platen roller 44, and then is fed out to the tape discharge path 23 ( Tape feed path). On the other hand, the ink ribbon R is fed from a ribbon feeding core 42 fitted to the feeding side drive shaft 34, passes through a facing position between the print head 31 and the platen roller 44, and then circulates around the peripheral wall of the head opening 51. The ribbon is wound around the ribbon winding core 43 fitted to the winding drive shaft 33 (ribbon feeding path).

  On the other hand, the platen roller 44 engaged with the platen drive shaft 32 feeds the print tape T in the forward direction and the reverse direction by rotational drive while sandwiching the print tape T and the ink ribbon R together with the print head 31. On the other hand, the ribbon take-up core 43 engaged with the take-up side drive shaft 33 is driven to rotate in synchronization with the forward feed by the platen roller 44 and winds up the ink ribbon R. The ribbon feeding core 42 engaged with the feeding-side drive shaft 34 is driven to rotate in synchronization with the reverse feed by the platen roller 44 and winds up (rewinds) the ink ribbon R. Thus, the forward and reverse feeding operations of the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are performed.

  In the label producing operation of the present embodiment, the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are reversely fed, the front end portion of the printing tape T is pulled back to the printing position by the print head 31, and then the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are forward fed. However, by driving the print head 31, the printing process is performed on the printing tape T, and when the printing process is completed, the printed portion of the printing tape T is cut by the tape cutter 24. This creates a label with no margin between the head and cutter.

  3 to 5, the details of the winding side drive shaft 33 and the feeding side drive shaft 34 of the tape printer 1 and the details of the ribbon feeding core 42 and the ribbon winding core 43 of the tape cartridge C are described. Will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the take-up drive shaft 33 includes a fixed shaft 61 and a spline shaft 62 that is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 61 and engages with the ribbon take-up core 43. Have. The fixed shaft 61 is erected on a base frame 60 disposed in a lower space of the bottom plate 21 a of the cartridge mounting portion 21. On the other hand, the spline shaft 62 is connected to the feed power system, and three spline ridges 63 extending in the vertical direction are provided at three locations in the circumferential direction. The tip of each spline protrusion 63 is formed in a tapered triangular pyramid shape. Although not shown, the spline shaft 62 has a built-in tension spring. By this tension spring, the ribbon take-up core 43 is urged to rotate in the take-up direction via the spline shaft 62, whereby the ink ribbon R between the ribbon take-up core 43 and the ribbon feed core 42 is applied. A certain tension is applied.

  Similarly to the take-up drive shaft 33, the feed-out drive shaft 34 is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 64 erected on the base frame 60 and the fixed shaft 64, and engages with the ribbon feed core 42. The spline shaft 65 is connected to the feed power system, and three spline protrusions 66 (spline convex portions) extending in the vertical direction are provided at three locations in the circumferential direction. Has been. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the spline shaft 65 of the feeding side drive shaft 34 is formed to have a larger diameter than the spline shaft 62 of the winding side drive shaft 33. Further, the tip of each spline protrusion 66 is formed in a tapered triangular shape as viewed from the outside in the radial direction.

As described above, the spline shaft 62 of the take-up drive shaft 33 and the spline shaft 65 of the supply drive shaft 34 are connected to the feed power system. Although not shown, the feed power system includes a single drive motor and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the drive motor to the spline shafts 62 and 65. When the drive motor is driven to rotate in the forward direction, the power of the drive motor is transmitted to the spline shaft 62 of the winding side drive shaft 33 by the power transmission mechanism, and the spline shaft 62 is rotated. Thereby, the ribbon winding core 43 engaged with the spline shaft 62 can be rotated. On the other hand, when the drive motor is driven to rotate reversely, the power transmission mechanism transmits the power of the drive motor to the spline shaft 65 of the delivery side drive shaft 34 to rotate the spline shaft 65. Thereby, the ribbon feeding core 42 engaged with the spline shaft 65 can be rotated. Thus, in this embodiment, the ribbon winding core 43 and the ribbon feeding core 42 are rotationally driven by a single drive motor.
The power transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the power of the drive motor to the platen drive shaft 32, and the platen roller 44 engaged with the platen drive shaft 32 also rotates due to the rotation of the drive motor. . Thereby, in synchronism with the rotational driving of the platen roller 44, the winding side driving shaft 33 and the feeding side driving shaft 34 can be rotationally driven.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ribbon take-up core 43 protrudes from the inner surface of the core body 71 that winds the ink ribbon R, and engages with the take-up drive shaft 33. And a plurality of spline-like engaging protrusions 72 (winding side shaft engaging portions). The ribbon winding core 43 is engaged with the winding side drive shaft 33 by engaging the plurality of engaging protrusions 72 with the three spline protrusions 63 of the winding side drive shaft 33. As shown in FIG. 4, a hook engaging portion 73 that protrudes in the axial direction from the end surface of the core main body 71 and engages with the second anti-rotation hook 55 is formed at the end of the core main body 71. Yes. That is, the hook engaging portion 73 protrudes into the insertion opening 53, and the second anti-rotation hook 55 engages with the hook engaging portion 73 when the tape cartridge C is not attached, and the ribbon winding core. 43 is configured to stop rotation. The hook engaging portion 73 is formed in a crown shape in which a plurality of irregularities are arranged in the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A, the ribbon feeding core 42 is formed at the cylindrical core body 81 around which the ink ribbon R is wound, and the end of the core body 81, and the feeding side drive shaft. 34, and a coronal engagement portion 82 (shaft engagement portion) that engages with. The crown-shaped engaging portion 82 is formed in a crown shape that protrudes in the axial direction from the end surface of the core body 81 and has a plurality of convex portions 82a and concave portions 82b arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. The ribbon feeding core 42 is engaged with the feeding side drive shaft 34 by the engagement of the crown-shaped engaging portion 82 and the spline protrusion 66 of the feeding side drive shaft 34. That is, the ribbon feeding core 42 is engaged with the feeding-side drive shaft 34 in such a manner that each spline protrusion 66 enters one of the recesses 82b of the crown-shaped engaging portion 82. Further, the coronal engagement portion 82 also functions as an engagement portion with which the first rotation stop hook 54 is engaged. That is, the coronal engagement portion 82 protrudes into the insertion opening 52, and the first anti-rotation hook 54 engages with the coronal engagement portion 82 when the tape cartridge C is not attached, and winds the ribbon. The core 43 is configured to stop rotation. Also in this case, the first rotation stop hook 54 engages with the ribbon feeding core 42 so that the first rotation stop hook 54 enters into any one of the recesses 82 b of the coronal engagement portion 82.

  Further, the tip of each convex portion 82a (the tip in the axial direction) in the crown-shaped engaging portion 82 is formed in a tapered trapezoidal shape as viewed from the outside in the radial direction. That is, the chamfered portion 91 is formed at both corners of the tip of each convex portion 82a. The chamfered portion 91 functions as a guide slope (invitation slope) that guides the spline protrusion 66 of the feeding-side drive shaft 34 to the recess 82b when the tape cartridge C is attached to the tape printer 1. The flat surface 92 (upper bottom surface of the trapezoidal shape) of each convex portion 82a functions as a reference surface used when the ribbon feeding core 42 is assembled to the tape cartridge C.

  In the present embodiment, when the tape cartridge C is mounted on the tape printer 1, the ribbon winding core 43 (a plurality of engaging protrusions 72) engages with the winding drive shaft 33. The timing is different from the engagement timing at which the ribbon feeding core 42 (the crown-shaped engaging portion 82) engages with the feeding-side drive shaft 34. That is, each engagement protrusion 72 of the ribbon take-up core 43 and the crown-like engagement portion 82 of the ribbon feeding core 42 are formed so that the above-described engagement timings are different. Specifically, the ribbon take-up core 43 is first engaged with the take-up drive shaft 33, and then the ribbon feed core 42 is engaged with the feed-side drive shaft 34. Each engagement timing is adjusted by the height of each engagement protrusion 72 and the crown-shaped engagement portion 82.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the ribbon feeding core 42 is configured to be engaged with the feeding-side drive shaft 34 by the crown-shaped engaging portion 82 protruding from the end surface of the core body 81, so that the outer side in the radial direction is as much as possible. Thus, the ribbon feeding core 42 can be engaged with the feeding side drive shaft 34. Thereby, the engagement position of the ribbon feeding core 42 and the feeding-side drive shaft 34 can be moved radially outward without enlarging the ribbon feeding core 42 in the radial direction. Thereby, the ink ribbon R can be appropriately rewound onto the ribbon feeding core 42.

  In addition, by forming a chamfered portion 91 serving as a guide slope at the tip of each convex portion 82a in the coronal engagement portion 82, when the tape cartridge C is attached to the tape printer 1, the ribbon feeding core 42 can be smoothly moved. It is possible to engage with the supply side drive shaft 34.

  Furthermore, the tape cartridge C can be made simple by using the coronal engagement portion 82 as an engagement portion with which the first rotation stop hook 54 is engaged.

  Furthermore, when the tape cartridge C is mounted on the tape printer 1, the engagement timing at which the coronal engagement portion 82 engages with the feeding-side drive shaft 34, and each engagement protrusion 72 is driven on the winding side. The engaging protrusions 72 and the crown-shaped engaging portions 82 are formed so that the engaging timing for engaging with the shaft 33 is different, so that when the tape cartridge C is mounted on the tape printer 1, it is fed out. It is possible to avoid the engagement of the coronal engagement portion 82 with the side drive shaft 34 and the engagement of the engagement protrusions 72 with the winding side drive shaft 33 being performed simultaneously. As a result, a force for engaging the crown-shaped engaging portion 82 with the feeding-side drive shaft 34 and a force for engaging the engagement protrusions 72 with the winding-side drive shaft 33 are simultaneously generated. Thus, it is possible to avoid problems such as a strong load on the ink ribbon R or the normal engagement.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the bottom surface of each recess 82b in the coronal engagement portion 82 is configured to be positioned on the axially outer side from the end surface of the core body 81. As shown in FIG. 5B, the bottom surface of each recess 82 b may be positioned on the inner side in the axial direction from the end surface of the core body 81. The ribbon feeding core 42 shown in FIG. 5 (a) is employed in a tape cartridge C that accommodates a printing tape T having a tape width of 18 mm or less. The ribbon feeding core 42 shown in FIG. The tape cartridge C accommodates a printing tape T having a tape width of 24 mm.

  Although not mentioned in the above embodiment, the mounting position in the height direction may differ depending on the type of the tape cartridge C. On the other hand, it is preferable to change the depth of each recess 82b in accordance with the difference in the mounting position. For example, the tape cartridge C that accommodates the printing tape T having a tape width of 36 mm is mounted at a lower position than the tape cartridge C that accommodates the printing tape T having a tape width of 18 mm or less described in the above embodiment. On the other hand, in the ribbon feeding core 42 of the tape cartridge C that accommodates the printing tape T having a tape width of 36 mm, as shown in FIG. Increase the depth. That is, the bottom surface of each recess 82b is positioned on the inner side in the axial direction than that shown in FIG.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although the structure which consists of the core main body 81 and the coronal engaging part 82 was the structure applied to the ribbon delivery core 42, the said structure is a structure applied to the ribbon winding core 43. There may be. As a result, the structure applied to both the ribbon feeding core 42 and the ribbon winding core 43 may be used.

  42 ... Ribbon feed-out core, 81 ... Core body, 82 ... Coronal engagement part, 82a ... Convex part, 82b ... Concave part, 91 ... Chamfered part, 92 ... Flat surface.

Claims (4)

A first tape cartridge that accommodates a tape having a tape width of 18 mm or less, a second tape cartridge that accommodates a tape having a tape width of 36 mm, and whose mounting position in the height direction with respect to the tape printer is lower than that of the first tape cartridge; A tape cartridge comprising :
A ribbon feeding core in which an ink ribbon is wound so as to be fed,
A ribbon take-up core that winds up the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feed core,
The ribbon feeding core is
A core body for winding the ink ribbon;
A shaft engaging portion that is formed at an end portion of the core main body and engages with a feeding-side drive shaft of the tape printer,
The shaft engaging portion protrudes in the axial direction from the end surface of the core body, and is formed in a crown shape in which a plurality of convex portions and concave portions are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction ,
The depth of the bottom surface of the recess before SL axis, tape cartridges, characterized in that towards the second tape cartridge from the first tape cartridge is formed to be deeper. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first tape cartridge has the bottom surface of the concave portion positioned on the outer side in the axial direction from the end surface of the core body. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second tape cartridge has the bottom surface of the recess positioned on the inner side in the axial direction from the end surface of the core body. A guide inclined surface that guides the spline convex portion of the feeding-side drive shaft to the concave portion when the tape cartridge is mounted on the tape printing device is formed at a tip portion of the convex portion in the axial direction. The tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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