JP2002103762A - Ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ribbon cassette having a function for informing a user of the fact that an ink ribbon reaches its end of life by a damage due to repeated impacts by a print head in a ribbon cassette to be loaded to an impact printer. SOLUTION: A window is provided to a housing of the ribbon cassette and a user can visually observe the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette. When the material of the ink ribbon is shrunk by the repeated impacts by the print head and the width of the ribbon reaches a predetermined width, it is possible to determine the life of the ribbon cassette and to indicate it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette to be attached to an impact printer, which has a function of notifying a user that an ink ribbon worn by repeated impacts of a print head has reached the end of its life. It is related to the technology to be provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink ribbon housed in a ribbon cassette mounted on an impact printer is repeatedly hit by a print head provided in the impact printer in a printout operation.

[0003] The ink ribbon prints an ink component contained in the ink ribbon by hitting the print head on a required portion of a medium to be printed out by the impact printer device.

Therefore, the use limit of the ink ribbon is limited not only by the consumption of the ink contained in the print output operation but also by the degree of wear resulting from the damage of the ribbon material due to the impact of the print head. In other words, a ribbon cassette that stores the ink ribbon that has reached the above-mentioned use limit is recognized as a ribbon cassette that has reached the end of its life, and is subjected to replacement or the like.

If a printout operation is performed using a ribbon cassette that has consumed ink and has reached its use limit, the print density resulting from the printout naturally decreases. The user of the impact printer device can observe the printed surface with the reduced print density and determine that the ribbon cassette has reached the end of its life.

However, judging the life of the ribbon cassette based on the printing surface having the reduced printing density is subject to the observer's subjectivity, and the judgment standard tends to be ambiguous and further gradually. It is difficult for a user who is accustomed to the density of the print surface to become thin to catch the change in the print density.

Further, even if a user of the above impact printer apparatus observes a printed surface having a reduced print density, it is determined that the print surface has a density that does not hinder the reading, for example, with a print output that is sufficient to confirm data contents. In such a case, the ribbon cassette whose use limit has been reached may be used continuously.

[0008] Alternatively, a technique for replenishing the consumed ink to restore the print density and extend the life of the ribbon cassette has been developed.

As described above, when the ribbon cassette is used beyond its use limit, the ink ribbon contained in the ribbon cassette is damaged and worn by repeated impacts of the print head, and the ribbon fabric is perforated to produce holes. There is a risk of causing an accident that damages the head.

FIG. 4 shows a typical embodiment of a ribbon cassette to which the conventional technique is applied.

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), a part of the ink ribbon 22 stored in the ribbon cassette 21 is exposed to the outside of the ribbon cassette 21, and the printing is performed by an impact printer apparatus equipped with the ribbon cassette 21. The ink ribbon 22 sequentially moves in the direction of the arrow in accordance with the output operation.

By turning the knob 23a provided on the ribbon cassette 21 counterclockwise, the ink ribbon 22 exposed to the outside of the ribbon cassette 21 can be moved in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 4B shows the inside of the ribbon cassette 21 and shows the movement path of the ink ribbon 22 stored in the ribbon cassette 21.

The ink ribbon 22 has an endless structure in which both ends are connected, and has a driving roller 23 which is engaged with the knob 23a shown in FIG. 4A, and a driven roller which presses the driving roller 23. The ink ribbon 22 is sandwiched between the rollers 24.

The driving roller 23 rotates counterclockwise during the printing operation by the rotational driving force provided by the impact printer device to which the ribbon cassette 21 is mounted.

The ink ribbon 22 sandwiched between the driving roller 23 and the driven roller 24 is drawn into the ribbon cassette 21 from the ribbon inlet A by the rotation of the driving roller 23 in the direction of the arrow, and It is stored while folded in the internal storage space.

The ink ribbon 22 is fed to the ribbon cassette 2 by the driving roller 23 and the driven roller 24.
1, the ribbon cassette 2
Ink ribbon 2 stored in storage space inside 1
2 are sequentially pulled out and exposed via the ribbon outlet B,
The print head 25 is sequentially hit during a printing operation.

[0018]

As described above, the conventional ribbon cassette has the following problems.

If the ribbon cassette is used beyond its use limit, the ribbon fabric may be broken due to wear and the like, and may be caught on the print head or the like, thereby contaminating the medium to be printed or damaging the print head. It can be a factor.

The use limit of the ribbon cassette is set according to the print density. However, the criterion for determining the use limit of the ribbon cassette based on the print density is based on the visual observation of the user, and is clear because the user's subjectivity is included. It is hard to say the standard.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ribbon cassette to be mounted on an impact printer apparatus, which has a mechanism capable of clearly indicating a use limit determination standard.

[0022]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

[0023] The ink ribbon applied to the impact printer device contracts gradually due to repeated impact by the print head. In the present invention, the contraction of the ink ribbon is observed, and when the contraction of the ink ribbon reaches a reference value, it is determined that the ink ribbon has reached the use limit.

A display means for indicating that the contraction of the ink ribbon has reached the reference value is provided on the ribbon cassette.

By taking this measure, the ribbon cassette is provided with a mechanism for clearly indicating to the user that the use limit has been reached.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention takes the following forms.

In the ribbon cassette to be mounted on the impact printer device, the ribbon cassette is provided with a window that allows the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette to be observed from the outside, and a ribbon facing the window. A back color having a different color from the ink ribbon is provided, and the ink ribbon has a structure that allows the ink ribbon to pass between the window and the back color.

In the above ribbon cassette, the size of the window is set smaller than the width of the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette.

By adopting these forms, the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette is used for a print output operation, and when the contraction value of the ink ribbon due to the repeated impact of the print head reaches a predetermined value, the window is opened. The effect that the back color can be observed at both ends of the ink ribbon from the portion is obtained.

In the ribbon cassette, the window is disposed near one end in the width direction of the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette.

With this configuration, when the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette is used for a print output operation, and the contraction value of the ink ribbon due to the repeated impact of the print head reaches a predetermined value, the window portion is opened. The effect that the back color can be observed at the end of the ink ribbon is obtained.

In the above ribbon cassette, the ribbon cassette is formed of a material having a color different from the color of the ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette, and a back color is formed by a rib provided in the ribbon cassette.

With this configuration, when the ink ribbon contained in the ribbon cassette is used for a print output operation, and the contraction value of the ink ribbon due to the repeated impact of the print head reaches a predetermined value, the window portion is opened. The effect that the rib provided in the ribbon cassette becomes observable is obtained.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The principle of operation of a typical embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a ribbon cassette according to a representative embodiment of the present invention. That is, as shown in FIG. 1A, the ribbon cassette 1 includes a window 3 at an appropriate place.

FIG. 1B shows the details of the window 3 and its vicinity. Further, FIG. 1C shows a state in which the casing of the ribbon cassette 1 has been removed in and around the window 3 shown in FIG. 1B.

Based on FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C,
The operation principle of the present invention will be described. From the window 3 provided in the ribbon cassette 1, the ink ribbon 2 stored in the ribbon cassette 1 can be observed.

The direction of travel of the ink ribbon 2 is changed by the pins 5a, and the direction of travel is changed again by the pins 5b to be led out. Further, since a tension is applied to the ink ribbon 2 in the direction of the arrow, a tension occurs in the ink ribbon 2 between the pins 5a and 5b. In order to maintain the tension of the ink ribbon 2 between the pins 5a and 5b, a pressing mechanism for pressing the ink ribbon 2 against the pins 5a using, for example, a pressing roller may be provided.

The ink ribbon 2 includes pins 5a and 5a.
b, it passes through the gap formed by the window 3 and the back collar 4.

The back color 4 is a member having a color different from that of the ink ribbon 2. When the ink ribbon 2 passes through the gap formed by the window 3 and the back color 4, The ink ribbon 2 is arranged at a position where it does not contact the back collar 4.

Thus, when the user of the impact printer apparatus observes the window 3 provided on the ribbon cassette 1, when the ribbon cassette 1 is within the usage limit, the window 3 is used. Only the ink ribbon 2 can be observed.

Further, when the ribbon cassette 1 is used beyond its use limit, the back color located behind the ink ribbon 2 together with the ink ribbon 2 can be observed through the window 3.

A specific function and its function will be described based on one embodiment shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the cassette casing 1
The window 3 provided in 1b has a length Wa. The length Wa of the window 3 is set to be smaller than the initial width W of the ink ribbon 2, and the length Wa is further reduced.
Is set equal to the reduced width dimension when the ink ribbon 2 reaches the use limit.

According to this measure, when the user of the impact printer apparatus observes the window 3 and the ribbon cassette 1 has been used beyond its use limit, the ink ribbon 2 is not used. Since the width dimension is smaller than the dimension of the window 3, the back collar 4 located behind the ink ribbon 2 can be observed from the window 3 together with the ink ribbon 2.

Therefore, the user recognizes that the ribbon cassette 1 has exceeded the usage limit by checking the back collar 4 from the window provided in the ribbon cassette 1.

FIG. 2 (b) shows an application of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 (a). That is, the cassette housing 11d constituting the ribbon cassette is formed of a material having a different color from that of the ink ribbon 2.

Further, the rib 1 is attached to the cassette housing 11d.
1e is provided. The rib 11e is used as it is in FIG.
The function as the back collar 4 in the embodiment shown in FIG. At the same time, the above-mentioned cassette housing 1
In 1d, the strength reduction due to the provision of the window 3 can be reinforced.

A specific function and its function will be described based on another embodiment shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the cassette housing 1
The window 3a provided in 2b has an upper side at a position having a length La from the bottom of the cassette housing 12b. The upper side position La of the window 3 is set to be smaller than the initial upper side position L of the ink ribbon 2, and the dimension La is set to the upper side position reduced when the ink ribbon 2 reaches the use limit. Set equal.

According to this measure, when the user of the impact printer apparatus observes the window 3 and the ribbon cassette 1 has been used beyond its usage limit, the user cannot use the ink ribbon 2. The upper part is the window 3
Since the position is higher than the position a, the back collar 4 located behind the ink ribbon 2 can be observed together with the ink ribbon 2 from the window 3a.

Therefore, the user confirms that the ribbon cassette 1 has exceeded the usage limit by checking the back collar 4 from the window provided in the ribbon cassette 1.

FIG. 3 (b) shows an application of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 (a). That is, the cassette housing 12d constituting the ribbon cassette is formed of a material having a different color from that of the ink ribbon 2.

Further, the rib 1 is attached to the cassette housing 12d.
2e is provided. The rib 12e is used as it is in FIG.
The function as the back collar 4 in the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0055]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

In the ribbon cassette to be mounted on the impact printer, the ribbon cassette has a window portion through which the ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette can be observed from the outside, and a ribbon facing the window portion. A back color having a different color from the ink ribbon is provided, and the ink ribbon has a structure that allows the ink ribbon to pass between the window and the back color.

In the ribbon cassette, the dimensions of the window are set in accordance with the width of the ink ribbon stored in the ribbon cassette when the life of the ink ribbon has expired.

By taking these measures, the ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette is used for a print output operation, and when the contraction value of the ink ribbon due to the repeated impact of the print head reaches a predetermined value, the window is opened. Since the back color can be observed at both ends of the ink ribbon from the section, the user of the printer device can easily determine the life of the ribbon cassette.

In the ribbon cassette, the end of the window is arranged at a position corresponding to the end of the shape shown when the ink ribbon stored in the ribbon cassette reaches the end of its life.

By taking this measure, when the ink ribbon contained in the ribbon cassette is used for a print output operation and the contraction value of the ink ribbon due to the repeated impact of the print head reaches a predetermined value, the window portion is opened. Since the back color can be observed at the end of the ink ribbon, the user of the printer can easily determine the life of the ribbon cassette.

In the above ribbon cassette, the ribbon cassette is formed of a material having a color different from the color of the ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette, and a back color is formed by the rib provided in the ribbon cassette.

By taking this measure, the ink ribbon contained in the ribbon cassette is used for the print output operation, and when the contraction value of the ink ribbon due to the repeated impact of the print head reaches a predetermined value, the window portion is opened. The effect that the rib provided in the ribbon cassette becomes observable can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the principle according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the principle according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the principle according to a typical embodiment of the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Ribbon cassette 2: Ink ribbon 3, 3a: Window 4: Back color 5a, 5b: Pin 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d: Cassette housing 11e, 12e: Rib 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d: Cassette housing

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon cassette to be mounted on an impact printer device, wherein the ribbon cassette has a window portion that allows an ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette to be observed from the outside, and a position facing the window portion. A ribbon cassette comprising: a back color having a color different from that of the ink ribbon; and a structure in which the ink ribbon passes between the window and the back color. 2. The ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the size of the window is set in accordance with the width of the ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette when it reaches the end of its life. The ribbon cassette according to 1. 3. The ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein an end of the window is arranged at a position corresponding to an end of a shape shown when the ink ribbon stored in the ribbon cassette reaches the end of its life. The ribbon cassette according to claim 1. 4. The ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon cassette is formed of a material having a color different from a color of an ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cassette, and a back color is formed by a rib provided in the ribbon cassette. The ribbon cassette according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein: