Thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and ribbon cassette mounting method

A thermal transfer ribbon printer ribbon cassette apparatus and a ribbon cassette mounting method by which a ribbon cassette for a thermal transfer ribbon of large roller size can be easily and reliably set in a thermal transfer printer. Focussing on the use of a main guide shaft as an initial guide, guidability along a printer main body stay and, finally, engageability of a final positioning engagement pin and a final position engagement hole, a cassette main body is formed to be attachable to a printer main body by providing a cassette main body stay in which a main guide hole to which a main guide shaft is formed detachably, a final positioning engagement pin formed in a printer main body stay, and a final positioning engagement hole formed in a handle-side base plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and a ribbon cassette mounting method, and more particularly to a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and a ribbon cassette mounting method by which the mounting operation of a ribbon cassette main body to a printer main body is simple and reliable.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Thermal transfer ribbons loaded in conventional thermal transfer printers are thin. As a result, snaking and wrinkling thereof readily occurs as they are supplied to the transport path and during winding from the transport path. Accordingly, stable transport of wide thermal transfer ribbons in particular is afforded by a system as described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2006-82297. Rather than the thermal transfer ribbon being set on ribbon shafts (supply spindle and winding spindle) provided in the printer main body, the thermal transfer ribbon is loaded in advance in a ribbon cassette which is then loaded in the printer main body.

However, there are problems inherent in the loading of a ribbon cassette of this type in a printer, in that it causes a further demand for simplifying the attachment operation to shorten the ribbon replacement time and for simplification of the operation for loading the thermal transfer ribbon into the ribbon cassette.

There are problems inherent in the use of a thermal transfer printer and so on in assembly with various types of peripheral apparatus (for example label affixing apparatus), in factories or manufacturing sites in particular, in that, as a consequence of the need for the thermal transfer ribbon to be loaded in large rolls of large diameter (for example, 1000 m winding or the like) and due to the increased weight thereof, better operability and convenience of the mounting operation of the ribbon cassette is desirable.

A further problem arises if the thermal transfer printer is installed in a narrow space from the viewpoint of the difficulty of the attachment operation of the ribbon cassette.

An additional problem arises if the thermal transfer printer itself is three-dimensionally installed in a range of positions from the viewpoint of the need to further simplify the implementation of the attachment operation of the ribbon cassette.

More specifically, there is a problem from the viewpoint of the need for a simple and reliable mounting operation based on a simple guide mechanism when, as an initial stage mounting operation, the ribbon cassette is moved toward the thermal transfer printer.

The mounting of the ribbon cassette in the thermal transfer printer requires that the thermal head and the platen roller of a printing unit of the printer be established in a mutually separated state and, following the mounting of the ribbon cassette, requires that the thermal head and the platen roller be again closed in a predetermined pressed state and, in addition, requires that the ribbon cassette eventually be fixed in the printer. From the viewpoint of convenience of the operation, the separate implementation of the approach/separate operation of the thermal head and the platen roller and the final mounting and fixing operation of the ribbon cassette on the thermal transfer printer should be avoided. In this respect as well, there is a need for improved convenience of the operations.

Furthermore, when the thermal transfer ribbon is used in the form of a large roll of increased weight, this raises the possibility that thermal transfer ribbon mounted in the ribbon cassette will fall from each of the ribbon supply spindle and the ribbon winding spindle through the cassette main body side while they are handled. Accordingly, there is an inherent problem from the viewpoint of a need for simplicity and reliability of the structures for mounting and fixing (inserting) and operations for mounting and fixing (inserting) the ribbon supply spindle and the ribbon winding spindle in the cassette main body.

Because the ribbon supply spindle and ribbon winding spindle are mounted in the ribbon cassette side, there is a need for the ribbon supply spindle and ribbon winding spindle rotation drive mechanisms to be linked when the ribbon cassette is mounted and fixed on the printer side. A structure for engaging and disengaging gear mechanisms between the printer and the ribbon cassette is normally used for this purpose. When the ribbon cassette is being mounted on the thermal transfer printer, there is a problem from the viewpoint of a need for the mounting operation to be based on a smooth engagement of these gear mechanisms with each other to enable reliable implementation.

There is a further inherent problem from the possibility of increased impact noise being generated during the final mounting of the ribbon cassette on the thermal transfer printer, which accompanies increases in size and weight of the thermal transfer ribbon and ribbon cassette and the need to eliminate this impact noise.

In addition, there is a further inherent problem from increased vibration generated in the thermal transfer printer main body associated with the transport and printing of the thermal transfer ribbon and print sheet and accompanying increases in size and weight of the thermal transfer ribbon and ribbon cassette and the unwanted unavoidable effects thereof on the printing of the printing sheet and transport thereof in the thermal transfer printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing problems in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which the operations for loading and replacement of the thermal transfer ribbon can be implemented easily.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which the loading processing and the replacement processing are possible in a short time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which both the operation for loading of the ribbon in the ribbon cassette itself and the operation for loading the cassette itself in the printer main body can be efficiently implemented.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which a ribbon cassette comprising a large roll thermal transfer ribbon in particular is able to be simply and reliably mounted in the thermal transfer printer side.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which, if the thermal transfer printer is installed in a narrow space, or if the thermal transfer printer itself is three-dimensionally installed in a range of positions, the insert-attach operation of the ribbon cassette is able to be executed even more simply.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which a simple and reliable mounting operation based on a simple guide mechanism is possible when, as an initial stage mounting operation, the ribbon cassette is moved toward the thermal transfer printer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which the approach/separate operation of the thermal head and platen roller in the thermal transfer printer and final mounting and fixing operation of the ribbon cassette on the thermal transfer printer is able to be implemented in a simple operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which the possibility of the thermal transfer ribbon falling from each of the ribbon supply spindle and ribbon winding spindle through the cassette main body side is avoided, and the simplicity and reliability of the structures for mounting and fixing (inserting-removing) the ribbon supply spindle and the ribbon winding spindle on the cassette main body and the operations for the mounting and fixing (inserting-removing) thereof can be ensured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which during mounting of the ribbon cassette in the thermal transfer printer, the gear mechanisms can be smoothly engaged with each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which there is a possibility of reducing the impact noise generated during the final mounting of the ribbon cassette on the thermal transfer printer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting in which unwanted effects due to vibration generated in the thermal transfer printer as a whole are prevented from extending to the printing of the printing sheet and transport thereof in the thermal transfer printer.

The present invention focuses on a three-stage guide structure and engagement structure such that as a cassette main body is moved toward a printer main body for mounting therein, a main guide shaft that protrudes in a comparatively long length from the printer main body side in the cassette main body direction is used as an initial guide providing guidability along a level and comparatively wide printer main body stay. Finally, there is engageability of a final positioning engagement pin of high positioning precision formed in the printer main body stay and a final position engagement hole formed in a handle-side base plate.

A first invention comprises a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus releasably attached to a thermal transfer printer which comprises a printer main body wherein a thermal head and a platen roller are mounted and where a printing sheet and a thermal transfer ribbon are held between the thermal head and the platen roller and are transported, and which performs printing on the printing sheet. It further comprises a cassette main body formed by a printer-side base plate that extends along a direction of transport of the printing sheet and the thermal transfer ribbon and that opposes a cassette attachment face of the printer main body. A handle-side base plate opposes the printer-side base plate. The handle-side base plate comprises handles for an attachment/detachment operation. A support shaft fixes the handle-side base plate and the printer-side base plate with a gap not less than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon and the printing sheet. The cassette main body comprises a ribbon supply spindle for supplying the thermal transfer ribbon to a transport path for the thermal transfer ribbon and a ribbon winding spindle for winding the thermal transfer ribbon transported to this transport path. The spindles are able to be releasably disposed between the handle-side base plate and the printer-side base plate. A cassette main body stay is positioned between the handle-side base plate and the printing-side base plate. There is a main guide hole into which a main guide shaft protruding from the printer main body side in the cassette main body direction is removably fit. A guide cut-away part is guidable along the printer main body stay formed from the printer main body side toward the printer-side base plate formed in the printer-side base plate. A final positioning engagement pin is formed in the printer main body stay of the printer main body. A final positioning engagement hole is formed in the handle-side base plate. The cassette main body is releasably attached to in the printer main body by engagement/disengagement of the main guide shaft of the printer main body with and from the main guide hole of the cassette main body stay and by engagement/disengagement of the final positioning engagement pin of the printer main body stay with and from the final positioning engagement hole of the handle-side base plate.

A second invention comprises a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette mounting method for setting the thermal transfer printer ribbon to a thermal transfer printer. That printer comprises a printer main body where a thermal head and a platen roller are mounted and where a printing sheet and a thermal transfer ribbon are held between the thermal head and the platen roller and are transported. This prints on the printing sheet. The method comprises forming a cassette main body by providing a printer-side base plate that extends along a direction of transport of the printing sheet and the thermal transfer ribbon and that opposes a cassette attachment face of the printer main body, forming a handle-side base plate that opposes the printer-side base plate and that comprises handles for an attachment/detachment operation, and providing a support shaft for fixing the handle-side base plate and the printer-side base plate with a gap not less than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon and the printing sheet. The cassette main body is formed to comprise a ribbon supply spindle for supplying the thermal transfer ribbon to a transport path for the thermal transfer ribbon and a ribbon winding spindle for winding the thermal transfer ribbon transported to this transport path that are able to be releasably disposed between the handle-side base plate and the printer-side base plate. A cassette main body stay is positioned between the handle-side base plate and the printing-side base plate in which a main guide hole into which a main guide shaft protruding from the printer main body side in the cassette main body direction is removably fit. A guide cut-away part guidable along the printer main body stay is formed from the printer main body side toward the printer-side base plate in the printer-side base plate. A final positioning engagement pin is formed in the printer main body stay of the printer main body. A final positioning engagement hole is formed in the handle-side base plate. The cassette main body is operated handles to engage the main guide shaft hole of the cassette main body stay with the main guide shaft of the printer main body. The guide cut-away part of the printer-side base plate is moved along the printer main body stay as the cassette main body is moved nearer the cassette attachment face of the printer main body. The final positioning engagement hole of the handle-side base plate is engaged with the final positioning engagement pin of the printer main body stay so that the cassette main body can be attached to or detached from the printer main body.

A cover may be mounted in the printer main body, in which an opening is formed in the cassette main body side through which the cassette main body is guidable to the printer main body side.

The printer-side base plate comprises an auxiliary engagement pin provided toward the printer main body side. An auxiliary engagement hole is formed in the cassette attachment face of the printer main body in which the assist engagement pin is engageable.

A head opening/closing lever for a contact/separation operation of the thermal head and the platen roller and a cassette attachment lever for fixing the cassette main body to the printer main body are connected to be integrally operable.

A supply spindle guide groove and a winding spindle guide groove along which the ribbon supply spindle and the ribbon winding spindle respectively are guidable in set directions are formed in the inner-side wall face of the handle-side base plate and the printer-side base plate, respectively. A spindle receiving member able to fix the ribbon supply spindle and the ribbon winding spindle to their respective set positions is provided in the rearmost part of the supply spindle guide groove and the winding spindle guide groove.

Driven gears are formed in the printer main body side end parts of each of the ribbon supply spindle and the ribbon winding spindle. The driven gears are engageable with driver gears that face the cassette attachment face of the printer main body. The gear end parts of each of the driven gears and the driver gears are formed in a tapered shape.

A magnet is in at least one of the cassette attachment face of the printer main body and a printer main body opposing face opposing the printer main body of the printer-side base plate. The cassette main body is attachable to the printer main body.

An elastic member is mounted in an opening edge part of the main guide hole of the cassette main body, toward the cassette attachment face of the printer main body.

An end part of the cassette main body stay on the opposing side to the printer main body of the main guide hole can be opened.

An end part of the cassette main body stay on the opposing side to the printer main body of the main guide hole can be closed.

A lever fixing pin is provided in the vicinity of the platen roller in a base frame of the printer main body. A head opening/closing lever is engaged with or disengaged from the lever fixing pin so that the thermal head is able to be held in a pressed state at a predetermined pressure on the platen roller. The handle-side base plate can to be fixed to the base frame by an auxiliary opening/closing lever in the handle-side base plate in a different position from that of the head opening/closing lever and an auxiliary lever fixing pin in the base frame and by engagement of the assist lever fixing pin and the auxiliary opening-closing lever.

In the thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting based on the present invention, because of the provision of a three-stage guide structure and engagement structure that is broadly based on the use of a main guide shaft protruding in a comparatively long length from the printer main body side in the cassette main body direction being as an initial guide and then guidability along a level and comparatively wide printer main body stay and, finally, engageability of a final positioning engagement pin of high positioning precision formed in the printer main body stay and a final position engagement hole formed in a handle-side base plate, even if the width and length of the thermal transfer ribbon is increased with a resultant increase in the size and weight of the ribbon cassette itself, a stable mounting operation in which the cassette main body itself is easily and reliably guided while being pushed in the printer main body direction can be executed by a simple operation based on the holding of handles on the handle-side base plate.

According to the first invention in particular, because a main guide shaft, printer main body stay and final positioning engagement hole are provided in the printer main body side and, corresponding thereto, a main guide hole, guide cut-away part and final positioning engagement hole are formed in the cassette main body side, the cassette main body can be easily and reliably mounted in the printer main body by a sequential engagement and guiding thereof.

According to the second invention in particular, as the cassette main body is moved nearer to engage with the main guide hole and guide cut-away part and as it uses the main guide shaft and guide cut-away part provided in the printer main body side as a guide, the final positioning engagement pin of the printer main body can be engaged with good positioning precision with the final positioning engagement hole of the cassette main body, and the cassette main body can be easily and reliably and stably mounted to the printer main body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention concerns a thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting including a main guide shaft, a printer main body stay and a final positioning engagement hole provided in a printer main body side all being guided to and sequentially engaged with a main guide hole, a guide cut-away part and a final positioning engagement hole respectively formed in a cassette main body side. As a result, the cassette main body can be stably mounted easily and reliably in the printer main body.

A thermal transfer printer ribbon cassette apparatus and method of ribbon cassette mounting according to a first embodiment of the present invention are described with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 12.

To illustrate the relative positional relationships from the side of the respective members,FIG. 2has been drawn without consideration of the front-to-rear relationships of each member in the printer main body2direction.

The thermal transfer printer1comprises a printer main body2, ribbon cassette apparatus3, and cover4of a rectangular (U-shaped) cross-section mounted on the printer main body2.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 5in particular, the printer main body2comprises a cassette attachment face5formed from a side frame parallel to the direction of transport of a printing sheet L and thermal transfer ribbon R (FIG. 2), a base frame6, main guide shaft7, printer main body stay8, final positioning face9, final positioning engagement pin10, thermal head11, platen roller12, head opening/shutting lever13and operating panel14.FIG. 5andFIG. 6have been drawn omitting the cover4and the operating panel14.

The base frame6orthogonally intersects with the cassette attachment face5and is fixed by a cantilever method so as to be positioned inFIG. 1in the lower part of the ribbon cassette apparatus3.

The main guide shaft7protrudes in a comparatively long length from the cassette attachment face5in the direction of the ribbon cassette apparatus3across the base frame6.

The printer main body stay8has an upper surface that is wide and is a comparatively broad surface area. It is fixed by a cantilever method to orthogonally intersect with the cassette insertion face5.

The final positioning face9is positioned in the side face of the printer main body stay8. It is configured from another side frame that orthogonally intersects with the printer main body stay8, and it opposes the ribbon cassette apparatus3.

The final positioning engagement pin10protrudes from the final positioning face9in the direction of the ribbon cassette apparatus3to enable maintaining the high precision of the final mounted position of the ribbon cassette apparatus.

The thermal head11is turnable in the opening/shutting direction (separating direction and pressing direction with respect to the platen roller12) about a head opening/shutting spindle15provided to extend between the cassette attachment face5and the final positioning face9.

In the opened thermal head11state, labels, tags or other ribbon-like printing sheet L are loaded between the thermal head11and platen roller12. A ribbon-like thermal transfer ribbon R is similarly able to be loaded between the thermal head11and the platen roller12employing a ribbon cassette apparatus3.

In the closed state of the thermal head11, the printing sheet L and the thermal transfer ribbon R are held between the thermal head and the platen roller12and are transported along a transport path16enabling printing on the printing sheet L.

The thermal head11is approach/separated opened and shut with respect to the platen roller12by the turnable operation of the head opening/shutting lever13in the forward and reverse directions around a lever shaft17which extends from the cassette attachment face5and the final positioning face9. The thermal head11is able to be pressed onto the platen roller12at a predetermined printing pressure.

As described later, the head opening/shutting lever13is concentric with a section of the lever shaft17and is integrally operable with the cassette attachment lever63because of a small space (base plate interval64, seeFIG. 11) provided in the axial direction therebetween.

The operating panel14comprises a display18and operating keys19and is used for performing printing and providing various controls on the printer main body2.

Mounting holes20are formed in each of the four corners of the printer main body2side in the cassette attachment face5and in other positions as needed for facilitating an assembly in which the printer main body2(ribbon cassette apparatus3) is able to be connected with predetermined peripheral apparatus (for example label affixing apparatus not shown) at arbitrary positions.

As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the ribbon cassette apparatus3comprises a cassette main body21, which comprises a printer-side base plate22, a handle-side base plate23, and a plurality of support shafts24, for example, as seen inFIG. 3andFIG. 4.

The printer-side base plate22extends along the direction of transport of the printing sheet L and thermal transfer ribbon R and also opposes the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2.

The handle-side base plate23comprises a pair of handles25that oppose the printer-side base plate22by way of the support shafts24and that are used for the attachment operation of the cassette main body21in the printer main body2.

The support shafts24fix the printer-side base plate22and handle side base plate23at an interval of no less than the width of the printing sheet L and the thermal transfer ribbon R.

The cassette main body21facilitates attachment of a ribbon supply spindle26for supplying the thermal transfer ribbon R to the transport path16of the thermal transfer ribbon R and a winding supply spindle27for winding the thermal transfer ribbon R transported along the transport path16between the printer-side base plate22and handle-side base plate23.

The cassette main body21further comprises a cassette main body stay28having an upper surface of a comparatively broad surface area.

The cassette main body stay28is positioned between the printer-side base plate22and the handle-side base plate23. A main guide hole29is formed in the stay and the main guide shaft7that protrudes from the printer main body2side in the cassette main body21direction is insertable into the hole29.

Insertion of the main guide shaft7in the main guide hole29is facilitated by forming of the tip-end of the shaft in a tapered shape.

Moreover, an end of the main guide hole29of the cassette main body stay28, on the opposing side to the printer main body2, is open. This facilitates smooth insertion of the main guide shaft7in the main guide hole29.

A guide cut-away part30is formed in the printer-side base plate22, it is guidable along the upper surface and the arc-shaped end part8A of the printer main body stay8which extends from the printer main body2toward the printer-side base plate22and the circular arc-shaped end part of the part30.

A final positioning engagement hole31(FIG. 6) is formed in the inner wall face side of the handle-side base plate23. It opposes the final positioning engagement pin10formed in the printer main body stay8of the printer main body2at the final positioning face9.

A printer main body opposing face32that opposes the printer main body2of the printer-side base plate22comprises a plurality (two in the example of the diagram) of assist engagement pins33(FIGS. 4 and 6) provided toward the printer main body2side, and assist engagement holes34(FIG. 5) engageable with the assist engagement pins33are formed in the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2.

A magnet35(FIG. 5) is provided in the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2and an iron piece36(FIG. 6) is provided on the printer main body opposing face32of the printer-side base plate22to facilitate the attachment of the cassette main body21(printer main body opposing face32) to the printer main body2(cassette attachment face5).

FIG. 7is a main part perspective view of the cassette main body21as seen from the direction of the printer main body2in a state in which the thermal transfer ribbon R has not been loaded into the cassette main body21, andFIG. 8is a main part perspective view of the cassette main body21as seen from the printer main body2of the same.

A supply spindle guide groove37and winding spindle guide groove38(FIG. 5,FIG. 6) able to guide the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27respectively in the set directions thereof are formed in the inner side wall face of the printer-side base plate22and handle-side base plate23respectively. Spindle receiving members (left-right pair of supply spindle receiver members39and winding spindle receiver members40in the respective axial directions thereof) able to fix the ribbon supply spindle26and the winding supply spindle27to their respective set positions are also provided.

More specifically, referring toFIG. 5as well asFIG. 6, the supply spindle receiver member39comprises a circular arc-shaped spindle part39A that is inserted and fixed in a supply spindle receiving hole41formed in the rearmost part of the supply spindle guide groove37, and a pair of guide flank parts39B that extend outward along the supply spindle guide groove37from the two end parts of the circular arc-shaped spindle part39A.

Similarly, the winding spindle receiver member40comprises a circular arc-shaped spindle part40A that is inserted and fixed in a winding spindle receiving hole42formed in the rearmost part of the winding spindle guide groove38, and a pair of guide flank parts40B that extend outward along the supply spindle guide groove38from the two end parts of the circular arc-shaped spindle part40A.

However, the supply spindle receiver member39and winding spindle receiver member40fixed in the inner wall face of the printer-side base plate22are narrower in width than the supply spindle receiver member39and winding spindle receiver member40fixed in the inner wall face of the handle-side base plate23.

Furthermore, the guide flank part39B of the supply spindle receiver member39and the guide flank part40B of the winding spindle receiver member40fixed in the inner wall face of the printer-side base plate22are smaller than the guide flank part39B of the supply spindle receiver member39and the guide flank part40B of the winding spindle receiver member40fixed in the inner wall face of the handle-side base plate23.

A plurality of axial direction protrusions39C and protrusions40C are formed protrudingly in the inner circumferential surface side of the circular arc-shaped spindle part39A and circular arc-shaped spindle part40A and, as a result of being engageable with a supply spindle circumferential groove26A and winding spindle circumferential groove27A formed in each of the end parts of the handle-side base plate23side of the ribbon supply spindle26and ribbon winding spindle27, the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27are fixable to a section of the supply spindle receiver member39and winding spindle receiver member40and are prevented from easily falling out.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 6in particular, follower gears (supply spindle follower gear26B, winding spindle follower gear27B) are formed in the end parts of the printer main body2(cassette attachment face5) side of the ribbon supply spindle26and the winding supply spindle27.

As shown inFIG. 5in particular, the supply spindle follower gear26B and winding spindle follower gear27B, are engageable by way of the supply spindle receiving hole41and the winding spindle receiving hole42respectively with follower gears (supply spindle driver gear43, supply spindle driver gear44) that face the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2.

Furthermore, similarly to the supply spindle follower gear26B and winding spindle follower gear27B, detection gears (supply spindle detection gear26C, winding spindle detection gear27C) of larger diameter than the supply spindle follower gear26B and winding spindle follower gear27B are formed in the end parts of the ribbon supply spindle26and the winding supply spindle27to be engageable by way of open windows (supply spindle open window47, winding spindle open window48) with sensor-side gears (supply spindle sensor-side gear45, winding spindle sensor-side gear46).

FIG. 9is a main part expanded perspective view of the supply spindle driver gear43and winding spindle driver gear44, as well as the supply spindle sensor-side gear45and winding spindle sensor-side gear46components facing the cassette attachment face5of printer main body2, andFIG. 10is a main part expanded perspective view of the supply spindle follower gear26B and winding spindle follower gear27B components that face the printer main body opposing face32of the cassette main body21(printer-side base plate22).

As shown inFIG. 9in particular, the supply spindle driver gear43comprises an engagement center pin43A that protrudes from the center part thereof, and an engagement gear43B that is formed slightly lower in the circumference of the engagement center pin43A.

The winding spindle driver gear44comprises an engagement center pin44A that protrudes from the center part thereof, and an engagement gear44B that is formed slightly lower in the circumference of the engagement center pin44A.

As shown inFIG. 10in particular, an engagement center hole26D and engagement center hole27D are formed in the center part of the supply spindle follower gear26B and winding spindle follower gear27B in the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27to facilitate engagement with the engagement center pin43A and the engagement center pin44A respectively. Moreover, by the adoption of a tapered shape end part of each of the engagement center pin43A and engagement center pin44A, the engagement thereof with the engagement center hole26D and engagement center hole27D respectively is simple and reliable.

Furthermore, by the adoption of a tapered shape gear end part of each of the follower gears (supply spindle follower gear26B, winding spindle follower gear27B) and the engagement gear43B and engagement gear44B of the driver gears (supply spindle driver gear43, winding spindle driver gear44), the engagement operations therebetween can be implemented easily and reliably irrespective of the turning position (position in the circumferential direction) of the ribbon supply spindle26and the winding supply spindle27.

In addition, by the adoption of a tapered shape gear end part of each of also the supply spindle detection gear26C and winding spindle detection gear27C and the supply spindle sensor-side gear45and winding spindle sensor-side gear46of the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27respectively, the engagement operations therebetween can be implemented easily and reliably.

Detection discs (supply spindle detection disc49, winding spindle detection disc50) comprising slits in the circumference are concentrically mounted with the supply spindle sensor-side gear45and the winding spindle sensor-side gear46respectively, and detection of the rotation state of the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27being facilitated by rotation sensors (supply spindle rotation sensor51, winding spindle rotation sensor52).

The ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27are divided between the printer-side base plate22and handle-side base plate23(details omitted), and these divided components are independently rotatable structures.

Accordingly, whenever the supply spindle circumferential groove26A is engaged with the circular arc-shaped spindle part39A and the winding spindle circumferential groove27A is engaged with the circular arc-shaped spindle part40A (seeFIG. 6) in the handle-side base plate23side and, furthermore, with reference toFIG. 5andFIG. 6, whenever the supply spindle follower gear26B is engaged with the supply spindle driver gear43and the winding spindle follower gear27B is engaged with the winding spindle driver gear44in the printer-side base plate22side and, in addition, whenever the supply spindle sensor-side gear45is engaged with the supply spindle detection gear26C and the winding spindle detection gear27C is engaged with the winding spindle sensor-side gear46, each of the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27are rotatable between the printer-side base plate22and the handle-side base plate23to facilitate the supply and winding of the thermal transfer ribbon R.

Moreover, as shown inFIG. 2,FIG. 5andFIG. 6and other diagrams, transport assist rollers (upstream-side assist roller53, and downstream-side assist roller54) to assist in transporting of the thermal transfer ribbon R are provided between the printer-side base plate22and handle-side base plate23in the upstream side and downstream side of the platen roller12along the transport path16of the thermal transfer ribbon R.

The upstream-side assist roller53and downstream-side assist roller54are rotatably supported between the printer-side base plate22and handle-side base plate23, and follower gears (upstream side follower gear53A, downstream-side follower gear54A) are each formed in the printer main body2side of the upstream-side assist roller53.

As shown inFIG. 5in particular, the upstream-side assist roller53and downstream-side assist roller54are rotatably-drivable by means of the follower gears (upstream-side driver gear55, downstream-side driver gear56) that face the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2.

The upstream-side follower gear53A of the upstream-side assist roller53is engageable with the upstream-side driver gear55by way of an opposing face gear57provided in the printer main body opposing face32of the printer-side base plate22(FIG. 6) and a timing belt58(FIG. 5) provided in the side opposing the handle-side base plate23on the opposing side to the printer main body opposing face32of the printer-side base plate22.

The downstream-side follower gear54A of the downstream-side assist roller54is directly engageable with the downstream-side driver gear56.

As shown inFIG. 2,FIG. 5andFIG. 9in particular, a guide pin59of which the tip-end part is formed in a tapered shape is protrudingly provided from the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2in the region of the magnet35, and a through-hole60(FIG. 6,FIG. 10) with which the guide pin59is engageable is formed in the printer-side base plate22whereupon, when the cassette main body21is moved toward and abuts the cassette attachment face5, a reliable adsorption is established between the magnet35and iron piece36and a reliable engagement of the upstream-side assist roller53and downstream-side assist roller54with the upstream-side driver gear55and downstream-side driver gear56is established.

In addition, a brush member61which performs an anti-static action on the thermal transfer ribbon R is provided in the downstream side of the platen roller12to extend across the transport path16of the thermal transfer ribbon R.

FIG. 11is a main part expanded perspective view of the head opening/shutting lever13component, the head opening/shutting lever13being attachable with a lever fixing pin62protrudingly fixed in the base frame6so that the thermal head11is able to be pressed at a predetermined pressure on the platen roller12.

The cassette attachment lever63is concentrically provided about the lever shaft17of the head opening/shutting lever13, the cassette attachment lever63and head opening/shutting lever13being connected to be integrally operable.

Accordingly, a head lock (approach/separate operation) between the thermal head11and platen roller12and a cassette lock (mounting operation) of the cassette main body21in the printer main body2can be jointly implemented by operation of this single cassette attachment lever63. This facilitates improvement to the assembly workability and a reduction in the number of assembly steps.

Furthermore, the base plate interval64slightly larger than the thickness of the printer-side base plate22of the cassette main body21is provided between the head opening/shutting lever13and the cassette attachment lever63.

Accordingly, as a result of the base plate interval64section being positioned in the printer-side base plate22subsequent to the cassette attachment lever63being operated in the lock direction (anti-clockwise direction inFIG. 11) after the cassette main body21has been pushed in the printer main body2direction until the printer main body opposing face32of the cassette main body21has abutted the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2, that is to say, as a result of the head opening/shutting lever13and cassette attachment lever63being positioned on the upper and lower faces of the printer-side base plate22, the ribbon cassette apparatus3(cassette main body21) as a whole is fixable to the printer main body2side and fallout of the cassette main body21from the printer main body2side is prevented.

Moreover, a guide cut-away part30(FIG. 5) is formed in the printer-side base plate22and, when the ribbon cassette apparatus3as a whole is moved toward the handle-side base plate23in the printer main body2direction, a lever window part65through which the head opening/shutting lever13and the cassette attachment lever63are able to pass (FIG. 5) in the opened state of the thermal head11with respect to the platen roller12is formed whereupon, in the opened state of the thermal head11described above, a mounting operation of the cassette main body21in which it is moved until abutting the printer main body2without colliding with the head opening/shutting lever13and the cassette attachment lever63is possible.

FIG. 12is a perspective view showing a state in which the cassette attachment lever63is operated after the cassette main body21(ribbon cassette apparatus3) has been inserted in the printer main body2, the head opening/shutting lever13integral with the cassette attachment lever63being engaged with the lever fixing pin62to complete the mounted state of the ribbon cassette apparatus3in the printer main body2as a result of the turning operation of the cassette attachment lever63from the virtual line to the state shown by the solid line in the diagram.

As shown inFIG. 1in particular, the cover4mounted on the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2fulfils a dust-prevention and waterproofing function, and an insert opening hole66is formed in the cassette main body21to facilitate guiding of the cassette main body21to the printer main body2side.

When the cassette main body21is directed toward the printer main body2side and is subsequently moved toward the printer main body2, the guide direction and position of the cassette main body21is clearly indicatable to an operator performing the mounting through the cover4itself and, in reality, a guiding of the left and right edge parts and upper edge part of the printer-side base plate22and handle-side base plate23of the cassette main body21is performed.

Moreover, a transparent window67that facilitates confirmation from the exterior with the naked eye of the thermal transfer ribbon R in the interior of the cover4is formed in the approximate center part of the handle-side base plate23. Naturally, an equivalent transparent window can also be formed in the upper part of the cover4.

In a thermal transfer printer1, printer main body2and ribbon cassette apparatus3of this configuration, the mounting of the ribbon cassette apparatus3in the printer main body2is based on the handles25being held and the cassette main body21being operated in the printer main body2direction.

First, the main guide hole29of the cassette main body stay28is engaged with the cassette main body21of the main guide shaft7of the printer main body2and, furthermore, the guide cut-away part30of the printer-side base plate22is moved along the upper surface of the printer main body stay8and the arc-shaped end part8A thereof as the cassette main body21is moved toward the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2.

Next, the cassette main body21is able to be attached to the printer main body2as a result of the engagement of the assist engagement pins33of the printer-side base plate22with the assist engagement holes34in the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2and, in addition, the engagement of the guide pin59in the cassette attachment face5with the through-hole60in the printer-side base plate22and, furthermore, the engagement of the final positioning engagement pin10of the printer main body stay8with the final positioning engagement hole31of the handle-side base plate23, the cassette main body21being opposed to the printer main body2with a predetermined position accuracy with adsorption between the magnet35and the iron piece36.

In this attached state, the follower gears (supply spindle follower gear26B, winding spindle follower gear27B) of the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27are engaged with the drive gears (supply spindle driver gear43, winding spindle driver gear44) of the printer main body2, and the detection gears thereof (supply spindle detection gear26C, winding spindle detection gear27C) are engaged with the sensor gears (supply spindle sensor-side gear45, winding spindle sensor-side gear46) of the printer main body2.

Simultaneously with this engagement, follower gears (upstream-side follower gear53A, downstream-side follower gear54A) of the upstream-side assist roller53and downstream-side assist roller54are engaged with the driver gears (upstream-side driver gear55, downstream-side driver gear56) of the printer main body2.

Finally, as shown inFIG. 12, in an operation using the cassette attachment lever63to effect completion of the mounting operation, a head lock between the thermal head11and platen roller12(approach/separate operation) and a cassette lock of the cassette main body21on the printer main body2(mounting operation) is performed.

Removal of the cassette main body21from the printer main body2involves, upon release of the cassette lock and head lock by a turning operation of the cassette attachment lever63in the clockwise direction ofFIG. 12, the handles25being held and the cassette main body21as a whole being pulled out from the printer main body2whereupon, conversely to that described above, the adsorption and engagements between the cassette main body21and printer main body2are released to allow the cassette main body21to be removed.

By the attachment of the main guide hole29of the cassette main body stay28and the main guide shaft7of the printer main body2and the attachment of the final positioning engagement hole31of the handle-side base plate23with the final positioning engagement pin10of the printer main body stay8in this way in particular, the cassette main body21can be attached to the printer main body2with a predetermined relative positional accuracy.

Furthermore, the ribbon supply spindle26and winding supply spindle27can be set in advance in the cassette main body21, and the operation for the replacement of the thermal transfer ribbon R can be implemented easily.

In addition, because the mounting operation itself of the cassette main body21is a simple operation requiring simply a pushing thereof while the handles25are being held, the cassette main body21can be easily mounted without effect on the position and positional arrangement of the printer main body2.

Naturally, because it involves holding of a left-right pair of handles25, the mounting operation in which the cassette main body21is moved toward the printer main body2side can be stably performed.

Various alterations and supplementary configurations can be made to the present invention in accordance with need.

For example,FIG. 13is a front view of a ribbon cassette apparatus70based on a second embodiment of the present invention in which, in addition to the previously described configuration, that is to say, a configuration in which the lever fixing pin62is provided in the base frame6of a printer main body2and the head opening/shutting lever13is attachably provided in the lever fixing pin62so that the thermal head11is able to be maintained in a pressed state at a predetermined pressure in the platen roller12, in the ribbon cassette apparatus70the base frame6and cassette main body21may be firmly fixed to each other.

More specifically, the handle-side base plate23is able to be fixed to the base frame6by the provision of an assist opening/shutting lever71in the handle-side base plate23in the upstream-side of the transport path16from the platen roller12part that is tumably operable around an assist lever shaft72, and the provision of an assist lever pin73in the base frame6and engagement of the assist lever pin73and the assist opening/shutting lever71.

According to this configuration, as a result of the integration of base frame6with the cassette main body21afforded by the engagement of the head opening/shutting lever13and the cassette attachment lever63with the lever fixing pin62in the region of the platen roller12and the integration with the cassette main body21afforded by the engagement of the assist opening/shutting lever71with the assist lever pin73of the upstream-side of the platen roller12, the handle-side base plate23(ribbon cassette apparatus70) and base frame6are reliably supported in two places.

Accordingly, the vibration of the base frame6component accompanying printing on the thermal transfer ribbon R and the transport thereof and, furthermore, the possibility of the vibration increasing in the thermal transfer printer1as a whole accompanying an increase in the size of the thermal transfer ribbon R and the cassette main body21can be suppressed, and undesirable effects to the printing on the thermal transfer ribbon R and the transport thereof in the thermal transfer printer1can be avoided.

FIG. 14is a main part expanded view of the cassette main body stay28as seen from the printer main body2side in a ribbon cassette apparatus80based on a third embodiment of the present invention in which, in the ribbon cassette apparatus80, a rubber cushion member or other elastic member81is mounted to abut the opening edge part in particular of the main guide hole29of the cassette main body stay28in the printer-side base plate22of the cassette main body21thereof facing the cassette attachment face5of the printer main body2.

FIG. 15is a main part expanded perspective view of the cassette main body stay28component as seen in the printer main body2direction, an end part of the main guide hole29of the cassette main body stay28of the opposing side to the printer main body2being closed.

In the ribbon cassette apparatus80of this configuration the impact noise generated when the cassette main body21is attached to the printer main body2can be suppressed, the wear of the cassette main body21(printer-side base plate22) can be suppressed, and the durability thereof can be improved by the elastic member81. Furthermore, because the main guide hole29is opened only in the printer-side base plate22the residual air within the main guide hole29performs an air-damper action accompanying the engagement of the main guide hole29and main guide shaft7and, accordingly, even if the operation for mounting the ribbon cassette apparatus80in the printer main body2is performed quickly, the speed of insertion thereof is slowed as it is inserted and, in the end, a gentle insertion action that allows the mounting operation to be completed with reduced impact is facilitated.