JP4840198B2 - Ribbon diameter measuring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink wound around a feeding core with respect to an ink ribbon in an initial set state in which the winding end portion of the ink ribbon fed from the feeding core is slightly wound around the winding core via the ribbon path. The present invention relates to a ribbon diameter measuring device that measures the diameter of a ribbon.

Conventionally, although not a ribbon diameter measuring device, an ink ribbon setting jig for attaching an ink ribbon to a tape cartridge when assembling the tape cartridge is known. This ink ribbon setting jig includes a core set member having a pair of locking projections for fitting the feeding core and the winding core in a rotation-stopped state, and an ink ribbon spanned between the feeding core and the winding core. And a path setting member that guides the ribbon path (see Patent Document 1). In this ink ribbon setting jig, the ribbon assembly in which the ink ribbon is wound around the feeding core and the winding core is held on the ink ribbon setting jig in the same form as that set on the tape cartridge. In this state, after setting the ribbon assembly together with the ink ribbon setting jig on the tape cartridge, the ink ribbon setting jig (core set member and path setting member) is removed to mount the ink ribbon. . The tape cartridge contains a printing tape in addition to the ink ribbon, and the length of the ink ribbon corresponds to the length of the printing tape.
JP-A-11-291594

  By the way, in order to avoid using the ink ribbon before using the printing tape, after the initial setting by the ink ribbon setting jig, the length of the ink ribbon wound around the feeding core, specifically, It is preferable to measure the diameter of the ink ribbon. In such a case, it is assumed that when the ink ribbon sags and the ink ribbon wound around the feeding core is in a state of being scattered, the diameter of the ink ribbon cannot be measured accurately.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon diameter measuring device that can measure the ribbon diameter of the ink ribbon on the feeding core in a state where the ink ribbon is stretched.

  The ribbon diameter measuring apparatus according to the present invention is configured to wind an ink ribbon wound up from a feeding core to a feeding core with respect to an ink ribbon in an initial set state in which the winding end portion of the ink ribbon is wound around the winding core via a ribbon path. Ribbon diameter measuring device for measuring the diameter of the ink ribbon that has been measured, which is engaged with the feeding core from the axial direction and that measures the diameter of the ink ribbon, and at the time of measurement, is engaged with the winding core from the axial direction And a rotating shaft unit for rotating the winding core.

  According to this configuration, at the time of measurement by the measurement unit, the winding core can be slightly rotated by the rotary shaft unit so as to give tension to the ink ribbon. Thereby, the ribbon diameter can be measured in a state where the ink ribbon is stretched. Therefore, the ribbon diameter can be accurately measured.

  In this case, the apparatus further includes a support frame that supports the measurement unit and the rotary shaft unit, and a moving mechanism that engages and disengages the measurement unit and the rotary shaft unit with respect to the feeding core and the winding core via the support frame. Is preferred.

  According to this configuration, since the measurement unit and the rotary shaft unit can be engaged at the same time, it is possible to apply tension to the ink ribbon and perform measurement instantaneously.

  In this case, the rotary shaft unit has a pressing pad that is engaged with the end of the winding core from the axial direction, a spline shaft that is provided with a pressing pad at the tip, and a spline boss that is spline engaged with the spline shaft. The spline engaging portion between the spline shaft and the spline boss is preferably formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction.

  According to this configuration, the winding core can be rotated only by engaging the rotary shaft unit (press pad thereof) against the winding core, and no power dedicated to rotation is required.

  In this case, the measurement unit faces the feeding core from the axial direction, measures an outer diameter of the ink ribbon wound around the feeding core, an engagement shaft engaged with the feeding core, an optical fiber sensor, and And a connecting member that integrally connects the engaging shafts.

  According to this configuration, when the measuring unit is engaged with the feeding core, the optical fiber sensor is automatically positioned (calibrated), so that the measurement can be performed accurately.

Hereinafter, a ribbon diameter measuring apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This ribbon diameter measuring device determines the diameter of the ink ribbon wound around the feeding core of the tape cartridge with respect to the ink ribbon initially set in the tape cartridge.
Here, the tape cartridge will be briefly described before describing the ribbon diameter measuring apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tape cartridge 1 contains a printing tape (not shown) and an ink ribbon R, and an outer shell is formed by a cartridge case 4 composed of an upper case (not shown) and a lower case 3. Is formed. The printing tape and the ink ribbon R are accommodated by setting the lower case 3 and then covering the upper case.

  The cartridge case 4 includes a tape storage unit 11 for storing the printing tape and a ribbon storage unit 12 for storing the ink ribbon R therein. The tape cartridge 1 is configured so that the upper case is assembled into the lower case 3, and can be disassembled and assembled with a dedicated jig. Therefore, refilling is possible when the printing tape and the ink ribbon R are used up. Further, the length of the ink ribbon R is formed longer than the length of the printing tape so that printing on the printing tape can be performed up to the end of the printing tape.

  The ribbon storage unit 12 includes a feeding core 15 and a winding core 16 that are rotatably attached to the tape cartridge 1 (upper case and lower case 3), and a ribbon guide guide 17 that guides the ink ribbon R along the ribbon path. It is equipped with. When the tape cartridge 1 is assembled, before the upper case is mounted, the ink ribbon R is wound around the feeding core 15 and the feeding end fed from the feeding core 15 passes through the ribbon path to take up the winding core. 16 and slightly wound around the winding core 16. As a result, an initial set is performed. Thereafter, the ribbon diameter of the ink ribbon R wound around the feeding core 15 is measured by the ribbon diameter measuring device 21. If the measurement result is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is confirmed (detected) that the length of the ink ribbon R is longer than the length of the printing tape.

  The ribbon diameter measuring device 21 of the present embodiment is disposed in the assembly line of the tape cartridge 1, and as a pre-process for measuring the ribbon diameter of the ink ribbon R wound around the feeding core 15 by the ribbon diameter measuring device 21. The feeding core 15 and the winding core 16 are set on the lower case 3, the ink ribbon R is fed out from the feeding core 15, the feeding end is attached to the winding core 16 through the ribbon path, and the winding core 16 is attached to the winding core 16. There is a step (by an automatic machine) of winding the ink ribbon R slightly (several rotations to tens of rotations). Further, as a post-process, there are a process of mounting a printing tape and a process of incorporating the upper case into the lower case 3.

  Next, the ribbon diameter measuring device 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The ribbon diameter measuring device 21 is in an initial set state, and measures the ribbon diameter of the ink ribbon R on the feeding core 15 with respect to the cartridge case 4 set on a set table (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon diameter measuring device 21 includes a measuring unit 22 that has a pair of optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 for facing the feeding core 15 from the axial direction and measuring the ribbon diameter of the feeding core 15. A rotating shaft unit 23 that is arranged parallel to the measuring unit 22 and faces the winding core 16 from its axial direction, and slightly rotates the winding core 16 when measuring the ribbon diameter; And a support frame 24 that supports the rotary shaft unit 23, and a lifting mechanism (moving mechanism) 25 that lifts and lowers each unit via the support frame 24. In this case, the ribbon diameter measuring device 21 measures the ribbon diameter of the feeding core 15 by the measuring unit 22 while slightly rotating the winding core 16 by the rotating shaft unit 23 to apply tension to the ink ribbon R.

  The elevating mechanism 25 supports the support frame 24 and moves each unit in the vertical direction via the support frame 24. The lifting mechanism 25 causes the pair of optical fiber sensors 33, 33 of the measurement unit 22 to face the feeding core 15, and presses the rotary shaft unit 23 against the winding core 16. Although details will be described later, when the rotary shaft unit 23 presses against the winding core 16, the rotary shaft unit 23 is rotated by the pressing force to rotate the winding core 16 in press contact. Thereby, the winding core 16 is rotated (small winding of the ink ribbon R).

  The measurement unit 22 includes a pair of optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 facing the feeding core 15 from the axial direction, and an engagement shaft body (engagement) disposed at the center of the optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 and supported by the support frame 24. Shaft) 31, a pair of optical fiber sensors 33, 33 and a connecting member 35 for integrally connecting the engaging shaft body 31, and a measuring instrument 26 to which both optical fiber sensors 33, 33 are connected. .

  The engaging shaft body 31 is supported by the pressing portion 32 that engages with the feeding core 15, the measurement spline shaft 41 having the pressing portion 32 attached to the distal end portion, and the support frame 24, and the measurement spline shaft 41 is splined. And an engaging measurement spline boss 42. The engagement shaft body 31 includes an urging spring 43 that is interposed between the connecting member 35 and the measurement spline boss 42 and urges the measurement spline shaft 41 in the protruding direction (downward). Further, a measurement stopper 44 that restricts the protruding position of the measurement spline shaft 41 protruding downward by the biasing spring 43 is fixed to the upper portion of the measurement spline shaft 41.

  The measurement spline shaft 41 and the measurement spline boss 42 constitute a so-called ball spline, and the measurement spline shaft 41 is supported with respect to the measurement spline boss 42 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction while being held in rotation. ing.

  The pair of optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 are disposed at opposing positions with the engaging shaft 31 interposed therebetween, and are connected to the measuring instrument 26 by an optical fiber cable 51. The connecting member 35 supports the pair of optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 in parallel with the engagement shaft body 31 (measurement spline shaft 41), and more strictly, with respect to the axis of the pressing portion 32 described above. The tip of the pair of optical fiber sensors 33, 33 is supported so as to be a 180 ° point target. Accordingly, the diameter of the ink ribbon R wound around the feeding core 15 can be measured with high accuracy. The distance between the pair of optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 is the same as the diameter formed by the ink ribbon R having an appropriate length. When the ribbon diameter of the ink ribbon R is equal to or larger than the appropriate value, “Present” is detected by the optical fiber sensors 33 and 33, respectively. That is, when the ink ribbon R is not detected by any one of the pair of optical fiber sensors 33, 33, the ribbon diameter of the ink ribbon R is less than an appropriate value, and the length of the ink ribbon R is not appropriate. To be judged.

  The measuring device 26 has a light source (not shown), irradiates measurement light, sends it to each optical fiber sensor 33, 33 via the optical fiber cable 51, and irradiates the detection area. Further, the reflected light from the object to be detected (ink ribbon R in the present embodiment) is received from each of the optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 via the optical fiber cable 51 and is acquired by a built-in CCD camera (not shown). That is, when an object to be detected exists in the detection area of the optical fiber sensor 33, the measurement light emitted from the optical fiber sensor 33 is reflected by the object to be detected, and the CCD camera acquires the reflected light and detects it. It is determined that there is an object in the area. If there is no object to be detected in the detection area of the optical fiber sensor 33, it is determined that the CCD camera cannot acquire reflected light and there is no object to be detected in the detection area. In the present embodiment, by detecting the ink ribbon R in the detection area of the pair of optical fiber sensors 33, 33, it is determined whether or not the ribbon diameter is equal to or larger than an appropriate value, and the ribbon diameter is measured. .

  By having such a measurement unit 22, when the pair of optical fiber sensors 33, 33 are automatically positioned when engaged with the feeding core 15, the measurement can be performed accurately. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary shaft unit 23 includes a press pad 61 that presses and contacts the take-up core 16, a spline shaft 62 with the press pad 61 attached to the tip, and a spline shaft at two locations on the spline shaft 62. A pair of spline bosses 63 and 63 to be engaged, and an outer cylinder 64 which is supported by the support frame 24 and is fitted to the inner peripheral surfaces of both ends in a rotationally stopped state. . The rotary shaft unit 23 includes a coil spring (spring) 65 that is interposed between the pressing pad 61 and the lower spline boss 63 and biases the spline shaft 62 in the protruding direction (downward). . Further, a stopper 66 for restricting the protruding position of the spline shaft 62 protruding downward by the coil spring 65 is fixed to the upper portion of the spline shaft 62.

  The pressing pad 61 is made of urethane rubber or the like, and transmits the rotation of the spline shaft 62 to the winding core 15 by a frictional force generated between the pressing pad 61 and the winding core 16. The coil spring 56 is provided so as to be wound around the spline shaft 62, and has an upper end abutted against the lower spline boss 63 and a lower end abutted against the upper surface of the pressing pad 61.

  The spline shaft 62 and the pair of spline bosses 63 constitute a so-called ball spline, and the spline engaging portion 62a is formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction. Therefore, when the spline shaft 62 is pressed against the winding core 16 via the pressing pad 61 and is slid in the axial direction, the spline shaft 62 is rotated by a screw mechanism constituted by the spline engaging portion 62a, and the winding core 16 is rotated in the winding direction. By the rotation of the spline shaft 62, the ink ribbon R can be put in a tensioned state on the ribbon path. That is, by merely engaging the rotary shaft unit 23 (the pressing pad 61 thereof) so as to press against the winding core 16, the ink ribbon R can be tensioned and the ink ribbon R can be wound around the feeding core 15. .

  When the units 22 and 23 are lowered by the lifting mechanism 25, the pair of optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 of the measurement unit 22 face the feeding core 15, and the rotary shaft unit 23 presses and contacts the winding core 16. The take-up core 16 is rotated slightly. As a result, the ink ribbon R becomes tensioned, and measurement is performed in this state. With such a configuration, the ribbon diameter can be measured in a state where the ink ribbon R is stretched, so that the ribbon diameter can be accurately measured.

  In addition, the measurement unit 22 and the rotary shaft unit 23 can be simultaneously engaged by the configuration in which the measurement unit 22 and the rotary shaft unit 23 are lifted and lowered by the lifting mechanism 25 via the support frame 24. And measurement can be performed instantaneously.

  According to the above configuration, the ribbon diameter can be measured in a state where the ink ribbon R is stretched. Therefore, the ribbon diameter can be accurately measured.

  In the present embodiment, the light reflection type measurement unit 22 is used, but a light transmission type measurement unit 22 may be used.

  In this embodiment, the pair of optical fiber sensors 33 and 33 are used to measure the diameter of the ink ribbon R with respect to two points. However, if the center position of the feeding core 15 is determined, The configuration may be such that the radius is measured only on one side by one optical fiber sensor 33.

It is the perspective view which showed the tape cartridge. It is the figure which represented typically the ribbon diameter measuring apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a rotary shaft unit.

Explanation of symbols

15: Feeding core, 16: Winding core, 21: Ribbon diameter measuring device, 22: Measuring unit, 23: Rotating shaft unit, 24: Support frame, 25: Lifting mechanism, 31: Engaging shaft, 33: Optical fiber Sensor 35: Connecting member 61: Press pad 62: Spline shaft 63: Spline boss R: Ink ribbon

Claims (4)

The diameter of the ink ribbon wound around the feeding core with respect to the ink ribbon in the initial set state where the winding end portion of the ink ribbon fed from the feeding core is wound around the winding core via the ribbon path A ribbon diameter measuring device for measuring
A measuring unit that engages with the feeding core from the axial direction and measures the diameter of the ink ribbon; and a rotating shaft unit that engages with the winding core from the axial direction and rotates the winding core during measurement; A ribbon diameter measuring apparatus comprising: A support frame that supports the measurement unit and the rotary shaft unit;
The ribbon according to claim 1, further comprising: a moving mechanism that engages and disengages the measurement unit and the rotary shaft unit with respect to the feeding core and the winding core via the support frame. Diameter measuring device. The rotary shaft unit includes a pressing pad that engages with an end of the winding core from an axial direction;
A spline shaft provided with the pressing pad at the tip;
A spline boss that is spline-engaged with the spline shaft,
The ribbon diameter measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spline engaging portion between the spline shaft and the spline boss is formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction. The measurement unit faces the feeding core from the axial direction, and measures an outer diameter of the ink ribbon wound around the feeding core;
An engagement shaft that engages with the feeding core;
The ribbon diameter measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting member that integrally connects the optical fiber sensor and the engagement shaft.

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