JPH0343996B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention has a printing unit movable along the line direction, the front surface of which faces the recording support material to be printed, and the printing unit extends over the entire length of the line. In addition, regarding an ink ribbon guide device for a line printer that has an element for guiding an ink ribbon that changes direction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line direction at the end of the line, in particular, the ink ribbon can be inserted into the printing mechanism from above by simply inserting the ink ribbon into the printing mechanism. The present invention relates to a guide device that allows an ink ribbon to be inserted into a guide element surface side without any operation.

[Prior Art] Many printing devices for line printers use an ink ribbon cartridge having an ink ribbon inlet/output section in the form of a protruding arm spaced at intervals corresponding to the length of the print line. In this type of ink ribbon cartridge, the ink ribbon extends along a line between the input and output parts, and the ink ribbon is simply inserted into the printing mechanism from above, and the ink ribbon is inserted into the head of the printing unit, such as a stylus or needle. Easily reach a predetermined position along the print line between the print head and the recording support on the platen, and apply the needle printing element to the back side of the ink ribbon to transfer the ink from the ink ribbon to the recording support. This means that it is transferred to .

When the printing unit moves in the printing device in the line direction during a printing operation, regardless of the position of the printing unit as it moves along the ink ribbon extending in the line direction, the ink ribbon is placed in the position most suitable for transferring ink. An ink ribbon guide is required that rests against the front of the printing unit at a preferred location. For this purpose, the printing unit guides the floating ink ribbon along a relatively long line near the front of the printing unit in a self-retaining manner, in contact with the printing unit, and brings it into position on the printing unit. Regardless, guide elements are provided which maintain the line in the most favorable position over the entire length.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the known guide elements that make this possible have a relatively complicated structure, a time-consuming and complicated insertion operation is always required when inserting the ink ribbon into the printing mechanism. It was inevitable that hands would get dirty during this process.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon that can be automatically inserted into an ink ribbon guide element simply by inserting the ink ribbon between a printing device and a recording support material from above. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a guidance device.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above object, the device of the present invention has the following features:
In the device mentioned above, guide elements are arranged on both sides of the printing unit, an ink ribbon guide surface is provided on the side of both guide elements facing the printing unit, and the ink ribbon guide surface is inclined with respect to the print line direction, and furthermore, both guide elements are provided with an ink ribbon guide surface that is inclined with respect to the printing line direction. , a convex curve on the side remote from the printing unit,
Alternatively, the ink ribbon has an edge inclined with respect to the surface of the ink ribbon.

[Function] According to the present invention, by simply inserting the ink ribbon into the printing mechanism from above, it becomes possible to insert the ink ribbon to the guide element surface side without any special operation. That is, when the ink ribbon is inserted from above between the printing unit and the recording support, a portion of the ink ribbon first enters the front side of the ink ribbon guide element located behind the front surface of the printing unit. When the printing unit is fed along the print line and the ink ribbon reaches the left and right edges of the print line where it is oriented in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of the print line, it forms an inclined or convex curve with respect to the ink ribbon. The edge of the guide element that has been
It comes into contact with the ink ribbon which is changing its direction. As the printing device is further fed, the ink ribbon slides upward along the convex curved edge of the guide surface, and then rearwards from the upper edge of the ink ribbon guide surface due to the high stress caused by the feeding motion of the printing device. until it reaches a predetermined guide position that keeps the ink ribbon in front of the printing unit. When the printing unit is then fed in the opposite direction to the other end of the printing line, an action similar to that described above occurs on the other side of the printing unit on the ink ribbon guide surface provided here and on its convexly curved edge. The ink ribbon is also guided into position on the other side of the printing unit. That is,
It is only necessary to insert the ink ribbon into the printing device and feed the printing unit once to each end of the printing line.

In the apparatus of the present invention, the ink ribbon guiding surface corresponds to the entire length of the printing line, and this guiding surface directs the front surface of the ink ribbon inserted from above to the front side of each ink ribbon guiding element, that is, to the side remote from the printing unit. It is provided to guide the guide surface appropriately. Such an ink ribbon guide device has a long printing line, and the inserted ink ribbon spans the long line, sometimes forming a loop, and immediately following the insertion, the ink ribbon is placed on the front side of both guide elements. This is particularly advantageous in printing mechanisms where there is a risk that the printing device may not enter the guide surface and become stuck between the guide surface and the printing unit. Even if an inadvertent insertion operation is performed, the ink ribbon will first reach the front side of the guide element, and then the convex curved edge of the guide element will assist to guide the ink ribbon to a predetermined position behind the guide element. .

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printing unit 10 that can be reciprocated on a guide rail 11 within a printing device (not shown). The guide rail 11 is held by two side plates 12 and 13 of the printing device.
The printing device 10 is in this embodiment a conventional needle print head whose printing needles act on the ink ribbon 14 at the upper end of the print head in FIG. The image is transferred to a recording support material (not shown). The ink ribbon 14 is housed in a known manner in a supply cassette 15, which has guide arms 16, 17 projecting from its body, into which the ink ribbon 14 enters and exits through the other guide arm. In this way, it is guided between both guide arms. Both guide arms 16, 17
The spacing corresponds to the length of the line to be printed by the printing mechanism, and the needle printing head 10 reciprocates on the guide rail 11 in the area between the two guide arms 16, 17 for printing.

When the ink ribbon cassette 15 is inserted into the printing device from above, the ink ribbon 14 reaches exactly the predetermined position in front of the needle print head 10 and remains in this predetermined position during the reciprocating movement of the needle print head 10. Correct printing must always be achieved regardless of the position of the printer. In order to satisfy this condition, the ink ribbon guide device of the present invention has a screw 19 that connects the needle print head 1.
0 and has an upper ribbon guiding element 20 as well as ribbon guiding elements 21 and 22 located on both sides of the needle print head 10.
Below, the operating modes of these guiding elements and guiding elements when inserting an ink ribbon are shown in Figures 2 to 6.
This will be explained in detail along the drawings.

2, 3, and 5 show the ink ribbon guiding device 18 in plan view with the upper ink ribbon guiding element 20 omitted, and the section taken along line A-A in FIG. Illustrated in the diagram. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon guide device. ink ribbon 1
The edges of 4 are shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 2 shows the lower part of the ribbon guiding device 18 which, as also apparent from FIG. 1, includes two fork-shaped projections 23 which are utilized for attachment to the needle print head 10 (FIG. 1). The ink ribbon guide device 18 is composed of a plurality of surfaces so as to substantially correspond to the front surface of the needle print head 10, and has projecting portions 25 and 26 projecting from side to side on the lower side thereof. Ink ribbon guide elements 21, 22 in the form of upright protrusions consisting of parts
It includes a main body 24 provided with. The ink ribbon guiding elements 21, 22 each form a corner with respect to the other.
It consists of two parts 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b, the parts 21a, 22a being oblique to the print line direction, and the parts 21b, 22b being parallel thereto.

FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2, but showing another operating state as described in detail below.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the ink ribbon guiding device as seen from the needle print head 10 (FIG. 1). The ink ribbon guide 18 is as previously described in connection with FIG. 2, and has two overhangs 23 projecting rearwardly from a main body 24 surrounding a portion of the front end of the needle print head 10. In addition, the main body 24
There is a window 27 on the front side of the ink ribbon 14 through which the printing needle of the needle printing head passes.
can act on the upper half of the The main body 24 has an ink ribbon guiding element 20 on the upper side, and this guiding element includes left and right arms 20a and 20b.
Both arms 20a and 20b are inclined downwardly from the center of the ink ribbon guiding element 20, and, as is clear from FIG. 1, are also slightly inclined toward the rear.

The peripheral shapes of the ink ribbon guide elements 21 and 22 are as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The outer edge, ie, the edge opposite needle printhead 10 (FIG. 1), is convexly curved. In FIGS. 4 and 6, the outer edges of the ink ribbon guide elements 21 and 22 are indicated by symbols 21c and 22c. FIG. 4 shows the state in which the ink ribbon 14 is inserted, that is, the guide device 18
In front of the main body 24, the ink ribbon guide elements 21, 2
This shows the state located behind 2.

As is clear from FIG. 5, which is a plan view, the ink ribbon 14 is attached to the needle print head 10 (first
It is located behind the ink ribbon guide elements 21 and 22 so as to surround a part of the front surface of the ink ribbon guide device 18 in FIG. will be maintained.

The manner in which the ink ribbon 14 is automatically inserted into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described below.
When the ink ribbon cassette 15 is inserted, the ink ribbon is first guided along the ink ribbon guide surface 20 and passes in front of the ink ribbon guide elements 21 and 22. This state is shown in a plan view in FIG. When the ink ribbon guide device 18 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 and reaches the direction change area of the ink ribbon 14, the curved edge of the portion 22c of the ink ribbon guide element 22 comes into contact with the ink ribbon, and the ink ribbon As is clear from the surface movement of the ink ribbon 14 shown by the edges 14a and 14b in FIG. 2, the ink ribbon 14 moves obliquely along the curve. Ink ribbon guide device 18
When moves further to the right, the ink ribbon 14
Upper edge 2 of the ink ribbon guide element 22 shown in FIG.
The ink ribbon guide element 22 slides along 2d.
It reaches the rear of part 22a. The state is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The same holds true when the ink ribbon guide device 18 is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The ink ribbon guide device 18 is connected to the ink ribbon cassette 15 (Fig. 1).
When the ink ribbon 14 reaches the left end position of the print line where the guide arm 16 is located and moves further to the left, the ink ribbon 14 comes to rest on the ink ribbon guide element 21 shown in FIG. At this time, both edges 14a and 14b of the ink ribbon 14 are in the illustrated position, and then the ink ribbon 14 all reaches the rear of the ink ribbon guide element 21. That is, the left side of the needle print head 10 (FIG. 1) is also guided to the correct position.

Thus, to insert the ink ribbon 14, it is only necessary to insert the ink ribbon cassette 15 into the printing device from above so that the ink ribbon 14 is positioned in front of the upper ink ribbon guiding element 20. Next, by moving the needle print head 10 equipped with the ink ribbon guide device 18 to the left and right ends of the print line, automatic insertion of the ink ribbon is completed, and proper printing work can be started immediately. .

The present invention is not limited in application to the needle printers described above for use with ink ribbon cassettes. That is, it can be used in any structure in which an ink ribbon is provided along the entire length of the line, and a printing unit that moves within the print line constantly guides the ink ribbon to a predetermined position as it is conveyed. For example, the present invention can be implemented in a printing device that does not employ an ink ribbon cartridge but employs ink ribbon reels arranged on the left and right sides. Instead of a needle print head, the printing device may be a type wheel printer or a typewriter movable over the length of the line.

Although the ink ribbon guide elements 21 and 22 have been described as guide protrusions consisting of two parts whose respective parts form an angle with each other and form an obtuse angle as shown in the figure,
Only ink ribbon guide surfaces corresponding to portions 21a and 22a are provided, and these needle printing heads 1
0 may be such that the edge on the remote side is curved convexly. The degree of curvature of this edge is arbitrary; for example, it may be formed as an inclined edge.

The guide device 18 is connected to its projecting portions 23, 25, 2
6 and the upper ink ribbon guiding element 20 can be integrally formed from plastic, such as by injection molding.

Arms 20a, 2 of ink ribbon guiding element 20
From the free end of 0b to the ink ribbon guide elements 21, 2
The distance to the upper edge of 2 is arbitrary. However, the ink ribbon 14 is connected to the ink ribbon guide elements 21 and 22.
It must be large enough to allow the space behind this guide surface to be reached without difficulty by sliding over the upper edge of the guide surface.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the cooperative relationship between a printing unit and an ink ribbon cassette including an ink ribbon that move within the printing device, FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing the first operating state of the ink ribbon guide element, and FIG.
4 is a rear view of the ink ribbon guide element, and FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing the ink ribbon guide element in the second operating state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire ink ribbon guide device. 10...Printing unit (needle printing head),
11... Guide rail, 14... Ink ribbon,
15...Cassette, 18...Ink ribbon guiding device, 20...Ink ribbon guiding surface (guiding element),
21a, 22a... Ink ribbon guide surface, 21
c, 22c... Edge of the ink ribbon guide element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A printing unit movable along a printing line, which extends over the entire length of the printing line facing the recording support material to be printed, and at an end of the printing line, the printing unit has a printing unit movable along the printing line; An ink ribbon guiding device for a line printer having an ink ribbon whose direction changes in substantially orthogonal directions and a guiding element for the ink ribbon, wherein the guiding elements 21 and 22 are at least partially located on both sides of the printing unit 10. Each guide element 21, 22 is arranged so as to be rearward than the front surface.
The ink ribbon guide surface 2 runs obliquely to the direction of the print line and faces the printing unit 10.
1a, 22a, and the guide element has edges 21c, 22c which are curved convexly on the side remote from the printing unit 10 or are inclined with respect to the ink ribbon 14.
An ink ribbon guide device in a line printer, comprising: 2. A patent characterized in that a corresponding ink ribbon guide surface 20 is provided along the entire length of the print line, and the guide surface guides the ink ribbon 14 inserted from above to the front side of each ink ribbon guide element. Apparatus according to claim 1. 3. Each ink ribbon guide surface 21a, 22a is part of a two-part guide element 21, 22, the second part 21b, 22b of said guide element being substantially parallel to the line direction, the first part 21a, 2
2a and furthermore a curved or inclined edge 21c as part of said guiding element,
22. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it has 22c. 4. A double-armed guide in which the ink ribbon guiding surface has arms 20a and 20b extending laterally and obliquely downward from a position above the front surface of the printing unit 10 and terminating at positions spaced apart from each ink ribbon guiding element. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it is provided in the element 20. 5. Any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the ink ribbon guiding elements 21, 22 and the ink ribbon guiding element 20 are part of an integral guiding means fixed to the printing unit. The device described in.