CN1085151C - Combo box including one tape cassette and one ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

A tape/ribbon combination cartridge comprising: a tape cassette removably mounted in a printer with a print head, the tape cassette accommodating a tape as a print medium, the tape cassette having an upper surface; an ink ribbon cassette removably mounted in the tape cassette, the ink ribbon cassette accommodating an ink ribbon, the ink ribbon cassette having an upper surface overlapping at least a portion of the upper surface of the tape cassette; at least two guide portions at positions spaced apart from each other on an outer periphery of the tape cassette, the at least two guide portions vertically guiding the ink ribbon cassette into and out of the tape cassette; and at least two guided portions formed integrally with the upper surface of the ribbon cassette at positions corresponding to the guide portions, the at least two guided portions engaging with the guide portions to guide the ribbon cassette vertically into and out of the ribbon cassette.

Description

Translated fromChinese

包括一个纸带盒和一个色带盒的组合盒Combo box including one tape cassette and one ribbon cassette

本发明涉及一种可自由安装在标签打印机上的纸带/色带组合盒。该纸带/色带组合盒包括一个装纸带的纸带盒，该纸带作为打印的介质可由打印机在其上打印字符等等，还包括一个可自由卸出的安装在该纸带盒上的色带盒。本发明特别涉及当色带盒处于安装到纸带盒中的条件下改进结构以便利于色带装入或卸出纸带盒以及改善纸带盒在色带盒中的定位。The invention relates to a paper tape/ribbon combination box which can be freely installed on a label printer. The paper tape/ribbon combination box includes a paper tape box for holding paper tape, and the paper tape can be used as a printing medium to print characters etc. ribbon box. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved structures for facilitating loading and unloading of ribbon into and out of the cassette and improved positioning of the cassette in the cassette when the ribbon cassette is installed in the cassette.

日本专利申请(KOKAI)No.HEI-2-106555描述了一种带形标签打印机，它在一个纸带打印介质上打印字符或标记如字母字符或符号。该标签打印机适合于制作粘贴在文件夹背后的标签。各种各样的装有作为打印介质的一个打印纸带以及一个墨带的纸带盒可用于打印各种颜色各种宽度的标签。为了改变所生产的标签的打印颜色或宽度，要将标签打印机中的纸带盒改变成一个具有所期望宽度的纸带并带有所期望颜色的墨带的纸带盒。Japanese Patent Application (KOKAI) No. HEI-2-106555 describes a tape label printer which prints characters or marks such as alphabetic characters or symbols on a tape printing medium. This label printer is suitable for making labels to stick on the back of folders. A variety of tape cassettes containing a printing tape as printing media and an ink ribbon are available for printing labels of various colors and widths. In order to change the print color or width of the labels produced, the tape cassette in the label printer is changed to a tape cassette with a desired width of tape and with a desired color ink ribbon.

日本实用新型申请(KOKAI)No.HEI-3-74956描述了用于制备带形标签的标签打印机中的组合盒。该组合盒包括一个独立的纸带盒和一个色带盒。该纸带盒装有一个作为介质的纸带并且可自由卸出地安装在打印机上。装有一个墨带的色带盒可自由卸出地安装在该纸带盒内。各种色带盒可用于安装各种颜色的色带。这种结构能以各种颜色打印标签。Japanese Utility Model Application (KOKAI) No. HEI-3-74956 describes a combination cassette in a label printer for producing tape-shaped labels. This combo box includes a separate paper cassette and an ink ribbon cassette. The tape cassette holds a paper tape as a medium and is removably attached to the printer. A ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon is freely releasably mounted in the paper cassette. A variety of ribbon cassettes are available for loading ribbons of various colors. This structure can print labels in various colors.

在该纸带盒上带有一个容纳口以便将色带盒安装到纸带盒中。色带盒的外周边与容纳口的周边壁表面形成相同的形状，以便在色带盒安装到纸带盒中时使色带盒在纸带盒中定位。色带盒的外周表面由容纳口的周边壁导向并牢固地定位。An accommodating opening is provided on the tape cassette for installing the ribbon cassette into the tape cassette. The outer periphery of the ink ribbon cassette is formed in the same shape as the peripheral wall surface of the receiving opening to position the ink ribbon cassette in the paper tape cassette when the ink ribbon cassette is installed in the paper tape cassette. The outer peripheral surface of the ribbon cassette is guided and firmly positioned by the peripheral wall of the receiving port.

在纸带盒和色带盒中形成打印头插入部分，当纸带盒安装到打印机上时该打印机的打印头通过该插入部分从下面被插入。来自色带盒的色带在通过该打印头插入部分时与打印头接触。来自纸带盒的纸带在打印头上与色带的外表面接触。换句话说，在纸带和色带对着打印头的地方，色带是夹在纸带和打印头之间的。一个压板将纸带压在色带和打印头上。通过有选择地驱动打印头可使色带上的油墨有选择地传递给纸带。A print head insertion portion through which a print head of the printer is inserted from below when the tape cassette is mounted on the printer is formed in the tape cassette and the ink ribbon cassette. Ribbon from the ribbon cassette contacts the printhead as it passes through the printhead insertion section. The tape from the cassette makes contact with the outer surface of the ribbon at the printhead. In other words, where the tape and ribbon face the printhead, the ribbon is sandwiched between the tape and the printhead. A platen presses the tape against the ribbon and printhead. The ink on the ribbon can be selectively transferred to the paper tape by selectively driving the print head.

如上所述，通过色带盒外周边表面与容纳口的周边壁之间的相容配合，可使色带盒被导向、定位并被固定在纸带盒上。然而，为了将色带盒装入纸带盒的容纳口，必须在容纳口的周边壁和色带盒的周边外壁墙之间形成一个小的间隙。As mentioned above, the ribbon cassette can be guided, positioned and fixed on the tape cassette through the compatible fit between the outer peripheral surface of the ribbon cassette and the peripheral wall of the receiving opening. However, in order to fit the ink ribbon cassette into the accommodating opening of the tape cassette, a small gap must be formed between the peripheral wall of the accommodating opening and the peripheral outer wall of the ink ribbon cassette.

如果这个小间隙太大，色带盒将松驰地被固定在纸带盒中，这样色带盒在纸带盒中的定位精确度就下降了。由于在色带盒被松驰地固定在纸带盒的情况下，墨带只能不稳定地通过打印头和压板之间和其附近的地方，从而导致了打印质量受损。墨带与纸带的位置产生波动，这样就不能获得固定不变的打印质量。If this small gap is too large, the ink ribbon cassette will be loosely fixed in the paper tape cassette, and the positioning accuracy of the ink ribbon cassette in the paper tape cassette will be reduced like this. Print quality suffers because the ink ribbon can only pass unsteadily between and near the printhead and platen with the ribbon cassette loosely secured to the paper cassette. The position of the ink ribbon and the paper ribbon fluctuates, so that a constant print quality cannot be obtained.

另一方面，如果将容纳口的周边表面与色带盒的外周边表面之间的间隙减小成一个微小的间隙，以便形成纸带盒与色带盒之间的紧配合，则要顺滑地将色带盒装入纸带盒就变得困难了。另外，如果色带盒因遇热而膨胀，色带盒将会被卡在纸带盒中。On the other hand, if the gap between the peripheral surface of the accommodating port and the outer peripheral surface of the ribbon cassette is reduced to a slight gap so as to form a tight fit between the tape cassette and the ribbon cassette, smooth It becomes difficult to install the ribbon cassette into the tape cassette smoothly. Also, if the ribbon cassette expands due to heat, the ribbon cassette will get stuck in the paper cassette.

本发明的目的是提供一种纸带/色带组合盒，其中色带盒能顺滑和可靠地装入或卸出纸带盒同时改善色带盒在纸带盒中的定位精确度。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper tape/ribbon combination cassette in which the ink ribbon cassette can be smoothly and reliably loaded into or unloaded from the tape cassette while improving the positioning accuracy of the ink ribbon cassette in the tape cassette.

为了达到上述的目的，一个根据本发明的一个方面的纸带/色带组合盒包括一个可自由卸出地安装在一个带有一个打印头的打印机中的纸带盒，该纸带盒装有一个作为打印介质的纸带，该纸带盒还有一个上表面；一个可自由卸出地安装在纸带盒中的色带盒，该色带盒装有一个墨带，该色带盒带有至少部分地与纸带盒上表面重叠的上表面；至少两个在纸带盒上的、在纸带盒的外表面上其位置相互分开的导向部分，该至少为两个的导向部分引导色带盒垂直地进出纸带盒；至少两个与色带盒的上表面成一体的被导向部分，其位置对应于导向部分的位置，该至少为两个的被导向部分与导向部分接合以便引导色带盒垂直地进出纸带盒。In order to achieve the above object, a tape/ribbon combination cassette according to an aspect of the present invention includes a tape cassette removably installed in a printer with a print head, the tape cassette is equipped with a paper tape as printing medium, the tape cassette also has an upper surface; a ribbon cassette removably mounted in the tape cassette, the ribbon cassette contains an ink ribbon, the ribbon cassette has The upper surface at least partially overlapped with the upper surface of the tape cassette; at least two guide portions on the tape cassette whose positions are separated from each other on the outer surface of the tape cassette, the at least two guide portions guide the color The tape cassette enters and exits the paper tape cassette vertically; at least two guided portions integrated with the upper surface of the ribbon cassette are positioned corresponding to the position of the guide portion, and the at least two guided portions are engaged with the guide portion for guiding The ribbon cassette enters and exits the tape cassette vertically.

采用这样的配置，能方便地将色带盒装入纸带盒中，这是因为色带盒与纸带盒接触的面积得到了限制。同时也能精确地保持色带盒相对于纸带盒的位置。With such an arrangement, the ribbon cassette can be easily loaded into the paper cassette because the contact area of the ink ribbon cassette with the paper cassette is limited. At the same time, the position of the ribbon cassette relative to the paper cassette can be precisely maintained.

根据本发明的另一个方面，该至少为两个的导向部分包括三个导向部分，而该至少为两个的被导向部分包括三个被导向部分。采用这种结构，仍然能方便地将色带盒装入纸带盒，这是因为色带盒仅在三个部位与纸带盒接触。而定位非常精确，这是因为有导向部分和被导向部分的稳定的三元组的关系。According to another aspect of the present invention, the at least two guiding portions include three guiding portions, and the at least two guided portions include three guided portions. With this structure, the ribbon cassette can still be conveniently loaded into the paper cassette because the ribbon cassette is in contact with the paper cassette at only three locations. And the positioning is very precise, this is because there is a stable triplet relationship of the guiding part and the guided part.

根据本发明的另一个方面，在色带盒的上表面带有至少一个把手。采用这种结构，使用者抓住该把手可以方便地在纸带盒中装入或卸出色带盒。According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one handle is provided on the upper surface of the ribbon cassette. With this structure, the user can easily load or unload the ribbon cassette into or out of the ribbon cassette by grasping the handle.

根据本发明的一个进一步的特点，该纸带/色带组合盒还包括一个纸带导向器，该导向器装在纸带盒的外周边，从纸带被喂入的方向来看它处于纸带暴露部分的上游位置，该纸带导向器的面对着色带盒的一侧是打开的；和一个色带导向器，该导向器装在色带盒的上周边，从色带被喂入的方向来看它处于打印头插入部分的空隙的上游位置，该色带导向器面对着纸带盒的一侧是打开的。According to a further feature of the present invention, the paper tape/ribbon combination box also includes a paper tape guide, which is installed on the outer periphery of the paper tape box, and it is in the direction of the paper tape when viewed from the direction in which the paper tape is fed. upstream of the exposed portion of the tape, the tape guide is open on the side facing the ribbon cassette; and a ribbon guide is mounted on the upper periphery of the ribbon cassette from which the ribbon is fed It is located at the upstream position of the gap of the print head insertion part as viewed in the direction of the ribbon guide, and the side facing the tape cassette is open.

采用这种结构，色带和纸带在通过打印头时能相互靠近并且相互平行。With this structure, the ribbon and paper tape can be close to each other and parallel to each other as they pass through the print head.

本发明以上和另外的目的、特点和优点将通过阅读下述的与参考附图相联系的优选实施例而变得更加明显。The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the following preferred embodiments in conjunction with reference to the accompanying drawings.

图1是一个平面视图，它显示了一个使用了一个根据本发明的第一实施例的纸带/色带组合盒的打印机；Fig. 1 is a plan view, and it has shown a printer that has used a paper tape/ribbon combination cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

图2是一个水平横截面视图，它显示了安装在一个打印机的打印机构中的纸带/色带组合盒并部分地显示了该纸带/色带组合盒的内部元件；Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a tape/ribbon combination cartridge installed in a printing mechanism of a printer and partially showing the internal components of the tape/ribbon combination cartridge;

图3是一个透视图，它显示了一个图2所示的纸带/色带组合盒的纸带盒；Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette of the tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 2;

图4是一个透视图，它显示了一个图2所示的纸带/色带组合盒的色带盒；Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a ribbon cassette of the tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 2;

图5是一个透视图，它显示了图2所示的纸带/色带组合盒，其中色带盒已装入纸带盒中；Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 2 with the ribbon cassette loaded into the tape cassette;

图6是一个水平横截面视图，它显示了一个根据本发明的第二实施例的纸带/色带组合盒装在打印机构中的情形；Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a situation in which a tape/ribbon combination cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention is housed in a printing mechanism;

图7是一个透视图，它显示了图6所示的纸带/色带组合盒的一个纸带盒；Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette of the tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 6;

图8是一个透视图，它显示了图6所示的纸带/色带组合盒的一个色带盒；Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a ribbon cassette of the paper tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 6;

图9是一个透视图，它显示了一个根据发明的第三实施例的色带盒；Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a ribbon cassette according to a third embodiment of the invention;

图10是一个透视图，它显示了图9所示的色带盒被安装在一个纸带盒中的情形；Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the situation that the ribbon cassette shown in Fig. 9 is installed in a tape cassette;

图11是一个水平横截面视图，它显示了一个根据本发明的第四实施例的纸带/色带组合盒被安装在打印机构中的情形；Figure 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a situation in which a paper tape/ribbon combination cassette according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is installed in a printing mechanism;

图12是一个水平横截面视图，它显示了图11所示的纸带/色带组合盒的一个纸带盒；Figure 12 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a tape cassette of the tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 11;

图13是一个水平横截面视图，它显示了图11所示的纸带/色带组合盒的一个色带盒；Figure 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a ribbon cassette of the paper tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 11;

图14是一个部件分解图，它显示了图11所示的纸带/色带组合盒；Figure 14 is an exploded view showing the tape/ribbon combination cassette shown in Figure 11;

图15是一个透视图，它显示了图13所示的色带盒；和Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the ribbon cassette shown in Figure 13; and

图16是一个透视图，它显示了一个在其重心附近带有单个的把手的色带盒。Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a ribbon cassette with a single handle near its center of gravity.

通过参考附图将对根据本发明的优选实施例的纸带/色带组合盒加以描述，其中相同的元件被标以相同的参考数字以避免重复述叙。除非另外说明，否则向前、向后、向右、向左的说法仅用于图中所示。以后所使用的其它的表示方向的说法如向上和向下用于在标签打印机配置在将被使用的方位上时定义各种零件。本优选实施例描述了本发明应用于标签打印机和用于该打印机中的纸带/色带组合盒。在该实施例中该标签打印机通过在作为打印介质的纸带上打印彩色的正文、符号和字符来产生带状的标签。该纸带/色带组合盒包括一个可自由拆卸地安装在打印机上的纸带盒和一个可自由拆卸地安装在纸带盒中的色带盒。A paper tape/ribbon combination cassette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are designated with like reference numerals to avoid repetition of description. Unless otherwise stated, the terms forward, backward, right, and left are used only for what is shown in the figures. Other directional terms such as up and down are used hereinafter to define various features when the label printer is configured in the orientation to be used. The preferred embodiment describes the application of the invention to a label printer and to a tape/ribbon combination cassette for use in the printer. In this embodiment the label printer produces a tape-shaped label by printing colored text, symbols and characters on a paper tape as a printing medium. The paper tape/ribbon combined box includes a paper tape box detachably installed on the printer and a color ribbon box freely detachably installed in the paper tape box.

首先，简单地说明一下打印机。如图1所示，在一个打印机的上表面有一个健盘2、一个显示器3、一个盒盖4和一个切刀柄5等等。该盒盖4被设计成如图1所示当盒盖打开杆6向右滑动时，盒盖4向上打开。在盒盖4之下配置有一套如图2所示的打印机构10。当盒盖4打开时可将一个纸带/色带组合盒100安装在打印机构10中。First, a brief description of the printer. As shown in Figure 1, there are a keyboard 2, a display 3, a box cover 4 and a cutter handle 5 or the like on the upper surface of a printer. The lid 4 is designed so that when the lid opening lever 6 slides to the right as shown in Figure 1, the lid 4 is opened upwards. A set of printing mechanism 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is disposed under the box cover 4 . A tape/ribbon combination cassette 100 can be installed in the printing mechanism 10 when the cassette cover 4 is opened.

组合盒100包括一个纸带盒30和一个色带盒50，二者都被构造成独立的形式。应注意到图3示出了纸带盒30，图4示出了色带盒50，而图5示出了纸带/色带组合盒100，其中色带盒50是安装在纸带盒30中的。纸带盒30可从打印机构10的上面自由地装入或卸出该打印机构10。色带盒50的主体51可固定在纸带盒30的凹部，这样当纸带盒30被装在打印机构10中时，色带盒50可以自由地装入或卸出纸带盒30。将色带盒50装入使其上壁5 2盖住纸带盒30的一个上表面，而其下表面则贴在纸带盒30的一个底板部分21c上。在色带盒50上带有三个爪B1、B2、B3。在纸带盒30上对应着色带盒50上的三个爪B1、B2、B3的位置有三个爪C1、C2、C3。The combination cassette 100 includes apaper tape cassette 30 and anink ribbon cassette 50, both of which are constructed in a separate form. It should be noted that FIG. 3 shows thetape cassette 30, FIG. 4 shows theribbon cassette 50, and FIG. middle. Thetape cassette 30 can be freely loaded into or unloaded from the printing mechanism 10 from above the printing mechanism 10 . Themain body 51 of theribbon cassette 50 can be fixed on the recess of thetape cassette 30 , so that when thecassette 30 is installed in the printing mechanism 10 , theribbon cassette 50 can be freely loaded into or unloaded from thecassette 30 .Color ribbon cassette 50 is packed into an upper surface that makes itsupper wall 52 coverpaper tape cassette 30, and its lower surface then sticks on abottom plate part 21c ofpaper tape cassette 30. Theink ribbon cassette 50 has three claws B1, B2, B3. There are three claws C1 , C2 , C3 on thepaper tape cassette 30 corresponding to the three claws B1 , B2 , B3 on thecoloring tape cassette 50 .

其次，将参考图2对打印机构10作一个简单说明。在一个滚轮夹持器11上带有随该夹持器11在一个心轴11a上整体摆动的一个压板12和一个下滚轮13。滚轮夹持器是这样成形的：它与盒盖4的打开和关闭运动联动地摆动打开和关闭。一个热打印头14和一个用于支撑该热打印头的打印头夹持器15设置在压板12的尾部附近的位置。Next, a brief description of the printing mechanism 10 will be given with reference to FIG. 2 . A roller holder 11 is provided with a pressing plate 12 and a lower roller 13 which integrally swing with the holder 11 on a mandrel 11a. The roller holder is shaped like this: it swings open and close in conjunction with the opening and closing motion of the lid 4. A thermal print head 14 and aprint head holder 15 for supporting the thermal print head are provided at positions near the tail of the platen 12 .

如图2所示，一个纸带31作为打印介质被绕在一个纸带卷筒30a上，而该卷筒是安装在纸带盒30上的。纸带31从其在纸带卷筒30a附近的尾端被引导，通过一个基本上具有的反写的C形的弯曲的纸带导向通道，如图2所示，走向一个在热打印头14之前的纸带排出口32。该纸带最后通过装在纸带盒30上的一个纸带喂入轮33和纸带喂入下轮13的协调一致的操作而被导出该纸带盒30。As shown in FIG. 2, apaper tape 31 as a printing medium is wound around atape roll 30a mounted on atape cassette 30. As shown in FIG. Thepaper tape 31 is guided from its tail end near thepaper tape roll 30a, through a substantially reversed C-shaped curved paper tape guide passage, as shown in FIG. The previous tape discharge port 32. The tape is finally exported from thetape cassette 30 by the coordinated operation of atape feed wheel 33 mounted on thetape cassette 30 and the tape feed lower wheel 13 .

如图3所示的一个纸带把手34与纸带卷筒30a相接合，这样该把手和纸带卷筒30a整体地转动。采用这样的结构，通过人工转动纸带把手34，纸带31可被重新卷绕。在纸带盒30上有一个用于将纸带31喂入纸带导向通道的窗式开口41。另一个窗式开口(图中没有显示)以相同于形成窗式开口41的方法被形成在前壁的相对一侧。虽然说通过更换纸带/色带组合盒100的色带盒50可以实现多颜色的打印，但为了这样做必须重新卷绕纸带31。提供窗式开口41是为了进行需要重新卷绕纸带31的纸带喂入操作。A tape handle 34 as shown in FIG. 3 is engaged with thetape roll 30a such that the handle andtape roll 30a rotate integrally. With such a structure, thepaper tape 31 can be rewound by manually turning the paper tape handle 34 . On thetape cassette 30 there is awindow opening 41 for feeding thepaper tape 31 into the tape guide channel. Another window opening (not shown) is formed on the opposite side of the front wall in the same manner as thewindow opening 41 was formed. Although multi-color printing can be achieved by replacing theink ribbon cassette 50 of the paper tape/ribbon combination cassette 100, thepaper tape 31 must be rewound in order to do so. Thewindow opening 41 is provided for tape feeding operations requiring rewinding of thepaper tape 31 .

同样如图3所示，一个打印头插入部分35被形成在纸带盒30的前面附近的水平中心区域，热打印头14和打印头夹持器15被从下面插入该打印头插入部分。同样一个具有底板21c的凹部36被形成在如图3所示的纸带盒30的左侧中心处，该凹部用来容纳色带盒50的主体51。一个L形的隔板壁37竖立在底板21c上，该隔板壁用来将打印头插入部分35与凹部36部分地隔开。As also shown in FIG. 3, ahead insertion portion 35 into which the thermal head 14 andhead holder 15 are inserted from below is formed in the horizontal center region near the front of thetape cassette 30. Also arecess 36 having abottom plate 21c is formed at the center of the left side of thetape cassette 30 as shown in FIG. An L-shapedpartition wall 37 is erected on thebottom plate 21c, and serves to partially partition thehead insertion portion 35 from therecess 36. As shown in FIG.

如图2所示，墨带54被卷绕在安装在色带盒50上的色带卷筒53上。该墨带54被色带导向器55到58所引导走向热打印头14的前表面。然后墨带54通过一个导向棒59和一个色带导向器60并被绕在一个接收卷筒61上。一个用来防止色带松散的夹紧弹簧62被连接在接收绷紧卷筒61之下。As shown in FIG. 2 , theink ribbon 54 is wound around aribbon spool 53 mounted on theribbon cassette 50 . Theink ribbon 54 is guided toward the front surface of the thermal head 14 by the ribbon guides 55 to 58 . Theink ribbon 54 then passes through a guide bar 59 and a ribbon guide 60 and is wound onto a take-up spool 61 . A clamping spring 62 used to prevent the ribbon from loosening is connected under the receiving take-up reel 61 .

如图4所示，在色带盒31上带有一个盖板31e，以便从上面支撑元件如色带卷筒53、接收卷筒61等等。同样，一个打印头插入部分63被形成在靠近色带盒50的前边的左边部分，隔板壁37和热打印头14插入该打印头插入部分。在色带盒50上形成一对把手64，其中一个形成在色带盒50的盖板31e上而另一个则在墨带盒50的上表面52上。用手指抓住这些把手64，可以很容易地装入或卸出色带盒50。As shown in FIG. 4, acover plate 31e is provided on theink ribbon cassette 31 to support components such as theink ribbon roll 53, the receiving roll 61, etc. from above. Also, ahead insertion portion 63 into which thepartition wall 37 and the thermal head 14 are inserted is formed at a left portion near the front side of theink ribbon cassette 50 . A pair ofhandles 64 are formed on theink ribbon cassette 50 , one of which is formed on thecover plate 31 e of theink ribbon cassette 50 and the other is formed on theupper surface 52 of theink ribbon cassette 50 .Ribbon cassette 50 can be easily loaded or unloaded by grasping thesehandles 64 with fingers.

当盒盖4从打开状态到被关闭，滚轮夹持器11对应着盒盖4的运动而向热打印头14摆动，这样压板12就压在热打印头14上并且下滚轮13就压在纸带喂入滚轮33上。如图2所示在热打印头14前面被导向的墨带54与热打印头的14的前表面相接触，而在热打印头14前面被导向的纸带31与墨带54的覆盖油墨的表面接触。当压板12将色带和纸带31压在热打印头14上时，热打印头14通过墨带以点的形式将字符串等等打印在纸带31上。打印纸带31的端部被输送着通过一把切刀然后被排出主盒27上的开口8，而该切刀包括一个可动刀片16和一个接受刀片17。可动刀片16连接着刀柄5。通过操作刀柄5，被打印了的纸带31被可动刀片16和接受刀片17切成期望的尺寸。When the lid 4 is closed from the open state, the roller holder 11 swings toward the thermal print head 14 corresponding to the movement of the lid 4, so that the platen 12 is pressed against the thermal print head 14 and the lower roller 13 is pressed against the paper. On thebelt feeding roller 33. As shown in Figure 2, theink ribbon 54 that is guided in front of the thermal print head 14 is in contact with the front surface of the thermal print head 14, and thepaper ribbon 31 that is guided in front of the thermal print head 14 is in contact with theink ribbon 54 that is covered with ink. surface contact. When the platen 12 presses the ink ribbon andpaper tape 31 on the thermal print head 14 , the thermal print head 14 prints a character string or the like on thepaper tape 31 in the form of dots through the ink ribbon. The end of theprinting paper strip 31 is fed through a cutter comprising a movable blade 16 and a receiving blade 17 and then out of the opening 8 of the main cassette 27 . The movable blade 16 is connected to the handle 5 . The printedtape 31 is cut to a desired size by the movable blade 16 and the receiving blade 17 by operating the knife handle 5 .

另外，要对根据本发明的第一实施例的一个导向定位机构作一个说明，该第一实施例将通过参考图3到5被提出。该导向定位机构用来在色带盒50从纸带盒30的上面装入过程中和在此之后使色带盒50相对于纸带盒30被导向和定位。In addition, a description will be given of a guide positioning mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which will be presented by referring to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. The guiding and positioning mechanism is used to guide and position theribbon cassette 50 relative to thepaper cassette 30 during and after the process of loading theribbon cassette 50 from the top of thepaper cassette 30 .

纸带盒30带有竖直的杆形导向部分38、39、和一个竖直的凸缘形导向部分40。杆形导向部分38在纸带盒30的后边缘。而杆形导向部分39在纸带盒30的左边缘。凸缘形导向部分40在隔板壁37的后边。杆形导向部分38、39的上端部呈尖锥形。Thetape cassette 30 has vertical rod-shapedguide portions 38 , 39 and a vertical flange-shapedguide portion 40 . At the rear edge of thetape cassette 30 is a rod-shapedguide portion 38 . And the rod-shapedguide portion 39 is on the left edge of thetape cassette 30 . At the rear of thebulkhead wall 37 is a flange-shapedguide portion 40 . The upper ends of the rod-shapedguide portions 38, 39 are tapered.

色带盒50带有一个支柱形的被导向部分66、一个支柱形的被导向部分68和一个L形的被导向部分69。在支柱形导向部分66中有一个接合孔65，该接合孔与杆形导向部分38接合，使杆形导向部分38的外表面和接合孔65的内表面之间有微小的间隙。在支柱形导向部分68中有一个接合孔67，该接合孔与杆形导向部分39接合，它们之间在前后方向上有微小的间隙，而在左右方向上有相对较大的间隙。因此，杆形导向部分39与接合孔67以前后方向上的小间隙和左右方向上的自由间隙相接合。采用这种结构，杆形导向部分39与接合孔67在热打印头14与纸带31分离的方向上紧密地接合，这个方向对于保持好的打印质量来说是最重要的，同时仍保持了在垂直于此方向的方向上是可以容易地接合的。要注意到杆形导向部分38、39的长度使它们与接合孔65、67接合时伸出了纸带盒30的上表面。L形被导向部分69与凸缘形导向部分40接合并提供了在前后左右方向上的精确定位。该L形被导向部分69在打印头插入部分63的尾边缘，其位置与热打印头14的尾部相对应。Theink ribbon cassette 50 has a pillar-shaped guidedportion 66 , a pillar-shaped guidedportion 68 and an L-shaped guidedportion 69 . In the pillar-shapedguide portion 66 there is an engaginghole 65 which engages with the rod-shapedguide portion 38 with a slight gap between the outer surface of the rod-shapedguide portion 38 and the inner surface of the engaginghole 65 . In the pillar-shapedguide portion 68 there is an engaginghole 67 which engages with the rod-shapedguide portion 39 with a slight gap in the front-rear direction and a relatively large gap in the left-right direction. Therefore, the rod-shapedguide portion 39 is engaged with the engaginghole 67 with a small gap in the front-rear direction and a free gap in the left-right direction. With this structure, the rod-shapedguide portion 39 is tightly engaged with the engaginghole 67 in the direction in which the thermal print head 14 is separated from thepaper tape 31, which is the most important direction for maintaining good print quality, while still maintaining Engagement is easily possible in a direction perpendicular to this direction. Note that the rod-shapedguide portions 38, 39 are so long that they protrude beyond the upper surface of thetape cassette 30 when engaged with the engagingholes 65, 67. The L-shaped guidedportion 69 engages with the flange-shapedguide portion 40 and provides precise positioning in the front, rear, left, and right directions. The L-shaped guidedportion 69 is at the trailing edge of the printhead insertion portion 63 , and its position corresponds to the trailing portion of the thermal print head 14 .

要将色带盒50装到纸带盒30中时，使用者抓住色带盒50上的把手64并将色带盒50上的各被导向部分66、68、69对准纸带盒30上的各导向部分38、39、40。然后使用者对色带盒施加一个装入和卸下色带盒所需的向下的力，从而使导向部分38、39、40与相应的被导向部分66、68、69相接合。When theribbon cassette 50 is to be loaded into thepaper tape cassette 30, the user grasps thehandle 64 on theribbon cassette 50 and aligns the guidedparts 66, 68, 69 on theribbon cassette 50 with thepaper tape cassette 30. Eachguide part 38,39,40 on. The user then applies a downward force to the ribbon cassette as required for loading and unloading the ribbon cassette, thereby causing theguide portions 38,39,40 to engage the respective guidedportions 66,68,69.

如果将杆形导向部分38、39构造成与接合孔65、67无间隙地紧密接合，则色带盒50可以相对于纸带盒30精确定位而不需要凸缘形的导向部分40和L形的被导向部分69。然而，在这种情况下，杆形导向部分38、39的紧密配合会对滑动产生很大的阻力，使色带盒50很难利落地装入和卸出纸带盒30。因此，理想的是在三个分开的位置提供定位元件，以增加色带盒50在纸带盒30中的定位精度。If the rod-shapedguide portions 38, 39 are configured to closely engage with the engagingholes 65, 67 without clearance, theribbon cassette 50 can be precisely positioned relative to thetape cassette 30 without the need for flange-shapedguide portions 40 and L-shaped The guidedpart 69 of. However, in this case, the close fit of the rod-shapedguide portions 38, 39 will produce great resistance to sliding, making it difficult for theink ribbon cassette 50 to be loaded into and unloaded from thepaper tape cassette 30 cleanly. Therefore, it is desirable to provide positioning elements at three separate locations to increase the positioning accuracy of theribbon cassette 50 within thepaper cassette 30 .

在本实施例中，在纸带盒上的三个相互分开的位置上形成导向部分，在色带盒上的三个相对应的被导向部分与之相接合以便对色带盒相对于纸带盒导向和定位。在色带盒被装入纸带盒之后该导向部分和被导向部分保持色带盒和纸带盒的定位。In this embodiment, guide portions are formed at three mutually separated positions on the tape cassette, and three corresponding guided portions on the ribbon cassette engage with it so as to guide the ribbon cassette relative to the paper tape. Box orientation and positioning. The guide portion and the guided portion maintain the positioning of the ribbon cassette and the paper tape cassette after the ribbon cassette is loaded into the tape cassette.

定位是高度精密的，这是因为色带盒被在三个分开位置的导向部分/被导向部分对所定位。特别是，通过形成该三个导向部分/被导向部分对，以便在色带盒被装入和卸出的方向上将之拉长，在该三个导向部分/被导向部分对接触处的表面面积减少。因此，当安装色带盒时抗滑动的阻力被减小，这样就能容易地装入或卸出色带盒。同样，即使为了滑动而只在对应的导向部分和被导向部分之间提供了很小的间隙，滑动阻力仍可忽略不计。因此，可以使滑动间隙很小以保证高精度定位。Positioning is highly precise because the ribbon cassette is positioned by guide/guided portion pairs at three separate locations. In particular, by forming the three guide portion/guided portion pairs so as to elongate the ink ribbon cassette in the direction in which it is loaded and unloaded, the surfaces where the three guide portion/guided portion pairs contact The area is reduced. Therefore, the resistance against sliding is reduced when the ribbon cassette is installed, so that the ribbon cassette can be easily loaded or unloaded. Also, even if only a small gap is provided between the corresponding guide portion and the guided portion for sliding, the sliding resistance is still negligible. Therefore, the sliding gap can be made small to ensure high-precision positioning.

采用这种结构，凸缘形的导向部分40和L形的被导向部分69使得色带盒50在热打印头附近的前后左右方向上都对纸带盒精确地定位。结果，在纸带盒和色带盒的打印头插入部分的附近色带盒在纸带盒中的定位精度增加了。色带盒能被牢固地装在纸带盒中，这样就能获得稳定的打印质量。如果在热打印头14附近的前后方向上色带盒50在纸带盒30中的定位不精确，则当色带盒50从上面装入纸带盒30时会发生一些问题，如由于纸带31的上边缘阻碍纸带54的下边缘而引起的打印质量不稳定或纸带卡住的问题。With this structure, the flange-shapedguide portion 40 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69 allow theink ribbon cassette 50 to be precisely positioned to the tape cassette in the front, rear, left, and right directions near the thermal head. As a result, the positioning accuracy of the ink ribbon cassette in the tape cassette increases in the vicinity of the tape cassette and the head insertion portion of the ink ribbon cassette. The ribbon cassette can be securely housed in the paper cassette so that stable print quality can be obtained. If the positioning of theribbon cassette 50 in thetape cassette 30 is inaccurate in the front-rear direction near the thermal print head 14, some problems will occur when theribbon cassette 50 is loaded into thetape cassette 30 from above, such as 31 hinders the lower edge of thepaper tape 54 and causes unstable print quality or paper tape jamming.

在装入色带盒50时，通过将接合孔65、67分别与杆形导向部分38、39相接合，色带盒50就可以在水平方向上二维地定位。通过将色带盒50的上表面52贴靠在纸带盒30的上表面上并将色带盒50的底表面贴靠在纸带盒30的底板21c上，可以使色带盒50相对于纸带盒30垂直地定位。色带盒上的爪B1、B2和B3与纸带盒上的爪C1、C2和C3的接合将色带盒50在水平和垂直方向上相对于纸带盒30定位并被可卸出地固定。When theink ribbon cassette 50 is loaded, theink ribbon cassette 50 can be two-dimensionally positioned in the horizontal direction by engaging the engagement holes 65, 67 with the rod-shapedguide portions 38, 39, respectively. By abutting theupper surface 52 of theribbon cassette 50 on the upper surface of thepaper cassette 30 and abutting the bottom surface of theribbon cassette 50 on thebottom plate 21c of thepaper cassette 30, theribbon cassette 50 can be made relatively Thecassette 30 is positioned vertically. The engagement of the claws B1, B2 and B3 on the ribbon cassette with the claws C1, C2 and C3 on the tape cassette positions and removably secures theribbon cassette 50 horizontally and vertically relative to thetape cassette 30. .

因此，色带盒50被装入时色带盒50的外周边壁不与纸带盒30的凹部36的周边表面相接触。由于这个原因，当色带盒50装入时滑动阻力被减小，这样用很小的力色带盒50就能顺滑地装入和卸出。因此，该色带盒50的安装比传统的纸带/色带组合盒的安装更利落，在传统的纸带/色带组合盒中，色带盒与纸带盒之间是靠色带盒的周边壁和纸带盒的周边表面之间的接触来定位的。同样，纸带盒30装在打印机构10中时色带盒50也能被更换。Therefore, the outer peripheral wall of theink ribbon cassette 50 does not come into contact with the peripheral surface of theconcave portion 36 of thepaper tape cassette 30 when theink ribbon cassette 50 is loaded. For this reason, the sliding resistance is reduced when theink ribbon cassette 50 is loaded, so that theink ribbon cassette 50 can be smoothly loaded and unloaded with a small force. Therefore, the installation of thiscolor ribbon cassette 50 is more neat than the installation of traditional paper tape/color ribbon combination box. The contact between the perimeter wall and the perimeter surface of the cassette is positioned. Likewise, theink ribbon cassette 50 can also be replaced while thepaper tape cassette 30 is installed in the printing mechanism 10 .

有一组可自由缩进去的检测元件42处在纸带盒30的一角。对应于这组检测元件42在打印机构10中有一组检测开关(图中没有显示)。这组检测开关以一个预定的行程向上顶起相应的检测元件42。A set of freelyretractable detection elements 42 is located at one corner of thetape cassette 30 . Corresponding to this group ofdetection elements 42, there is a group of detection switches (not shown in the figure) in the printing mechanism 10 . The group of detection switches pushes up the correspondingdetection elements 42 with a predetermined stroke.

在色带盒50的一角形成了一个或一组操作部分70和一个或一组出孔71。虽然操作部分70分别地压下多个检测元件42，出孔71却不这样做。检测开关被检测元件42压下并打开，而检测元件是被操作部分70压下的。检测开关、检测元件42、操作部分70和出孔71是用来检测纸带盒30的类型即纸带31的类型和色带盒50的类型即墨带50的类型的。At one corner of theink ribbon cassette 50 are formed one or a set ofoperation portions 70 and one or a set of outlet holes 71 . While the operatingportion 70 depresses the plurality ofdetection elements 42 individually, theoutlet hole 71 does not. The detection switch is depressed and opened by thedetection element 42 which is depressed by theoperation portion 70 . The detection switch, thedetection element 42 , the operatingportion 70 and theexit hole 71 are used to detect the type of thetape cassette 30 , that is, the type of thepaper tape 31 , and the type of theribbon cassette 50 , that is, the type of theink ribbon 50 .

如上所述，用于标签打印机1中的纸带/色带组合盒100带有一个定位机构，该机构包括导向部分38、39、40和支柱形的带有接合孔65、67的被导向部分66、68。因此，在将色带盒50装入到纸带盒30的过程中和在此之后，色带盒50能相对于纸带盒30被高精度地定位。As described above, the paper tape/ribbon combination cassette 100 used in the label printer 1 has a positioning mechanism includingguide portions 38, 39, 40 and pillar-shaped guided portions with engagingholes 65, 67. 66,68. Therefore, theink ribbon cassette 50 can be positioned with respect to thepaper tape cassette 30 with high precision during and after loading theink ribbon cassette 50 into thepaper tape cassette 30 .

特别地，在墨带54对着热打印头插入部分35、63的那一部分在靠近该墨带54的外周边表面的地方与纸带31分开的方向上，也即在与纸带31和墨带54通过打印头14的方向垂直的方向上，凸缘形导向部分40和L形被导向部分69牢固地固定了色带盒50相对于纸带盒30的位置。因此，不会发生色带卡住现象，因为当色带盒50装入纸带盒30时纸带31的上边缘将不会妨碍墨带54的下边缘。同样打印质量将不会波动，因为在热打印头14的附近纸带31和墨带54之间的位置关系保持在一个固定的状态。Specifically, in the direction in which the portion of theink ribbon 54 facing the thermalhead insertion portion 35, 63 is separated from thepaper tape 31 near the outer peripheral surface of theink ribbon 54, that is, in the direction that is separated from thepaper tape 31 and ink In the direction perpendicular to the direction in which theribbon 54 passes through the print head 14 , the flange-shapedguide portion 40 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69 firmly fix the position of theink ribbon cassette 50 relative to thepaper tape cassette 30 . Therefore, ribbon jamming does not occur because the upper edge of thepaper tape 31 will not interfere with the lower edge of theink ribbon 54 when theribbon cassette 50 is loaded into thepaper cassette 30 . Also the print quality will not fluctuate because the positional relationship between thepaper tape 31 and theink ribbon 54 in the vicinity of the thermal head 14 is kept in a fixed state.

另外，色带盒50的主体51的外周边壁墙是这样成形的，使它不与纸带盒30的凹部36的周边表面相接触，这样只在杆形导向部分38、39和接合孔65、67之间产生很小的滑动阻力。因此，用很小的力就可将该色带盒50顺滑地装入纸带盒30中。In addition, the outer peripheral wall of themain body 51 of theink ribbon cassette 50 is shaped so that it does not contact the peripheral surface of therecess 36 of thetape cassette 30 so that only the rod-shapedguide portions 38, 39 and the engaginghole 65 , 67 produces a small sliding resistance. Therefore, theink ribbon cassette 50 can be smoothly loaded into thepaper tape cassette 30 with a small force.

其次，要对根据第二实施例的一个导向定位机构加以说明，该第二实施例将通过参考图6到8被提出。Next, a guide positioning mechanism according to a second embodiment will be described, which will be presented by referring to FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG.

第二实施例的导向定位机构是第一实施例的导向定位机构的部分改进型。即该导向定位机构的杆形导向部分38、39、接合孔65、67和支柱形被导向部分66、68都与上述相同。然而，一个杆形导向部分45和一个孔形被导向部分75分别代替了凸缘形导向部分40和L形被导向部分69。The guiding and positioning mechanism of the second embodiment is a partial improvement of the guiding and positioning mechanism of the first embodiment. That is, the rod-shapedguide portions 38, 39, the engagingholes 65, 67, and the pillar-shaped guidedportions 66, 68 of the guide positioning mechanism are the same as described above. However, a rod-shapedguide portion 45 and a hole-shaped guided portion 75 replace the flange-shapedguide portion 40 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69, respectively.

杆形导向部分45在凹部36的底板上，该凹部靠近纸带盒130的打印头插入部分35的尾部。该定位杆形导向部分45稍微向上伸出并具有一个尖锥形的上端部。孔形的被导向部分75形成于色带盒150的主体51的下部，其所在区域与杆形导向部分45相对应。孔形被导向部分75与杆形导向部分45形成紧密地接合，即在杆形导向部分45的外周边和孔形被导向部分75的外周边之间几乎没有间隙。The rod-shapedguide portion 45 is on the bottom plate of therecess 36 near the tail of the printhead insertion portion 35 of thecassette 130 . The positioning rod-shapedguide portion 45 protrudes slightly upwards and has a tapered upper end. A hole-shaped guided portion 75 is formed at the lower portion of themain body 51 of the ink ribbon cassette 150 in an area corresponding to the rod-shapedguide portion 45 . The hole-shaped guided portion 75 forms a tight engagement with the rod-shapedguide portion 45 , that is, there is almost no gap between the outer periphery of the rod-shapedguide portion 45 and the outer periphery of the hole-shaped guided portion 75 .

因此，当色带盒150几乎要完全装入纸带盒130中时杆形导向部分45与孔形被导向部分75相接合，并在装入之后保持这种接合状态。由于这一原因，色带盒150可以在热打印头附近被精确地定位在纸带盒130上。因此，像在第一实施例中所描述的纸带/色带组合盒100的导向定位机构所取得的效果一样，也可以达到相同的效果。Therefore, the rod-shapedguide portion 45 engages with the hole-shaped guided portion 75 when the ink ribbon cassette 150 is almost completely loaded into thepaper tape cassette 130, and maintains this engaged state after loading. For this reason, the ribbon cassette 150 can be precisely positioned on thepaper tape cassette 130 in the vicinity of the thermal print head. Therefore, the same effect as that achieved by the guiding and positioning mechanism of the paper tape/ribbon combination cassette 100 described in the first embodiment can also be achieved.

下面，将参考图9到10提出本发明的第三实施例。一对矩形把手64a和64b整体地形成在色带盒250的侧壁上并垂直地伸到色带盒250的上表面52之上。从上面看，把手64a配置在接合孔65和L形被导向部分69之间的中央。把手64b则配置在接合孔67和接合孔65之间的位置上，但更靠近接合孔67。Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be presented with reference to FIGS. 9 to 10 . A pair ofrectangular handles 64a and 64b are integrally formed on the side walls of theribbon cassette 250 and extend vertically above theupper surface 52 of theribbon cassette 250 . Thehandle 64 a is disposed centrally between theengagement hole 65 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69 as viewed from above. Thehandle 64 b is arranged at a position between the engaginghole 67 and the engaginghole 65 , but is closer to the engaginghole 67 .

把手64a和把手64b被配置成基本上与色带盒250的重心G等距，虽然重心G会根据色带54的卷绕状态而有所变动。色带盒50的重心G被认为是一个三角形的重心，该三角形是通过连接接合孔65，接合孔67和L形被导向部分69而形成的。Thehandle 64a and thehandle 64b are arranged substantially equidistant from the center of gravity G of theribbon cassette 250, although the center of gravity G may vary depending on the state in which theribbon 54 is wound. The center of gravity G of theink ribbon cassette 50 is regarded as a center of gravity of a triangle formed by connecting the engaginghole 65 , the engaginghole 67 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69 .

采用这种结构，从上面看，把手64a在接合孔65和L形被导向部分69的中央，而把手64b几乎在接合孔65和接合孔67的中央，而且把手64a、64b配置成与重心对中。由于色带盒50的重心在把手64a和把手64b的中央，所以当色带盒50被装到纸带盒30中时，转动动量将不会传给色带盒50。因此，使用者可以通过抓住把手64a和64b而轻而易举地将色带盒50支撑在一个水平非倾斜状态，这样色带盒50就能够顺滑地被装入纸带盒30中。同样，当色带盒50被装入纸带盒中时，装入和卸出色带盒50的力被均匀地传给了支柱形被导向部分66、68和L形被导向部分69，这样色带盒50就能顺滑地装入纸带盒30。利用把手64a和64b，同样也可以轻松地将色带盒50从纸带盒30中卸出。With this structure, thehandle 64a is at the center of the engaginghole 65 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69 when viewed from above, and thehandle 64b is almost at the center of the engaginghole 65 and the engaginghole 67, and thehandles 64a, 64b are arranged to be opposite to the center of gravity. middle. Since the center of gravity of theribbon cassette 50 is at the center of thehandle 64a and thehandle 64b, when theribbon cassette 50 is installed in thepaper cassette 30, the rotational momentum will not be transferred to theribbon cassette 50. Therefore, the user can easily support theribbon cassette 50 in a horizontal non-inclined state by grasping thehandles 64a and 64b, so that theribbon cassette 50 can be smoothly loaded into thepaper tape cassette 30. Equally, when theribbon cassette 50 is packed in the paper tape cassette, the power of loading and unloading theribbon cassette 50 is evenly passed to the pillar-shaped guidedportions 66, 68 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69, so that Thetape cassette 50 can be smoothly loaded into thetape cassette 30 . Theribbon cassette 50 can also be easily removed from thepaper cassette 30 by using thehandles 64a and 64b.

在上述的实施例中，纸带31和墨带54在通过打印头14时是暴露在外的。以下，色带盒上确定色带暴露空隙的那一部分被称为色带暴露部分。纸带盒上确定纸带31暴露空隙的那一部分被称为纸带暴露部分。In the embodiments described above, thepaper ribbon 31 and theink ribbon 54 are exposed as they pass through the printhead 14 . Hereinafter, the portion of the ribbon cartridge defining the ribbon exposure gap is referred to as the ribbon exposure portion. The portion of the cassette that defines the exposed space for thetape 31 is referred to as the tape exposed portion.

上述实施例的纸带/色带组合盒还带有导向器，用来在纸带31和墨带54正要被拖过打印头插入部分35、63之前对墨带54和纸带31进行导向。例如，如图3到5所示，导向器X、Y分别在色带盒250和纸带盒230上。色带导向器X形成了一对导向壁，使色带54在其间被导向。类似地，纸带导向器Y形成了一对导向壁，使纸带31在其间被导向。为了防止纸带31与墨带54的接触，分别在纸带导向器Y和色带导向器X上设置隔离壁SW、SW′。The paper tape/ribbon combination cassette of the above embodiment also has guides for guiding theink ribbon 54 and thepaper tape 31 just before thepaper tape 31 and theink ribbon 54 are pulled through the printhead insertion portions 35, 63. . For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the guides X, Y are on theribbon cassette 250 and thepaper cassette 230, respectively. The ribbon guide X forms a pair of guide walls between which theribbon 54 is guided. Similarly, the tape guide Y forms a pair of guide walls between which thetape 31 is guided. In order to prevent thepaper tape 31 from coming into contact with theink ribbon 54, partition walls SW, SW' are provided on the paper tape guide Y and the ink ribbon guide X, respectively.

理想的是使纸带31和墨带54在对着打印头的位置时相互靠近并基本平行。因此，理想的是将如图5所示位置的隔离壁SW、SW′做得尽可能地薄。然而，纸带导向器Y和色带导向器X的隔离壁不能薄到使结构的支承不足以正常地防止导向器变形和弯曲的程度。该对置的壁的宽度随着装在纸带盒中的纸带31的宽度的增加而增加。该对置的壁越宽，壁就必需越厚，以提供充分的结构支承。Desirably, thepaper web 31 and theink web 54 are close to each other and substantially parallel when positioned against the printhead. Therefore, it is desirable to make the partition walls SW, SW' at the positions shown in FIG. 5 as thin as possible. However, the separating walls of the tape guide Y and ribbon guide X should not be so thin that the structural support is insufficient to properly prevent deformation and bending of the guides. The width of the opposing walls increases with the width of thetape 31 contained in the cassette. The wider the opposing walls, the thicker the walls must be to provide adequate structural support.

考虑到这种结构要求，将参考图11到15对根据本发明的一个第四实施例的纸带/色带组合盒加以说明。如图12和14所示，在纸带盒330上形成一个纸带导向器80，用来将纸带31引导到热打印头14处。纸带导向器80的对着热打印头的一侧是打开的。沿纸带导向器80的向内边形成隔离元件95，该隔离元件将纸带31和墨带32隔开一段距离而防止了二者的接触。In view of this structural requirement, a paper tape/ribbon combination cassette according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 , atape guide 80 is formed on thetape cassette 330 for guiding thetape 31 to the thermal head 14 . The side of thetape guide 80 facing the thermal print head is open. Along the inward edge of thetape guide 80 is formed aspacer member 95 which separates thepaper tape 31 and the ink ribbon 32 by a distance to prevent their contact.

如第三实施例所述，在热打印头14附近的由纸带暴露部分所定义的空隙93中纸带31被暴露。在第四实施例中，由纸带导向器80的端头和纸带盒330容纳纸带喂入滚轮33的那部分定义了空隙93。不同的是，相对于纸带31的输送方向来说，空隙93在纸带导向器80的下游，在纸带喂入滚轮33的上游。As described in the third embodiment, thetape 31 is exposed in thespace 93 defined by the exposed portion of the tape in the vicinity of the thermal head 14 . In the fourth embodiment, agap 93 is defined by the end of thetape guide 80 and the portion of thetape cassette 330 that accommodates thetape feed roller 33 . The difference is that thespace 93 is downstream of theweb guide 80 and upstream of theweb feed roller 33 with respect to the conveying direction of theweb 31 .

如图13和15所示，用来将墨带54引导到热打印头14的色带导向器90形成于色带盒50上。色带导向器90的对着打印头插入部分63的一侧是打开的。一个用于容纳导向棒59和色带导向器60的隔离元件85与色带盒50的外壳整体地形成。该隔离元件85包括一个隔离端部85a，该端部将纸带31和墨带32隔开一段距离而防止了二者的接触。As shown in FIGS. 13 and 15 , aribbon guide 90 for guiding theink ribbon 54 to the thermal head 14 is formed on theribbon cassette 50 . The side of theribbon guide 90 facing the printhead insertion portion 63 is open. Aspacer member 85 for accommodating the guide bar 59 and the ribbon guide 60 is integrally formed with the housing of theribbon cassette 50 . Thespacer member 85 includes aspacer end portion 85a that separates thepaper tape 31 and the ink ribbon 32 by a distance to prevent their contact.

如实施例三所述，在由色带暴露部分所定义的空隙83处墨带54被暴露。在第四实施例中，空隙83由色带导向器80的端部和隔离部分85a所定义。不同的是，相对于墨带54的输送方向来说，空隙83在色带导向器80的下游，在隔离部分85a的上游。As described in the third embodiment, theink ribbon 54 is exposed at thegap 83 defined by the exposed portion of the ink ribbon. In the fourth embodiment, the void 83 is defined by the end of theribbon guide 80 and thespacer portion 85a. The difference is that, with respect to the feeding direction of theink ribbon 54, thegap 83 is downstream of theribbon guide 80 and upstream of theseparation portion 85a.

当面对打印头时，暴露在空隙83中的墨带54和暴露在空隙93中的纸带31将贴近。因此，利用打印头，纸带经过墨带被打印。When facing the printhead, theink ribbon 54 exposed in the void 83 and thepaper ribbon 31 exposed in the void 93 will be in close proximity. Thus, with the print head, the paper strip is printed over the ink ribbon.

如图10所示，在墨带54与热打印头14相接触的地方，卷绕在色带卷筒53上的墨带54与纸带31平行并靠近纸带31地延伸通过色带盒350中的墨带通道。当墨带54被打印头14加热，墨带54上的油墨就溶化并粘着在对面的打印纸带31上。墨带54完全与纸带31分开然后被卷绕到色带卷绕滚筒34上。As shown in FIG. 10 , where theink ribbon 54 contacts the thermal print head 14 , theink ribbon 54 wound on theribbon spool 53 extends through theribbon cassette 350 parallel to and close to thepaper ribbon 31 the ribbon path in the When theink ribbon 54 is heated by the print head 14 , the ink on theink ribbon 54 is melted and adhered to the oppositeprinting paper ribbon 31 . Theink ribbon 54 is completely separated from thepaper ribbon 31 and then wound onto the ribbon take-up drum 34 .

由于纸带导向器和色带导向器的相对的部分是打开的，纸带和墨带能相互靠近并相互平行地被打印头输送。同样，隔离元件95确保了将要到达打印头的纸带和墨带不相互接触。因此，纸带将不会由于接触色带而被不经意地弄脏。Since the opposite portions of the tape guide and the ribbon guide are opened, the paper tape and the ink ribbon can be fed close to each other and parallel to each other by the print head. Likewise,spacer elements 95 ensure that the paper and ink ribbons going to the printhead do not touch each other. Therefore, the tape will not be inadvertently soiled by contact with the ribbon.

纸带导向器和色带导向器的不相对的表面可以做得足够地厚，以便即使在纸带盒330容纳了一个宽纸带31如24mm或32mm宽的纸带，以及色带盒350容纳了一个宽墨带如24mm或32mm宽的墨带的情况下，也能提供充分的结构支承和防止它们变形。The non-opposite surfaces of the tape guide and the ribbon guide can be made thick enough so that even if thetape cassette 330 accommodates awide tape 31 such as 24mm or 32mm wide tape, and theribbon cassette 350 accommodates In the case of a wide ink ribbon such as a 24mm or 32mm wide ink ribbon, it can also provide sufficient structural support and prevent them from deforming.

设计纸带盒和色带盒的铸造模时可以不考虑其对置壁的厚度，该厚度如果太大将导致在对着打印头14时纸带31和墨带54之间的间隙过大，而该厚度如果太小则存在着纸带盒和色带盒的结构不稳定的危险。这样就使得色带盒350和纸带盒330很容易生产。Can not consider the thickness of its opposite wall when designing the casting mold of paper tape box and color ribbon box, if this thickness will cause too big gap betweenpaper tape 31 andink ribbon 54 when facing print head 14, and If the thickness is too small, there is a danger that the structures of the tape cassette and the ink ribbon cassette will become unstable. This makes theribbon cassette 350 and thepaper cassette 330 easy to produce.

应提及的是在本实施例中，如图12所示的纸带盒330带有另一个底板部分21c。这对底板21c、21d靠近色带盒50的下表面，进一步改善了垂直方向的定位精度。It should be mentioned that in this embodiment, thetape cassette 330 shown in FIG. 12 has anotherbottom plate portion 21c. The pair ofbottom plates 21c, 21d are close to the lower surface of theink ribbon cassette 50, further improving the positioning accuracy in the vertical direction.

在参考具体实施例对本发明加以详细说明的同时，对于熟悉本领域的技术人员来说很明显的是在没有脱离本发明的精神实质的前提下可以做出各种变化和改变，本发明的精神实质的范围将由附加的权利要求定义。While the present invention is described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The substantial scope will be defined by the appended claims.

例如，上述的导向定位机构仅是一些例子。可对定位杆、接合孔、定位部分、接合部分等等作各种各样的改变。还有，定位杆、接合孔等等的配置并不局限于上述的实施例。例如，可以省略凸缘形导向部分40和L形被导向部分69或者仅在纸带/色带组合盒上提供两对导向部分和被导向部分。然而，为了保证将色带盒装入纸带盒的精确导向和色带盒在纸带盒中的精确定位，最好是在纸带/色带组合盒中提供三对导向部分和被导向部分。同样理想的是在打印头插入部分提供一对导向部分和被导向部分。For example, the above-mentioned guiding and positioning mechanisms are just some examples. Various changes can be made to the positioning bar, the engaging hole, the positioning portion, the engaging portion, and the like. Also, the configurations of the positioning rods, engaging holes, etc. are not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the flange-shapedguide portion 40 and the L-shaped guidedportion 69 may be omitted or only two pairs of the guide portion and the guided portion provided on the tape/ribbon combination cassette. However, in order to ensure accurate guidance for loading the ribbon cassette into the paper cassette and accurate positioning of the ribbon cassette in the paper cassette, it is preferable to provide three pairs of guides and guided portions in the paper tape/ribbon combination cassette . It is also desirable to provide a pair of a guide portion and a guided portion at the head insertion portion.

另一方面，可在相同的纸带/色带组合盒中提供所有的这些凸缘形导向部分40、L形被导向部分69、杆形导向部分45、孔形被导向部分75。然而这可能提供了一套过紧的配合而使得色带盒难以装到纸带盒中。所以理想的是在同一个纸带/色带组合盒中只提供凸缘形导向部分40和L形被导向部分695或者只提供杆形导向部分45和孔形被导向部分75。Alternatively, all of these flange-shapedguide portion 40, L-shaped guidedportion 69, rod-shapedguide portion 45, and hole-shaped guided portion 75 may be provided in the same tape/ribbon combination cassette. However this may provide an overly tight fit making it difficult to fit the ribbon cassette into the paper cassette. Therefore, it is desirable to provide only the flange-shapedguide portion 40 and the L-shaped guided portion 695 or only the rod-shapedguide portion 45 and the hole-shaped guided portion 75 in the same tape/ribbon combination cassette.

如图16所示，可以用单一的把手64c来替代把手64、64a、64b。然而在这种情况下该单一个把手64c最好形成在色带盒450的重心附近。应注意到当提供了两个把手时，在握色带盒时该色带盒会被抓得更稳。在任何实施例中所描述的任何把手或把手对都可以被提供在任何其它实施例的任何色带盒上。As shown in FIG. 16, asingle handle 64c may be used instead of thehandles 64, 64a, 64b. However, thesingle handle 64c is preferably formed near the center of gravity of theink ribbon cassette 450 in this case. It should be noted that when two handles are provided, the ribbon cassette can be gripped more firmly while holding it. Any handle or pair of handles described in any embodiment may be provided on any ribbon cassette of any other embodiment.

如果需要，色带盒上的爪B1、B2、B3和纸带盒上的爪C1、C2、C3的位置可以变化。The position of the claws B1, B2, B3 on the ribbon cassette and C1, C2, C3 on the paper cassette can be varied if desired.

任何个别实施例中所描述的特点都可提供给任何其它的实施例。Features described in any particular embodiment can be provided to any other embodiment.

Claims (22)

1 one paper tape/colour band combination boxes comprise:

A tape cassette, its freedom can be contained in the chopping machine that has a printhead with drawing off, and this tape cassette is held a paper tape as print media, and this paper tape has a upper surface;

A ribbon cartridge, its freedom can be contained in the tape cassette with drawing off, this ribbon cartridge holds a China ink band, this ribbon cartridge have one at least with the overlapping upper surface of a part of the upper surface of tape cassette;

At least two targeting parts, they are two separated positions on a neighboring of tape cassette, these at least two targeting parts guiding band box turnover vertically tape cassette; With

At least two are directed to part, and the upper surface of they and ribbon cartridge is integrally formed on the position corresponding to targeting part, and these at least two are directed to part and engage so that the guiding band box vertically passes in and out tape cassette with targeting part.

2 one paper tape according to claim 1/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: these at least two targeting parts comprise three targeting parts, these at least two are directed to part and comprise that three are directed to part.

3 one paper tape according to claim 2/colour band combination boxes is characterized in that: thus also comprise and a pair ofly be formed at handle stretched out on surface on the ribbon cartridge, so that catch ribbon cartridge.

4 one paper tape according to claim 2/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: this ribbon cartridge and tape cassette comprise a printhead insertion portion, when tape cassette and ribbon cartridge are packed in the chopping machine, the print head configuration of chopping machine in this printhead insertion portion, three targeting parts and be directed to the part in have at least corresponding a pair of near this printhead insertion portion.

5 one paper tape according to claim 4/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: be at least one on following direction, ribbon cartridge is fixed with respect to tape cassette in three targeting parts, this direction direction that to be the China ink band be separated to the appropriate section of inking band outside face facing to that part of printhead insertion portion and paper tape near the targeting part the printhead insertion portion.

6 one paper tape according to claim 4/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: be at least one on following direction ribbon cartridge is fixed with respect to tape cassette near the targeting part the printhead insertion portion in three targeting parts, this direction is vertical by the direction of printhead with paper tape with colour band.

7 one paper tape according to claim 4/colour band combination boxes is characterized in that: near one the targeting part the printhead insertion portion of being at least in three targeting parts is a thin bar on the bottom parts that is formed at tape cassette.

8 one paper tape according to claim 4/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: be at least the flange-shape element that near one the targeting part the printhead insertion portion is a setting on the bottom parts that is formed at tape cassette in three targeting parts, this flange-shape element is near a groove, and this groove is formed at the relevant position of ribbon cartridge.

9 one paper tape according to claim 1/colour band combination boxes also comprise at least one handle, and are stretched out on surface thereby this handle is provided on the ribbon cartridge.

10 1 paper tape according to claim 9/colour band combination boxes is characterized in that: this at least one handle two be at least two be directed to the part between.

11 1 paper tape according to claim 9/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: this at least one handle is positioned at the center of gravity place of ribbon cartridge.

12 1 paper tape according to claim 9/colour band combination boxes is characterized in that: this at least one handle comprises that two are configured to the handle equidistant with the center of gravity of ribbon cartridge.

13 1 paper tape according to claim 12/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: these at least two targeting parts comprise three targeting parts, and these at least two be directed to part and comprise that three are directed to part, and the center of gravity of ribbon cartridge is directed to the triangle that part constitutes by these three and is defined.

14 1 paper tape according to claim 12/colour band combination boxes is characterized in that: in two handles one two at least two be directed to the part between.

15 1 paper tape according to claim 1/colour band combination boxes also comprise:

Paper tape expose portion in tape cassette, this paper tape expose portion is contained in paper tape in the tape cassette and is being exposed and passes through this space facing to forming a space on the position of printhead in the time of in tape cassette is packed chopping machine into; With

Printhead insertion portion in ribbon cartridge, this printhead insertion portion has an opening, print head configuration is in this opening in the time of in this paper tape/colour band combination box is packed chopping machine into, this printhead insertion portion has formed a space, colour band is exposed by this space the time, and a surface that makes colour band contacts with the inside face of paper tape facing to the another side of printhead and colour band.

16 1 paper tape according to claim 15/colour band combination boxes, it is characterized in that: wherein ribbon cartridge and tape cassette comprise a printhead insertion portion, the print head configuration of chopping machine is in this printhead insertion portion when tape cassette and ribbon cartridge are packed in the chopping machine, and three targeting parts and three are directed near corresponding at least a pair of this printhead insertion portion in the part.

Thereby 17 1 paper tape according to claim 15/colour band combination boxes also comprise and a pair ofly are formed at handle stretched out on surface on the ribbon cartridge, so that catch ribbon cartridge.

18 1 paper tape according to claim 15/colour band combination boxes also comprise:

Paper tape guides on the neighboring of tape cassette, the side that is fed from paper tape looks up, and this guides is in the upstream of paper tape expose portion, and the side facing to ribbon cartridge of this paper tape guides is opened; With

Ribbon guide on the neighboring of ribbon cartridge, the side that is fed from colour band looks up, and this guides is in the upstream in the space of printhead insertion portion, and the side facing to tape cassette of this ribbon guide is opened.

19 1 paper tape according to claim 18/colour band combination boxes also comprise: at an isolated component of the upstream extremity of paper tape expose portion, it is used for making paper tape and colour band to be spaced from each other.

Thereby 20 1 paper tape according to claim 19/colour band combination boxes also comprise and a pair ofly are formed at handle stretched out on surface on the ribbon cartridge, so that catch ribbon cartridge.

21 1 paper tape according to claim 18/colour band combination boxes also comprise:

At an isolated component of the upstream in the space of printhead insertion portion, it is spaced from each other paper tape and colour band.

22 1 paper tape according to claim 18/colour band combination boxes also are included in an isolated component of the downstream end of paper tape expose portion, and it is spaced from each other paper tape and colour band.

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