JPH09301643A - Bobbins - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] The work efficiency when stored in a cassette or a thermal transfer printer is remarkably improved, or automation can be performed by a simple machine. Further, the spring protrudes from a fixed position, the bobbin stops rotating, (EN) A bobbin capable of preventing thermal transfer recording from being normally performed due to uneven rotation. A bobbin composed of a cap, a bobbin body, and a spring is characterized in that the length of the bobbin can be expanded and contracted by expansion and contraction of the spring. Also, the cap is prevented from coming off the bobbin body by passing the protrusion through the groove.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bobbin for winding a thermal transfer sheet used for sublimation type thermal transfer recording or thermal melt transfer recording using a thermal head, or an image receiving sheet, and more particularly to a bobbin accommodated in a cassette or a thermal transfer printer. The present invention relates to a bobbin capable of remarkably improving the work efficiency when doing so and preventing the spring from coming out of a fixed position during handling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermal transfer sheet used for sublimation type thermal transfer recording or heat-sensitive melt transfer recording is supplied in a form wound on a supply bobbin, and the tip of the thermal transfer sheet is set in a winding bobbin of a thermal transfer printer or a cassette. It is used in such a form that it is fixed with an adhesive tape or the like, recording is performed with a thermal head, and the used portion after recording is wound onto a winding bobbin. Further, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 and the exploded perspective view of FIG. 6, the assembly state of the conventional thermal transfer sheet cassette is installed on both the feeding bobbin shaft 11 and the winding bobbin shaft 12 of the thermal transfer sheet 9. The coil spring 3 is inserted from the tips of the driven side shaft portions 11b and 12b of the bobbin shaft, and the coil spring 3 is interposed between the driven side creepage surfaces 11c and 12c of both bobbin shafts and the lower half inner surface 7a, and the driven side shaft portion 11b,
12b is supported from above by the bearing 15a of the driven-side bearing portion 15 of the lower half 7, and is strongly pressed against the driven-side bearing portion 15 side against the spring force of the driven-side shaft portion 11.
a and 12a are the shaft holes 14 of the drive side bearing portion 14 of the lower half 7.
The assembly of the thermal transfer sheet cassette is completed by inserting the cassette into the sheet a and then combining the upper half 8 with the lower half 7.

In the assembled thermal transfer sheet cassette, the bobbin shafts are pushed by the coil springs 3 so that the supply bobbin shaft 11 and the winding bobbin shaft 12 do not rotate unnecessarily during handling. Bearing part 14 and collar part 11
d, 12d come into contact with each other, and the driving side protrusion 1 of the lower half 7
6, the recesses of the respective grooves 17 on the outer surfaces of the collar portions 11d and 12d mesh with each other. Then, the thermal transfer sheet cassette is housed in the printer, and a drive shaft (not shown) from the printer side pushes the drive side shaft portions 11a and 12a to rotate,
Each groove 1 on the outer surface of the driving-side protrusion 16 and the flanges 11d and 12d
Each bobbin shaft can be rotated by disengaging the concave portion of No. 7.

[0004]

Conventionally, in a cassette for a thermal transfer sheet, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the driven-side shaft portions 11b, 1b of the supply bobbin shaft 11 and the winding bobbin shaft 12 are provided.
The coil spring 3 is inserted from the tip of 2b, and the coil spring 3 is mounted so as to be interposed between the driven side creeping surfaces 11c and 12c of both bobbin shafts and the lower half inner surface 7a. At that time, the coil spring 3 is aligned with the tips of the driven-side shaft portions 11b and 12b, and the coil spring 3 is interposed between the driven-side creepage surfaces 11c and 12c of both bobbin shafts and the lower half inner surface 7a. It is troublesome and extremely inefficient to perform the installation work such as the point of time alignment by hand, and even when it is automatically performed by a machine, precise movement is required, which is complicated. There is a problem that an expensive machine is required.

Further, after the coil spring 3 is once mounted on the thermal transfer sheet cassette, the coil spring may stick out from a fixed position during transport of the thermal transfer sheet cassette or during use by the printer, and the bobbin may stop rotating or may have uneven rotation. However, there is a problem that thermal transfer recording cannot be performed normally. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to significantly improve the work efficiency when storing in a cassette or a thermal transfer printer, or to automate using a simple machine. Another object of the present invention is to provide a bobbin capable of preventing the thermal transfer recording from being normally performed due to the fact that the spring protrudes from the fixed position, the rotation of the bobbin stops, and the rotation unevenness occurs.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a bobbin composed of a cap, a bobbin body, and a spring, in which the length of the bobbin expands and contracts due to expansion and contraction of the spring. Characterized by being free. Also,
It is characterized in that the projection is passed through the groove so that the cap does not come off the bobbin body.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1A, the bobbin of the present invention is composed of a cap 1, a bobbin body 2, and a spring 3. Then, when the cap is pushed in the direction of the arrow from the state of A in FIG. 1, the spring 3 contracts, and the total length of the bobbin becomes shorter than in the original state as shown in B of FIG. In the state of FIG. 1B, the bobbin is mounted on the cassette or the printer. That is, as shown in FIGS.
15a of the driven side bearing portion 15 of the lower half 7 at the tip side of
Supported from above, and the tip 1c of the cap 1
Is pushed by the driven side partition 10 of the lower half 7, and the drive side shaft portion 11a, while the tip portion 1c of the cap 1 is strongly pressed against the driven side partition 10 against the pushing force.
By inserting 12a into the shaft hole 14a of the drive side bearing portion 14 of the lower half 7 and combining the upper half 8 with the lower half 7, the bobbin is completely stored in the cassette.

Further, in the state of FIG. 1B, the spring 3 is contracted, but the right end of the spring 3 is in contact with the inner surface 11e of the cap, and the left end of the other spring 3 is the driven side flange of the driven side flange portion 4. The spring 3 is in contact with the inner surface 4c of the portion and is sandwiched between the inner surface 11e of the cap and the inner surface 4c of the driven side collar portion. Spring 3
Is in contact with the cap inner surface 11e and the driven side collar portion inner surface 4c, it is preferable to bond the cap inner surface 11e and / or the driven side collar portion inner surface 4c and the spring 3 in advance with an adhesive or the like. It is possible to prevent the spring 3 from popping out even if it should happen.

The tip of the bobbin body 2 is inserted into the cap 1, and the cap 1 can be slid to the left and right by the spring 3. At that time, in order to prevent the cap 1 from coming out of the bobbin body 2 and being separated, for example, a protrusion 5 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin body 2 as shown in FIG. , Through the protrusion 5. In detail,
First insert the protrusion 5 into the groove 6 at the position A, and then insert the protrusion B,
It moves to the straight line of CD via the position of C. As a result, the protrusion 5 of the bobbin body 2 is restricted in position between the CDs of the groove 6 of the cap 1, and the bobbin body 2 is capped by the cap 1.
The protrusion 5 stops at the position C so that it does not go too far inside. Further, the protrusion 5 stops at the position D so that the cap 1 does not come out of the bobbin body 2. It is preferable that the protrusion 5 in this example is located outside the outer peripheral surface of the cap 1 and inside the outer peripheral surface of the cap 1 in the state of being inserted into the groove 6. The protrusion may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cap and the groove may be provided on the bobbin body.

The material of the bobbin of the present invention is polystyrene,
Made of injection molding resin such as vinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyester, or prepared in the printer,
Durable aluminum, for repeated use
It can also be made of metal such as iron or stainless steel. When a proper amount of a lubricant such as higher fatty acid, fatty acid amide, or wax is added to the above injection-molded resin and the tip side of the bobbin body 2 is attached to the bearing 15a of the lower half 7, or the protrusion 5 is placed in the groove 6. When it is inserted, it can be moderately slippery. The spring 3 used in the bobbin of the present invention may be a coiled spring or a leaf spring as illustrated. The material of the spring 3 can be appropriately selected from metals such as aluminum, iron and stainless, elastic plastics and the like.

[0011]

The bobbin of the present invention comprises a cap, a bobbin body, and a spring, and the length of the bobbin is flexible.
Since the spring is stored inside the cap and the inside of the bobbin body, there is no need to align the spring in place,
The work efficiency when stored in a cassette or a thermal transfer printer is significantly improved, or automation can be performed with a simple machine. Also, since the spring does not stick out from the fixed position,
The bobbin may stop rotating or may have uneven rotation,
It is possible to prevent thermal transfer recording from not being performed normally. Further, by passing the protrusion through the groove, the cap can be prevented from coming off the bobbin body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an example of a bobbin of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example of a thermal transfer sheet cassette using the bobbin of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an exploded state of an example of a thermal transfer sheet cassette using the bobbin of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an example of the bobbin of the present invention in an exploded state.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional thermal transfer sheet cassette.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional thermal transfer sheet cassette in an exploded state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cap 1c Tip part 2 Bobbin body part 3 Spring 4 Driven side collar part 4c Driven side flange part inner surface 5 Protrusion 6 Groove 7 Lower half 7a Lower half inner surface 8 Upper half 9 Thermal transfer sheet 10 Driven side partition 11 Supply bobbin shaft 11a , 12a Drive side shaft parts 11b, 12b Driven side shaft parts 11c, 12c Driven side creepage surfaces 11d, 12d Collar part 11e Cap inner surface 12 Winding bobbin shaft 14 Drive side bearing part 14a Shaft hole 15 Driven side bearing part 15a Bearing 16 Drive Side protrusion 17 groove

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A bobbin composed of a cap, a bobbin body, and a spring, wherein the bobbin can be expanded and contracted so that the length of the bobbin can expand and contract. 2. The bobbin according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided so as not to come off from the bobbin body by inserting the protrusion into the groove.