JP2000343799A - Ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store data of various kinds in a cassette by constituting the cassette to include a data storage means. SOLUTION: A cassette 21 has an IC chip memory 22 as a data memory means for storing (holding) data. The memory 22 is, e.g. a RAM with a battery power source, an SRAM without a power source or the like, which can not only store (hold) data, but reload or erase data. The memory 22 is mounted on a flexible circuit board 23 and fixed to a rear inner face of a case body 2. In this case, the memory 22 and the circuit board 23 are arranged at a position not to interfere a travel path of an ink ribbon 6. The circuit board 23 is formed by setting a wiring pattern of a thin film such as copper or the like on one face of a flexible film substrate formed of an insulating resin such as polyester or the like. One end of the wiring pattern is electrically connected to the memory 22 mounted on the other face of the film substrate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette, and more particularly, to a novel ribbon cassette capable of storing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a thermal transfer printer capable of recording an image such as a desired character or graphic on a variety of recording media such as plain paper and OHP paper using an ink ribbon has a high recording quality, low noise, It is often used as an external recording device such as a word processor or a computer because of its low cost and ease of maintenance.

In such a thermal transfer printer, a recording medium such as plain paper and an ink ribbon are supported in this order in front of a platen, and a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged as a recording head is mounted on a carriage. The ink ribbon is fed out while being reciprocated along the platen, and a plurality of heating elements arranged in the thermal head along the recording medium conveyance direction are selectively heated based on recording information (recording data). By doing so, a desired image is recorded on a recording medium.

[0004] The ink ribbon used in such a thermal transfer printer is provided for recording in a state of being housed in a ribbon cassette.

FIG. 4 shows a general ribbon cassette used in a thermal transfer printer. As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional ribbon cassette 1 has a pair of upper and lower upper and lower substantially rectangular case bodies 2. Inside, rotatably supported 1
A pair of reels 3, a pair of rotatably supported ribbon feed rollers 4, and four guide rollers 5 facing the rotatably supported ribbon path are provided.

The pair of reels 3 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a desired ink ribbon 6 is wound around each of the reels 3 from both ends. When the pair of reels 3 is mounted on a carriage of a thermal transfer printer (not shown), one of the reels 3 is, for example, a take-up reel 3a that winds a portion of the ink ribbon 6 that has been used for recording, and the other is, The right side in the drawing is a delivery reel 3b for delivering the ink ribbon 6. A plurality of key grooves 7, 7, ... are formed in the inner peripheral surface of each reel 3 in a spline shape at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the inner peripheral surface of the take-up reel 3a on the left side in the figure. Is a take-up hole 8a with which a take-up bobbin projecting from a carriage (not shown) is engaged, and an inner peripheral surface of the delivery reel 3b on the right side in the figure projects from the carriage (not shown). It is a delivery hole 8b with which the delivery bobbin is engaged.

When the recording operation is performed, the take-up bobbin is driven in synchronization with the movement of the carriage, and the ink ribbon 6 is run with the back tension applied by the sending-out bobbin.

The pair of ribbon feed rollers 4 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.
Is mounted on a carriage (not shown),
For example, the left side of the drawing shows the portion of the ink ribbon 6 used for recording.
The right side in the drawing is a delivery ribbon feed roller 4b for sending out the ink ribbon 6. A plurality of key grooves 9, 9,... Are formed on the inner peripheral surface of each ribbon feed roller 4 in a spline shape at intervals in the circumferential direction. The inner peripheral surface of the roller 4a is formed as an engaging hole 10a with which a take-up roller drive shaft projecting from a carriage (not shown) is engaged. The inner peripheral surface is formed as an engagement hole 10b with which a delivery roller drive shaft protruding from a carriage (not shown) is engaged. A covering sleeve 11 made of a material having a relatively high friction coefficient such as a rubber-like elastic body is fixed to the outer periphery of each of the ribbon feed rollers 4a and 4b by integral molding or fitting.

A recess 12 in which a thermal head is disposed is formed substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of the case body 2 of the ribbon cassette 1 on the front side opposite to a platen (not shown) located diagonally upper left in FIG. The intermediate portion of the ink ribbon 6 extends out of the recess 12.

The ink ribbon 6 housed in the ribbon cassette 1 includes a one-time ink ribbon used only in one direction depending on the running direction of the ink ribbon 6.
There is a multi-time ink ribbon called a reverse type which is used in the reciprocating direction by being turned upside down, and a Y (yellow: yellow) ribbon or an M (magenta:
Monochromatic ink ribbon such as red-purple ribbon, C (cyan: blue-green) ribbon, B (black: black) ribbon, at least 3
There are various types of multi-color ink ribbons such as a multi-color ink ribbon called a dander ribbon in which a plurality of primary colors are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction of the ink ribbon.

An identification mark for identifying the color of ink is provided on the surface of the case body 2 of the ribbon cassette 1.
At both ends of the ink ribbon 6, identification marks such as a start mark indicating the use start position of the ink ribbon 6 and an end mark indicating the use end position of the ink ribbon 6 are provided.
It is provided in advance as ink ribbon information. Such ink ribbon information is generally formed by combining a reflective portion and a non-reflective portion, and is detected by an optical sensor provided on the carriage. Also, the optical sensor is
It is provided for each type of ink ribbon information.

[0012]

However, the above-described conventional ribbon cassette 1 has various problems due to the fact that it does not have a data storage means for storing data. For example, ribbon cassette 1
When the ink ribbon 6 stored in the printer is a multi-time ink ribbon that can be used in reverse, when the ribbon cassette 1 is removed from the carriage of the thermal transfer printer during use,
Even if the used amount of the ink ribbon 6 is calculated by the thermal transfer printer, the used amount of the ink ribbon 6 cannot be stored in the ribbon cassette 1, and as a result, when the ribbon cassette 1 removed from the carriage is used for recording again, However, there has been a problem that the starting position for the recording of the ink ribbon 6 cannot be determined.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and has as its object to provide a novel ribbon cassette capable of storing data.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a ribbon cassette according to the present invention is characterized in that it has a data storage means.
By adopting such a configuration, the data storage means can easily store various types of data in the ribbon cassette.

The feature of the ribbon cassette according to the present invention described in claim 2 is that in claim 1,
The data storage means is a memory. By adopting such a configuration, the memory can easily and surely record various types of data on the ribbon cassette.

The feature of the ribbon cassette of the present invention described in claim 3 is that in claim 2,
The point is that a wiring having a connection terminal is connected to the memory.
By adopting such a configuration, the wiring can smoothly execute data input to at least the memory from an external device such as a control unit of the thermal transfer printer or a data writing device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ribbon cassette according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the data storage means is provided inside the case body of the ribbon cassette. It is located at the point. By adopting such a configuration, the memory can be easily prevented from being damaged, and the shape of the case body does not need to be largely changed, so that the versatility of the case body can be maintained.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. The same or corresponding components as those of the above-described conventional device are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a ribbon cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a partially omitted plan view showing an internal structure, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a wiring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ribbon cassette 21 of the present embodiment has a memory 22 of an appropriate capacity as an IC chip as data storage means for storing (holding) data. . The memory 22 is selected from a RAM, a ROM, or the like having an appropriate capacity depending on the design concept or the like. However, a nonvolatile memory, for example, a flash memory, an E ² ROM, and an R
An AM, an SRAM capable of storing data without a power supply, and the like are preferable. Also, a flash memory, a RAM powered by a battery, and an SR capable of storing data without a power supply
By using an AM or the like, not only data recording (holding) but also data rewriting and deletion can be easily performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the memory 22 of this embodiment is mounted on a flexible circuit board 23 as wiring. As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible circuit board 23 is formed of a thin film of copper, aluminum, or the like on one surface of a flexible film substrate 24 formed of an insulating resin such as polyimide or polyester. One end of the wiring pattern 25 shown on the right side of FIG. 3 is mounted on the other surface of the film substrate 24 and indicated by a broken line on the right side of FIG. Is electrically connected to
Further, most of the wiring pattern 25 except the left end side shown on the left side of FIG.
The portion of the wiring pattern 25 exposed to the outside that is not covered with the resist film 32 shown on the left side of FIG. 3 is an external connection terminal 27 used for connection to a terminal of an external device such as a thermal transfer printer or a data writing device (not shown). ing.

That is, a wiring having an external connection terminal 27 as a connection terminal is connected to the memory 22.

The carriage of the thermal transfer printer (not shown) on which the ribbon cassette 21 of the present embodiment is mounted is provided with terminals that are electrically connected to the external connection terminals 27 of the ribbon cassette 21.

Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible circuit board 23 on which the memory 22 as the data storage means of the present embodiment is mounted has the memory 22 mounted on the front surface of the case main body 2 where the recess 13 is formed. The portion on which the external connection terminal 27 is formed is fixed to the inner surface of the rear surface located on the opposite side, and the portion on which the external connection terminal 27 is formed is located on the rear surface of the rear surface of the case main body 2 opposite to the front surface where the concave portion 12 is formed. It is fixed so that the external connection terminal 27 is exposed to the outside. A groove 31 is formed on the rear surface of the case body 2 so as to pass a substantially central portion of the flexible circuit board 23 in the longitudinal direction.

The memory 22 as data storage means
It is important that the flexible circuit board 23 is disposed at a position that does not interfere with the traveling path of the ink ribbon 6.

In this embodiment, the memory 23
Is mounted on the flexible circuit board 23,
The wiring is not limited to the flexible circuit board 23, and is, for example, a wiring such as a wiring having general terminals that can at least input and output data between the memory 23 and an external device (not shown). I just need.

Furthermore, data may be mutually communicated between the apparatus main body of the thermal transfer printer and the ribbon cassette 21 by wireless communication without using wiring. In this case, a transmission / reception device is electrically connected to the memory 22, and data is transmitted / received between the transmission / reception device of the memory 22 and the transmission / reception device provided in the thermal transfer printer.
The input / output of data may be performed between the memory 22 of the ribbon cassette 21 and the memory provided in the control unit of the thermal transfer printer.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the memory 22 is provided inside the case body 2, but the memory 22
May be arranged on the surface of the case main body 2. In this case, it is preferable that the arrangement position of the memory 22 of the case main body 2 is formed in a concave shape in order to prevent the memory 22 from being damaged.

The data to be stored in the memory 22 may be determined according to the design concept and other requirements.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

The memory 22 as data storage means of the ribbon cassette 21 of the present embodiment
External devices such as a control unit of a thermal transfer printer and a data writing device are used to output a wide variety of data (such as ink colors, types of ink ribbons 6 (for image formation, base treatment, etc.), and manufacturing lot numbers). Ribbon information) can be easily and reliably stored.

Further, the ribbon cassette 21 of the present embodiment
According to this method, the amount of the used ink ribbon 6 during use is calculated by a thermal transfer printer, and the used amount of the ink ribbon 6 is stored in the memory 22 or the running of the used ink ribbon 6 is impossible. Data such as directions can also be stored.

In addition, the flexible circuit board 23 as the wiring of the ribbon cassette 21 of the present embodiment smoothly executes data input to at least the memory 22 from an external device such as a control unit of the thermal transfer printer or a data writing device. can do.

Further, the ribbon cassette 21 of the present embodiment
According to this, since the memory 22 is disposed inside the case main body 2, the damage of the memory 22 can be easily prevented, and the groove 31 is formed only in a part of the conventional case main body 2. Since the shape of the main body 2 does not need to be largely changed, the versatility of the case main body 2 can be maintained.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed.

[0036]

As described above, according to the ribbon cassette of the first aspect of the present invention, the data storage means is extremely excellent in that various kinds of data can be easily stored in the ribbon cassette. It works.

According to the ribbon cassette of the present invention, the memory has an extremely excellent effect that various kinds of data can be easily and reliably recorded on the ribbon cassette. .

Further, according to the ribbon cassette of the present invention, the wiring smoothly executes data input to at least the memory from an external device such as a control unit of the thermal transfer printer or a data writing device. It has an extremely excellent effect that it can be performed.

Further, according to the ribbon cassette of the present invention, the memory can be protected from external force, and the shape of the case main body does not need to be largely changed. It has an extremely excellent effect such as being able to hold.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an embodiment of a ribbon cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially omitted plan view showing the internal configuration of the ribbon cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing a configuration of data storage means and wiring of the ribbon cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional ribbon cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Case body 21 Ribbon cassette 22 Memory (as data storage means) 23 Flexible circuit board (as wiring) 27 External connection terminal

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon cassette having data storage means capable of storing data. 2. The ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means is a memory. 3. The ribbon cassette according to claim 2, wherein a wiring having a connection terminal is connected to the memory. 4. The data storage means according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means is disposed inside a case body of the ribbon cassette.
The ribbon cassette according to claim 3.