Ribbon cartridge and printing device
By setting openings in the supply and return cylinders, the problem of not being able to promptly confirm the ribbon status in existing technologies is solved, enabling users to monitor the ribbon status and remaining amount in real time, ensuring normal printer operation and print quality.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520137721.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-01-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing dye-sublimation printers cannot promptly confirm the ribbon status when there is insufficient ribbon or printing errors, which may lead to printer damage or printing errors, and users cannot confirm whether the ribbon is in the correct condition.
Openings are provided in the supply and return cartridges, allowing users to check the ribbon status and remaining amount through the openings on the cartridges. The cartridges are also secured to the printing device via joints, preventing printing defects caused by inaccurate assembly of the ribbon cartridges.
Users can promptly check the ribbon status and remaining amount to avoid printer damage and printing errors, ensure proper installation of the ribbon cartridge, and improve print quality.
Smart Images
Figure CN223559347U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The utility model relates to printing technical field especially relates to a ribbon cartridge and printing device. BACKGROUND
[0002] The existing thermal dye sublimation ribbon cartridge includes a supply shaft and a recovery shaft, the supply shaft is accommodated in a supply cylinder, the recovery shaft is accommodated in a recovery cylinder, the supply shaft is wound with thermal dye sublimation ribbon, and the recovery shaft is used for winding the ribbon from the supply shaft.
[0003] Thermal dye sublimation technology is to use heat energy to transfer pigment to printing medium, and the density of each color is controlled by the temperature change of the print head, and the thermal dye sublimation ribbon is usually composed of yellow, magenta and cyan three color ribbons and a protective film, that is, three primary colors and a protective film. Any other color can be blended by the three primary colors, and the thermal dye sublimation printer realizes various colors and color depths by the collocation of the three colors. However, in the thermal dye sublimation printing process, the three colors are not printed at the same time, but one color is used each time, and the required color requirement is composed by three times of printing. Therefore, in the printing process, the three color ribbons must pass through the print head one by one to leave marks on the medium, and finally the protective film is laminated.
[0004] In actual application process, if the ribbon reserve is insufficient, the printer still rotates the ribbon shaft, and then stops and reports errors, which may cause damage to the printer; in addition, if the printing error and other problems cause the stop, the user cannot confirm whether the ribbon in the supply shaft is in the correct state, and cannot confirm whether the ribbon is excessively stretched or damaged, and when reprinting, the user may face the problems of printing error or poor printing. UTILITY MODEL CONTENTS
[0005] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the utility model aims at providing a ribbon cartridge and a printing device, so that the user can observe the ribbon state and confirm whether the ribbon is in a suitable position.
[0006] According to the first aspect of the utility model, a ribbon cartridge is provided, which is detachably installed in a printing device, and comprises:
[0007] A supply shaft, the supply shaft is wound with a ribbon;
[0008] A recovery shaft, the recovery shaft is wound with the ribbon from the supply shaft;
[0009] A housing, the housing includes a supply cylinder rotatably accommodating the supply shaft and a recovery cylinder rotatably accommodating the recovery shaft, and at least one of the supply cylinder and the recovery cylinder is provided with an opening.
[0010] The color ribbon cartridge of the utility model, through setting the opening in at least one of the supply cylinder and the recovery cylinder, enables the user to confirm the state and the color ribbon remaining amount of the color ribbon in the cylinder through the opening on the cylinder.
[0011] In some embodiments, the supply cylinder and the recovery cylinder each comprise:
[0012] Half cylinder;
[0013] Cylinder cover, two cylinder covers are connected with two half cylinders respectively.
[0014] In some embodiments, the opening is arranged on the half cylinder, the opening penetrates the half cylinder, and / or the opening is arranged on the cylinder cover, and the opening penetrates the cylinder cover.
[0015] In some embodiments, the printing device comprises a joint part, two ends of two half cylinders are connected through a connecting part, the connecting part comprises a joint part, when the color ribbon cartridge is installed on the printing device, the joint part cooperates with the joint part to fix the color ribbon cartridge on the printing device.
[0016] In some embodiments, the supply cylinder is provided with a ribbon outlet, and the color ribbon passes out of the supply cylinder through the ribbon outlet.
[0017] The recovery cylinder is provided with a ribbon inlet, and the color ribbon passes into the recovery cylinder through the ribbon inlet.
[0018] In some embodiments, two half cylinders are respectively provided with gaps between different cylinder covers, and two gaps are respectively the ribbon outlet and the ribbon inlet.
[0019] In some embodiments, the ribbon inlet is provided with a guide shaft, and the cylinder cover opposite to the ribbon inlet is provided with an adjusting part, the adjusting part abuts against the guide shaft to prevent the guide shaft from deforming.
[0020] In some embodiments, the adjusting part is a plurality of first protrusions arranged along the axis of the guide shaft.
[0021] In some embodiments, one end of the supply shaft and the recovery shaft is provided with a plurality of grooves, and the other end is provided with an elastic piece, two half cylinders are provided with second protrusions, and two elastic pieces respectively push the supply shaft and the recovery shaft to move in the first direction, so that two second protrusions are respectively inserted into different grooves to limit the rotation of the supply shaft and the recovery shaft.
[0022] When the ink ribbon cartridge is installed in the printing device, the printing device pushes the supply shaft and the recovery shaft to move in the opposite direction of the first direction, and the two second protrusions are separated from the two grooves respectively, so as to release the restriction on the supply shaft and the recovery shaft.
[0023] According to a second aspect of the present application, a printing device is provided, which comprises the ink ribbon cartridge.
[0024] Compared with the prior art, the ink ribbon cartridge and the printing device have the following advantages: the opening is arranged in at least one of the supply cylinder and the recovery cylinder, so that the user can confirm the state and the remaining amount of the ink ribbon in the cylinder through the opening on the cylinder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structure schematic diagram of a first perspective view of an ink ribbon cartridge according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0026] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a structure schematic diagram of a second perspective view of the ink ribbon cartridge according to the embodiment of the present application;
[0027] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a structure schematic diagram of a third perspective view of the ink ribbon cartridge according to the embodiment of the present application;
[0028] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a structure schematic diagram of the third perspective view of the ink ribbon cartridge according to the embodiment of the present application, in which the cylinder cover is removed;
[0029] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a structure schematic diagram of a connecting part connecting a semi-cylinder according to the embodiment of the present application;
[0030] Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a structure schematic diagram of an adjusting part of the cylinder cover abutting against a guide shaft according to the embodiment of the present application;
[0031] Figure 7 FIG. 7 is a structure schematic diagram of a fourth perspective view of the ink ribbon cartridge according to the embodiment of the present application;
[0032] Figure 8 FIG. 8 is a first cross-sectional view of the ink ribbon cartridge according to the embodiment of the present application;
[0033] Figure 9 FIG. 9 is a second cross-sectional view of the ink ribbon cartridge according to the embodiment of the present application.
[0034] Explanation of reference signs: ribbon cartridge 10, housing 100, supply cylinder 110, semi-cylinder 111, cylinder cover 112, ribbon outlet 113, recycling cylinder 120, semi-cylinder 121, cylinder cover 122, adjusting part 1221, ribbon inlet 123, guide shaft 1231, connecting part 130, first connecting part 131, second connecting part 132, engaged part 1321, avoiding part 140, opening 150, supply shaft 200, recycling shaft 300, ribbon 400, groove 500, elastic part 600, second protrusion 700. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The utility model will be described in further detail below in combination with the drawings.
[0036] The embodiment of the application provides a printing device, which comprises a ribbon cartridge 10, the ribbon cartridge 10 is detachably installed on the printing device, as shown in the figure, Figures 1-3 The ribbon cartridge 10 comprises a housing 100, a supply shaft 200, a recycling shaft 300 and a ribbon 400.
[0037] As shown in the figure, Figures 1-3 The housing 100 comprises a supply cylinder 110 rotatably containing the supply shaft 200 and a recycling cylinder 120 rotatably containing the recycling shaft 300, specifically, the supply cylinder 110 and the recycling cylinder 120 each comprise a semi-cylinder and a cylinder cover, the two semi-cylinders are semi-cylinder 111 and semi-cylinder 121 in turn, and the two cylinder covers are cylinder cover 112 and cylinder cover 122 in turn, the cylinder cover 112 and the semi-cylinder 111 are connected to form the supply cylinder 110, the cylinder cover 122 and the semi-cylinder 121 are connected to form the recycling cylinder 120, the two semi-cylinders and the two cylinder covers can be connected through clamping, for example, one of the semi-cylinder and the cylinder cover is provided with a protrusion, and the other is provided with a groove, the semi-cylinder and the cylinder cover are connected by inserting the protrusion into the groove.
[0038] As shown in the figure, Figures 1-5As shown, the shell 100 further comprises connecting portions 130, which are connected to the two ends of the half-cylinders 111 and 121 respectively, and make the half-cylinders 111 and 121 arranged side by side. Specifically, the connecting portions 130 comprise first connecting portions 131 and second connecting portions 132. The first connecting portions 131 are connected to the ends of the half-cylinders 111 and 121 in the mounting direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10, and do not completely close the supply cylinder 110 and the recovery cylinder 120, so that the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 in the supply cylinder 110 and the recovery cylinder 120 are exposed at one end in the mounting direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10, so as to be connected to the driving device (not shown) of the printing device. The second connecting portions 132 are connected to the ends of the half-cylinders 111 and 121 in the opposite direction of the mounting direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10 (i.e. the dismounting direction of the ribbon cartridge 10), and completely close the supply cylinder 110 and the recovery cylinder 120, so that the other ends of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 in the opposite direction of the mounting direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10 are in a closed state, so as to protect the interiors of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300. The half-cylinders 111 and 121, the first connecting portions 131 and the second connecting portions 132 surround an avoiding portion 140, which is perpendicular to the mounting direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10. The avoiding portion 140 is used for the printing head (not shown) and the pressure roller (not shown) in the printing device to extend into and hold the ribbon 400 and the printing medium (not shown, which can be paper, photo, postcard, card, etc.) passing through the avoiding portion 140, so as to perform printing work. The first connecting portions 131 and the second connecting portions 132 are integrally formed with the two half-cylinders, and the axis of the half-cylinders is parallel to the mounting direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10.
[0039] As shown, Figure 2 The supply cylinder 110 is provided with a ribbon outlet 113, and the recovery cylinder 120 is provided with a ribbon inlet 123. Specifically, the half-cylinders 111 and 121 have gaps between them and the cylinder covers 112 and 122 respectively. The two gaps are opposite to each other, and are the ribbon outlet 113 and the ribbon inlet 123 respectively. The ribbon outlet 113 and the ribbon inlet 123 extend in the axial direction of the half-cylinders respectively.
[0040] In some embodiments, the ribbon outlet 113 and the ribbon inlet 123 can also be formed in the half-cylinders or the cylinder covers.
[0041] As shown, Figures 1-4As shown, the supply shaft 200 is rotatably arranged in the supply cylinder 110, the axis of the supply shaft 200 is parallel to the axis of the semi-cylinder, and the color ribbon 400 is wound on the supply shaft 200, that is, one end of the color ribbon 400 and the unused part thereof are wound on the supply shaft 200, and the other end of the color ribbon 400 is pulled out of the supply cylinder 110 at the ribbon outlet 113 of the supply cylinder 110 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the semi-cylinder, wherein the color ribbon 400 is composed of a plurality of groups of three-color (yellow, magenta, and cyan) ribbons and a protective film (not shown).
[0042] In some embodiments, the color ribbon 400 can also be composed of a plurality of groups of black ribbons and a protective film, that is, the printed pattern is black and white.
[0043] As shown, Figures 1-4 The recycling shaft 300 is rotatably arranged in the recycling cylinder 120, the axis of the recycling shaft 300 is parallel to the axis of the semi-cylinder, and the color ribbon 400 from the supply shaft 200 is wound on the recycling shaft 300, that is, after the other end of the color ribbon 400 is pulled out of the supply cylinder 110 at the ribbon outlet 113, it first passes through the avoidance part 140 and is perpendicular to the avoidance part 140, and then is pulled into the recycling cylinder 120 at the ribbon inlet 123 of the recycling cylinder 120 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the semi-cylinder, and finally is wound on the recycling shaft 300 in the recycling cylinder 120, wherein the direction of the color ribbon 400 passing through the avoidance part 140, the orientation of the avoidance part 140, and the installation direction X of the color ribbon cartridge 10 are perpendicular to each other.
[0044] As shown, Figure 1 and Figure 5 At least one of the supply cylinder 110 and the recycling cylinder 120 is provided with an opening 150, specifically, the opening 150 is obliquely arranged on the semi-cylinder 111 of the supply cylinder 110, the opening 150 penetrates the semi-cylinder 111, the number of openings 150 is two, and the two openings 150 are symmetrically arranged with the radial direction of the semi-cylinder 111 as the axis of symmetry; the user can see the state of the color ribbon 400 in the cylinder and the remaining amount of the color ribbon 400 through the opening 150, and the state of the color ribbon 400 can be the color of the color ribbon 400, whether the color ribbon 400 surface is excessively stretched or damaged, whether the color ribbon 400 is in the appropriate position, etc.; similarly, as a part of the supply cylinder 110, the opening 150 can also be arranged on the cylinder cover 112 of the supply cylinder 110, the opening 150 penetrates the cylinder cover 112, and the user can also see the state of the color ribbon 400 in the cylinder and the remaining amount of the color ribbon 400 through the opening 150 on the cylinder cover 112.
[0045] In some embodiments, the opening 150 can also be provided on the semi-cylinder 121 or the cylinder cover 122 of the recovery cylinder 120; of course, the opening 150 can also be provided on one or more of the semi-cylinder 111, the cylinder cover 112 of the supply cylinder 110 and the semi-cylinder 121, the cylinder cover 122 of the recovery cylinder 120; the number of openings 150 on the semi-cylinder or the cylinder cover can also be single or multiple; the opening 150 can be transverse (i.e. parallel to the axial direction of the semi-cylinder) or longitudinal (i.e. parallel to the radial direction of the semi-cylinder).
[0046] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 8 The ribbon inlet 123 is provided with a guide shaft 1231, and the cylinder cover 122 opposite to the ribbon inlet 123 is provided with an adjusting portion 1221, the adjusting portion 1221 abuts against the guide shaft 1231 to prevent the guide shaft 1231 from being deformed. Specifically, the guide shaft 1231 is rotatably provided on the semi-cylinder 121 of the recovery cylinder 120, the axial direction of the guide shaft 1231 is parallel to the axis of the semi-cylinder 121, and the guide shaft 1231 is located at the ribbon inlet 123. The guide shaft 1231 is used to guide the ribbon 400 to smoothly pass into the recovery cylinder 120 from the gap between the guide shaft 1231 and the semi-cylinder 121 in the ribbon inlet 123. The adjusting portion 1221 is a plurality of first protrusions arranged on the cylinder cover 122 along the axis of the guide shaft 1231, and the plurality of first protrusions are located at the ribbon inlet 123. The plurality of first protrusions and the ribbon 400 are respectively located on the two sides away from the guide shaft 1231. By abutting the plurality of first protrusions on the axis of the guide shaft 1231 against the guide shaft 1231, the guide shaft 1231 can be limited in the radial direction, effectively preventing the guide shaft 1231 from being deformed in the radial direction.
[0047] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 7 The printing device includes an engaging portion (not shown), and the second connecting portion 132 of the connecting portion 130 includes an engaged portion 1321, and the engaging portion cooperates with the engaged portion 1321. Specifically, the engaging portion is a protrusion, the number of the protrusion is two, the engaged portion 1321 is a groove, the number of the groove is two, and the groove opening faces the mounting direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10. When the ribbon cartridge 10 is mounted on the printing device along the mounting direction X, the protrusion is inserted into the groove in the opposite direction of the mounting direction X. The protrusion and the groove form the engaging portion and the engaged portion, respectively, so that the ribbon cartridge 10 is fixed on the printing device, thereby reducing the problem of poor printing caused by inaccurate assembly of the ribbon cartridge 10 and the printer.
[0048] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 9As shown, the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 are each provided with a plurality of grooves 500 at one end thereof in the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10, the plurality of grooves 500 are arranged around the axis of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 respectively, the plurality of grooves 500 respectively penetrate the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 in the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10, the plurality of grooves 500 respectively penetrate the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 in the direction of the circumferential surface of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300, the other end thereof in the direction opposite to the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10 is provided with an elastic member 600, the elastic member 600 is a spring, the portion of the half-cylinder 111 and the half-cylinder 121 opposite to the groove 500 is provided with a second protrusion 700, the two second protrusions 700 are respectively perpendicular to the axis of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300, the second protrusion 700 is a rib, the two elastic members 600 respectively push the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 to move in the first direction (i.e. the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10), so that the two second protrusions 700 are inserted into the groove 500 of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 in the axial direction of the half-cylinder 111 and the half-cylinder 121 respectively, so as to limit the rotation of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300; when the ribbon cartridge 10 is installed in the printing device in the installation direction X, the driving device of the printing device pushes the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 to move in the direction opposite to the first direction (i.e. the direction opposite to the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10), so that the two second protrusions 700 are separated from the groove 500 of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 in the axial direction of the half-cylinder 111 and the half-cylinder 121 respectively, so as to release the limitation of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300, so that the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 rotate under the driving of the driving device of the printing device, when the ribbon cartridge 10 is detached from the printing device in the detachment direction (i.e. the direction opposite to the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10), the two elastic members 600 which are pressed respectively push the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 to move in the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10, so that the two second protrusions 700 are re-inserted into the groove 500 of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 respectively, so as to re-limit the rotation of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300; in this way, the rotation of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 when the ribbon cartridge 10 is not installed can be avoided, so that the ribbon 400 is in a relaxed state and affects the printing quality.
[0049] In some embodiments, the plurality of grooves 500 provided at one end of the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 in the installation direction X of the ribbon cartridge 10 can also be replaced by a plurality of protrusions, the grooves are formed between adjacent two protrusions, and the grooves formed between the protrusions can also have the same effect.
[0050] It should be noted that, since the supply shaft 200 and the recovery shaft 300 will move in the direction opposite to the installation direction X or the installation direction X under the action of the printing device or the elastic member 600, as shown in Figure 2 the length of the out-tape port 113 and the in-tape port 123 on the axis of the semi-cylinder is greater than the color band 400, and the out-tape port 113 and the in-tape port 123 have a margin in the installation direction X and the direction opposite to the installation direction X, respectively, so that the color band 400 can move in the installation direction X and the direction opposite to the installation direction X; similarly, as shown in Figure 1 the avoidance portion 140 also needs to have a margin in the installation direction X and the direction opposite to the installation direction X, so that the color band 400 can move in the installation direction X and the direction opposite to the installation direction X.
[0051] When the color band cartridge 10 is installed in the installation direction X to the printing device, and the printing device is in a printing state, the print head and the pressure roller in the printing device can clamp the color band 400 and the printing medium between them through the avoidance portion 140, the pressure roller tightly presses the color band and the printing medium on the print head, the print head is heated, the ink on the color band is transferred to the printing medium, and the yellow, magenta and cyan inks of the color band are sequentially superimposed layer by layer to form a full-color pattern (or the black ink is transferred to the printing medium to form a black pattern), and finally the protective film is transferred to the printing medium.
[0052] The present embodiment is provided with the opening 150 in at least one of the supply cylinder 110 and the recovery cylinder 120, so that the user can confirm the state and the color band margin in the cylinder through the opening 150 on the cylinder.
[0053] The above only describes some embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can make some modifications and improvements without departing from the inventive concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application.
Claims
1. A ribbon cartridge, detachably mounted on a printing device, characterized in that, include: A supply shaft, the supply shaft being wound with a colored ribbon; A recycling shaft, the recycling shaft being wound with the ribbon from the supply shaft; The housing includes a supply cylinder rotatably housing the supply shaft and a recovery cylinder rotatably housing the recovery shaft, wherein at least one of the supply cylinder and the recovery cylinder is provided with an opening.
2. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the supply cylinder and the recovery cylinder include: Semi-cylinder; The two cylindrical caps are respectively connected to the two semi-cylinders.
3. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The opening is provided in the semi-cylinder and penetrates the semi-cylinder, and / or the opening is provided in the cylinder cover and penetrates the cylinder cover.
4. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The printing device includes a joint, and the two ends of the two semi-cylinders are connected by a connecting part. The connecting part includes a joined part. When the ribbon cartridge is installed in the printing device, the joint and the joined part cooperate to fix the ribbon cartridge to the printing device.
5. The ribbon cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that, The supply cylinder is provided with a tape outlet, through which the ribbon passes out of the supply cylinder; The recycling bin is provided with a tape inlet, through which the colored tape is inserted into the recycling bin.
6. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that, The two semi-cylinders have gaps between themselves and different caps, and the two gaps are the tape outlet and the tape inlet, respectively.
7. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that, The tape inlet is provided with a guide shaft, and the tube cover opposite to the tape inlet is provided with an adjustment part, which abuts against the guide shaft to prevent the guide shaft from deforming.
8. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that, The adjustment part consists of a plurality of first protrusions arranged along the axis of the guide shaft.
9. The ribbon cartridge according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The supply shaft and the recovery shaft are each provided with multiple grooves at one end and elastic elements at the other end. The two semi-cylinders are each provided with a second protrusion. The two elastic elements respectively push the supply shaft and the recovery shaft to move in a first direction, so that the two second protrusions are respectively inserted into different grooves to restrict the rotation of the supply shaft and the recovery shaft. When the ribbon cartridge is installed in the printing device, the printing device pushes the supply shaft and the recycle shaft to move in the opposite direction to the first direction, and the two second protrusions separate from the two grooves respectively, so as to release the restriction on the supply shaft and the recycle shaft.
10. A printing apparatus, characterized in that, Includes the ribbon cartridge as described in any one of claims 1-9.