Printing device

Abstract

To provide a printing device that can properly execute engagement of gear trains when replacing a cartridge.SOLUTION: A printing device is constituted of: a printing head 121 that performs printing on a tape; a platen roller 122 that can be brought into either of a pressing state where the roller rotates to convey the tape while pressing the tape and a separation state where the platen is separated from the printing head 121, in a state where the tape is held between the printing head 121 and the platen roller when the printing is performed; and a plurality of gear wheels G6-G9 that rotate the platen roller 122, which is provided with a fixing mechanism 140 that fixes movement of the gear wheels G6-G9 separated from the printing head 121 together with the platen roller 122 when the platen roller 122 is in the separation state and fixes movement of at least one gear wheel of the gear wheels G6-G9, when the platen roller 122 is in the separation state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device that produces labels by printing on a tape member. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A thermal transfer printing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, is known as a printing device that produces labels by printing ink from an ink ribbon onto a tape member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-48198 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the printing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when replacing a tape cassette (cartridge), opening the cassette cover moves the platen holder to a standby position. The platen holder's movement to the standby position allows the tape cassette to be attached to or detached from the mounting portion. However, when the platen holder is in the standby position, the gear train that rotates the platen roller is not engaged with the drive gear that drives the gear train, and so may rotate due to vibrations or the like. If the cassette cover is closed again in the rotated state, it becomes difficult for the gear train that rotates the platen roller to engage with the drive gear.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a printing device in which the gear train can be properly engaged when replacing a cartridge. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the printing device of the present invention comprises: a print head for printing on a tape; a platen roller that can be changed between a pressing state in which the tape is held between the platen roller and the print head when printing is performed and the platen roller rotates to convey the tape while pressing the tape, and a separated state in which the platen roller is separated from the print head; a gear train that is composed of a plurality of gears that rotate the platen roller, and that is separated from the print head together with the platen roller when the platen roller is in the separated state; and a fixing mechanism that fixes the movement of at least one gear of the gear train when the platen roller is in the separated state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing device that can properly engage the gear train when replacing a cartridge. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the state in which the tape cartridge is attached to the printing device. [Figure 3] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing the movement of the drive mechanism for the platen roller and the ribbon take-up shaft. [Figure 4] A perspective view of a part of the drive mechanism [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a fixing mechanism. [Figure 6] 1A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the gear train is released from the fixing mechanism, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the gear train is fixed by the fixing mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In describing the printing device, reference will be made as appropriate to a Cartesian coordinate system in which the X-axis represents the direction in which the print medium is ejected, the Y-axis represents the direction perpendicular to the print medium, and the Z-axis is orthogonal to the X-axis and Y-axis. In this Cartesian coordinate system, the +X-axis direction is the direction in which the print medium is ejected, and the +Y-axis direction is the upper side of the printing device.

[0010] The printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention is a tape printer (label printer) that prints letters, numbers, symbols, pictograms, figures, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "printing patterns") on a printing tape.

[0011] 1, the printing device 1 is equipped with a keyboard 11 for inputting a printing pattern, a display 12 for displaying the input printing pattern, etc., an opening / closing lid 13 for accommodating a tape cartridge within the printing device 1, a label creation unit 100, and a tape outlet 14 for ejecting labels created by the label creation unit 100 from the printing device 1. In addition, although not shown, the printing device 1 is also equipped with an input / output terminal for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer, a power terminal to which a power cord is connected or a battery housing unit for housing a battery, an insertion port for inserting a storage device such as a memory card, etc.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the label producing section 100 includes a base section 110, a tape printing mechanism 120 that prints on a print tape, a cartridge receiving section 130, and a fixing mechanism 140 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0013] The base portion 110 includes a first flat plate 110a and a second flat plate 110b. The first flat plate 110a is equipped with a gear that rotates the platen roller 122 and ribbon take-up shaft 126, the platen roller 122, an arm 123 that swings the platen roller 122, the thermal head 121, etc. The second flat plate 110b sandwiches the gear, platen roller 122, thermal head 121, etc. between its lower surface and the first flat plate 110a, and has a cartridge receiving portion 130 formed on its upper surface, in which a tape cartridge 200 is stored.

[0014] The tape cartridge 200 is a cartridge that contains a tape material M, which is a tape for printing, and an ink ribbon R, and includes a tape core 201 around which the tape material M is wound, a ribbon supply core 202 that supplies the ink ribbon R, and a ribbon take-up core 127 that takes up the used ink ribbon R.

[0015] The tape printing mechanism 120 includes a thermal head (printing head) 121 having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line for heating the ink ribbon R, a platen roller 122 that is disposed opposite the thermal head 121 and transports the tape material M and the ink ribbon R toward the tape outlet 14 while sandwiching them with the thermal head 121, an arm 123 that supports the platen roller 122 so that it can swing (rotate), and a cutting unit 124. The tape printing mechanism 120 also includes a ribbon take-up shaft 126 that rotates a ribbon take-up core 127 that takes up the ink ribbon R.

[0016] The platen roller 122 feeds out the tape material M in the direction of the tape outlet 14 (+X direction), and presses the tape material M toward the thermal head 121 with an appropriate pressure during printing. The outer periphery of the platen roller 122 is formed, for example, by a cylindrical body whose outer periphery is covered with an elastic material such as rubber. The platen roller 122 is rotated by a rotation shaft 122a protruding from both ends of the platen roller 122 in the longitudinal axis direction (Z axis direction), and feeds out the tape material M.

[0017] The platen roller 122 rotates in the R1 direction while being pushed downward via an arm 123 by a cam portion (not shown), thereby transporting the tape material M and the ink ribbon R while pressing them against the thermal head 121.

[0018] The arm 123 is caused to swing (rotate) around the Z axis of the rotation shaft 123a by the cam portion. When the arm 123 swings, the platen roller 122 attached to the tip of the arm 123 swings in the P1 direction, which is the downward direction, and in the P2 direction, which is the opposite direction to the P1 direction. When the arm 123 swings in the P2 direction and becomes the farthest away from the thermal head 121, the platen roller 122 moves to a position where a sufficient distance can be secured from the thermal head 121. By securing this distance, the user can easily replace or set the tape cartridge 200.

[0019] The cutting section 124 is disposed near the tape outlet 14 and cuts the tape member M to create tape pieces or cuts the tape member M down to its adhesive surface.

[0020] Next, the drive mechanism for the platen roller 122 and the ribbon take-up shaft 126 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the platen roller 122 and the ribbon take-up shaft 126 are rotated by power transmitted from a motor 50 attached to the base portion 110. The motor 50 is, for example, a stepping motor, and includes a rotor, a stator, an encoder, etc. The rotational motion of the motor 50 is output from an output gear G1 attached to the output shaft. The gears shown in FIG. 3 are attached to the first flat plate 110a, which faces the cartridge receiving portion 130 (FIG. 2) of the second flat plate 110b. Note that the tooth profiles of the gears have been omitted in FIG. 3 for ease of understanding. The rotational motion output from the output gear G1 is transmitted to gears G2 to G9, causing the platen roller 122, connected to gear G9, to rotate about the rotation shaft 122a. Output gears G1 to G9 that transmit power from the motor 50 to the platen roller 122 are referred to as a first gear train 51. Furthermore, the rotational motion output from the output gear G1 is transmitted to gears G2, G3, G4, G5, G10, G11, and G12, causing the ribbon take-up shaft 126 connected to gear G12 to rotate. Output gears G1 to G5 and gears G10 to G12 that transmit power from the motor 50 to the ribbon take-up shaft 126 are referred to as a second gear train 52.

[0021] The fixing mechanism 140 is a mechanism that fixes some of the gears of the first gear train 51, to which power transmission is interrupted when replacing the cartridge. As shown in FIG. 5, the fixing mechanism 140 includes an arm 123 and a fixing member 143 (see FIG. 6). The arm 123 swings around a rotation shaft 123a in a P1 direction, which is a downward direction, and a P2 direction, which is a direction opposite to the P1 direction. The rotation shaft 123a is attached to the first flat plate 110a. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the arm 123 includes a first frame 123b on whose upper surface gears G6 to G9 of the first gear train 51 are placed, and a second frame 123c that is disposed opposite the first frame 123b and that sandwiches the gears G6 to G9 between the arm 123b and the first frame 123b. Gears G6 to G9 are sandwiched between the first frame 123b and the second frame 123c in the thickness direction of the gears, and movement in the thickness direction is restricted.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6(a), when the arm 123 swings in the P1 direction, which is the downward direction, the gear G6 meshes with the gear G5, and when the arm 123 swings in the P2 direction, which is the upward direction, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the gear G6 disengages from the gear G5. As the gear G5 and the gear G6 mesh, the rotational power of the motor 50 is transmitted from the gear G5 to the gear G6. When the arm 123 swings upward, the gear G5 and the gear G6 disengage from each other, and the rotational power of the motor 50 is not transmitted from the gear G5 to the gear G6. The gear G5 functions as a drive gear that rotates the gear G6.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6, the fixed member 143 is disposed above the gear G7. In this embodiment, the fixed member 143 has a rack tooth profile. When the arm 123 swings in the P2 direction, which is the upward direction, the fixed member 143 meshes with the gear G7, as shown in FIG. 6(b), and restricts the movement of the gear G7. When the movement of the gear G7 is restricted by the fixed member 143, the movement of gears G6 and G8, which mesh with the gear G7, and gear G9, which meshes with the gear G8, is restricted. When the arm 123 swings in the P1 direction, which is the downward direction, the meshing between the fixed member 143 and the gear G7 is released, and the drive gears G5 and G6 mesh with each other, as shown in FIG. 6(a).

[0024] (Printing device operation) When a printing command is issued by operating the keyboard 11, the motor 50 shown in FIG. 3 rotates, and the tape material M and the ink ribbon R are respectively unwound from the tape core 201 and the ribbon supply core 202 of the tape cartridge 200. Specifically, as the motor 50 rotates, power is transmitted from the motor 50 to a first gear train 51 consisting of output gears G1 to G9 shown in FIG. 3, causing the rotation shaft 122a to rotate counterclockwise (R1). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the platen roller 122 rotates around the rotation shaft 122a in the direction indicated by arrow R1 (counterclockwise) while pressing the overlapping tape material M and ink ribbon R against the thermal head 121. As a result, the tape material M is unwound from the tape core 201, and the ink ribbon R is unwound from the ribbon supply core 202. In this manner, the tape material M and the ink ribbon R are transported and pass between the platen roller 122 and the thermal head 121 in an overlapping state in the direction indicated by arrow Y1. At this time, the ink ribbon R is heated by the thermal head 121, and the ink is thermally transferred to the tape member M. Then, the printed tape member M is cut by the cutting section 124 and discharged from the tape discharge port 14 to the outside of the device.

[0025] Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 3, when the motor 50 rotates, power is transmitted to the second gear train 52, which includes the output gear G1, gears G2 to G5, and gears G10 to G12, and the gear G12 connected to the ribbon take-up shaft 126. The gear G12 rotates clockwise around the ribbon take-up shaft 126, as indicated by the arrow R2. As a result, the ink ribbon R is transported in the direction of the arrow Y2 and taken up onto the ribbon take-up core 127, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0026] The arm 123 is also swung around the rotation shaft 123a by a cam portion (not shown). That is, when the printing operation starts, the arm 123 is swung downward in the P1 direction by the cam portion, and the platen roller 122 is pushed downward to press the tape material M against the thermal head 121.

[0027] While printing is being performed, the arm 123 swings in the P1 direction as shown in FIG. 6(a), and the gear G6 held by the arm 123 engages with the drive gear G5, causing the platen roller 122 to rotate and transport the tape material M in the Y1 direction.

[0028] When the arm 123 is swung upward in the P2 direction by the cam portion, the arm 123 rotates the rotation shaft 123a counterclockwise by the maximum angle, and the platen roller 122 is separated from the thermal head 121 by the maximum distance.

[0029] At this time, as shown in Figure 6(b), arm 123 swings upward in the P2 direction, so that gears G5 and G6, which are drive gears, are disengaged from each other, and gear G7 engages with the rack teeth, which is fixed member 143. As a result, the movement of gears G6 to G9 is fixed.

[0030] When this state is reached, the access cover 13 is unlocked and the user can open and close the access cover 13. Then, the tape cartridge 200 housed in the cartridge receiving part 130 can be replaced. Furthermore, when starting printing, the tape cartridge 200 can be set in the cartridge receiving part 130.

[0031] When the user replaces or sets the tape cartridge 200 and closes the access cover 13, the cam portion is actuated, causing the arm 123 to swing downward in the P1 direction. As the arm 123 swings downward, the rack tooth profile that is the fixing member 143 that fixed the gear G7 moves away from the gear G7. The gear G6 remains fixed and meshes with the gear G5, which is the drive gear, so that the drive gears G5 and G6 are aligned and mesh together.

[0032] When the tape cartridge 200 is set and the opening / closing cover 13 is closed, the cam portion is driven again, causing the arm 123 to swing the platen roller 122 in the P1 direction, bringing it closer to the thermal head 121. The first gear train 51 is driven by the meshing of gears G5 and G6, causing the platen roller 122 to rotate and transport the tape medium M, thereby enabling printing.

[0033] When printing is completed, the cutting unit 124 is operated to cut the tape member M in the width direction, and one tape-shaped label is produced.

[0034] According to the above embodiment, by meshing the fixed member 143 with the gear G7, the rotation of the gear train on the arm 123 can be stopped, and when printing is resumed, the driving gears G5 and G6 mesh appropriately.

[0035] The arm 123 engages and disengages the gears G5 and G6, which are drive gears, so that the gears G6 to G9 can be moved stably.

[0036] Since a rack tooth profile is used as the fixing member 143, multiple teeth of the rack tooth profile mesh with multiple teeth of the gear G7, so that the movement of the gear G7 can be fixed reliably.

[0037] Arm 123 is composed of a first frame 123b and a second frame 123c, and the two frames sandwich gears G6 to G9 in the thickness direction of the gears and allow them to swing, so that gears G6 to G9 can swing as a unit while restricting movement in the thickness direction.

[0038] The amount of backlash can be reduced by meshing the rack tooth profile of the fixed member 143 with the gear G7 adjacent to the gear G6, rather than with the gear G6 that directly meshes with the gear G5 that is the drive gear.

[0039] This invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. In the above embodiment, a rack tooth profile is used as the fixing member 143, but any member that can stop the rotation of the gear G7 will do, and a rod-shaped stopper or the like may be inserted between the teeth of the gear G7.

[0040] The fixing member 143 is configured to stop the gear G7, but the gear to be stopped may be any of the gears on the arm.

[0041] Although the fixing member 143 stops one gear G7, it may stop multiple gears on the arm 123.

[0042] Although gear G5 has been described as the drive gear, the drive gear may be another gear in first gear train 51, such as gear G6, gear G7, etc.

[0043] The fixed member 143 is disposed above the gear G7, but may be disposed below the gear G7.

[0044] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and the present invention includes the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Printing device, 50 Motor, 51 First gear train, 122 Platen roller, 123 Arm, 140 Fixing mechanism, 123b First frame, 123c Second frame, 143 Fixing member, G1 Output gear, G2 to G12 Gears

Claims

1. a print head for printing on the tape; a platen roller that can be changed between a pressing state in which the tape is held between the platen roller and the print head and that rotates to convey the tape while pressing the tape, and a separated state in which the platen roller is separated from the print head when printing is performed; a gear train that is composed of a plurality of gears that rotate the platen roller, and that is separated from the print head together with the platen roller when the platen roller is in the separated state; a locking mechanism that locks the movement of at least one gear of the gear train when the platen roller is in the spaced state. A printing device characterized by:

2. Further comprising a drive gear that drives the gear train, the locking mechanism locks the movement of at least one gear of the gear train when power transmission from the drive gear to the gear train is released; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. The fixing mechanism stops a gear that is adjacent to a gear that directly meshes with the drive gear.

3. The printing device according to claim 2.

4. the locking mechanism includes a locking member that engages the at least one gear to lock the gear train from moving; 4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is a printer.

5. The fixing member has a rack tooth shape.

5. The printing device according to claim 4.

6. the fixing mechanism includes an arm that holds the gear train; The arm moves the gear train to a position where it engages with the drive gear and a position where it disengages from the drive gear.

3. The printing device according to claim 2.

7. The arm includes a pair of frames that sandwich the gear train in a thickness direction of the gears.

7. The printing device according to claim 6.

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