Ink ribbon refill and its ribbon gear

Abstract

The present invention provides an ink ribbon refill equipped with a cover holder that prevents the ribbon cover from falling off or getting caught, and which allows the ribbon gear that transmits rotational driving force to be attached without increasing the width dimension of the ink ribbon refill. [Solution] The ink ribbon refill 1 comprises an ink ribbon 2, a core 3 around which the ink ribbon 2 is wound, a ribbon cover 5, a cover holder 6 that can support the ribbon cover 5 while attached to the core 3, and a ribbon gear 20 that is attached to the core 3 and transmits the driving force to rotate the ink ribbon 2. The cover holder 6 is located on the end side of the core 3 and has a locking portion 7 that can support the ribbon cover 5 so that it can rotate around the central axis of the core 3. The ribbon gear 20 has a flange portion 22 that guides the ink ribbon 2 from the side, and the flange portion 22 is provided with a housing portion 23 that accommodates the locking portion 7 of the cover holder 6.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ink ribbon refill and a ribbon gear used for the ink ribbon refill.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an ink ribbon refill for printers, when a transmission gear (also referred to as a ribbon gear in the present specification) is attached to the core of an ink ribbon, an intermediate coupling body (which is used to prevent the ribbon cover from falling off or being pinched, and may also be called a cover holder (holder guide), an engagement body, etc.) is used for the attachment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when the intermediate coupling body (cover holder) is mounted, the width increases by the thickness of the intermediate coupling body (cover holder), which leads to an increase in the size of the ink ribbon refill and the ribbon cassette.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon refill and a ribbon gear thereof, which are provided with a cover holder capable of preventing the ribbon cover from falling off or being pinched, and in which the ribbon gear that transmits rotational driving force can be attached without increasing the dimension of the ink ribbon refill in the width direction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An ink ribbon refill according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: an ink ribbon, and The core around which the ink ribbon is wound, A ribbon cover that covers at least a portion of the ink ribbon, A cover holder capable of supporting the ribbon cover while it is attached to the core, A ribbon gear attached to the winding core, which transmits the driving force to rotate the winding core, Equipped with, The cover holder is positioned on the end side of the core and has a locking portion that can support the ribbon cover so that it can rotate around the central axis of the core. The ribbon gear has a flange portion that guides the ink ribbon from the side. The flange portion is provided with a housing for accommodating the locking portion of the cover holder, and is an ink ribbon refill.

[0007] As mentioned above, if the locking portion of the cover holder and the flange portion of the ribbon gear interfere with each other, the width along the central axis will increase accordingly. However, in the ink ribbon refill described above, interference between the two is avoided by providing a housing portion for the locking portion in the flange portion, and the thickness of the locking portion is absorbed by the ribbon gear. With such an ink ribbon refill, both the cover holder and the ribbon gear can be installed without increasing the width dimension of the ink ribbon refill.

[0008] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the housing portion may be formed by a recess, through hole, or notch provided in the flange portion.

[0009] In the ink ribbon refill described above, the thickness of the locking portion of the cover holder may be less than or equal to the thickness of the flange of the ribbon gear.

[0010] In the ink ribbon refill described above, the ribbon gear may have a ribbon gear insertion portion that is inserted into the core and presses against the inner wall surface of the core.

[0011] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the cover holder has a main body that is inserted into the core, and the ribbon gear insertion part may be provided in a position that does not interfere with the main body.

[0012] In the ink ribbon refill described above, a projection that protrudes radially outward may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the ribbon gear insertion portion.

[0013] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, an annular step may be formed in the portion connecting the ribbon gear insertion portion to the flange portion.

[0014] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, an inclined surface may be formed on the annular step portion.

[0015] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the inclined surface may be composed of a tapered surface whose outer diameter increases as the ribbon gear insertion portion is inserted into the core.

[0016] In the ink ribbon refill described above, the inclined surface may be composed of tapered surfaces arranged at multiple locations along the radial direction.

[0017] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the annular stepped portion may be formed such that its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the core and smaller than the inner diameter of the opening periphery of the ribbon cover.

[0018] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the annular step portion may be provided at a position on the end side of the core so as to support the ribbon cover so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the core.

[0019] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the annular step portion may be formed in such a shape that its outer diameter is larger than the virtual circle passing through the stepped surface of the locking portion of the cover holder.

[0020] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, at least two locking portions of the cover holder and at least two accommodating portions of the ribbon gear may be provided along the circumferential direction respectively.

[0021] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the locking portions of the cover holder and the accommodating portions of the ribbon gear may be arranged at positions that are not point-symmetric about the central axis of the winding core.

[0022] In the ink ribbon refill as described above, the locking portions of the cover holder and the accommodating portions of the ribbon gear may be arranged at positions where the intervals in the circumferential direction are not equal intervals.

[0023] Another aspect of the present invention is a ribbon gear that is attached to an end portion of a winding core around which an ink ribbon is wound, and transmits a driving force for rotating the ink ribbon together with the winding core to the winding core, the ribbon gear comprising: a flange portion that guides the ink ribbon from a side surface, wherein the flange portion is provided with an accommodating portion that accommodates the locking portion of a cover holder capable of supporting, at the locking portion, a ribbon cover that covers at least a part of the periphery of the ink ribbon, the ribbon gear. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink ribbon refill and a ribbon gear thereof, the ink ribbon refill being provided with a cover holder capable of preventing the ribbon cover from falling off or being caught, and the ribbon gear for transmitting rotational driving force being attachable without increasing the dimension of the ink ribbon refill in the width direction. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a drawing showing the ink ribbon refill according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a drawing showing the cover holder according to the embodiment. [Figure 3A] It is a drawing showing a state in which the winding core and the cover holder are fitted to each other. [Figure 3B] This diagram shows the core and cover holder fitted together, with a portion of the material transparent. [Figure 4A] This is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a ribbon cassette and ink ribbon refill. [Figure 4B] This is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an ink ribbon refill. [Figure 5A] This is an overall perspective view showing an example of a ribbon gear configuration. [Figure 5B] This is an overall perspective view showing the ribbon gear with the gear section removed. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the cover holder and ribbon gear in a fitted state. [Figure 7A] This is an exploded perspective view of the core end, cover holder, and ribbon gear. [Figure 7B] This is an exploded perspective view showing the end of the core with the cover holder attached and the ribbon gear. [Figure 8A] This is a perspective view showing the end of an ink ribbon refill with the cover holder's locking mechanism housed in the ribbon gear housing. [Figure 8B] This diagram shows the end of an ink ribbon refill with the locking part of the cover holder housed in the ribbon gear housing. [Figure 9] This is a plan view showing the ink ribbon refill as it is housed inside the ribbon cassette. [Figure 10A] This is a perspective view of the end of an ink ribbon refill, illustrating the inclined surface provided on the ribbon gear. [Figure 10B] This is a schematic diagram of the end of an ink ribbon refill, illustrating the inclined surface provided on the ribbon gear. [Figure 11] This diagram illustrates the front support structure of the ribbon gear. [Figure 12A] This is a drawing showing an example of a protruding part of a cover holder. [Figure 12B] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the protruding part of the cover holder. [Figure 12C] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the protruding part of the cover holder. [Figure 12D] This drawing shows an example of deformation of the protruding part of the cover holder. [Figure 12E] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the protruding part of the cover holder. [Figure 12F] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the protruding part of the cover holder. [Figure 12G] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the protruding part of the cover holder. [Figure 13A] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the cover holder. [Figure 13B] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the cover holder. [Figure 14A] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the ribbon gear housing. [Figure 14B] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the ribbon gear housing. [Figure 14C] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the ribbon gear housing. [Figure 14D] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the ribbon gear housing. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] With reference to the attached drawings, preferred embodiments of the ink ribbon refill and cover holder according to the present invention will be described. However, these embodiments are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit its scope.

[0027] <Example of ink ribbon refill configuration before ribbon gear is attached> Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of an ink ribbon refill according to this embodiment.

[0028] The ink ribbon refill 1 of this embodiment comprises an ink ribbon 2, a core 3 around which the ink ribbon 2 is wound, a ribbon cover 5, and a cover holder 6 for holding the ribbon cover 5.

[0029] In this example, the ink ribbon 2 is constructed by coating the surface of a long, thin medium with an ink that can be transferred to the object to be printed using heat and pressure.

[0030] When the core 3 is first used, the unused ink ribbon 2 is wound onto it. The core 3 is a cylindrical member with at least one end open. The core 3 is made of paper, resin, etc. In this example, the core 3 is a cylindrical member with both ends open (opening 3b).

[0031] The ribbon cover 5 is provided for attaching the RFID tag 4, which will be described later, and is supported on the core 3, etc., so as to cover a portion of the ink ribbon 2. The ribbon cover 5 is positioned so as not to interfere with the unwinding of the ink ribbon 2 when it is unwinded from the core 3, in other words, so as not to block the transport diameter of the ink ribbon 2. In this example, as shown in Figure 1, it is configured to cover the upper and lower two surfaces of the ink ribbon 2. More specifically, the ribbon cover 5 covers both ends of the core 3 in the axial direction, the back surface of the ink ribbon 2, and the upper and lower two surfaces of the ink ribbon 2 that are opposite each other in the width direction.

[0032] The ribbon cover 5 has a pair of side walls 5w that cover both ends of the core 3 in the axial direction, and a tag mounting surface 5t that connects one side wall 5w to the other side wall 5w and covers one side of the ink ribbon 2 facing each other in the width direction. Each side wall 5w is provided with an opening 5a that penetrates through each side wall. In this example, the opening 5a is a circular hole concentric with the opening 3b of the core 3. However, the shape of the opening 5a does not necessarily have to be circular, nor does it have to be concentric with the opening of the core 3. The tag mounting surface 5t covers at least a part of the core 3 via the ink ribbon 2 wound on the core 3.

[0033] In this example, the ribbon cover 5 has flat surfaces and an outer shape that is roughly rectangular, but it is not limited to this shape. The ribbon cover 5 can be made of paper or resin material, but it may also be made of transparent resin so that the ink ribbon 2 can be seen from the outside of the ribbon cover 5. As mentioned above, the ribbon cover 5 is used to attach the RFID tag 4, but by covering the ink ribbon 2, it is possible to prevent the ink ribbon 2 from being touched when carrying the ink ribbon refill 1 or installing it in equipment, thereby preventing contamination of the ink ribbon 2.

[0034] An RFID tag 4 is attached to the tag mounting surface 5t using an adhesive (not shown). The RFID tag 4 is an example of an identification information recording unit, and is configured to allow reading of recorded information via wireless communication and recording of information via wireless communication. In this example, the RFID tag 4 records the following as identification information: color information of inks that can be printed with the ink ribbon 2, type information regarding the types of inks that can be printed with the ink ribbon 2, usage information of the ink ribbon 2, manufacturer information, etc. The RFID tag 4 has a predetermined circuit (not shown) formed on a sheet of paper, resin, etc., which allows for information recording and information input / output, and an adhesive layer is formed on the back surface with an adhesive applied.

[0035] The core 3 is configured such that its axial length is the same as, or slightly longer than, the width of the ink ribbon 2. The ribbon cover 5 is configured such that its longitudinal length is approximately the same as the axial length of the core 3. The diameter of the opening 5a is configured to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the core 3.

[0036] The cover holder 6 is provided with protrusions 7 at both ends of the core 3 in the axial direction, projecting outward from the central axis of the core 3. The ribbon cover 5 is inserted between these protrusions 7 and the end faces 3a on both sides of the core 3, thereby sandwiching the ribbon cover 5 between the protrusions 7 and the end faces 3a. A step 7a is formed on the protrusions 7 to create a gap between them and the end faces 3a. As a result, the ribbon cover 5 is sandwiched between the cover holder 6 and the end faces 3a and is rotatably supported.

[0037] In this case, the gap between the protrusion 7 and the end face 3a may be formed to be larger than the thickness of the ribbon cover 5. This allows the ribbon cover 5 to be supported so that it can rotate relative to the core 3.

[0038] The protruding portion 7 may be configured as part of a cover holder 6, for example, as shown in Figure 2. The cover holder 6 includes a main body portion 8 that is inserted into the core 3 and presses the inner wall surface of the core 3 in the outward diameter direction. The main body portion 8 is formed, for example, in a hollow, substantially frustoconical or conical shape. Making the main body portion 8 tapered, substantially conical columnar or conical shape makes it easier to insert the main body portion 8 into the opening 3b. However, as long as it can be inserted into the opening 3b, the main body portion 8 does not necessarily have to be substantially frustoconical or conical, and may be cylindrical, for example. Also, when the main body portion 8 is inserted into the core 3 (opening 3b), it extends in the axial direction of the core 3 along the inner wall surface 3i of the core 3. The main body portion 8 may be inclined from the base end to the tip end (in the direction of insertion into the opening 3b) such that the tip end is smaller than the inner diameter of the core 3 (opening 3b) and the base end is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the core 3. If the base end of the main body 8 is made larger than the inner diameter of the winding core 3, when the main body 8 is inserted into the opening 3b, the base end presses radially against the inner wall surface of the winding core 3, causing the cover holder 6 to be press-fitted onto the winding core 3. This allows the cover holder 6 and the winding core 3 to be firmly fitted together.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the cover holder 6 may also be equipped with a core locking portion 9 in addition to the protruding portion 7. By providing the core 3 with a notch 10 that engages with the core locking portion 9 when fitted, the alignment of the core 3 and the cover holder 6 can be easily performed. Figures 3A and 3B show the fitted state of the core 3 and the cover holder 6 in this manner. Figure 3A is an external view, and Figure 3B is a perspective view. Reference numeral 3c in Figure 3A indicates the inner wall surface of the core 3.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the protrusions 7 are configured to support the opening 5a of the ribbon cover 5 at three locations, but the number of protrusions may be one or more than three. Furthermore, the protrusions 7 are not limited to being configured as three claw shapes as in the embodiment, but may also be ring-shaped to support the entire circumference of the opening 5a of the ribbon cover 5, or arc-shaped to support a part of the opening 5a of the ribbon cover 5.

[0041] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cover holder 6 is provided with a main body portion 8 that is inserted into the winding core 3. However, the cover holder 6 is not limited to being inserted into the winding core 3, and may be attached to the end face 3a by adhesive or the like. Alternatively, the winding core 3 may be made of resin or the like, so that the winding core 3 and the cover holder 6 (protruding portion 7) are formed integrally.

[0042] <Examples of the effects and benefits of the ink ribbon refill according to this embodiment> The ink ribbon refill 1 of this embodiment is provided with a ribbon cover 5 that covers at least a portion of the core 3 on which the ink ribbon 2 is wound, via the ink ribbon 2, and with an RFID tag 4 attached to the ribbon cover 5. This eliminates the need to separately prepare and attach the RFID tag when replacing the ink ribbon refill 1, thus reducing the number of parts required for replacing the ink ribbon refill 1 and allowing the ink ribbon refill 1 with the RFID tag 4 to be provided at a low cost.

[0043] Furthermore, in the ink ribbon refill 1 of this embodiment, the RFID tag 4 is attached to the ribbon cover 5, which is a separate component from the core 3. Therefore, the tag mounting surface 5t, where the RFID tag 4 is attached, can be a flat surface or any curved surface that does not put stress on the RFID tag 4. Although the RFID tag 4 has a certain degree of flexibility, if it is bent excessively during attachment, excessive stress may be placed on the internal substrate and antenna, potentially causing disconnection or other damage. However, with the ink ribbon refill 1 of this embodiment, damage to the RFID tag 4 due to such excessive bending can be suppressed.

[0044] Furthermore, the ink ribbon refill 1 of this embodiment is provided with protrusions 7 at both ends of the core 3 in the axial direction, each protruding outward from the central axis of the core 3. By inserting the ribbon cover 5 between these protrusions 7 and the end faces 3a on both sides of the core 3, the ribbon cover 5 is sandwiched between the protrusions 7 and the end faces 3a. As a result, the ribbon cover 5 is securely held between the protrusions 7 and the end faces 3a, preventing it from falling off the ink ribbon refill 1, and the ribbon cover 5 can be rotatably supported with respect to the core 3 around which the ink ribbon 2 is wound.

[0045] Furthermore, if the gap between the protrusion 7 and the end face 3a is made larger than the thickness of the ribbon cover 5, the ribbon cover 5 can be supported stably and relatively rotatably with respect to the core 3, making it easier to handle the ink ribbon refill 1.

[0046] Furthermore, since the ribbon cover 5 is composed of flat surfaces, various information can be displayed on it together with, or in place of, the RFID tag 4 mentioned above. For example, a sticker containing instructions on how to install the ink ribbon refill 1 can be attached, for example, by adhesive, allowing for reliable installation and removal without having to refer to a separate instruction manual. Additionally, the ribbon cover 5 can be fitted with a sticker indicating the color, type, and name of the ink ribbon refill 1, allowing for visual confirmation that the correct ink ribbon refill is being used.

[0047] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the disclosure.

[0048] <Example configuration of an ink ribbon refill to which a ribbon gear can be attached> The following describes an example configuration of an ink ribbon refill 1 in which a ribbon gear 20 that transmits external driving force to the core 3 is attached (see Figure 4A, etc.).

[0049] The ink ribbon refill 1 in this embodiment has a configuration that includes the ink ribbon 2, core 3, ribbon cover 5, and cover holder 6 as described above, as well as a ribbon gear 20 (see Figure 4B, etc.). The ribbon gear 20 is attached to the core 3 and is a component that transmits external driving force to the core 3 to rotate the ink ribbon 2. The ribbon gear 20 may be directly attached to the end face 3a of the core 3, but in the ink ribbon refill 1 of this embodiment, it is attached to the end face 3a of the core 3 with the cover holder 6 interposed in between (see Figures 7A, 7B, etc.). The ribbon gear 20 of this embodiment has a gear portion 21, a flange portion 22, a housing portion 23, a ribbon gear insertion portion 24, an inclined surface 25, and an annular stepped portion 26 (see Figure 5A, etc.).

[0050] The gear section 21 is the part equipped with gears that transmit driving force. In the ribbon gear 20 of this embodiment, the gear section 21, including the gears, is detachable from the other parts (see Figures 5A and 5B). Because the gears are attached only when needed, space can be saved when storing the ink ribbon refill by the amount of the gears.

[0051] The flange portion 22 extends perpendicular to the central axis 3x of the core 3 and is formed to press the ink ribbon 2 from the side (see Figures 4A and 9).

[0052] The housing section 23 is provided on the flange section 22 to accommodate the protruding portion 7, which is an example of a locking portion of the cover holder 6 (see Figure 6, etc.). By providing such a housing section 23 on the ribbon gear 20, interference between the flange section 22 and the protruding portion 7 of the cover holder 6 is avoided, and the thickness of the protruding portion 7 can be absorbed by the thickness of the flange section 22. With an ink ribbon refill 1 equipped with such a housing section 23, both the cover holder 6 and the ribbon gear 20 can be installed without increasing the width dimension (direction along the central axis 3x) of the ink ribbon refill 1 (see Figure 9, etc. Note that in Figure 9, the width of the housing space for the ink ribbon refill 1 inside the ribbon cassette 50 is indicated by reference numeral 50w (also, in Figure 9, the central axis of the winding core 3 is indicated by 3x). For this reason, even when the cover holder 6 is provided, the protruding portion 7 can be contained within the thickness of the flange section 23 of the ribbon gear 20, and the ribbon The widthwise dimension of the cassette 50 does not increase. In this embodiment, the housing portion 23 is formed by a through hole (through-hole) provided in the flange portion 22, but this is just one preferred example (see Figures 8A, 8B, etc.), and the housing portion 23 may also be formed by a recess (a non-through recess) or a notch extending radially from the outer or inner periphery of the flange portion 22, as long as it can accommodate the protruding portion 7. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of accommodating the protruding portion 7 of the cover holder 6, it is preferable that the thickness of the flange portion 22 of the ribbon gear 20 is greater than or equal to the thickness of the protruding portion 7 of the cover holder 6.

[0053] Such housing sections 23 are provided in the same number as or more than the protrusions 7 of the cover holder 6 (for example, at least two of each, preferably three or more), along the circumferential direction. The specific arrangement and configuration of the housing sections 23 and the protrusions 7 of the cover holder 6 are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that their relative positions (orientation when installed) be uniquely determined so that the installation can be performed accurately without hesitation. For example, the protrusions 7 of the cover holder 6 and the housing sections 23 of the ribbon gear 20 may be positioned so that they are not point-symmetric with respect to the central axis 3x of the winding core 3, or so that their spacing in the circumferential direction is not equal (see Figure 11A, etc.).

[0054] The ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is the part of the ribbon gear 20 that is inserted into the core 3 and presses against the inner wall surface 3i of the core 3. In this embodiment, the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is composed of a plurality of projections (legs), such as five, that protrude substantially perpendicularly from the flange portion 22 so as to extend along the central axis 3x of the core 3 (see Figures 5A, 5B, etc.). Furthermore, the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is provided in a position or shape that does not interfere with the main body portion 8, which is the part of the cover holder 6 that is inserted into the core 3. As an example, in this embodiment, the main body portion 8 has a structure in which six plate pieces are arranged radially, and the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is configured such that the five projections described above fit into one of the gaps between these six plate pieces so as not to interfere with the main body portion 8 (see Figures 6 to 7B, etc.). The outer circumferential surface of the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is provided with a projection 24c that protrudes radially outward, making it easier to catch on the inner wall surface 3i of the winding core 3 when inserted into the winding core 3 (see Figure 6, etc.).

[0055] The inclined surface 25 of the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is composed of multiple tapered surfaces 25s arranged radially on a part of the ribbon gear insertion portion 24, such that the outer diameter increases as the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is inserted into the winding core 3 (see Figure 10A, etc.). In a ribbon gear 20 having such an inclined surface 25, as the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is inserted into the winding core 3, the inclined surface 25 abuts against the opening edge 5b of the opening hole portion 5a of the ribbon cover 5, guiding the ribbon cover 5 so that the center of the opening hole portion 5a aligns with the central axis 3x of the winding core 3, thus acting to center it (see Figure 10B). This allows the relative position of the ribbon cover 5 to be adjusted autonomously without having to adjust it each time the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 is inserted into the winding core 3. The inclined surface 25 is formed continuously with the flange portion 22.

[0056] The annular stepped portion 26 is formed in the section connecting the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 to the flange portion 22, and has a flattened, roughly cylindrical shape (see Figures 5A, 5B, etc.). The circumferential surface 26p of the annular stepped portion 26 is composed of arc-shaped surfaces, except for the portion where the housing portion 23 is provided. The outer diameter of the circumferential surface 26p of the annular stepped portion 26 is larger than the diameter (inner diameter) of the inner wall surface 3i of the winding core 3, and smaller than the inner diameter of the opening periphery 5b of the opening hole portion 5a of the ribbon cover 5. This annular stepped portion 26 is positioned on the end face 3a side of the winding core 3 when the ribbon gear 20 is attached to the end face 3a of the winding core 3, and supports the ribbon cover 5 so that it can rotate around the central axis 3x of the winding core 3 (see Figure 11, etc.). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the annular step portion 26 is formed such that its outer diameter is slightly larger than the virtual circle (indicated by reference numeral 7vc in Figure 6B) passing through the end of the step 7a of the protruding portion 7 of the cover holder 6. In this case, the opening peripheral edge 5b of the ribbon cover 5 contacts only the annular step portion 26 of the ribbon gear 20 and does not contact the step 7a of the cover holder 6. Since the circumferential surface 26p of the nearly circular annular step portion 26 has a larger contact area than the partially arranged step 7a, this configuration further reduces the sliding resistance when the ribbon cover 5 rotates relative to the other components, enabling smoother operation.

[0057] Furthermore, a guide surface 27 that is flush with the circumferential surface 26p and extends parallel to the central axis 3x toward the ribbon gear insertion portion 24 may be provided between the annular stepped portion 26 and the inclined surface 25 (the tapered surface 25s that forms the inclined surface) (see Figures 5A, 5B, etc.). As described above, in the ink ribbon refill 1 of this embodiment, the ribbon cover 5 is rotatably supported by the annular stepped portion 26 that contacts the opening peripheral edge 5b of the ribbon cover 5 (see Figure 11A, etc.). Even if the ribbon gear 20 (the ribbon gear insertion portion 24) is not fully inserted into the core 3, the presence of such a guide surface 27 prevents the opening peripheral edge 5b of the ribbon cover 5 from falling off the annular stepped portion 26 of the ribbon gear 20.

[0058] In the above description, the refill is simply referred to as the core 3, but in this embodiment, the ink ribbon refill 1 may have, as shown in Figure 4A, one core 3A around which the aforementioned ink ribbon 2 is wound, and the other core 3B around which the ink ribbon 2 pulled out from core 3A is wound. The ribbon cover 5 is preferably provided on the side of core 3A around which the unused ink ribbon 2 is wound. The used ink ribbon 2 pulled out from core 3A is wound around the side of core 3B (the ink ribbon extending between core 3A and core 3B is omitted). As a result, the used ink ribbon 2 is wound around core 3B, so the ribbon cover 5 does not need to be attached, but it may be attached in the same way as core 3A.

[0059] <Other examples of the protruding portion (the protruding portion that rotatably supports the ribbon cover 5) 7> As described above, the protrusion 7 is provided to protrude outward in a direction away from the central axis of the core 3 so as to function as a protrusion that rotatably supports the ribbon cover 5. In the above embodiment, an example of the protrusion 7 is shown in Figure 2, but the protrusion 7 may be in other forms as shown below.

[0060] Figure 12A shows the case where there is one projection 7 or where three projections 7 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Figures 12B and 12C show the case where the projection 7 is formed in an arc shape in the circumferential direction along the end face 3a of the winding core 3. Figure 12D shows a modified example where the projection 7 is composed of multiple locking claws (indicated by reference numeral 7e in Figure 12A), and Figures 12E to 12G show an example of a specific structure when the projection 7 is formed in an arc shape. Figures 13A and 13B also show the case where the projection 7 protrudes from the end face 3a.

[0061] Figure 12A shows the case where there is one protrusion 7 (solid line portion). As shown in the figure, when there is only one protrusion 7, it is desirable to position the protrusion 7 so that it protrudes from above the main body portion 8 and supports the upper position of the side wall 5w of the ribbon cover 5. Here, "above" means the direction opposite to the direction of gravity and its vicinity when viewed from the ink ribbon refill 1 with the ink ribbon refill 1 attached to the device. In this example, it means the direction in which the tag mounting surface 5t is located relative to the center position (axis) of the winding core 3. As shown in Figure 12A, by positioning the protrusion 7 (solid line portion) above, the protrusion 7 will hold the ribbon cover 5 from below, so if the ribbon cover 5 falls (moves) in the direction of gravity, the ribbon cover 5 can be picked up by the protrusion 7. For this reason, the ribbon cover 5 can be held securely. On the other hand, if the protrusion 7 is positioned downward (in the direction of gravity) and the ribbon cover 5 is held shallowly, there is a risk that the ribbon cover 5 may detach from the protrusion 7 when the ribbon cover 5 moves downward. Therefore, when the protrusion 7 is positioned downward, it is necessary to hold the ribbon cover 5 deeply (for example, by lengthening the gripping claws) so that the ribbon cover 5 does not detach from the protrusion 7 even when the ribbon cover 5 moves downward. On the other hand, as shown by the solid and dashed lines in Figure 12A, if multiple protrusions 7 are positioned circumferentially (at equal intervals) (three in this example), the ribbon cover 5 can be held securely and stably. When multiple protrusions 7 are positioned circumferentially, the size of each locking claw 7e may be different, and the spacing between each locking claw 7e does not necessarily have to be equal. Also, the number of locking claws 7e is not limited to three.

[0062] The protrusions 7 shown in Figures 12B and 12C hold the ribbon cover 5 in the circumferential direction. Specifically, the protrusion 7 shown in Figure 12B has a locking claw 7e configured in a roughly C-shape, and is formed to partially cover the end face 3a and a part of the ribbon cover 5 along the circumferential direction. The protrusion 7 shown in Figure 12C has a locking claw 7e configured in an annular (ring-shaped) shape, and is formed to completely cover the end face 3a along the circumferential direction. Since these protrusions 7 hold the ribbon cover in the circumferential direction, the ribbon cover 5 can be held more stably.

[0063] Figure 12D shows a modified example of Figure 12A where the protrusion 7 is composed of multiple locking claws 7e. As shown in Figure 12D, the cover holder 6 is equipped with four locking claws 7e, and two adjacent locking claws 7e are connected to form a protrusion 7'. By configuring the protrusion 7' ​​in this way, the area of ​​the protrusion 7 is increased, allowing the ribbon cover 5 to be held more securely between itself and the end face 3a, and improving the strength of the locking claws 7e. It should be noted that, even in this case, the number of locking claws 7e is not limited to four.

[0064] Figures 12E and 12F show an example of a specific structure in which the locking claws 7e shown in Figure 12B are configured as arc-shaped projections 7, and are formed to partially cover the end face 3a and a part of the ribbon cover 5 along the circumferential direction. The arc-shaped projections 7' shown in Figure 12E are formed in a roughly C-shape, extending circumferentially to connect each locking claw 7e in the cover holder 6, for example, as shown in Figure 2. The number and arrangement of the multiple locking claws 7e, and the length of the projections 7' connecting the multiple locking claws 7e, can be set arbitrarily. Furthermore, the projections 7' may not be in the form of connecting multiple locking claws as in Figure 12E, but may be provided as multiple independent projections 7' as shown in Figure 12F. In this case as well, the number of projections 7' and the length of each projection 7' ​​can be set arbitrarily.

[0065] Figure 12G shows a specific example of a configuration in which the locking claws 7e shown in Figure 12C are configured as an annular (ring-shaped) projection 7, and are formed to completely cover the end face 3a along the circumferential direction. As shown in Figure 12G, the projection 7' ​​is formed to connect all the locking claws 7e. The width of the annular portion of the projection 7' ​​can be set arbitrarily within the range in which the ribbon cover 5 does not fall off, but the larger the width, the larger the area in which the projection 7' ​​faces the ribbon cover 5, so that the ribbon cover 5 can be held more stably.

[0066] The protrusions 7 shown in Figures 13A and 13B are provided on the end face 3a. Specifically, the protrusion 7 has an arm extending from the end face 3a in the axial direction of the core 3, and a locking claw 7e that bends radially outward from the end of the arm and extends towards the ribbon cover 5. In these examples, since the protrusion 7 is provided on the end face 3a, a cover holder 6 inserted into the opening 3b is unnecessary. Note that the protrusion 7 shown in Figure 13A is an example in which the cover holder 6 is fixed to the end face 3a by adhesive or the like, while the protrusion 7 shown in Figure 13B is an example in which it is integrally formed with the end face 3a. Integrating the protrusion 7 and the core 3 has the advantage of making separation easier, for example, when disposing of it.

[0067] <Other examples of Ribbon Gear forms> In accordance with the various other forms of the protruding portion 7 described above, the ribbon gear 20 can be made into various other forms as shown below (see Figure 14A, etc.).

[0068] When there is one protrusion 7, or when there are three protrusions 7 spaced equally apart in the circumferential direction (see Figure 12A), the housing portion 23 can be formed on the flange portion 22 of the ribbon gear 20 to match the number, arrangement, and size of such protrusions 7. For example, when there is one protrusion 7, a housing portion 23 capable of accommodating the protrusion 7 is formed to match the position and size of that one protrusion 7. When there are three protrusions 7 spaced equally apart in the circumferential direction, three housing portions 23 capable of accommodating each of these three protrusions 7 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction to match the position and size of each of the three protrusions 7.

[0069] If the protrusion 7 is configured in a roughly C-shape (see Figure 12B), a housing portion 23 can be formed in the flange portion 22 of the ribbon gear 20 to match the shape and size of such protrusion 7 (see Figures 14A and 14B). In this case, the housing portion 23 may be formed by a through hole (perforated hole) provided in the flange portion 22 (see Figure 14A), or by a recess (non-through recess) provided in the flange portion 22 (see Figure 14B).

[0070] If the protrusion 7 is configured in an annular (ring-shaped) form (see Figure 12C), a housing portion 23 can be formed in the flange portion 22 of the ribbon gear 20 to match the shape and size of such protrusion 7. In this case, the housing portion 23 is preferably configured by an annular (ring-shaped) recess (a non-penetrating annular groove) provided in the flange portion 22 (see Figure 14C).

[0071] When the protruding portion 7 is composed of multiple locking claws 7e (see Figure 12D), the housing portion 23 is composed of through holes (perforations) in a fan shape or a roughly rectangular shape that are formed to match the shape and size of such a protruding portion 7 (it has four locking claws 7e, and two adjacent locking claws 7e are connected to each other to form a protruding portion 7') (see Figure 14D).

[0072] If the protrusion 7 is configured in an arc shape that partially covers the circumferential direction (see Figures 12E and 12F), a housing portion 23 can be formed in the flange portion 22 of the ribbon gear 20 to match the shape and size of such protrusion 7. In this case, the housing portion 23 may be formed by a through hole (perforated hole) provided in the flange portion 22 (see Figure 14A), or by a recess (non-through recess) provided in the flange portion 22 (see Figure 14B).

[0073] If the projection 7 is formed in a shape that completely covers the end face 3a along the circumferential direction (see Figure 12G), then a housing portion 23 can be formed in the flange portion 22 of the ribbon gear 20 to match the shape and size of such projection 7. In this case, the housing portion 23 is preferably composed of an annular (ring-shaped) recess (a non-penetrating annular groove) provided in the flange portion 22 (see Figure 14C).

[0074] In the various forms of the ribbon gear 20 or the housing portion 23 therein as described above (see Figures 14A to 14D), in all cases, the housing portion 23 is provided on the flange portion 22 to accommodate the protrusion 7 of the cover holder 6, and the flange portion 22 of the ribbon gear 20 is designed to absorb the thickness of the protrusion 7 by covering it, thus avoiding interference between the flange portion 22 and the protrusion 7 of the cover holder 6, as is the case in the embodiments described above. Furthermore, these housing portions 23 may be composed of through holes, recesses (non-through recesses), or notches extending radially from the outer or inner periphery of the flange portion 22, as long as they are capable of accommodating the protrusion 7, also as is the case in the embodiments described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1,1'...Ink ribbon refill 2,2'...Ink ribbon 3,3'... core 3a...end face 3b…Aperture 3i…Inner wall surface 3x…center axis 4…RFID tags 5.5'... Ribbon cover 5a...Opening hole part 5b... Periphery of the opening 5t... Tag mounting surface 5w...side wall 6,6'... Cover holder 7,7'...Protruding part (a protruding part that rotatably supports the ribbon cover) 7a…step 7e…Latching claw 8...Main body 9...Core locking part 10... Notch 20,20'... Ribbon Gear 21...Gear section 22…Flange section 23...Detention Unit 24... Ribbon gear insertion part 24c…Protrusion 25…Slope surface 25s... Tapered surface 26... Circular step section 26p…peripheral surface 27… Guide surface 50... Ribbon Cassette 50w...Width of the storage space for ink ribbon refills within the ribbon cassette

Claims

1. Ink ribbon and The core around which the ink ribbon is wound, A ribbon cover that covers at least a portion of the periphery of the ink ribbon, A cover holder capable of supporting the ribbon cover while attached to the aforementioned winding core, A ribbon gear attached to the winding core and transmitting the driving force to rotate the winding core, Equipped with, The cover holder is positioned on the end side of the core and has a locking portion capable of supporting the ribbon cover so that it can rotate around the central axis of the core. The ribbon gear has a flange portion that guides the ink ribbon from the side, An ink ribbon refill, wherein the flange portion is provided with a housing portion for housing the locking portion of the cover holder.

2. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 1, wherein the housing portion is formed by a recess, through hole, or notch provided in the flange portion.

3. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the locking portion of the cover holder is less than or equal to the thickness of the flange of the ribbon gear.

4. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon gear has a ribbon gear insertion portion that is inserted into the core and presses against the inner wall surface of the core.

5. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 4, wherein the cover holder has a main body portion that is inserted into the core, and the ribbon gear insertion portion is provided in a position that does not interfere with the main body portion.

6. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 4, wherein a projection is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the ribbon gear insertion portion, projecting radially outward.

7. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 4, wherein an annular stepped portion is formed in the portion connecting the ribbon gear insertion portion to the flange portion.

8. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 7, wherein an inclined surface is formed on the annular step portion.

9. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 8, wherein the inclined surface is a tapered surface whose outer diameter increases as the ribbon gear insertion portion is inserted into the core.

10. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 9, wherein the inclined surface is composed of tapered surfaces arranged at multiple locations along the radial direction.

11. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 10, wherein the annular stepped portion is formed in a shape in which its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the core and smaller than the inner diameter of the opening periphery of the ribbon cover.

12. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 11, wherein the annular stepped portion is provided at a position on the end side of the core so as to support the ribbon cover so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the core.

13. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 12, wherein the annular stepped portion is formed in such a shape that its outer diameter is greater than the virtual circle passing through the stepped surface of the locking portion of the cover holder.

14. The ink ribbon refill according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the locking portion of the cover holder and the housing portion of the ribbon gear are provided in at least two portions along the circumferential direction.

15. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 14, wherein the locking portion of the cover holder and the housing portion of the ribbon gear are positioned so as not to be point-symmetric with respect to the central axis of the winding core.

16. The ink ribbon refill according to claim 14, wherein the locking portion of the cover holder and the housing portion of the ribbon gear are positioned so that they are not equally spaced in the circumferential direction.

17. A ribbon gear attached to the end of a core around which an ink ribbon is wound, which transmits a driving force to the core to rotate the ink ribbon together with the core, It has a flange portion that guides the ink ribbon from the side, A cover holder capable of supporting a ribbon cover that covers at least a portion of the periphery of the ink ribbon at a locking portion is provided on the flange portion, and a housing portion for housing the locking portion of the cover holder is provided on the flange portion. Ribbon Gear.

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