EP0294792A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Heat transferable line printer and ink ribbon cassette for it
Assignee: Star Micronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-06-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A heat transferable line printer used with a cassette (C) carrying a heat transferable ink ribbon (37) capable of being printed many times. The ink ribbon cassette comprises a case (36) which is symmetrical to left and right, a pair of spools provided within the case, one spool serving as a winding spool whereas the other serving as a supply spool, both of which carry the ink ribbon, and cylindrical hub gears (41,43) supported on opposite ends of each of the spools and projected from a notch (65) provided on the side of the case. The printer comprises a print unit (A) and a feed unit (B) which are pivotably connected with each other through a shaft (1), the feed unit including a platen extending parallel to the shaft, the print unit having a thermal head (9) extending along the platen. The print unit comprises a pair of spool shafts (5,6) selectively fitted into the hubs projecting from the side of the ink ribbon cassette, the ink ribbon cassette being inversely mounted on the print unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji C/O Star Seimitsu Kabushiki Kaisha Suzuki
- 👤 Dunstan P. Sheldon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J17/00; B41J17/02; B41J17/12; B41J17/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A heat transferable line printer including a first and a second unit (B,A) pivotably connected with each other through a shaft (1), said first unit (B) having a platen (56) extending parallel with said shaft (1), said second unit (A) having a thermal head (9) extending along said platen (56); one unit (A) selected out of said first and second units (B,A) replaceably supporting a ribbon cassette (C) carrying an ink ribbon (37) passing between said platen (56) and said thermal head (9), said ink ribbon cassette (C) comprising a case (36) which is symmetrical to left and right, a pair of spools (48,49) provided within said case (36), one spool serving as a winding spool and the other serving as a supply spool, said both spools (48,49) carrying said ink ribbon (37), and cylindrical hub gears (40a,41a,42a,43a) supported on opposite ends of the spools (48,49) and projecting from a notch (65) provided in the side of said case (36), said selected unit (A) comprising a pair of spool shafts (5,6) selectively fitted to hubs (40,41,42,43) projecting from both sides of said ink ribbon cassette (C), power transmission means (16,18,14) provided in association with one (5) of said pair of spool shafts (5,6) and having a friction clutch (Fig. 4) operatively engaged with the hub gear (40a) provided on one selected end of said one spool (48), and back-tension applying means (15,27,32,33) provided in association with the other spool shaft (6) and operatively engaged with the hub gear (42a) provided on one selected end of said other spool (49), said ink ribbon cassette (C) being inversely mounted on said selected unit (A) from either side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
A heat transferable line printer including a first and a second unit (B,A) pivotably connected with each other through a shaft (1), said first unit (B) having a platen (56) extending parallel with said shaft (1), said second unit (A) having a thermal head (9) extending along said platen (56); one unit (A) selected out of said first and second units (B,A) replaceably supporting a ribbon cassette (C) carrying an ink ribbon (37) passing between said platen (56) and said thermal head (9), said ink ribbon cassette (C) comprising a case (36) which is symmetrical to left and right, a pair of spools (48,49) provided within said case (36), one spool serving as a winding spool and the other serving as a supply spool, said both spools (48,49) carrying said ink ribbon (37), and cylindrical hub gears (40a,41a,42a,43a) supported on opposite ends of the spools (48,49) and projecting from a notch (65) provided in the side of said case (36), said selected unit (A) comprising a pair of spool shafts (5,6) selectively fitted to hubs (40,41,42,43) projecting from both sides of said ink ribbon cassette (C), power transmission means (16,18,14) provided in association with one (5) of said pair of spool shafts (5,6) and having a friction clutch (Fig. 4) operatively engaged with the hub gear (40a) provided on one selected end of said one spool (48), and back-tension applying means (15,27,32,33) provided in association with the other spool shaft (6) and operatively engaged with the hub gear (42a) provided on one selected end of said other spool (49), said ink ribbon cassette (C) being inversely mounted on said selected unit (A) from either side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heat transferable line printer according to claim 1, wherein said selected unit is said second unit (A).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A heat transferable line printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said power transmission means has an axis (14a) parallel to said one spool shaft (5) and includes a drive gear (14) positioned away from said one spool shaft (5), and wherein the hub gear (40a) provided on the selected end of said one spool (48) is engaged with said drive gear (14).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A heat transferable line printer according to claim 3, wherein said drive gear (14) is supported movably in an axial direction thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A heat transferable line printer according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said back-tension applying means has an axis (15a) parallel to said other spool shaft (6) and includes a gear (15) positioned away from said other spool shaft (6), and wherein the hub gear (42a) provided on the selected end of said other spool (49) is engaged with said first-mentioned gear (15).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A heat transferable line printer according to claim 5, wherein said gear (15) is supported movably in an axial direction thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
A ribbon cassette (C) carrying a heat transferable ink ribbon (37) capable of being printed many times for a heat transferable line printer, said line printer including a first and a second unit (B,A) pivotably connected with each other through a shaft (1), said first unit (B) having a platen (56) extending parallel to said shaft (1), said second unit (A) having a thermal head (9) extending along said platen, one unit (A) selected out of said first and second units (B,A) replaceably supporting said ink ribbon cassette (C) characterized in that said ink ribbon cassette (C) comprises a case (36) which is symmetrical to left and right, a pair of spools (48,49) provided within said case (36), said one spool serving as a winding spool whereas said other spool serves as a supply spool, said both spools respectively carrying said ink ribbon (37), and cylindrical hub gears (40a,41a,42a,43a) supported on opposite ends of each of said spools (48,49) and each projected from a notch (65) provided on the side of said case (36).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
A ribbon cassette (C) carrying a heat transferable ink ribbon (37) capable of being printed many times for a heat transferable line printer, said line printer including a first and a second unit (B,A) pivotably connected with each other through a shaft (1), said first unit (B) having a platen (56) extending parallel to said shaft (1), said second unit (A) having a thermal head (9) extending along said platen, one unit (A) selected out of said first and second units (B,A) replaceably supporting said ink ribbon cassette (C) characterized in that said ink ribbon cassette (C) comprises a case (36) which is symmetrical to left and right, a pair of spools (48,49) provided within said case (36), said one spool serving as a winding spool whereas said other spool serves as a supply spool, said both spools respectively carrying said ink ribbon (37), and cylindrical hub gears (40a,41a,42a,43a) supported on opposite ends of each of said spools (48,49) and each projected from a notch (65) provided on the side of said case (36).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE3539526A1
Cited
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