Method and apparatus for loading ink ribbon

Abstract

According to the present invention, a shaft cover is attached to the front end portion of a ribbon guide shaft projecting in a cantilevered state from a side face of a printer body; cores of an ink ribbon are fitted respectively on a ribbon feed shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft both projecting in a cantilevered state from the said side face of the printer body; the ink ribbon is passed round the outer periphery of the shaft cover; then the cores and the shaft cover are pushed in simultaneously to set the ink ribbon in a predetermined certain position.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A method for loading an ink ribbon, comprising attaching a shaft cover to the front end of a ribbon guide shaft projecting in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body; fitting cores to the ink ribbon respectively on the front ends of a ribbon feed shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft both projecting in a cantilevered state from said side face of said printer body case; passing the ink ribbon round the outer periphery of said shaft cover; and pushing in said cores and said shaft cover simultaneously to set the ink ribbon in a predetermined certain position..]. .[.2. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, wherein said shaft cover is positioned outside said case during the operation for loading the ink ribbon..]. .[.3. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, wherein said ribbon feed shaft is positioned inside said case..]. .[.4. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, wherein said ribbon take-up shaft is positioned inside said case..]. .[.5. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, where-in the width of the ink ribbon is almost equal to that of paper to be printed..]. .[.6. An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a ribbon guide shaft; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shaft; said ribbon guide shaft, said ribbon shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a said face of a case of a printer body..]. .[.7. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said printing head is a line thermal head..]. .[.8. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said ribbon feed shaft is positioned inside said case..]. .[.9. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said ribbon take-up shaft is positioned inside said case..]. .[.10. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said shaft cover and said ribbon guide shaft are fitted together through a dislodgement preventing means..]. .[.11. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the width of the ink ribbon is almost equal to that of paper to be printed..]. .[.12. An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a plurality of ribbon guide shafts; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shafts; said ribbon guide shafts, said ribbon feed shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body..]. .[.13. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said shaft cover comprises a plurality of cylindrical members fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shafts and a connecting member for integrally connecting the outside ends 
     
        of said cylindrical members..]. .Iadd.14.  An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a thermal head printer comprising a ribbon feed shaft, a ribbon take-up shaft, and at least three ribbon guide shafts, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plate-like connector having a first side and a second side and a first end and a second end;   (b) a first fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the first end thereof;   (c) a second fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the first end thereof and adjacent said first fixing pin;   (d) a third fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the second end thereof;   (e) a first member firmly fitted on said first and second fixing pins and thereby rendered integral with said plate-like connector, said first member having two recesses sized and shaped to receive and slide axially relative to two corresponding ribbon guide shafts in a thermal head printer; and   (f) a second member firmly fitted on said third fixing pin and thereby rendered integral with said plate-like connector, said second member having a recess sized and shaped to receive and slide axially relative to a corresponding ribbon guide shaft in a thermal head printer, whereby, in use:     (g) said first and second members are fitted on the front end portions of corresponding ribbon guide shafts in a thermal head printer at a slight fitting depth to an undisengageable extent;   (h) in this state, cores onto which an ink ribbon is rolled are fitted on the front end portions of the ribbon feed shaft and the ribbon take-up shaft in a thermal head printer;   (i) an ink ribbon is passed round the outer periphery of said first member and the outer periphery of said second member in order to load the ink ribbon; and   (j) when the ink ribbon is used up, the cores and said apparatus are pulled out, after which said apparatus can be used for loading a fresh ink ribbon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third fixing pins is fixed to said plate-like connector by a fixing bolt that is inserted into the corresponding one of said first, second, and third fixing pins through   
     
     
        said plate-like connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein each of said first, second, and third fixing pins is fixed to said plate-like connector by a fixing bolt that is inserted into the corresponding one of said first, second, and third fixing pins through said plate-like connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said first member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said second member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said second member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said second member is cylindrical in shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein at least one of said first and second members contains a slit that is closed at the end adjacent the thermal head printer and that is sized, shaped, and positioned to receive a pin projecting out from one of the three ribbon guide shafts on the thermal head printer so as to prevent dislodgement of said one of said first and second members from said one of the three ribbon guide shafts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein at least one of said first and second members has an inwardly projecting lug that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage a slot that is closed at the end adjacent said apparatus in one of the three ribbon guide shafts on the thermal head printer so as to prevent dislodgement of said one of said first and second members from said one of the three ribbon guide shafts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein at least one of said first and second members has an inwardly projecting stepped portion that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage an outwardly projecting flange adjacent the end of one of the three ribbon guide shafts on the thermal head printer so as to prevent dislodgement of said one of said first and second members from said one of the three ribbon guide shafts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a thermal head printer comprising a ribbon feed shaft, a ribbon take-up shaft, and at least one ribbon guide shaft, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plate-like connector having a first side and a second side and a first end and a second end;   (b) a fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the first end thereof; and   (c) a member firmly fitted on said fixing pin and thereby rendered integral with said plate-like connector, said member having a recess sized and shaped to receive and slide axially relative to a corresponding ribbon guide shaft in a thermal head printer, whereby, in use:     (d) said member is fitted on the front end portion of a ribbon guide shaft in a thermal head printer at a slight fitting depth to an undisengageable extent;   (e) in this state, cores onto which an ink ribbon is rolled are fitted on the front end portions of the ribbon feed shaft and the ribbon take-up shaft in the thermal head printer;   (f) an ink ribbon is passed round the outer periphery of said member in order to load the ink ribbon; and   (g) when the ink ribbon is used up, the cores and said apparatus are pulled out, after which said apparatus can be used for loading a fresh ink ribbon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said fixing pin is fixed to said plate-like connector by a fixing bolt that is inserted into said fixing pin through said plate-like connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said   
     
     
        member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said member is cylindrical in shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said member contains a slit that is closed at the end adjacent the thermal head printer and that is sized, shaped, and positioned to receive a pin projecting out from a ribbon guide shaft on the thermal head printer so as to prevent dislodgement of said member from the ribbon guide shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said member has an inwardly projecting lug that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage a slit that is closed at the end adjacent said apparatus in a ribbon guide shaft on the thermal head printer so as to prevent dislodgement of said member from the ribbon guide shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said member has an inwardly projecting stepped portion that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage an outwardly projecting flange adjacent the end of a ribbon guide shaft on the thermal head printer so as to prevent dislodgement of said member from the ribbon guide shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. An arrangement for loading an ink ribbon into a thermal head printer, said arrangement comprising: (a) a ribbon feed shaft in a thermal head printer;   (b) a ribbon take-up shaft in the thermal head printer;   (c) three ribbon guide shafts in the thermal head printer;   (d) a plate-like connector having a first side and a second side and a first end and a second end;   (e) a first fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the first end thereof;   (f) a second fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the first end thereof and adjacent said first fixing pin;   (g) a third fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the second end thereof;   (h) a first member firmly fitted on said first and second fixing pins and thereby rendered integral with said plate-like connector, said first member having two recesses sized and shaped to receive and slide axially relative to two corresponding ones of said three ribbon guide shafts; and   (i) a second member firmly fitted on said third fixing pin and thereby rendered integral with said plate-like connector, said second member having a recess sized and shaped to receive and slide axially relative to the third one of said three ribbon guide shafts, whereby, in use:     (j) said first and second members are fitted on the front end portions of said three ribbon guide shafts at a slight fitting depth to an undisengageable extent;   (k) in this state, cores onto which an ink ribbon is rolled are fitted on the front end portions of said ribbon feed shaft and said ribbon take-up shaft;   (l) an ink ribbon is passed round the outer periphery of said first member and the outer periphery of said second member in order to load the ink ribbon; and   (m) when the ink ribbon is used up, the cores and said members are pulled out, after which said members can be used for loading a fresh ink ribbon.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.32.  An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third fixing pins is fixed to said plate-like connector by a fixing bolt that is inserted into the corresponding one of said first, second, and third fixing pins through said plate-like connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein each of said first, second, and third fixing pins is fixed to said plate-like connector by a fixing bolt that is inserted into the corresponding one of said first, second, and third fixing pins through said plate-like connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein said first member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. An arrangement as recited in claim 34 wherein said second member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein said second member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein said second member is cylindrical in shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein at least one of said first and second members contains a slit that is closed at the end adjacent the thermal head printer and that is sized, shaped, and positioned to receive a pin projecting out from one of said three ribbon guide shafts so as to prevent dislodgement of said one of said first and second members from said one of said three ribbon guide shafts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein at least one of said first and second members has an inwardly projecting lug that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage a slot that is closed at the end adjacent said plate-like connector in one of said three ribbon guide shafts so as to prevent dislodgement of said one of said first and second members from one of said three ribbon shafts. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.40.  An arrangement as recited in claim 31 wherein at least one of said first and second members has an inwardly projecting stepped portion that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage an outwardly projecting flange adjacent the end of one of said three ribbon guide shafts so as to prevent dislodgement of said one of said first and second members from said one of said three ribbon guide shafts. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.41.  An arrangement for loading an ink ribbon into a thermal head printer, said arrangement comprising: (a) a ribbon feed shaft in a thermal head printer;   (b) a ribbon take-up shaft in the thermal head printer;   (c) ribbon guide shaft in the thermal head printer;   (d) a plate-like connector having a first side and a second side and a first end and a second end;   (e) a fixing pin mounted on the first side of said plate-like connector adjacent the first end thereof; and   (f) a member firmly fitted on said fixing pin and thereby rendered integral with said plate-like connector, said member having a recess sized and shaped to receive and slide axially relative to said ribbon guide shaft, whereby, in use:     (g) said member is fitted on the front end portion of said ribbon guide shaft at a slight fitting depth to an undisengageable extent;   (h) in this state, cores onto which an ink ribbon is rolled are fitted on the front end portions of said ribbon feed shaft and said ribbon take-up shaft;   (i) an ink ribbon is passed round the outer periphery of said member in order to load the ink ribbon; and   (j) when the ink ribbon is used up, the cores and said member are pulled out, after which said member can be used for loading a fresh ink ribbon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. An arrangement as recited in claim 41 wherein said fixing pin is fixed to said plate-like connector by a fixing bolt that is inserted into said fixing pin through said plate-like connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. An arrangement as recited in claim 41 wherein said member is made of sheet steel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. An arrangement as recited in   
     
     
        claim 41 wherein said member is cylindrical in shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. An arrangement as recited in claim 41 wherein said member contains a slit that is closed at the end adjacent the thermal head printer and that is sized, shaped and positioned to receive a pin projecting out from said ribbon guide shaft so as to prevent dislodgement of said member from said ribbon guide shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46. An arrangement as recited in claim 41 wherein said member has an inwardly projecting lug that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage a slit that is closed at the end adjacent said plate-like connector in said ribbon guide shaft so as to prevent dislodgement of said member from said ribbon guide shaft. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. An arrangement as recited in claim 41 wherein said member has an inwardly projecting stepped portion that is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage an outwardly projecting flange adjacent the end of said ribbon guide shaft so as to prevent dislodgement of said member from said ribbon guide shaft. .Iaddend.