TRANSFER TOOL, REFILL FOR TRANSFER TOOL AND TRANSFER TOOL SET

- KOKUYO S&T CO., Ltd.

A transfer tool set is configured such that a plurality of refills, for example, a narrow refill, a medium refill and a wide refill, are prepared and a common transfer tool main body is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills. As transfer tools constituted with the transfer tool set, a first transfer tool in which the narrow refill is installed on the common transfer tool main body, a second transfer tool in which the medium refill is installed on the transfer tool main body and a third transfer tool in which the wide refill is installed on the transfer tool main body can be cited.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a transfer tool to be used in a state that a refill having reels to wind and hold a transfer tape is installed on a transfer tool main body.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there have been proposed various transfer tools that include a refill being configured such that a refill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape, and a transfer tool main body having a case that accommodates the refill detachable from the case (See Patent document 1, for example).

The transfer tool described in the Patent document 1 can transfer a transfer substance in a required width by selecting and installing one of refills more than one kind in which widths of transfer tapes are different from each other on a common transfer tool main body.

However, with the transfer tool described in the above Patent document, most components of the refills such as reels for winding the transfer tapes, members for holding the reels and members for covering the reels from the outside constituting the transfer tool main bodies vary in form depending on the widths of the transfer tapes. In respect to such a transfer set that a plurality of refills are prepared in relation to a common transfer tool main body, the number of components of the transfer tool set therefore becomes much larger than the number of components of a single transfer tool.

RELATED ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-178694.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The present invention has paid attention to the above-described flaws, it is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer tool for which transfer tapes more than one kind that have different width are available while preventing the number of components from increasing.

Means of Solving the Problems

In order to realize the above object, the present invention has prepared the following means.

Specifically, a transfer tool according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes a refill being configured such that a refill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape and a transfer tool main body having a case that is able to selectively accommodate either the refill or another refill which includes other reels having different width from the reels of the refill inside, each of the reels having a wheel part supported by a supporting shaft of the refill main body and a body part provided to be continuous with a periphery of the wheel part so that the transfer tape is wound around a periphery of the body part, the refill main body having a refill base in which at least each part corresponding to each of the reels is flat and a pair of protuberance parts protruding from one face of the refill base toward the wheel parts of the reels, each of top end faces of the protuberance parts guiding the corresponding wheel part of each of the reels.

Such configuration facilitates handling a variety of transfer tapes in width through adjusting positions of the top end faces of the protuberance parts and the wheel parts of the reels relative to the body parts on which the transfer tape is wound at least without changing the form of the refill base.

Here, shape of the protuberance part is not limited to a cylinder. A polyhedron, a partly-notched cylinder, and so on. In short, any shape may be employed as long as a top end face thereof is able to guide the wheel part of the reel.

And, if the transfer tool according to the to the present invention includes a transfer head to guide the transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel and each of the reels is positioned relatively with the transfer head so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of the transfer head, changing a feeling of use for an user is effectively avoided even though the widths of the transfer tape varies.

As a configuration to facilitate handling a plurality of transfer tapes that have different width without changing size of the transfer tool itself, the configuration can be cited in which each of the body parts of the reels is set such that a part of the body part is laid over a periphery of the protuberance part.

As a mode to facilitate unifying components of the transfer tool main body regardless of width of the transfer tape, the mode can be cited in which empty spaces are formed on both sides of each of the reels and have a width equivalent to a width of an exposed part of each of the protuberance parts that is not covered by each of the body parts of the reels.

With respect to the refill constituting the above transfer tool, as an example of configuration of the refill base and the reels to facilitate handling the transfer tape that has a narrow width, the configuration can be cited in which each of the reels is configured such that the body part is provided on the periphery of the wheel part to set an end face on a side close to the refill base of the body part is approximately flush with a side face close to the refill base of the wheel part.

When handling the transfer tape that has a large width using a common refill base, it is desirable that each of the reels be configured such that the body part is provided on the periphery of the wheel part to extend an end part on a side close to the refill base of the body part toward the refill base further than a side face close to the refill base of the wheel part and dimension of the extended portion of the body part be set smaller than protrusion dimension of the protuberance part.

In order to constitute a refill that facilitates getting a preferable feeling of use regardless of width of the transfer tape, it is preferable that the refill be configured such that the transfer head to guide the transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel is provided on the refill base and each of the reels be positioned relatively with the transfer head so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of the transfer head.

As a configuration to suitably support the reels even if the protuberance parts mate with the reels having the body parts with different width, the configuration can be cited in which each of the protuberance parts has a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter set smaller than an inside diameter of the body part and is provided such that an axis of the protuberance part coincides with an axis of the reel, each of supporting shafts to support each of the wheel parts of the reels protruding at a center part on a top end of each of the protuberance parts. Here, it is unnecessary that diameter of the protuberance parts be larger than diameter of the supporting shafts.

In addition, a transfer tool set according to the present invention, which allows selecting a desired transfer tape from among transfer tapes that have different width and can ideally be used with a refill having any width, is characterized in that a plurality of the refills including the above refills are prepared and a common transfer tool main body is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills.

That is, a transfer tool according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes a refill being configured such that a refill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape and a transfer tool main body having a case that is able to selectively accommodate either the refill or another refill which includes other reels having different width from the reels of the refill inside, empty spaces being formed on both sides of each of the reels so that the case is able to accommodate the another refill instead of the refill, the another refill including the other reels that have larger width than a width that the reels of the refill have.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, a transfer tool set can be provided for which transfer tapes more than one kind that have different width are available while preventing the number of components from increasing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second transfer tool according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along the line B-B in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a refill according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the same.

FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along the line C-C in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a cross section of a third transfer tool according to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a cross section of a first transfer tool according to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 is a cross section corresponding to FIG. 7.

FIG. 15 is a cross section of a wide refill according to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a cross section of a narrow refill according to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a cross section showing a variation of the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross section showing the variation of the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 11.

FIG. 19 is a cross section showing the variation of the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 15.

 MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Described below is one embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

A transfer tool set S according to this embodiment is configured such that a plurality of refills, for example, a narrow refill 3a, a medium refill 3b and a wide refill 3c, are prepared and a common transfer tool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills. As transfer tools constituted with the transfer tool set S, a first transfer tool 1a in which the narrow refill 3a is installed on the common transfer tool main body 2, a second transfer tool 1b in which the medium refill 3b is installed on the transfer tool main body 2 and a third transfer tool 1c in which the wide refill 3c is installed on the transfer tool main body 2 can be cited.

First, the second transfer tool 1b shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 will be described.

The second transfer tool 1b includes the medium refill 3b in which a refill main body 31 supports a pair of reels 32 and 33 to feed and wind up a transfer tape T having a certain width, for example, a width of 10 mm, and the common transfer tool main body 2 that has a first case 21 and a second case 22 as a case to accommodate the detachable medium refill 3b. According to the embodiment, the feeding reel 32 being a reel on the feeding side has the same shape as the winding reel 33 being a reel on the winding side.

Each of the reels 32 and 33 has a wheel part 32a, 33a to be supported by a supporting shaft 311 on the refill main body 31, a body part 32b, 33b continuously provided with a periphery of the wheel part 32a, 33a so that the transfer tape T is wound around a periphery of the body part 32b, 33b and flanges 32c, 33c provided on both side edges of the body part 32b, 33b. Each of the reels 32 and 33 is integrally molded of resin. Each of the wheel parts 32a and 33a has a circular disk 32e, 33e and a bearing 32f, 33f provided in a center part of the circular disk 32e, 33e. Each of the circular disks 32e and 33e has a disklike shape with the bearing 32f, 33f that is integrally provided on the center of the circular disk 32e, 33e. Teeth for a ratchet to inhibit reverse rotation, which are not illustrated, are radially formed around the bearing 32f, 33f on one face opposed to the refill main body 31 in each of the circular disks 32e and 33e. According to the embodiment, it prevents only the winding reel 33 from reverse rotating. Ribs 32g to avoid failure to engage is formed on the other face of the circular disk 32e, and ribs 33g to avoid failure to engage is formed on the other face of the circular disk 33e. Each of the bearings 32f and 33f is formed into a cylindrical shape that is rotatably put on the supporting shaft 311. The body parts 32b and 33b are formed into cylindrical shapes that are larger in diameter than the bearings 32f and 33f. One side part of the body part 32b is unified with the periphery of the wheel part 32a, and one side part of the body part 33b is unified with the periphery of the wheel part 33a. That is, each of the reels is configured such that a part of each of the body parts 32b and 33b is laid over a periphery of each of the protuberance parts 4. In detail, each of the body parts 32b and 33b is provided with an end part on a side close to a refill base 5 extending toward the refill base 5 further than a side face close to the refill base 5 of each of the wheel parts 32a and 33a. Dimension of the extended portion of each of the body parts 32b and 33b is set smaller than protrusion dimension of the protuberance part 4. The flanges 32c and 33c are to prevent lateral slippage of the transfer tape T wound around the body parts 32b and 33b, a plurality of circular windows 32d and 33d to show residual amount of the transfer tape T are opened at prescribed intervals along the circumferential directions on the flanges 32c and 33c.

The refill main body 31 has the flat refill base 5, a pair of protuberance parts 4 protruding from one face of the refill base 5 toward the wheel parts 32a, 33a of the reels 32 and 33, the supporting shafts 311 protruding at a center part on a top end of each of the protuberance parts 4, and an attachment part 312 provided near a top end of the refill base 5. A transfer head 34 is provided on the attachment part 312. The refill base 5 is a thin plate-shaped member having a pair of disk parts 5a that are parts corresponding to the reels 32 and 33 formed into disk shapes and belt parts 5b, one belt part 5b connecting the disk parts 5a linearly, another belt part 5b connecting one disk part 5a and a part equivalent to the attachment part 312 linearly. The protuberance parts 4 are paired to protrude from one face of the disk parts 5a toward the wheel parts 32a, 33a of the reels 32 and 33, each of top end faces 4a of the protuberance parts 4 guides the corresponding wheel part 32a, 33a of each of the reels 32 and 33. Specifically, each of the protuberance parts 4 has a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter set smaller than inside diameters of the body parts 32b and 33b. The axis of one protuberance part 4 coincides with the axis of the reel 32, and the axis of another protuberance part 4 coincides with the axis of the reel 33. Each of the supporting shafts 311 to support the wheel part 32a, 33a of each of the reels 32 and 33 is provided to protrude at the center part on the top end of each of the protuberance parts 4. Each of the top end faces 4a is constituted of a ridge formed into a circular shape at an edge part on the top end of each of the protuberance parts 4. Each of the top end faces 4a is rubbed against one side face of the wheel part 32a, 33a of each of the reels 32 and 33. Specifically, each of the top end faces 4a of the protuberance parts 4 guides the reel 32, 33 by being rubbed against the outside region around the teeth for the ratchet on the one side face. Also, a pawl for the ratchet to be engaged with the teeth for the ratchet so as to inhibit reverse rotation of the winding reel 33, which is not illustrated, is provided on the protuberance part 4 corresponding to the winding reel 33 for winding up among the above protuberance parts 4. A positioning projection 5c and positioning recess 5d to be engaged with the second case 22 described later of the transfer tool main body 2 so as to position the medium refill 3b itself are provided on the other face of the refill base 5. Specifically, the positioning projection 5c is formed inside the protuberance part 4 corresponding to the winding reel 33. The positioning recess 5d is formed inside the protuberance part 4 corresponding to the feeding reel 32 for feeding. Each of the supporting shafts 311 provided on the top of each of the protuberance parts 4 has a shaft main body 311a having a cylindrical shape with cut parts to be inserted into the bearing 32f, 33f of the reel in a rotatable manner, and stopper hooks 311b provided in the cut part to be elastically engaged with an end face of the bearing 32f, 33f so as to prevent the bearing 32f, 33f from falling off the shaft main body. A cylindrical-shaped projection 311c and a cross-shaped projection 311d to come into contact with the first case 21 described later of the transfer tool main body 2 so as to position the medium refill 3b are provided on the tops of the supporting shafts 311. That is, the cylindrical-shaped projection 311c with a circular cross section is provided on the supporting shaft 311 of the winding reel 33, and the cross-shaped projection 311d with a cruciform cross section is provided on the supporting shaft 311 of the feeding reel 32. The attachment part 312 has a first rib 312a protruding from one side face of the refill base 5 to be engaged with the first case 21 and a second rib 312b protruding from the other side face of the refill base 5 to be engaged with the second case 22. The first rib 312a has a cruciform cross section, the transfer head 34 is provided on the first rib 312a. Specifically, the transfer head 34 includes a head main body 34a integrally formed with the first rib 312a and a transfer roller 34b supported by the head main body 34a. The head main body 34a is composed of plate-like parts integrally provided with the first rib 312a, a pair of guides 34c being formed into an approximately triangular shape is provided in top end regions on both sides thereof to prevent lateral slippage of the transfer tape T. The transfer roller 34b is attached between the top ends of the guides 34c so that the transfer roller 34b is rotatable.

Next, the wide refill 3c constituting the third transfer tool 1c especially shown in FIGS. 1, 12 and 15 will be described. The wide refill 3c is configured such that a refill main body 31 supports a pair of reels 32 and 33 to feed and wind up a transfer tape T having a widest width, for example, a width of 15 mm. A refill base 5 and a transfer head 34 used as components of the wide refill 3c are the same as the components of the above medium refill 3b. On top of that, specific dimension of the reels 32 and 33 in the wide refill 3c is different from specific dimension of the reels 32 and 33 in the medium refill 3b. That is, the measure of body parts 32b and 33b in the wide refill 3c is set about 5 mm larger than the measure of the body parts 32b and 33b in the medium refill 3b to wind the transfer tape T having a width of 15 mm. Moreover, length of extending end parts on the side close to the refill base 5 of the body parts 32b and 33c toward the refill base 5 further than side faces close to the refill base 5 of wheel parts 32a and 33a is set long. Specifically, the length of the extended portions of the body parts 32b and 33c is set 2.5 mm longer. Hence, the center of the transfer tape T is located on the center of a transfer head 34 similarly to the medium refill 3b. The transfer head 34 of the wide refill 3c is equal to the transfer head 34 of the medium refill 3b in shape.

Then, the narrow refill 3a constituting the first transfer tool 1a especially shown in FIGS. 1, 13, 14 and 16 will be described. The narrow refill 3a is configured such that a refill main body 31 supports a pair of reels 32 and 33 to feed and wind up a transfer tape T having a narrowest width, for example, a width of 5 mm. A refill base 5 being a component of the narrow refill 3a is approximately the same as the component of the above medium refill 3b. On the other hand, a narrow head 34s is employed instead of the transfer head 34 for the narrow refill 3a. As especially shown in FIG. 14, the narrow head 34s uses guides 34c having a large thickness, a short transfer roller 34b is attached to the narrow head 34s. Thus, it is possible to surely prevent lateral slippage of the transfer tape T with a width of 5 mm. Moreover, the measure of body parts 32b and 33b of the reels 32 and 33 is set about 5 mm shorter than the measure of the body parts 32b and 33b in the medium refill 3b. Specifically, each of the reels 32 and 33 is configured such that the body part 32b, 33b is provided on a periphery of a wheel part 32a, 33a to set an end face on the side close to the refill base 5 of the body part 32b, 33b is approximately flush with a side face close to the refill base 5 of the wheel part 32a, 33a.

Described below is the common transfer tool main body 2.

The transfer tool main body 2 selectively accommodates the narrow refill 3a, the medium refill 3b or the wide refill 3c described above and can constitute any transfer tool among the first transfer tool 1a, the second transfer tool 1b and the third transfer tool 3c. In other words, the transfer tool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodate either the refill 3a, 3b, 3c including the reels 32 and 33 on which the transfer tape T with a certain width is wound or another refill 3a, 3b, 3c including other reels 32 and 33 with a different width from the former reels 32 and 33 inside. The transfer tool main body 2 has the first case 21, the second case 22 attached to the first case 21 so that the second case 22 is turnable, a cap 23 attached to the second case 22 so that the cap 23 is slidable, a feeding gear 24 mounted on the first case 21, a feeding end 26 attached to the feeding gear 24 with a clutch 25 intervening between them, an intermediate gear 27 meshing with the feeding gear 24, a winding gear 28 meshing with the intermediate gear 27, and a winding end 29 integrally provided with the winding gear 28. The feeding gear 24, the clutch 25, the feeding end 26, the intermediate gear 27, the winding gear 28 and the winding end 29 constitute an interlocking mechanism to interlock the rotation of the feeding reel 32 with the rotation of the winding reel 33. The first case 21 is formed with a rear plate 21a to cover the rear of any of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c and a peripheral wall 21b to cover the side of the refill 3a, 3b, 3c to be able to accommodate approximately whole the refill 3a, 3b, 3c. The first case 21 has a first attachment rib 21c to fix the attachment part 312 of the refill main body 31, a winding shaft 21d to support the winding gear 28, a feeding shaft 21e to support the feeding gear 24, and a first hinge part 21f that is turnably engaged with the second case 22 and able to constitute a hinge. The second case 22 is composed of a transparent resin. The second case 22 has a front plate 22a to cover the front of the refill 3a, 3b, 3c and a peripheral wall 22b that rises on an edge part of the front plate 22a. The peripheral wall 22b can be engaged with and detached from the peripheral wall 21b of the first case 21. The second case 22 has a second attachment rib 22c to fix the attachment part 312 of the refill main body 31, a shaft stoppage recess 22e to press the feeding reel 32 after installing the refill 3a, 3b, 3c, a shaft stoppage projection 22d to press the winding reel 33 after installing the refill 3a, 3b, 3c, a cap attachment part 22g to which the cap 23 is attached in a slidable manner, and a second hinge part 22f that is engaged with the first hinge part 21f so as to constitute the hinge. The cap attachment part 22g is formed on an end part opposite to the second hinge part 22f having a slit 22h being an oblong hole to attach the cap 23 and a rail 22i being a groove to lead the cap into a precise movement. The cap 23 attached to the second case 22 so that it is slidable is able to be positioned in the capping attitude where the transfer head 34 or the narrow head 34s is capped so as to prevent the transfer head 34 or the narrow head 34s from touching an object around it when not in use besides the usable attitude where the cap 23 abuts on the second case 22 and the transfer head 34 or the narrow head 34s is exposed out of the transfer tool main body 2. The cap 23 has a cap main body 23a like a curved plate to be a main constituent of the cap 23, a bump 23b protruding from the cap main body 23a with a bulged part on a top thereof that is passed through a medial position formed to have a wide width in the slit 22h so as to be attached to the second case 22, and a slider 23c that is able to slide along the above rail. The feeding gear 24 is attached to the feeding shaft 21e so that the feeding gear 24 does not come off and is rotatable, the feeding end 26 is attached to the top end side of the feeding shaft 21e. In detail, the feeding gear 24 has a gear part and a top end part near to the top end side of the feeding shaft 21e, the top end part being formed into an overhanging shape. And, the feeding end 26 is pressed against the overhanging part away from the gear part, for example, by attaching a metal spring so as to constitute the clutch 25. The rotation of the feeding reel 32 when in use is certainly transmitted to the feeding end 26 because the feeding end 26 is formed into a shape that can be engaged with the rib 32g provided on the circular disk 32e. Meanwhile, the winding gear 28 is attached to the winding shaft 21d so that the winding gear 28 does not come off and is rotatable. The winding gear 28 always rotates at a speed such that the winding gear 28 can wind up a larger amount of the transfer tape T than an amount of the transfer tape T to be fed during using the refill 3a, 3b, 3c because the winding gear 28 has a suitable number of teeth. The transfer tape T is thereby prevented from being loosed in transferring. And, the clutch 25 eliminates the difference in speed caused by winding up rapidly compared with the feeding side. The winding end 29 integrally molded with the winding gear 28 is formed into a shape that can be engaged with the rib 33g provided on the circular disk 33e similarly to the feeding end 26, the rotation of the winding end 29 transmitted from the feeding reel 32 via the feeding end 26, the clutch 25, the winding gear 28 and the intermediate gear 27 is certainly transmitted to the winding reel 33. According to the embodiment, the intermediate gear 27 is rotatably attached to a small projection formed at a point intervening between the feeding gear 24 and the winding gear 28 on the first case 21, a disk part larger in diameter than a gear part meshing with the feeding gear 24 and the winding gear 28 is formed to be nearer to the first case 21 than the gear part in the intermediate gear 27. This disk part gets caught between the rear plate 21a of the first case 21 and the feeding gear 24 besides the winding gear 28 so as to be prevented from falling off the first case 21.

The above-described transfer tool set S capable of constituting such transfer tools is configured such that refills more than one kind in which widths of the transfer tapes T are different from each other, more specifically three kinds of refill 3a, 3b and 3c, are prepared and the common transfer tool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c. And, when either of the refills 3a and 3b is installed on the transfer tool main body 2 as shown in FIGS. 6, 12 and 13, empty spaces s1 having approximately the same width as each other are formed on both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 in the first transfer tool 1a, or empty spaces s2 having approximately the same width as each other are formed on both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 in the second transfer tool 1b. In other words, the empty spaces s1, s2 are formed on both sides of the reels 32 and 33 in the first transfer tool 1a or the second transfer tool 1b so that the first case 21 and the second case 22 being the case are able to accommodate the wide refill 3c instead, the wide refill 3c including another reels 32 and 33 that have larger width than a width that the above reels 32 and 33 have. When the wide refill 3c is installed on the transfer tool main body 2, the reels 32 and 33 are arranged such that approximately no spaces exist on both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 allowing the movement of the reels 32 and 33.

In this way, since the empty spaces s1 made with the reels 32 and 33 and the protuberance parts 4 are formed on both sides of the reels 32 and 33 and the same as each other in the narrow refill 3a as well as the empty spaces s2 made with the reels 32 and 33 and the protuberance parts 4 are formed on both sides of the reels 32 and 33 and the same as each other in the medium refill 3b, the center of the transfer tape T always coincides with the center c of the transfer head 34 although the transfer tapes T of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c are different in width from each other. In addition, each of the refill bases 5 in the refills 3a, 3b and 3c to which the transfer head 34 is attached is set in the same position relative to the transfer tool main body 2. Hence, whichever of the three kinds of refill 3a, 3b and 3c is used, the position of the center c of the transfer tape T relative to the transfer tool main body 2 is uniform. Whichever of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c is used, a feeling of use with the transfer tool set S according to the embodiment is not changed as a result. Therefore a user can suitably use the transfer tools 1a, 1b and 1c regardless of the differences of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c from each other.

Such configuration as above provides each of the transfer tools according to the embodiment with the specifications to facilitate handling a variety of transfer tapes T in width through adjusting positions of the top end faces 4a of the protuberance parts 4 and the wheel parts 32a and 33a of the reels 32 and 33 relative to the body parts 32b and 33b on which the transfer tape T is wound at least without changing the form of the refill base 5.

In particular, since each of the reels 32 and 33 is positioned relatively with the transfer head 34 so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape T is able to pass on the center of the transfer head 34 according to the embodiment, changing a feeling of use for the user is effectively avoided even though the widths of the transfer tape T varies.

In order to facilitate handling a plurality of transfer tapes T that have different width without changing size of the transfer tool 1a, 1b, 1c itself, the configuration can be cited in which each of the body parts 32b and 33b of the reels 32 and 33 is set such that the part of the body part 32b, 33b is laid over the periphery of the protuberance part 4 in the medium refill 3b and the wide refill 3c according to the embodiment.

In order to unify components of the transfer tool main body 2 regardless of width of the transfer tape T and reduce the number of components, empty spaces s1, s2 having the width equivalent to the width of the exposed part of each of the protuberance parts 4 that is not covered by each of the body parts 32b and 33b of the reels 32 and 33 are formed on both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 in the narrow refill 3a and the medium refill 3b according to the embodiment.

In order to facilitate handling the transfer tape T that has the narrow width of the narrow refill 3a, each of the reels 32 and 33 is configured such that the body part 32b, 33b is provided on the periphery of the wheel part 32a, 33a to set the end face on the side close to the refill base 5 of the body part 32b, 33b is approximately flush with the side face close to the refill base 5 of the wheel part 32a, 33a according to the embodiment.

In order to compose the medium refill 3b and the wide refill 3c including the transfer tapes T that have the large widths with the common refill base 5, each of the reels 32 and 33 is configured such that the body part 32b, 33b is provided on the periphery of the wheel part 32a, 33a to extend the end part on the side close to the refill base 5 of the body part 32b, 33b toward the refill base 5 further than the side face close to the refill base 5 of the wheel part 32a, 33a according to the embodiment. Specifically, dimension of the extended portion of the body part 32b, 33b is set smaller than protrusion dimension of the protuberance part 4 in the medium refill 3b. And, dimension of the extended portion of the body part 32b, 33b is set similar to protrusion dimension of the protuberance part 4, that is, the dimension such that enough clearance to allow relative movement is generated in the wide refill 3c.

In order to compose the refills 3a, 3b and 3c that facilitate getting a preferable feeling of use regardless of the widths of the transfer tapes T, each of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c is configured such that the transfer head 34 to guide the transfer tape T from the feeding reel 32 toward the winding reel 33 is provided on the refill base 5 and each of the reels 32 and 33 is positioned relatively with the transfer head 34 so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape T is able to pass on the center of the transfer head 34 according to the embodiment.

In order to suitably support the reels 32 and 33 even if the protuberance parts 4 mate with the reels 32 and 33 having the body parts 32b and 33b with different width, the configuration according to the embodiment is employed in which each of the protuberance parts 4 has the cylindrical shape with the outside diameter set smaller than the inside diameter of the body part 32b, 33b and is provided such that the axis of the protuberance part 4 coincides with the axis of the reel 32, 33, and each of supporting shafts 311 to support each of the wheel parts 32a and 33a of the reels 32 and 33 protrudes at the center part on the top end of each of the protuberance parts 4.

<Variation>

Described below is a variation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 19. The elements in the variation that are equivalent to the ones described in the above embodiment are given the same reference signs thereas, the description thereof is omitted.

The transfer tool set S according to this variation is configured such that a plurality of refills, for example, a narrow refill 3a, a medium refill 3b and a wide refill 3c, are prepared and the common transfer tool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c. As transfer tools constituted with the transfer tool set S according to the variation, similarly to the above embodiment, a first transfer tool 1a in which the narrow refill 3a shown in FIG. 17 is installed on the common transfer tool main body 2, a second transfer tool 1b in which the medium refill 3b shown in FIG. 18 is installed on the transfer tool main body 2 and a third transfer tool 1c in which the wide refill 3c shown in FIG. 19 is installed on the transfer tool main body 2 can be cited.

On top of that, the transfer tools 1a, 1b and 1c according to the variation include the common transfer tool main body 2, refill bases 5 of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c are formed into a common shape. In this variation, unlike in the above embodiment, the planar refill bases 5 without the protuberance parts 4 are employed. Each of reels 32 and 33 of each of the refills 3a, 3b and 3c is formed such that a body part 32b, 33b is provided on a periphery of a wheel part 32a, 33a to set an end face on a side close to the refill base 5 of the body part 32b, 33b is approximately flush with a side face close to the refill base 5 of the wheel part 32a, 33a. And, the narrow refill 3a for the first transfer tool 1a and the medium refill 3b for the second transfer tool 1b have different spacers 4A in width from each other instead of the protuberance parts 4.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, in the narrow refill 3a and the medium refill 3b, the spacers 4A configured separately from the refill base 5 and each of the reels 32 and 33 intervene. For example, the spacers 4A are members formed into a ringed shape with resin. Whichever of the reels 32 and 33 that have different widths corresponding to the widths of the transfer tapes T are used, the center of the transfer tape T is located on the center of a narrow head 34s or a transfer head 34 similarly to the wide refill 3c through adjusting the width of the spacers 4A suitably. According to this variation, the mode is employed in which each of the reels 32 and 33 are mounted on supporting shafts 311 after putting the supporting shafts 311 through the spacers 4A while assembling the refills 3a and 3b.

As described above, since the spacers 4A having different widths from each other intervene between the refill base 5 and each of the reels 32 and 33 in the first transfer tool 1a and the second transfer tool 1b according to the variation, the empty spaces s1, s2 are formed on both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 so that the first case 21 and the second case 22 being the case are able to accommodate the wide refill 3c instead. Of course, each of the reels 32 and 33 are mounted in a state of removing the spacers 4A from the refill base 5 when the wide refill 3c is installed, the reels 32 and 33 are consequently arranged such that approximately no spaces exist on both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 allowing the movement of the reels 32 and 33.

With such configuration, the specifications are yielded to facilitate handling a variety of transfer tapes T in width through adjusting positions of top end faces 4a of the spacers 4A relative to the wheel parts 32a and 33a and the body parts 32b and 33b of the reels 32 and 33 at least without changing the form of the refill base 5 similarly to the above embodiment.

Needless to say, coil springs that are put on the supporting shafts 311 or the like may used instead of the spacers 4A intervening between the refill base 5 and each of the reels 32 and 33 although the annular resin members are used as the spacers 4A in this variation.

While the embodiment of the present invention is described above, the concrete structures of the respective components are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

For example, even though the embodiment with the protuberance parts protruding from the refill base and the variations with the spacers or the coil springs and so on separate from the refill body and the reels have been disclosed, of course the mode may be employed in which wheel parts of reels protrude from body parts of the reels toward a refill base so that protuberance parts are provided on the reels. Even though the transfer tool sets according to the embodiment and the variations with the three kinds of refill that have the different tapes in width have been disclosed, of course a more transfer tape having a different width may be added. And refills being components of a transfer tool set do not always have transfer tapes to which the same transfer substance is applied. For example, there may be used not only a refill capable of applying an adhesive agent but also a refill capable of applying a correction agent. There may be used refills having transfer tapes to which an adhesive agent is applied in intermittent patterns different from each other. Even though the modes according to the embodiment and the variation in which the clutch is constituted with the metal spring have been disclosed, of course a clutch using friction between members that are engaged with each other may be provided. Interlocking the feeding reel with the winding reel does not always use the gears, the configuration in which a belt is wrapped around a pulley provided on the side of feeding and a pulley provided on the side of winding so that the belt is able to slip on the pulleys can be employed. In addition, the specific configurations, for example, the width of the tape or the property of the transfer substance itself are not limited to the above-described embodiment and the variation, and various modifications including existing ones are possible.

Other than that, the concrete structures of the respective components are not limited to the above-described embodiment and variation, various modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention may be utilized for a transfer tool to be used in a state that a refill having reels to wind and hold a transfer tape is installed on a transfer tool main body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERAL

  • 1a transfer tool (first transfer tool)
  • 1b transfer tool (second transfer tool)
  • 1c transfer tool (third transfer tool)
  • 2 transfer tool main body
  • 21a case (first case)
  • 21b case (second case)
  • 21c case (third case)
  • 3a refill (narrow refill)
  • 3b refill (medium refill)
  • 3c refill (wide refill)
  • T transfer tape
  • 31 refill main body
  • 311 supporting shaft
  • 32 feeding reel
  • 33 winding reel
  • 32a, 33a wheel part
  • 32b, 33b body part
  • 34 transfer head
  • 34a transfer head (narrow head)
  • 4 protuberance part
  • 4A protuberance part (spacer)
  • 4a top end face
  • 5 refill base
  • s1, s2 empty space

Claims

1. A transfer tool comprising:

a refill being configured such that a refill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape; and
a transfer tool main body having a case that is able to selectively accommodate either the refill or another refill which includes other reels having different width from the reels of the refill inside,
each of the reels having a wheel part supported by a supporting shaft of the refill main body and a body part provided to be continuous with a periphery of the wheel part so that the transfer tape is wound around a periphery of the body part,
the refill main body having a refill base in which at least each part corresponding to each of the reels is flat and a pair of protuberance parts protruding from one face of the refill base toward the wheel parts of the reels,
each of top end faces of the protuberance parts guiding the corresponding wheel part of each of the reels.

2. The transfer tool according to claim 1, further comprising

a transfer head to guide the transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel,
each of the reels being positioned relatively with the transfer head so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of the transfer head.

3. The transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein

each of the body parts of the reels is set such that a part of the body part is laid over a periphery of the protuberance part.

4. The transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein

empty spaces are formed on both sides of each of the reels, the empty space having a width equivalent to a width of an exposed part of each of the protuberance parts that is not covered by each of the body parts of the reels.

5. A refill used for the transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein

each of the reels is configured such that a body part is provided on a periphery of a wheel part to set an end face on a side close to a refill base of the body part is approximately flush with a side face close to the refill base of the wheel part.

6. A refill used for the transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein

each of the reels is configured such that a body part is provided on a periphery of a wheel part to extend an end part on a side close to a refill base of the body part toward the refill base further than a side face close to the refill base of the wheel part, and
a dimension of the extended portion of the body part is set smaller than protrusion dimension of a protuberance part.

7. The refill according to claim 5, wherein

the refill is configured such that a transfer head to guide a transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel is provided on the refill base,
each of the reels being positioned relatively with the transfer head so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of the transfer head.

8. The refill according to claim 5, wherein

each of the protuberance parts has a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter set smaller than an inside diameter of the body part and is provided such that an axis of the protuberance part coincides with an axis of the reel,
each of supporting shafts to support each of the wheel parts of the reels protruding at a center part on a top end of each of the protuberance parts.

9. A transfer tool set comprising:

a plurality of the refills including a refill being configured such that a refill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape and the refill according to claim 6 are prepared, a common transfer tool main body is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills.

10. A transfer tool comprising:

a refill being configured such that a refill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape; and
a transfer tool main body having a case that is able to selectively accommodate either the refill or another refill which includes other reels having different width from the reels of the refill inside,
empty spaces being formed on both sides of each of the reels so that the case is able to accommodate the another refill instead of the refill, the another refill including the other reels that have larger width than a width that the reels of the refill have.

11. The refill according to claim 6, wherein

the refill is configured such that a transfer head to guide a transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel is provided on the refill base,
each of the reels being positioned relatively with the transfer head so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of the transfer head.

12. The refill according to claim 6, wherein

each of the protuberance parts has a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter set smaller than an inside diameter of the body part and is provided such that an axis of the protuberance part coincides with an axis of the reel,
each of supporting shafts to support each of the wheel parts of the reels protruding at a center part on a top end of each of the protuberance parts.
Patent History
Publication number: 20150232297
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 12, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 20, 2015
Applicant: KOKUYO S&T CO., Ltd. (Osaka)
Inventors: Keiji Kai (Osaka-shi), Megumi Sasaya (Osaka-shi), Tetsuya Fukui (Sakai-shi)
Application Number: 14/429,742
Classifications
International Classification: B65H 35/00 (20060101);