COATING FILM TRANSFER TOOL

Abstract

A coating film transfer tool may include a supply reel, a transfer tape, a transfer head, a winding reel, and a power transmitting mechanism. The tool may include a base member having the transfer head and a rotation restraining portion capable of directly restraining rotation of the supply reel. The base member may be rotatably supported between the transfer head and the rotation restraining portion by a base member supporting shaft. The tool may include a resilient restoring mechanism interposed between the base member and the housing. The base member may rotate and restraint of rotation of the supply reel is released when the transfer head is pressed against a transferred surface, and the base member is restored to an original position by the resilient restoring mechanism to restrain rotation of the supply reel when pressing of the transfer head is released.

Claims

1. A coating film transfer tool including at least a supply reel having a transfer tape wound thereon, a transfer head that transfers the transfer tape drawn out from the supply reel to a transferred surface, a winding reel that winds the transfer tape after the transfer, and a power transmitting mechanism that interlocks the supply reel and the winding reel in a housing, the tool comprising: a base member having the transfer head mounted integrally at a front end thereof and a rotation restraining portion that is capable of directly restraining rotation of the supply reel on a rear half portion thereof, the base member being rotatably supported between the transfer head and the rotation restraining portion by a base member supporting shaft provided at a predetermined position of the housing, a resilient restoring mechanism interposed between the base member and the housing, wherein the base member rotates and restraint of rotation of the supply reel is released when the transfer head is pressed against the transferred surface, and the base member is restored to an original position by the resilient restoring mechanism to restrain rotation of the supply reel when pressing of the transfer head is released.

2. The coating film transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein the rotation restraining portion of the base member is a locking claw that may lock a locked teeth provided on a peripheral edge of a flange formed integrally with the supply reel, and when the transfer head is pressed against the transferred surface, the base member is rotated and the locking claw is unlocked from the locked teeth, whereby restraint of rotation of the supply reel is released, when the transfer head is released from a state of being pressed, the base member is restored to the original position by the resilient restoring mechanism and the locking claw engages the locked teeth, whereby the supply reel is restrained from rotating.

3. The coating film transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein the resilient restoring mechanism includes a spring member mounted between the base member and the housing and configured to urge the base member to rotate in a direction in which a rotation restraining portion of the base member restrains the rotation of the supply reel.

4. The coating film transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein the resilient restoring mechanism brings a spring function portion provided on the base member into abutment with the housing, or a spring function portion provided on the housing into abutment with the base member, thereby urging the base member in a direction in which a rotation restraining portion of the base member restrains the rotation of the supply reel.

5. The coating film transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein a distance from the base member supporting shaft that supports the base member to a rotation restraining portion provided on a rear half portion of the base member is longer than a distance from a front end of the transfer head provided integrally at a front end of the base member to the base member supporting shaft.

6. The coating film transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein the base member is formed into a plate-shaped member, the base member is provided with supporting shaft insertion holes to allow insertion of a supply reel supporting shaft and a winding reel supporting shaft provided on the housing for rotatably supporting the supply reel and the winding reel respectively therethrough, and the supporting shaft insertion holes are formed into a long hole, or a diameter of the supporting shaft insertion holes is increased so as to allow the base member to rotate about the base member supporting shaft in a range required for restraint and release of rotation of the supply reel.

7. The coating film transfer tool according to claim 2, wherein the resilient restoring mechanism includes a spring member mounted between the base member and the housing and configured to urge the base member to rotate in a direction in which a rotation restraining portion of the base member restrains the rotation of the supply reel.

8. The coating film transfer tool according to claim 7, wherein the resilient restoring mechanism brings a spring function portion provided on the base member into abutment with the housing, or a spring function portion provided on the housing into abutment with the base member, thereby urging the base member in a direction in which a rotation restraining portion of the base member restrains the rotation of the supply reel.

9. The coating film transfer tool according to any one of claim 8, wherein a distance from the base member supporting shaft that supports the base member to a rotation restraining portion provided on a rear half portion of the base member is longer than a distance from a front end of the transfer head provided integrally at a front end of the base member to the base member supporting shaft.

10. The coating film transfer tool according to any one of claim 9, wherein the base member is formed into a plate-shaped member, the base member is provided with supporting shaft insertion holes to allow insertion of a supply reel supporting shaft and a winding reel supporting shaft provided on the housing for rotatably supporting the supply reel and the winding reel respectively therethrough, and the supporting shaft insertion holes are formed into a long hole, or a diameter of the supporting shaft insertion holes is increased so as to allow the base member to rotate about the base member supporting shaft in a range required for restraint and release of rotation of the supply reel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view illustrating a coating film transfer tool according to an example of the present invention with a transparent housing.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the same.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a front view of the coating film transfer tool not in use with a base member partly broken.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a front view of the coating film transfer tool in use with the base member partly broken.

[0028] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the coating film transfer tool viewed from a right upper direction illustrated in a contracted scale.

[0029] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the coating film transfer tool viewed from a left upper direction illustrated in a contracted scale.

[0030] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a supply reel and a flange before assembly.

[0031] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the supply reel and the flange after assembly.

[0032] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the supply reel and the flange illustrating a state of being divided after assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0033] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view illustrating a coating film transfer tool 1 according to an example of the present invention with a transparent housing 2, and FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the same. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the coating film transfer tool 1 viewed from a right upper direction illustrated in a contracted scale. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same viewed from a left upper direction.

[0035] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the coating film transfer tool 1 includes a supply reel 4 having a transfer tape 3 wound thereon, a transfer head 5 that transfers the transfer tape 3 drawn out from the supply reel 4 to a transferred surface, a winding reel 6 that winds the transfer tape 3 after transfer, and a power transmitting mechanism 7 that interlocks the supply reel 4 and the winding reel 6 in a housing 2 including a pair of left and right pair of housing member 2a. A pair of left and right housing members 2a are coupled by joint shafts 2b provided upright from the housing members 2a to constitute the housing 2.

[0036] A supply reel gear 9 is mounted on the supply reel 4 via a stop button 8. The stop button 8 is provided with resilient locking strips 8b each having a locking portion 8a and head locking portions 8d on an outer peripheral surface of a head 8c.

[0037] A spring 10 and the supply reel gear 9 are fitted over the resilient locking strips 8b of the stop button 8 in sequence and are retained by the locking portions 8a, and then the stop button 8 is assembled into the supply reel 4 together with the spring 10 and is pivotably supported by a supply reel supporting shaft 11 that is provided upright from the housing members 2a. Locking teeth 12 are provided on an inner surface of the housing members 2a around the supply reel supporting shaft 11 in a ring shape, resilient ratchet claw 9a (see FIG. 6) provided on a rear side of the supply reel gear 9 are locked by the locking teeth 12, so that reverse rotation of the supply reel gear 9 is prevented while using the coating film transfer tool 1.

[0038] Rib-shaped locked portions 4a extending in a direction of an axis of rotation are provided on an inner surface of the supply reel 4, and the head locking portions 8d of the stop button 8 are locked by the rib-shaped locked portions 4a, so that the stop button 8 and the supply reel 4 rotate integrally with each other.

[0039] The winding reel 6 is pivotably supported by a winding reel supporting shaft 13 that is provided upright on the housing members 2a. The winding reel 6 is provided with a winding reel gear 14 attached thereto (see FIG. 6). A small gear 21 is provided between the supply reel gear 9 and the winding reel gear 14, and the small gear 21 engages both of the supply reel gear 9 and the winding reel gear 14.

[0040] The small gear 21 is provided with a depressed groove 21a that can be operated by a coin and a clip on a surface facing the housing members 2a, so that a winding operation for taking up a slack of the transfer tape 3 is enabled from the outside via an operation hole 2c of the housing member 2a.

[0041] The spring 10 assembled into the supply reel 4 is interposed between the head 8c of the stop button 8 and the supply reel gear 9 in a compressed state. The winding reel 6 interlocks with the supply reel 4 and generates a rotation torque of the winding reel 6 via a power transmitting mechanism including the supply reel gear 9, the small gear 21, and the winding reel gear 14 by frictional forces generated by a resilient urging force of the spring 10 on a sliding surface between the spring 10 and the head 8c of the stop button 8 and a sliding surface between the spring 10 and the supply reel gear 9, whereby a rotation torque of the winding reel 6 is generated.

[0042] A remarkable feature of the present invention is in that a base member 16 rotatably supported by a base member supporting shaft 15 is provided at a predetermined position of the housing 2.

[0043] The base member 16 is formed of a plate-shaped member elongated in a fore-and-aft direction, and is provided with a reinforcement rib 16a on a peripheral edge thereof. The front half portion of the base member 16 is provided with a supporting shaft insertion hole 16b for allowing insertion of the base member supporting shaft 15 therethrough, and is provided with supporting shaft insertion holes 16c, 16d at positions rearward of the base member supporting shaft 15 and on a rear half portion for allowing insertion of the winding reel supporting shaft 13 and the supply reel supporting shaft 11, respectively. The supporting shaft insertion holes 16d, 16c for allowing insertion of the supply reel supporting shaft 11 and the winding reel supporting shaft 13 are formed into an elongated hole so as to allow the base member 16 to rotate about the base member supporting shaft 15 in a range required for blocking the rotation of the supply reel 4 and releasing the block.

[0044] A locking claw 16e as a rotation restraining portion for restraining rotation of the supply reel 4 is provided on a side of the base member 16 facing the supply reel 4 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0045] In contrast, a flange 17 provided with locked teeth 17a which the locking claw 16e may engage on a peripheral edge is integrally mounted on the supply reel 4. The flange 17 is formed integrally when molding the supply reel 4. In this specification, the expression “the flange 17 is formed integrally with the supply reel 4” includes a case where the flange 17 is mounted on the supply reel 4. As used herein, the expression “integrally formed” means that the supply reel 4 and the flange 17 rotate integrally with each other.

[0046] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the supply reel 4 and the flange 17 before assembly. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the supply reel 4 and the flange 17 after assembly. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the supply reel 4 and the flange 17 illustrating a state of being divided after assembly.

[0047] The flange 17 is provided with mounting strips 17c each having a notch 17b on a back surface thereof. The supply reel 4 and the flange 17 are assembled to each other so as to rotate integrally by locking the rib-shaped locked portions 4a of the supply reel 4 to the notches 17b of the mounting strips 17c as illustrated in FIG. 9.

[0048] The transfer head 5 is integrally mounted on a front end of the base member 16. As used herein the expression “integrally mounted” means that the base member 16 is mounted so as to rotate about the base member supporting shaft 15 together with the transfer head 5. In the case where the transfer head 5 is pivotably supported by the base member 16, the transfer head 5 may be rotated integrally with the base member 16.

[0049] In this example, the transfer head 5 is mounted on the base member 16 between the base member 16 and a base cover 18 which is mounted to the base member 16 via a pivot 5a. A head cover 19 that protects the transfer tape 3 extending over the transfer head 5 is mounted on the housing 2.

[0050] The base member 16 is rotatably supported between the transfer head 5 and the locking claw 16e as a rotation restraining portion by the base member supporting shaft 15 provided on the housing 2. A spring boss 16f is provided in the periphery of the base member supporting shaft 15 for fixing a spring member 20 as a resilient restoring mechanism, which urges the base member 16 so as to rotate in a direction of locking the locking claw 16e of the base member 16 to the locked teeth 17a of the flange 17.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a front view of the coating film transfer tool 1 not in use with a base member partly broken. FIG. 4 is a front view of the coating film transfer tool 1 in use with a base member partly broken. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate the locking claw 16e with the partly broken base member 16.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the spring member 20 is provided so as to be interposed between the base member 16 and the housing 2. When the coating film transfer tool 1 is not in use, the base member 16 is urged by the spring member 20 in the direction in which the locking claw 16e locks the locked teeth 17a of the flange 17, and the supply reel 4 that rotates integrally with the flange 17 is directly restrained from rotating. As used in this specification, the expression “the supply reel 4 is directly restrained from rotating” means that the supply reel 4 is restrained from rotating without intermediary of the frictional force.

[0053] In contrast, when the coating film transfer tool 1 is used, as illustrated in FIG. 4, pressing the transfer head 5 against a transferred surface S causes the base member 16 to rotate in the direction of unlocking the locking claw 16e from the locked teeth 17a of the flange 17 and so that rotation of the supply reel 4 is allowed and the transfer tape 3 wound around the supply reel 4 can be drawn out. Also, simultaneously with release of pressing of the transfer head 5, the base member 16 is rotated and is restored to its original position by a resilient restoration force of the spring member 20 to restrain the supply reel 4 from rotating.

[0054] A distance L1 from a front end of the transfer head 5 provided integrally with a front end of the base member 16 to the base member supporting shaft 15 is set to be shorter than a distance L2 from the base member supporting shaft 15 to the locking claw 16e. Accordingly, the movable extent of the transfer head 5 for unlocking the locking claw 16e from the locked teeth 17a may be reduced, and thus the coating film transfer tool 1 can be used with desirable usability.

[0055] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the example described above, the supporting shaft insertion holes 16d, 16c of the base member 16 have been described as being an elongated hole. However, the diameter of the supporting shaft insertion holes 16d, 16c may be increased so that the base member 16 can rotate about the base member supporting shaft 15 by a range required for restraining and releasing the rotation of the supply reel 4. Furthermore, in the embodiment in which the supply reel supporting shaft 11 and the winding reel supporting shaft 13 need not to be inserted through the base member 16, the base member 16 does not have to be provided with the supporting shaft insertion holes.

[0056] The reinforcement rib 16a in the peripheral edge of the base member 16 is not always necessary, and, for example, a rather thick plate-shaped member or a wavy-plate shaped member may be used for constituting the base member.

[0057] Furthermore, the resilient restoring mechanism may have a mode in which the base member is rotated by a spring function part provided on the base member coming into abutment with the housing, or by a spring function part provided on the housing coming into abutment with the base member instead of a mode in which the spring member 20 is interposed between the base member 16 and the housing 2 as in the example described above.

[0058] Furthermore, specific shapes of the locked teeth 17a of the flange 17 and the locking claw 16e of the base member 16 are not specifically limited as long as the supply reel 4 is restrained from rotating in the direction in which the transfer tape 3 wound around the supply reel 4 is drawn.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

[0059] 1 coating film transfer tool [0060] 2 housing [0061] 2a housing member [0062] 2b joint shaft [0063] 2c operation hole [0064] 3 transfer tape [0065] 4 supply reel [0066] 4a rib-shaped locked portion [0067] 5 transfer head [0068] 5a pivot [0069] 6 winding reel [0070] 7 power transmitting mechanism [0071] 8 stop button [0072] 8a locking portion [0073] 8b resilient locking strip [0074] 8c head [0075] 8d head locking portion [0076] 9 supply reel gear [0077] 9a resilient ratchet claw [0078] 10 spring [0079] 11 supply reel supporting shaft [0080] 12 locking teeth [0081] 13 winding reel supporting shaft [0082] 14 winding reel gear [0083] 15 base member supporting shaft [0084] 16 base member [0085] 16a reinforcement rib [0086] 16b supporting shaft insertion hole [0087] 16c supporting shaft insertion hole [0088] 16d supporting shaft insertion hole [0089] 16e locking claw (rotation restraining portion) [0090] 16f spring boss [0091] 17 flange [0092] 17a locked teeth [0093] 17b notch [0094] 17c mounting strip [0095] 18 base cover [0096] 19 head cover [0097] 20 spring member (resilient restoring mechanism) [0098] 21 small gear [0099] 21a depressed groove [0100] S transferred surface