JPS5993376A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer capable of easily using a selected one of various ribbon cassettes, provided with a means for detecting the color of a ribbon or the like from a ribbon cassette provided with a discriminating part for a shape corresponding to the color of the ribbon or the like. CONSTITUTION:The shape of a recessed part 2c of a thermal ribbon cassette 2 indicates whether cmonocolor thermal ribbon 2a or a multicolor thermal ribbon 2b is incorporated in the cassette 2. A micro-switch 5 detects ternary information, detects the shape of the recessed part 2c of the cassette 2 through an actuator 5a, outputs a signal indicating whether the monochrome thermal ribbon 2a or the multicolor thermal ribbon 2b is incorporated in the cassette 2, and coincidence with monochrome data or multicolor data is checked through comparison.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer that prints using a ribbon cassette.

Conventional configurations and their problems In recent years, various types of printers have been devised as display output means for fields such as food processors and personal computers.

Some of these printers are capable of multicolor printing by replacing the ribbon cassette.

Hereinafter, multicolor printing will be briefly explained using FIGS. 1 and 2, taking a thermal transfer multicolor printer as an example.

FIG. 1 is only for explaining JLI color printing in a thermal transfer printer. 1 is plain paper, 2a is a single-color "black" thermal ribbon, and 3a is a resistor of a thermal head. Printing is performed by moving each of them in the direction of the arrow. Figure 2 is also for explaining multicolor printing, and 2bllJ is a multicolor thermal ribbon composed of multicolors "cyan", "yellow", and "magenta" superimposed, and multicolor printing is performed by subtractive color mixing. Color reproduction printing is performed.

As described above, in conventional thermal transfer multicolor printers, multicolor printing is performed by subtracting and mixing cyan, yellow, and magenta (hereinafter referred to as C, Y, and M) of the multicolor thermal ribbon 2b. When printing only a single color, for example, black, it is generally done by 3-vane subtractive color mixing of C, Y, and M, or by adding black (hereinafter referred to as B) to a multicolor thermal ribbon. However, the former has disadvantages in that the color reproducibility of B is poor, the printing speed is slow due to sequential feeding of the thermal ribbon and overlapping printing, and furthermore, the thermal ribbon is consumed more. Also in the latter case, continuous single color B, then C,
The drawback was that Y and M were wasted.

Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention provides a plurality of ribbon cassettes of single color, multicolor, etc., and optionally uses the ribbon cassette If to perform selective printing, thereby achieving versatility and economy as an output device for computers, etc. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a printer that can improve the

Structure of the Invention The present invention achieves the above object by providing a detection means for detecting the color, etc. of the ribbon included in the ribbon cassette from a ribbon cassette in which a discrimination section having a shape corresponding to the color, etc. of the ribbon is formed. be.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of essential parts of a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes plain paper on which transfer printing is performed, and reference numeral 2 denotes a cassette containing either the single-color thermal ribbon 2a described in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the multi-color thermal ribbon 2b. 2d thermal ribbon 2a or 2
b' ((-) is a drive roller that runs, and is rotated by engaging with the drive shaft 7 of the carriage base 6. 3 is a thermal head that prints by melting or melting the thermal ribbon 2a or (IJ2b). , 3a is the resistor. 2C is the fourth part of the cassette 2 for indicating which of the monochrome thermal ribbon 2a and the multicolor thermal ribbon 2b is built in, and 4 covers the fourth part 2C as necessary. 6 is a microswitch capable of detecting three-value information, which detects the shape on the four parts 2C of the cassette 2 via the actuator 5a, and
It has a function of outputting a signal indicating which one of the ribbon 2a and the multicolor thermal ribbon 2b is built in, and comparing and matching the monochrome data and the multicolor data.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

(a) First, turn on the printer (not shown).

-)...The microcomputer (not shown) provided inside the thermal ribbon cassette 2 uses the information sent from the microswitch 6.
is placed on the carriage base 6.

If the Moji thermal ribbon cassette 2 is not placed on the carriage base 6, an alarm (alarm buzzer, alarm lamp, etc.) is emitted to prompt the user to attach the thermal ribbon cassette 2. (-ρ・1) (-1,... Data to be printed is taken in.

(E) The input data entered in (B) is applied to the 20 colors of thermal ribbon cassettes installed in Rui.

Determine whether it is compatible. That is, the microcomputer operates according to the information of the microswitch 5 generated by the shape of the recess 2c of the thermal ribbon cassette 2.
The color of the currently installed thermal ribbon cassette 2 (single color or multicolor) is determined, and it is detected whether the thermal ribbon cassette corresponds to the input data.

If the thermal ribbon cassette does not match the input data, a warning is issued to the user. (→(Go)) (G)...And if the input data is multicolor data, convert the RGB data to C,
Convert to Y, M data.

(E)... Store the converted CtYsM data in the buffer.

(W)......Drive the drive shaft 7 and drive the drive roller 2d.
By rotating , the thermal ribbon corresponding to C, Y, and M is located.

7/, -ノ(nu)...(Determine whether the thermal ribbon cued up with one sword corresponds to the input data.

If the thermal ribbon corresponds to the input data, printing will be performed as is. (→00) On the other hand, if the thermal ribbon does not correspond to the input data, the ribbon is fed by -colors (→(3)) and returns to (nu).

Q) If the input data in (e) is a single color, store the single color data in the buffer.

(Power)・・・Prints in a single color based on the single color data.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the recess 2C having a unique shape is provided on the carriage space 6, and by placing the cassette 2, only one of the monochrome and multicolor thermal ribbons can be used. For example, when outputting from a word glosser, a cassette equipped with a single color B thermal ribbon can be used to increase economy and printing speed, and when connected to a personal computer, Since it is possible to print in either single color or multicolor (color graph ink), the consumption of thermal ribbon is small, making it practical as an output device for a combination coater, and extremely versatile and economical.

In this embodiment, a thermal transfer printer has been described, but any printer may be used as long as it uses a ribbon cassette.

In addition, the thermal ribbon cassette 2 has a concave part 2C to determine the presence or absence of the cassette and the color of the thermal ribbon.However, if the presence or absence of the cassette and the color of the ribbon can be determined in addition to the four parts, it is possible to determine the shape of the convex part etc. Say good things 1
not.

Furthermore, a label 4 may be properly attached to the concave portion 2C of the cassette 2 to give a shape to each cassette.

Furthermore, in addition to the color of the thermal ribbon, the so-called quadruple classification of the ribbon for each cassette, such as the width of the ribbon and the strength of the ribbon, may be determined.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a detection means for detecting the color etc. of the ribbon of the ribbon cassette 9. By providing the ribbon cassette, it is possible to easily use various ribbon cassettes such as single color ribbon cassettes and multicolor ribbon cassettes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing single and multicolor printing by a thermal transfer printer, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart thereof. 2...Thermal ribbon cassette, 2c...
...Recess, 5...Micro switch. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A ribbon cassette in which a discriminating section having a different shape is formed depending on the type of ribbon, a detecting means for detecting the type of ribbon of the ribbon cassette from the shape of the discriminating section, and information on the detecting means. A printer equipped with a control means for controlling printing according to the user's needs. 2)) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is a microsinch capable of detecting at least three-value information.