JPS62151373A - Ribbon control system of color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a color mixture due to the up-and-down movement of an ink ribbon by the replacement of the ribbon, by mounting a shift mechanism for shifting the ink ribbon to an indicated color and reset after a predetermined time elapsed from the point of time when printing operation had been finished, a memory means for storing the printing indicated color up to now and a return order means for returning the ink ribbon to the ribbon color stored in the memory means by printing indication. CONSTITUTION:A timer 12 starts when printing operation is finished and, when counting a predetermined time T, outputs a reset signal (c) resetting a shift mechanism 8b and a flag signal (d). A flag memory part 13 erects a flag when the flag signal (d) is inputted. An indicated color register 14a stores the color signal outputted from a color confirming part 3 and a return order part 15a reads the indicated color stored in the indicated color register 14a by a printing operation command and the flag to send a ribbon color return order signal to a movement amount judge part 4a. The movement amount judge part 4a judges the movement quantity to the indicated color to send not only the movement quantity L to a movement quantity register 6 but also a shift command to a ribbon shift drive part 7 to shift the shift mechanism 8b to the indicated color.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] When replacing the ink ribbon of a color printer, the ink ribbon is shifted to a specified color in the '4' JJ1 method. By providing a shift mechanism that is later reset, 5 memory means for storing the previously designated printing color, and a return command means for storing the print command in the memory means and returning to the true color, the ribbon can be moved up or down when the ribbon is replaced, etc. It is possible to prevent color mixing caused by moving to .

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a color printer control system such as a wire toss I-printer, and more particularly to a ribbon control system that can prevent color mixing due to ribbon movement due to ink ribbon replacement.

In recent years, with the advancement of office automation, various serial printers have been developed and put into practical use as print output devices for various computer terminals, word processors, and the like.

Furthermore, not only characters but also graphics have been printed, and color printers equipped with ribbons of multiple colors have come into widespread use.

When replacing color ink ribbons (hereinafter referred to as color ribbons) in this color printer, the color ribbons may move up and down and mix colors, so a simple method for preventing this is desired.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating color ribbon shift control of a color printer that can also print with a monochrome ink ribbon.

In the figure, l is a data receiving section that receives print information.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a command discriminating section, which discriminates whether the command is color or monochrome based on the color/monochrome identification signal a sent from the data receiving section 1.

3 is a color recognition unit which receives the determination result from the command determination unit 2 and recognizes the specified color of the color signal sent from the data reception unit 1;

Reference numeral 4 denotes a movement amount determining section, which includes a ribbon movement amount table 40, and records the specified color sent from the color recognition section 3 and the current color register 5. The moving amount L of the color ribbon 11 is determined from the ribbon moving amount table 40 (Depending on the combination of the specified color and the current color, L2.--) is calculated from the color shown in a, and sent to the moving amount register 6. A shift command is issued to the ribbon shift drive unit 7, and the current color in the current color register 5a is updated to the new specified color.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a ribbon shift drive section, which drives the shift mechanism 8a by the amount of movement sent from the movement amount register 6 based on a manually inputted shift command.

8a is a shift mechanism which has the function of shifting the color ribbon 11 up and down to set it to a specified color, and when the power is turned on or reset by a print start signal, the color ribbon 11 is set to the specified color 2.
For example, the position of the black ribbon.

Further, numeral 9 is a platen, 10 is a print head, and 11 has a plurality of color areas at the top and bottom, as shown in FIG. 5, yellow, magenta, cyan, and blank (hereinafter referred to as yellow, red, blue, and black, respectively). is a color ribbon in which each color region is impregnated with a respective color ink.

With such a configuration and function, to explain the shift control method, first, the print information received by the data receiving section 1 is judged by the command discrimination section 2 as to whether it is a color signal or a monochrome signal, and if it is monochrome, the ribbon Since there is no need to shift, no signal is sent, and in this case, monochrome printing is performed because a monochrome ribbon is usually installed.

If the determination result is color, a signal indicating color is sent to the color recognition section 3. Based on this signal, the color recognition section '3 recognizes what color the designated color signal sent from the data receiving section 1 is, and sends the recognized designated color signal to the movement amount determination section.

The movement amount determination unit 4 determines the movement amount of the color ribbon 11 from the ribbon movement amount table 40 based on the designated color and the current color, sends it to the movement amount register 6, and issues a shift command to the ribbon shift drive unit 7.

The ribbon shift drive unit 7 receives the shift 1 command and the movement amount register 6.
The shift mechanism 88 is driven according to the amount of movement from , and the color ribbon 11 is shifted to the specified color. Further, the movement amount determination unit 4 sends the specified color to the current color register 5 to change it. In this manner, printing in the specified color is performed by the print head 10 under drive control of a printing control section, etc. (not shown).

In this way, color printing can be performed.

Here, when replacing the color ribbon 11 or changing the size of printing paper, etc., it is supposed to be done after turning off the power, but the operator usually does this with the power on, and the shift mechanism 8a Because the shift operation is performed by steps of a pulse motor (not shown), it is easy to touch the ribbon and move it, and the set color ribbon 11 also moves up and down, so take care of this when printing. A method is used in which the pulse motor is strongly excited and locked when the operation is stopped.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the above conventional method, in order to prevent the color ribbon 11 from moving up and down when replacing the ribbon, the pulse motor is strongly excited and locked. There is a problem that not only does this increase the amount of power consumed, but also that it generates heat.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 8 is a shift mechanism that shifts the multicolor ink ribbon to a specified color and is reset after a predetermined time has elapsed after the printing operation; 14 is a specified color storage means that stores the specified color of printing up to now; and 15 is printing. This ribbon color return command means instructs the shift mechanism 8 to return to the ribbon color stored in the storage means 14 when an operation command is issued.

Therefore, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the printing operation, the reset shift mechanism 8 is instructed by the ribbon color return command means 15 to return to the specified color stored in the specified color storage means 14.

[Effect]

After the set time has elapsed after the printing operation, ! I] If the time required for ribbon replacement or the like has elapsed, the shift mechanism 8 is reset and the ribbon color becomes a specific color.

When the printing operation is commanded again, the ribbon color return command means 1
5 issues a command to the shift l-mechanism 8 to return to the current designated color stored in the designated color storage means 14, and shifts
By shifting the ribbon to the previously specified color, structure 8 prevents color mixing due to vertical movement of the ink ribbon due to ribbon replacement, etc., and eliminates the need for locking by strong excitation of the pulse motor, saving power consumption. Heat generation can be prevented.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are shown surrounded by a dashed line. Also, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 4 indicate the same objects.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8b is a shift a mechanism, which has the same function as the shift mechanism 8a described in the conventional example. Has a function to reset to black.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a timer, which is set to a predetermined time T, is activated when the printing operation is completed, and when the predetermined time T is counted, outputs a reset signal C2 and a flag signal d for resetting the shift mechanism 8b.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a flag storage unit, which sets a flag when the flag signal d is input.

14a is a specified color register in which the color signal output from the color recognition section 3 is recorded. This is a register for

tSa is a return command section which has a function of reading the designated color stored in the designated color register 14a based on the print operation command and flag, and sending a ribbon color return command signal to the movement amount determining section 4a.

Since it has such a configuration and function, the ribbon control method when performing operations such as ribbon replacement will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 3. ■ First, when the printing operation is completed, the timer 12 starts counting the time. Start.

(2) When the predetermined time T is counted, the timer 12 outputs a reset signal C1 and a flag signal d, which are sent to the movement amount determining section 4a and the flag storage section 13, respectively.

■The movement amount determination unit 4a determines the movement amount and moves the color ribbon 1.
Reset 1 to black.

(2) A flag is also set in the flag storage section 13.

- During this time, ribbon replacement etc. are performed, printing information is input again, and printing operation is commanded. (Even if work such as ribbon replacement is not performed, if the predetermined time T is counted, the ■ flag will be set.) ■ If the next printing information is input before the predetermined time T is counted, the Control is performed based on commands.

(2) If a flag is set in the flag writing section 13, the signal C output from the AND circuit 16 in response to the print command is sent to the return command section 15a.

(2) Then, the return command unit 15a reads out the designated color written in the designated color register 14a and instructs the movement amount determination unit 4a to perform a ribbon shift.

■The movement amount determination unit 4a determines the amount of movement from black to the specified color, sends the movement amount to the movement amount register 6, and sends a shift command to the ribbon shift drive unit 7 to shift the shift mechanism 8b to the specified color. .

Since the ribbon is controlled in this way, even if the ribbon color is moved due to ribbon replacement, etc., the ribbon color is restored and mixed color printing does not occur, and the pulse motor of the shift mechanism 8b is strongly excited and locked. Since there is no need to do so, complicated control is not required, power consumption can be saved, and heat generation can be prevented.

In the above example, we explained the case of a dot printer, but serial printers that use other color ribbons are also applicable.

For example, it can be applied to a type printer, and similar effects can be obtained.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, not only can mixed color printing be prevented even if the ribbon color moves due to color ribbon replacement, etc., but also complicated controls such as stop locks are unnecessary, and power consumption is saved. It also has the effect of preventing heat generation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a principle block diagram of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a flowchart of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the conventional method, and Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the color ribbon shown in FIG. 4; In the figure, 5 is a current color register, 6 is a movement amount register, M is a ribbon shift drive unit, 8.8a, 8b are shift mechanisms, 9 is a platen, 10 is a print head, 11 is a color ribbon, 12 is a timer, 13 14 is a flag storage unit, 14 is a specified color storage means, 14a is a specified color register, 15 is a ribbon color return command means, 15a is a return command unit, 16 is an AND circuit, and 40 is a ribbon movement amount table. Implementation column 1 flowchart No. 3 1'2]

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A shift mechanism (8) that shifts a multicolor ink ribbon interposed between a platen and a printing section to a designated color and is reset after a predetermined time has elapsed after a printing operation; a designated color storage means (14) for storing the designated color; and a designated color storage means (14) for instructing the shift mechanism (8) when a printing operation command is issued after the shift mechanism (8) has been reset, and storing the designated color in the designated color storage means (14). 1. A ribbon control method for a color printer, comprising: ribbon color return command means (15) for returning the ribbon color to the original color.