CA1299232C - Transfer ribbon feed arrangement - Google Patents
Transfer ribbon feed arrangementInfo
- Publication number
- CA1299232C CA1299232C CA000615781A CA615781A CA1299232C CA 1299232 C CA1299232 C CA 1299232C CA 000615781 A CA000615781 A CA 000615781A CA 615781 A CA615781 A CA 615781A CA 1299232 C CA1299232 C CA 1299232C
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- ribbon
- transfer ribbon
- transfer
- markers
- marker
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting colors and positions of color-inked layers in the sequential feeding of transfer ribbon for a transfer type recording apparatus. The detecting arrangement comprises a plurality of cooperatively acting optical detectors detecting positioning markers disposed along one edge of the colored transfer ribbon.
A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting colors and positions of color-inked layers in the sequential feeding of transfer ribbon for a transfer type recording apparatus. The detecting arrangement comprises a plurality of cooperatively acting optical detectors detecting positioning markers disposed along one edge of the colored transfer ribbon.
Description
~25'9232 The present invention generally relates to a transfer ribbon feed means and more particularly, to a transfer ribbon feed arrangement including color-layer position detecting apparat~s, which is employed, for example, in a thermal transfer type recording apparatus.
Conventionally, in a thermal transfer type recording apparatus, for example, a thermal transfer printer employing a transfer ribbon such as inked ribbon therein, wrinkling of the ribbon or shears in printing or the like have been prevented by applying tension to the transfer ribbon by winding it round a take-up roller connected to a driving source, with friction being exerted on a shaft of a transfer ribbon~feed roller.
Furthermore, with respect to a colored transf~r ribbon, the color of each colored layer or the position thereof has been detected by forming markers on the colored transfer ribbon at the portions subjected to no interference for printing and detecting these markers by an optical detecting means such as photosensor composed of a light emitting diode and a phototransistor.
However, since the roll diameter of the transfer ribbon which is wound round the feed roller and is rolled round the take-up roller varies with the transportation thereof, the tension applied on the transfer ribbon can not be kept constant and accordingly, wrinkling of the transfer ribbon or shears in printing or the like have still disadvantageously taken place.
In addition, the color of each colored layer or the position thereof has not been clearly detected in some cases due to an improper positioning of any colored layer of the colored transfer ribbon which results from a slackening of the ribbon or the like.
~he present application is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 520,550, filed 35 October 15, 1986.
An object of the invention is to substantially eliminate the ahove described disadvantages inherent in the prior art transfer type recording apparatus. A particular , I
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object of the invention defined in the present application is to provide an improved transfer type recording apparatus having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof which is capable of preventing wrinkling of a transfer ribbon, and shears in printing or the like from undesirably taking place.
An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer type recording apparatus of the above described type which is capable of clearly detecting the color of each colored layer of a colored transfer ribbon or the position thereof, with simple markers being formed on a limited space of the colored transfer ribbon.
The parent application Serial No. 520,550 defines a transfer ribbon feed arrangement for use in a transfer type recording apparatus which transfers ink onto a recording sheet by sequentially feeding said transfer ribbon, said transfer ribbon feed arrangement comprising: a feed roller for feeding said transfer ribbon therefrom, a take-up roller for winding up said transfer ribbon therearound, and tensioning means disposed on the feed side of said transfer ribbon for applying a constant load on said transfer ribbon to keep said transfer ribbon under a constant tension, said tensioning means comprising at least a torque limiter for maintaining said constant load.
The present invention provides a method of sequentially detecting colors and positions of each group of color-inked layers formed in a manner such that a plurality of groups of said color-inked layers are successively spread in a row in a predetermined order on a transfer ribbon in a lengthwise direction thereof, which ribbon is employed in a color thermal transfer printer, with a group of said color-inked layers corresponding to one page of a transfer sheet, a plurality of positioning markers is formed along one opposite side edge portion of the colored transfer ribbon so as to correspond to respective color-inked layers, and a cuing marker is also formed on said edge portion so as to correspond to the first color-inked layer in each group, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a transfer 1~99232 position for each color-inked layer facing a thermal print head by detecting each positioning marker by a first sensor, detecting said cuing marker by a second sensor at the same time as the aforementioned first detecting step, and judging the color of each color-inked layer located on said transfer position by the number of positioning markers detected since said cuing marker has been detected by said second sensor.
Another aspect of the invention provides in a color printer employing a transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one (with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon) of the areas in each group, said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with the respective areas in each group, the improvement comprising sensor means for detecting said cuing marker and said positioning markers.
A further aspect of the invention provides a transfer ribbon for use in a color printer, said transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one, with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon, of the areas in each group, and said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with respective ones of the areas in each group.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the lZg923Z
accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are designated by like reference numerals, and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thermal transfer printer having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustratively showing the construction of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustratively showing the construction of a thermal transfer printer having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof;
Figure 4 is a perspective Yiew of a portion of a colored transfer ribbon and sensors of Figure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the colored transfer ribbon and sensors showing a modification thereof.
Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 of Figures 1 and 2 is provided in sequence with a feed roller 12, a tension roller 13, a platen roller 14, a thermal print head 15 and a take-up roller 16 from the upstream side toward the downstream side thereof, with respect to the direction of feed of a transfer medium, such as a transfer ribbon 20, as shown by arrow b. Each of the rollers 12, 13, 14 and 16 is freely rotatably disposed between a pair of frames la of the apparatus 1. A plurality of ribbon guides 17 is also disposed at proper positions in the apparatus 1 for guiding the transf~r ribbon 20 fed from the feed roller 12. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, a pair of sheet press rollers 18 is so disposed as to be held in pressure contact with the platen roller 14, for transporting a recording sheet 21 between both of the sheet press rollers 18 and the platen roller 14. In the thermal lZ9S~Z3Z
transfer type recording apparatus 1, the thermal print head 15 is disposed in face-to-face relation with the platen roller 14, for heat transferring print from the transfer ribbon 20 (heated by a line of heating elements 15a disposed in the thermal print head 15) onto the recording sheet 21 for printing by an arrangement in which the transfer ribbon 20 is disposed upon the recording sheet 21 in pressure contact with each other on the platen roller 14.
The transfer ribbon 20 is wound around the feed roller 12, while a thermal melting type pigmented material is spread on the transfer ribbon 20 on the surface thereof facing the racording sheet 21. The transfer ribbon 20 is roller around the take-up roller 16 which is, as a take-up means, rotatably driven in the direction shown by arrow a by a motor M or the like, synchronously with the feed speed of the recording sheet 21 by way of the space between the platen roller 14 and the thermal print head 15.
The recording sheet 21 is fed from another feed roller (not shown) freely rotatably disposed on the upper rear side of the apparatus 1 and is transfer-printed thereon through the platen roller 14 and thereafter, the recording sheet 21 is rolled round another take-up roller (not shown) which is also freely rotatably mounted on the lower rear side of the apparatus 1 and is driven by a motor or the like.
In the ribbon feed arrangement of the transfer type recording apparatus 1 having the above described construction, the tension roller 13 disposed on the upstream side of the apparatus 1 from which the transfer ribbon 20 is supplied, is provided with a surface layer formed of an elastic material such as rubber or the like having a high friction coefficient, and a torque limiter T such as TRQ-LMT
(Trade Mark) is so disposed as to apply a predetermined load to the tension roller 13, with the transfer ribbon 20 being wound up under a constant tension around the take-up roller 16.
In order to wind up the transfer ribbon 20 under a constant tension by the take-up roller 16, the number of ~Z99~32 revolutions and the rotational torque of the take-up roller 16 must be inversely proportional to each other.
Accordingly, the arrangement is so designed as to be capable of winding up the transfer ribbon 20 under constant tension by connecting the take-up roller 16, for example, to a driving source (not shown) which selectively employs therein a gear ratio by which a torque curve having a relationship approximately similar to that of the aforementioned inverse proportion can be obtained.
In this embodiment, although the torque limiter T
is employed for applying the constant load to the tension roller 13, the device is not limited thereby and any loader which can give the constant load may be replaced by the torque limiter T.
The thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 having the above described construction will be described hereinafter.
The transfer ribbon 20 supplied from the feed roller 12 is supplied under constant load by the tension roller 13 connected to the torque limiter T, and is simultaneously wound up by the take-up roller 16 under the constant tension, thus resulting in the transfer ribbon 20 being desirably supplied in a manner in which it is under constant tension at all times. The transfer ribbon 20 receiving the constant tension thereon is inserted, together with the recording sheet 21, between the platen roller 14 and the thermal print head 15 through the ribbon guide 17, and upon completion of the printing on the recording sheet 21 by the thermal print head 15, the transfer ribbon 20 is rolled round the take-up roller 16 through the ribbon guides 17. In the above described manner, it is capable of not only synchronizing the travel of the recording sheet 21 and the transfer ribbon 20, but also stabilizing the tension applied to the transfer ribbon 20.
Figure 3 schematically illustrates the thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 having a ribbon tensioning means therein. In Figure 3, the ribbon feed arrangement of the apparatus 1 having the ribbon tensioning ~299Z3~
means ther~in is so constructed that the tension roller 13 connected to the torque limiter T is held in direct contact with the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 12, and the tension roller 13 is adequately pressed against the feed roller 12 by a weight or the like so as to follow the non-constant diameter of the feed roller 12. The construction is, in other respects, the same as that of the ribbon feed arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2.
A color thermal transfer printer to which the present invention is applied, will be explained hereinafter.
A colored transfer ribbon 20 and the recording sheet 21 are held in pressure contact with each other between the platen roller 14 and the thermal print head 15, and colored ink of the colored transfer ribbon 20 heated by the line of heating elements 15a is printed on the recording sheet 21 by being heat-transferred thereon. Although the recording sheet 21 is firstly transported by the platen roller 14 and the pair of sheet press rollers 18 in the feed direction of the recording sheet 21, it is further transported in a direction opposite to the feed direction thereof every time the transfer of one of the inked layers is completed in the transfer for one page and, as a result, the recording sheet 21 is caused to reciprocate by the number of inked layers formed in a group thereof corresponding to one page. On the other hand, the colored transfer ribbon 20 supplied in turn from the feed roller 12 is guided by the ribbon guides 17 and is wound up around the take-up roller 16 after completion of the transfer. An optical detecting means S is disposed in position on the feed side of the colored transfer ribbon 20 with respect to the thermal print head 15, for detecting the color and the transfer position of the colored transfer ribbon 20. The optical detecting means S is not necessarily required to be placed at the transfer position facing the line of heating elements 15a, but may be arranged at any position where it is easily placed, by adequately selecting the marking positions of the colored transfer ribbon 20 in accordance with the positional relationship between the line of heating 9~232 elements 15a and the optical detecting means S, or by electrically and adequately setting the feed length of the colored transfer ribbon 20.
Figure 4 illustrates a portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 and the optical detecting means S, and Figure 5 illustrates the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 of Figure 4.
As shown in Figure 4, there are formed on the colored transfer ribbon 20, color-inked layers 20a to 20d having respectively the colors yellow, magenta, cyan and black with respect to the feed direction of the ribbon 20 as shown by arrow b so as to form successively a group of inked layers corresponding to one page of the recording sheet 21.
The marking portions are formed at an edge portion on one side of the colored transfer ribbon 20 in a lengthwise direction thereof and not only positioning markers 21a to 21d are so marked on the ribbon 20 in alignment with the respective color-inked layers 2Oa to 2Od in each group, but also a cuing marker 22 is marked on the ribbon 20 in the vicinity of the positioning marker 21a in alignment with the yellow inked layer 20a positioned firstly in a group of inked layers 20a to 20d. Each of the positioning markers 21a to 21d is so formed as to face the first sensor Sa, when the leading end portion of respective inked layers 20a to 20d reaches the transfer position facing the line of heating elements 15a. Each of the first and second sensors Sa and Sb forming the optical detecting means S is composed of a photosensor comprising a light emitting diode and a phototransistor disposed on respective surfaces of the ribbon 20 so as to face each other. The sensors Sa and Sb are both so positioned that the distance therebetween coincides with that between the positioning mar~er 21a and the cuing marker 22 corresponding to the first yellow inked layer 20a.
In the case of transfer onto the recording sheet 21, when the colored transfer ribbon 20 is brought to a halt at the time when both of the markers 21a and 22 are simultaneously detected by both of the sensors Sa and Sb, ~2~91Z32 the leading end portion of the yellow inked layer 20a positioned firstly in the group of inked layers 20a to 20d faces the line of heating elements 15a. Thereafter, the recording sheet 21 is supplied by a certain constant pitch, while the line of heating elements 15a is heated in accordance with print signals, and the yellow ink of the yellow inked layer 2Oa melted thereby is transferred onto the recording sheet 21 and upon completion of the transfer of the yellow ink for the corresponding page, the recording sheet 21 is conversely transported to the original position, while the colored transfer ribbon 20 is caused to run idle.
Thereafte~, when the positioning marker 21b correspcnding to the second magenta inked layer 20b is detected by the first sensor Sa, the ribbon 20 is brought to a halt and the magenta ink is transferred onto the recording sheet 21~ In the same manner as described above, when the cyan ink and the black ink are sequentially transferred onto the recording sheet 21, the transfer for one page is completed and the ribbon 20 is fed further.
During the printing operation described above, since all of the inked layers 20a to 20d are sequentially formed in the predetermined order, the color of each layer is judged by the number of the positioning markers 21a to 21d to be detected which have been counted by the first sensor Sa. Accordingly, for example, when a print signal for the cyan ink is not outputted, the colored transfer ribbon 20 is not brought to a halt, but continues to be transported at the time the third positioning markers 21c is detected and, thereafter, the color-inked ribbon 20 is brought to a halt at the time the fourth positioning marker 21d is detected.
At the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20, there are formed as many end markers 23a to 23d as the four inked layers 20a to 20d composing one group of inked layers, next to the last black inked layer 20d, and the distance between adjacent end markers 23a to 23d is determined to be longer than that between both sensors Sa and Sb and to be shorter than that between lZ9923~
adjacent positioning markers 21a to 21d. Accordingly, since the black inked layer 20d is followed by the yellow inked layer 20a at the portions other than the trailing end portion of the ribbon 20, the markers 21a and 22 are detected simultaneously by both the sensors Sa and Sb at the aforementioned portions. Notwithstanding this fact, when both the sensors sa and Sb are not simultaneously turned on, it is judged that the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 has been detected. Thereupon, if only one end marker is formed next to the black inked layer 20d and the detection of the trailing end portion of the ribbon 20 is judged by detecting one end marker after the black inked layer 20d has been detected, any such possible erroneous operation as judging the detection of the trailing end portion of the ribbon 20 may undesirably take place in the case where either one of the markers 21a and 22 of the yellow inked layer 20a has been detected only in the intermediate portion of the ribbon 20 for some reason or other. In order to avoid the aforementioned drawback, four end markers 23a to 23d are formed at the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20.
A detecting means as shown in Figure 6 may be employed for detecting the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20. More specifically, there may be disposed an additional third sensor Sc in the vicinity of the first and second sensors Sa and Sb, and three end markers may be formed in a manner such that the distance between adjacent markers is caused to coincide with that between adjacent sensors Sa to Sc at the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20. In such manner, since all three of the sensors Sa to Sc are simultaneously turned on only when three end markers have been simultaneously detected or when the colored transfer ribbon 20 has not been set, a state where the colored transfer ribbon 20 is not set can be also detected and, as a result, the operation of the printer can be avoided in the aforementioned state. However, this method has been found disadvantageous in that a new ribbon must be set in a manner lZ~g~32 such that the leading tape portion thereof is not left at the position where each of the sensors faces the ribbon, since all of the sensors are erroneously turned on, when the leading tape portion of the ribbon faces each of the sensors Sa to Sc in the case where a used ribbon is replaced by a new one. Accordingly, provided that a marking is formed on the leading tape portion of the ribbon, the aforementioned disadvantage can be preferably eliminated and, in addition, not only can any possible slackening or damage of the ribbon be effectively avoided, but also the ribbon can be easily handled by forming the leading tape portion in a thickness of approximately 20 m in order to cause it to be thicker than the ribbon.
In the above described embodiment of the colored transfer ribbon, each of the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d is formed on the ribbon in a light transmitting mode.
In contrast, if each of them is formed in a light screening mode, since a black ink is spread only on the portions where each of the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d is formed, there arises the drawback that the colored transfer ribbon 20 is loosely wound up in a rolled state due to an increased amount of ink only in the marked portions. When each of the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d is formed in the light transmitting mode as described above, the black ink is spread on a great part of the edge portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 other than the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d and this has been found to be particularly effective from the viewpoint of the handling or travelling of the ribbon 20, since any wrinkling thereof can be substantially eliminated due to the fact that the amount of ink spread on the edge portion of the ribbon 20 is approximately as same as that spread on the inked layers 2Oa to 20d.
In all examples of the colored transfer ribbon described so far, the distance between adjacent markers should be kept unchangeable for the purpose of proper detection thereof by the optical detecting means and it is capable of achieving such state by maintaining the tension 1;:99;~:32 applied on the colored transfer ribbon substantially constant by means of the aforementioned ribbon feed arrangement disposed in the color thermal transfer printer.
Furthermore, each inked layer of the colored 5 trans~er ribbon can be properly transferred onto the recording sheet in position without any deviation between printed colors thereon due to the fact that any possible slackening or wrinkling of the colored transfer ribbon can be completely prevented by the ribbon feed arrangement in 10 the color thermal transfer printer.
With respect to the markers formed on the colored transfer ribbon, since the portions to be marked are 3 disposed only on one side of the colored transfer ribbon at the edge portion thereof, the space required for marking has 15 been advantageously reduced, as compared with any conventional case, and accordingly, each of the inked layers can be effectively formed on the colored transfer ribbon.
Moreover, since it has been found satisfactory to form one marker on each of the inked layers other than the first one 20 in each group of inked layers, the markers can be extremely simply formed on the colored trans~er ribbon, thus resulting in the ready detection thereof. In addition to this, the sensors for detecting the markers can be reduced both in number and in cost. Also, in case of detection of the 25 markers, since the inked layers are excluded from the region to be detected, the sensors can be advantageously kept in a ; high sensitive state at all times.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example with reference to the 30 accompanying drawings, it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications otherwise depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being 35 included therein.
Conventionally, in a thermal transfer type recording apparatus, for example, a thermal transfer printer employing a transfer ribbon such as inked ribbon therein, wrinkling of the ribbon or shears in printing or the like have been prevented by applying tension to the transfer ribbon by winding it round a take-up roller connected to a driving source, with friction being exerted on a shaft of a transfer ribbon~feed roller.
Furthermore, with respect to a colored transf~r ribbon, the color of each colored layer or the position thereof has been detected by forming markers on the colored transfer ribbon at the portions subjected to no interference for printing and detecting these markers by an optical detecting means such as photosensor composed of a light emitting diode and a phototransistor.
However, since the roll diameter of the transfer ribbon which is wound round the feed roller and is rolled round the take-up roller varies with the transportation thereof, the tension applied on the transfer ribbon can not be kept constant and accordingly, wrinkling of the transfer ribbon or shears in printing or the like have still disadvantageously taken place.
In addition, the color of each colored layer or the position thereof has not been clearly detected in some cases due to an improper positioning of any colored layer of the colored transfer ribbon which results from a slackening of the ribbon or the like.
~he present application is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 520,550, filed 35 October 15, 1986.
An object of the invention is to substantially eliminate the ahove described disadvantages inherent in the prior art transfer type recording apparatus. A particular , I
~, 1;Z99;~3Z
object of the invention defined in the present application is to provide an improved transfer type recording apparatus having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof which is capable of preventing wrinkling of a transfer ribbon, and shears in printing or the like from undesirably taking place.
An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer type recording apparatus of the above described type which is capable of clearly detecting the color of each colored layer of a colored transfer ribbon or the position thereof, with simple markers being formed on a limited space of the colored transfer ribbon.
The parent application Serial No. 520,550 defines a transfer ribbon feed arrangement for use in a transfer type recording apparatus which transfers ink onto a recording sheet by sequentially feeding said transfer ribbon, said transfer ribbon feed arrangement comprising: a feed roller for feeding said transfer ribbon therefrom, a take-up roller for winding up said transfer ribbon therearound, and tensioning means disposed on the feed side of said transfer ribbon for applying a constant load on said transfer ribbon to keep said transfer ribbon under a constant tension, said tensioning means comprising at least a torque limiter for maintaining said constant load.
The present invention provides a method of sequentially detecting colors and positions of each group of color-inked layers formed in a manner such that a plurality of groups of said color-inked layers are successively spread in a row in a predetermined order on a transfer ribbon in a lengthwise direction thereof, which ribbon is employed in a color thermal transfer printer, with a group of said color-inked layers corresponding to one page of a transfer sheet, a plurality of positioning markers is formed along one opposite side edge portion of the colored transfer ribbon so as to correspond to respective color-inked layers, and a cuing marker is also formed on said edge portion so as to correspond to the first color-inked layer in each group, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a transfer 1~99232 position for each color-inked layer facing a thermal print head by detecting each positioning marker by a first sensor, detecting said cuing marker by a second sensor at the same time as the aforementioned first detecting step, and judging the color of each color-inked layer located on said transfer position by the number of positioning markers detected since said cuing marker has been detected by said second sensor.
Another aspect of the invention provides in a color printer employing a transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one (with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon) of the areas in each group, said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with the respective areas in each group, the improvement comprising sensor means for detecting said cuing marker and said positioning markers.
A further aspect of the invention provides a transfer ribbon for use in a color printer, said transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one, with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon, of the areas in each group, and said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with respective ones of the areas in each group.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the lZg923Z
accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are designated by like reference numerals, and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thermal transfer printer having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustratively showing the construction of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustratively showing the construction of a thermal transfer printer having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof;
Figure 4 is a perspective Yiew of a portion of a colored transfer ribbon and sensors of Figure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the colored transfer ribbon and sensors showing a modification thereof.
Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 having a ribbon tensioning means in a ribbon feed arrangement thereof according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 of Figures 1 and 2 is provided in sequence with a feed roller 12, a tension roller 13, a platen roller 14, a thermal print head 15 and a take-up roller 16 from the upstream side toward the downstream side thereof, with respect to the direction of feed of a transfer medium, such as a transfer ribbon 20, as shown by arrow b. Each of the rollers 12, 13, 14 and 16 is freely rotatably disposed between a pair of frames la of the apparatus 1. A plurality of ribbon guides 17 is also disposed at proper positions in the apparatus 1 for guiding the transf~r ribbon 20 fed from the feed roller 12. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, a pair of sheet press rollers 18 is so disposed as to be held in pressure contact with the platen roller 14, for transporting a recording sheet 21 between both of the sheet press rollers 18 and the platen roller 14. In the thermal lZ9S~Z3Z
transfer type recording apparatus 1, the thermal print head 15 is disposed in face-to-face relation with the platen roller 14, for heat transferring print from the transfer ribbon 20 (heated by a line of heating elements 15a disposed in the thermal print head 15) onto the recording sheet 21 for printing by an arrangement in which the transfer ribbon 20 is disposed upon the recording sheet 21 in pressure contact with each other on the platen roller 14.
The transfer ribbon 20 is wound around the feed roller 12, while a thermal melting type pigmented material is spread on the transfer ribbon 20 on the surface thereof facing the racording sheet 21. The transfer ribbon 20 is roller around the take-up roller 16 which is, as a take-up means, rotatably driven in the direction shown by arrow a by a motor M or the like, synchronously with the feed speed of the recording sheet 21 by way of the space between the platen roller 14 and the thermal print head 15.
The recording sheet 21 is fed from another feed roller (not shown) freely rotatably disposed on the upper rear side of the apparatus 1 and is transfer-printed thereon through the platen roller 14 and thereafter, the recording sheet 21 is rolled round another take-up roller (not shown) which is also freely rotatably mounted on the lower rear side of the apparatus 1 and is driven by a motor or the like.
In the ribbon feed arrangement of the transfer type recording apparatus 1 having the above described construction, the tension roller 13 disposed on the upstream side of the apparatus 1 from which the transfer ribbon 20 is supplied, is provided with a surface layer formed of an elastic material such as rubber or the like having a high friction coefficient, and a torque limiter T such as TRQ-LMT
(Trade Mark) is so disposed as to apply a predetermined load to the tension roller 13, with the transfer ribbon 20 being wound up under a constant tension around the take-up roller 16.
In order to wind up the transfer ribbon 20 under a constant tension by the take-up roller 16, the number of ~Z99~32 revolutions and the rotational torque of the take-up roller 16 must be inversely proportional to each other.
Accordingly, the arrangement is so designed as to be capable of winding up the transfer ribbon 20 under constant tension by connecting the take-up roller 16, for example, to a driving source (not shown) which selectively employs therein a gear ratio by which a torque curve having a relationship approximately similar to that of the aforementioned inverse proportion can be obtained.
In this embodiment, although the torque limiter T
is employed for applying the constant load to the tension roller 13, the device is not limited thereby and any loader which can give the constant load may be replaced by the torque limiter T.
The thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 having the above described construction will be described hereinafter.
The transfer ribbon 20 supplied from the feed roller 12 is supplied under constant load by the tension roller 13 connected to the torque limiter T, and is simultaneously wound up by the take-up roller 16 under the constant tension, thus resulting in the transfer ribbon 20 being desirably supplied in a manner in which it is under constant tension at all times. The transfer ribbon 20 receiving the constant tension thereon is inserted, together with the recording sheet 21, between the platen roller 14 and the thermal print head 15 through the ribbon guide 17, and upon completion of the printing on the recording sheet 21 by the thermal print head 15, the transfer ribbon 20 is rolled round the take-up roller 16 through the ribbon guides 17. In the above described manner, it is capable of not only synchronizing the travel of the recording sheet 21 and the transfer ribbon 20, but also stabilizing the tension applied to the transfer ribbon 20.
Figure 3 schematically illustrates the thermal transfer type recording apparatus 1 having a ribbon tensioning means therein. In Figure 3, the ribbon feed arrangement of the apparatus 1 having the ribbon tensioning ~299Z3~
means ther~in is so constructed that the tension roller 13 connected to the torque limiter T is held in direct contact with the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller 12, and the tension roller 13 is adequately pressed against the feed roller 12 by a weight or the like so as to follow the non-constant diameter of the feed roller 12. The construction is, in other respects, the same as that of the ribbon feed arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2.
A color thermal transfer printer to which the present invention is applied, will be explained hereinafter.
A colored transfer ribbon 20 and the recording sheet 21 are held in pressure contact with each other between the platen roller 14 and the thermal print head 15, and colored ink of the colored transfer ribbon 20 heated by the line of heating elements 15a is printed on the recording sheet 21 by being heat-transferred thereon. Although the recording sheet 21 is firstly transported by the platen roller 14 and the pair of sheet press rollers 18 in the feed direction of the recording sheet 21, it is further transported in a direction opposite to the feed direction thereof every time the transfer of one of the inked layers is completed in the transfer for one page and, as a result, the recording sheet 21 is caused to reciprocate by the number of inked layers formed in a group thereof corresponding to one page. On the other hand, the colored transfer ribbon 20 supplied in turn from the feed roller 12 is guided by the ribbon guides 17 and is wound up around the take-up roller 16 after completion of the transfer. An optical detecting means S is disposed in position on the feed side of the colored transfer ribbon 20 with respect to the thermal print head 15, for detecting the color and the transfer position of the colored transfer ribbon 20. The optical detecting means S is not necessarily required to be placed at the transfer position facing the line of heating elements 15a, but may be arranged at any position where it is easily placed, by adequately selecting the marking positions of the colored transfer ribbon 20 in accordance with the positional relationship between the line of heating 9~232 elements 15a and the optical detecting means S, or by electrically and adequately setting the feed length of the colored transfer ribbon 20.
Figure 4 illustrates a portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 and the optical detecting means S, and Figure 5 illustrates the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 of Figure 4.
As shown in Figure 4, there are formed on the colored transfer ribbon 20, color-inked layers 20a to 20d having respectively the colors yellow, magenta, cyan and black with respect to the feed direction of the ribbon 20 as shown by arrow b so as to form successively a group of inked layers corresponding to one page of the recording sheet 21.
The marking portions are formed at an edge portion on one side of the colored transfer ribbon 20 in a lengthwise direction thereof and not only positioning markers 21a to 21d are so marked on the ribbon 20 in alignment with the respective color-inked layers 2Oa to 2Od in each group, but also a cuing marker 22 is marked on the ribbon 20 in the vicinity of the positioning marker 21a in alignment with the yellow inked layer 20a positioned firstly in a group of inked layers 20a to 20d. Each of the positioning markers 21a to 21d is so formed as to face the first sensor Sa, when the leading end portion of respective inked layers 20a to 20d reaches the transfer position facing the line of heating elements 15a. Each of the first and second sensors Sa and Sb forming the optical detecting means S is composed of a photosensor comprising a light emitting diode and a phototransistor disposed on respective surfaces of the ribbon 20 so as to face each other. The sensors Sa and Sb are both so positioned that the distance therebetween coincides with that between the positioning mar~er 21a and the cuing marker 22 corresponding to the first yellow inked layer 20a.
In the case of transfer onto the recording sheet 21, when the colored transfer ribbon 20 is brought to a halt at the time when both of the markers 21a and 22 are simultaneously detected by both of the sensors Sa and Sb, ~2~91Z32 the leading end portion of the yellow inked layer 20a positioned firstly in the group of inked layers 20a to 20d faces the line of heating elements 15a. Thereafter, the recording sheet 21 is supplied by a certain constant pitch, while the line of heating elements 15a is heated in accordance with print signals, and the yellow ink of the yellow inked layer 2Oa melted thereby is transferred onto the recording sheet 21 and upon completion of the transfer of the yellow ink for the corresponding page, the recording sheet 21 is conversely transported to the original position, while the colored transfer ribbon 20 is caused to run idle.
Thereafte~, when the positioning marker 21b correspcnding to the second magenta inked layer 20b is detected by the first sensor Sa, the ribbon 20 is brought to a halt and the magenta ink is transferred onto the recording sheet 21~ In the same manner as described above, when the cyan ink and the black ink are sequentially transferred onto the recording sheet 21, the transfer for one page is completed and the ribbon 20 is fed further.
During the printing operation described above, since all of the inked layers 20a to 20d are sequentially formed in the predetermined order, the color of each layer is judged by the number of the positioning markers 21a to 21d to be detected which have been counted by the first sensor Sa. Accordingly, for example, when a print signal for the cyan ink is not outputted, the colored transfer ribbon 20 is not brought to a halt, but continues to be transported at the time the third positioning markers 21c is detected and, thereafter, the color-inked ribbon 20 is brought to a halt at the time the fourth positioning marker 21d is detected.
At the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20, there are formed as many end markers 23a to 23d as the four inked layers 20a to 20d composing one group of inked layers, next to the last black inked layer 20d, and the distance between adjacent end markers 23a to 23d is determined to be longer than that between both sensors Sa and Sb and to be shorter than that between lZ9923~
adjacent positioning markers 21a to 21d. Accordingly, since the black inked layer 20d is followed by the yellow inked layer 20a at the portions other than the trailing end portion of the ribbon 20, the markers 21a and 22 are detected simultaneously by both the sensors Sa and Sb at the aforementioned portions. Notwithstanding this fact, when both the sensors sa and Sb are not simultaneously turned on, it is judged that the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 has been detected. Thereupon, if only one end marker is formed next to the black inked layer 20d and the detection of the trailing end portion of the ribbon 20 is judged by detecting one end marker after the black inked layer 20d has been detected, any such possible erroneous operation as judging the detection of the trailing end portion of the ribbon 20 may undesirably take place in the case where either one of the markers 21a and 22 of the yellow inked layer 20a has been detected only in the intermediate portion of the ribbon 20 for some reason or other. In order to avoid the aforementioned drawback, four end markers 23a to 23d are formed at the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20.
A detecting means as shown in Figure 6 may be employed for detecting the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20. More specifically, there may be disposed an additional third sensor Sc in the vicinity of the first and second sensors Sa and Sb, and three end markers may be formed in a manner such that the distance between adjacent markers is caused to coincide with that between adjacent sensors Sa to Sc at the trailing end portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20. In such manner, since all three of the sensors Sa to Sc are simultaneously turned on only when three end markers have been simultaneously detected or when the colored transfer ribbon 20 has not been set, a state where the colored transfer ribbon 20 is not set can be also detected and, as a result, the operation of the printer can be avoided in the aforementioned state. However, this method has been found disadvantageous in that a new ribbon must be set in a manner lZ~g~32 such that the leading tape portion thereof is not left at the position where each of the sensors faces the ribbon, since all of the sensors are erroneously turned on, when the leading tape portion of the ribbon faces each of the sensors Sa to Sc in the case where a used ribbon is replaced by a new one. Accordingly, provided that a marking is formed on the leading tape portion of the ribbon, the aforementioned disadvantage can be preferably eliminated and, in addition, not only can any possible slackening or damage of the ribbon be effectively avoided, but also the ribbon can be easily handled by forming the leading tape portion in a thickness of approximately 20 m in order to cause it to be thicker than the ribbon.
In the above described embodiment of the colored transfer ribbon, each of the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d is formed on the ribbon in a light transmitting mode.
In contrast, if each of them is formed in a light screening mode, since a black ink is spread only on the portions where each of the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d is formed, there arises the drawback that the colored transfer ribbon 20 is loosely wound up in a rolled state due to an increased amount of ink only in the marked portions. When each of the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d is formed in the light transmitting mode as described above, the black ink is spread on a great part of the edge portion of the colored transfer ribbon 20 other than the markers 21a to 21d, 22 and 23a to 23d and this has been found to be particularly effective from the viewpoint of the handling or travelling of the ribbon 20, since any wrinkling thereof can be substantially eliminated due to the fact that the amount of ink spread on the edge portion of the ribbon 20 is approximately as same as that spread on the inked layers 2Oa to 20d.
In all examples of the colored transfer ribbon described so far, the distance between adjacent markers should be kept unchangeable for the purpose of proper detection thereof by the optical detecting means and it is capable of achieving such state by maintaining the tension 1;:99;~:32 applied on the colored transfer ribbon substantially constant by means of the aforementioned ribbon feed arrangement disposed in the color thermal transfer printer.
Furthermore, each inked layer of the colored 5 trans~er ribbon can be properly transferred onto the recording sheet in position without any deviation between printed colors thereon due to the fact that any possible slackening or wrinkling of the colored transfer ribbon can be completely prevented by the ribbon feed arrangement in 10 the color thermal transfer printer.
With respect to the markers formed on the colored transfer ribbon, since the portions to be marked are 3 disposed only on one side of the colored transfer ribbon at the edge portion thereof, the space required for marking has 15 been advantageously reduced, as compared with any conventional case, and accordingly, each of the inked layers can be effectively formed on the colored transfer ribbon.
Moreover, since it has been found satisfactory to form one marker on each of the inked layers other than the first one 20 in each group of inked layers, the markers can be extremely simply formed on the colored trans~er ribbon, thus resulting in the ready detection thereof. In addition to this, the sensors for detecting the markers can be reduced both in number and in cost. Also, in case of detection of the 25 markers, since the inked layers are excluded from the region to be detected, the sensors can be advantageously kept in a ; high sensitive state at all times.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example with reference to the 30 accompanying drawings, it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications otherwise depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being 35 included therein.
Claims
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of sequentially detecting colors and positions of each group of color-inked layers formed in a manner such that a plurality of groups of said color-inked layers are successively spread in a row in a predetermined order on a transfer ribbon in a lengthwise direction thereof, which ribbon is employed in a color thermal transfer printer, with a group of said color-inked layers corresponding to one page of a transfer sheet, a plurality of positioning markers is formed along one opposite side edge portion of the colored transfer ribbon so as to correspond to respective color-inked layers, and a cuing marker is also formed on said edge portion so as to correspond to the first color-inked layer in each group, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting a transfer position for each color-inked layer facing a thermal print head by detecting each positioning marker by a first sensor;
detecting said cuing marker by a second sensor at the same time as the aforementioned first detecting step;
and judging the color of each color-inked layer located on said transfer position by the number of positioning markers detected since said cuing marker has been detected by said second sensor.
2. In a color printer employing a transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one (with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon) of the areas in each group, said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with the respective areas in each group, the improvement comprising sensor means for detecting said cuing marker and said positioning markers.
3. A color printer as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprise a first sensor for detecting said positioning markers in each group one at a time and a second sensor for detecting said cuing marker in each group.
4. A color printer as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said sensor means further comprise a third sensor for simultaneously detecting three end markers in cooperation with said first and second sensors, said end markers being formed at a trailing end portion of said colored transfer ribbon.
5. A transfer ribbon for use in a color printer, said transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one, with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon, of the areas in each group, and said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with respective ones of the areas in each group.
6. A transfer ribbon as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a plurality of end markers, which are at least equal in number to the areas in each one of the groups, are formed at a trailing end portion of said transfer ribbon in a manner such that the distance between adjacent end markers is longer than the distance between said positioning marker and said cuing marker of a first one of the areas, and is shorter than the distance between adjacent positioning markers.
7. A transfer ribbon as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said cuing markers, said positioning markers and said end markers are located along a side edge portion of said transfer ribbon.
8. A transfer ribbon as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said cuing markers and said positioning markers are located along a side edge portion of said transfer ribbon.
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of sequentially detecting colors and positions of each group of color-inked layers formed in a manner such that a plurality of groups of said color-inked layers are successively spread in a row in a predetermined order on a transfer ribbon in a lengthwise direction thereof, which ribbon is employed in a color thermal transfer printer, with a group of said color-inked layers corresponding to one page of a transfer sheet, a plurality of positioning markers is formed along one opposite side edge portion of the colored transfer ribbon so as to correspond to respective color-inked layers, and a cuing marker is also formed on said edge portion so as to correspond to the first color-inked layer in each group, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting a transfer position for each color-inked layer facing a thermal print head by detecting each positioning marker by a first sensor;
detecting said cuing marker by a second sensor at the same time as the aforementioned first detecting step;
and judging the color of each color-inked layer located on said transfer position by the number of positioning markers detected since said cuing marker has been detected by said second sensor.
2. In a color printer employing a transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one (with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon) of the areas in each group, said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with the respective areas in each group, the improvement comprising sensor means for detecting said cuing marker and said positioning markers.
3. A color printer as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprise a first sensor for detecting said positioning markers in each group one at a time and a second sensor for detecting said cuing marker in each group.
4. A color printer as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said sensor means further comprise a third sensor for simultaneously detecting three end markers in cooperation with said first and second sensors, said end markers being formed at a trailing end portion of said colored transfer ribbon.
5. A transfer ribbon for use in a color printer, said transfer ribbon having areas of differently colored ink which are arranged in succession along the transfer ribbon and which are arranged in successive groups along the transfer ribbon, a cuing marker for each of the groups and a plurality of positioning markers for each of the groups, said cuing marker being formed on the ribbon in alignment with a leading one, with respect to the direction of feed of the ribbon, of the areas in each group, and said positioning markers being equal in number to the number of the areas in each group and being formed on the ribbon in alignment with respective ones of the areas in each group.
6. A transfer ribbon as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a plurality of end markers, which are at least equal in number to the areas in each one of the groups, are formed at a trailing end portion of said transfer ribbon in a manner such that the distance between adjacent end markers is longer than the distance between said positioning marker and said cuing marker of a first one of the areas, and is shorter than the distance between adjacent positioning markers.
7. A transfer ribbon as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said cuing markers, said positioning markers and said end markers are located along a side edge portion of said transfer ribbon.
8. A transfer ribbon as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said cuing markers and said positioning markers are located along a side edge portion of said transfer ribbon.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP232843/1985 | 1985-10-18 | ||
| JP60232843A JPH0632976B2 (en) | 1985-10-18 | 1985-10-18 | Color transfer ribbon color and position detection method |
| JP29393985A JPS62151372A (en) | 1985-12-26 | 1985-12-26 | Tension mechanism of ink film |
| JP293939/1985 | 1985-12-26 | ||
| CA000520550A CA1281015C (en) | 1985-10-18 | 1986-10-15 | Transfer ribbon feed arrangement |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000520550A Division CA1281015C (en) | 1985-10-18 | 1986-10-15 | Transfer ribbon feed arrangement |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1299232C true CA1299232C (en) | 1992-04-21 |
Family
ID=27167640
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000615781A Expired - Lifetime CA1299232C (en) | 1985-10-18 | 1990-07-04 | Transfer ribbon feed arrangement |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1299232C (en) |
-
1990
- 1990-07-04 CA CA000615781A patent/CA1299232C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |