EP0552486A2 - Dispositif de commande du décalage du ruban encreur - Google Patents

Dispositif de commande du décalage du ruban encreur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0552486A2
EP0552486A2 EP92121834A EP92121834A EP0552486A2 EP 0552486 A2 EP0552486 A2 EP 0552486A2 EP 92121834 A EP92121834 A EP 92121834A EP 92121834 A EP92121834 A EP 92121834A EP 0552486 A2 EP0552486 A2 EP 0552486A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
track
print head
ribbon
printer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92121834A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0552486A3 (en
EP0552486B1 (fr
Inventor
Naoki Asai
Choji Morozumi
Yoshikazu Ito
Kiyoshi Ito
Akira Koyabu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Epson Corp
Original Assignee
Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Epson Corp filed Critical Seiko Epson Corp
Publication of EP0552486A2 publication Critical patent/EP0552486A2/fr
Publication of EP0552486A3 publication Critical patent/EP0552486A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0552486B1 publication Critical patent/EP0552486B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J35/00—Other apparatus or arrangements associated with, or incorporated in, ink-ribbon mechanisms
    • B41J35/04—Ink-ribbon guides
    • B41J35/10—Vibrator mechanisms; Driving gear therefor
    • B41J35/12—Vibrator mechanisms; Driving gear therefor adjustable, e.g. for case shift
    • B41J35/14—Vibrator mechanisms; Driving gear therefor adjustable, e.g. for case shift for multicolour work; for ensuring maximum life of ink ribbon; for rendering ink-ribbon inoperative

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a printer, especially to a compact printer adapted to use an ink ribbon having a plurality of printing tracks and ribbon shift means for selecting a desired one of such printing tracks.
  • the invention also relates to a method for controlling multi-color printing with such printer.
  • a printer of such kind is disclosed in JP-A-41356/91 and shown in Fig. 14.
  • This printer is capable of multi-color printing by using an ink ribbon 90 having three different printing tracks 91, 92 and 93 each of a different color, namely black, red and blue, respectively.
  • the three printing tracks extend in parallel to each other along the lengthwise direction of the ink ribbon 90.
  • the printer shown in Fig. 14 is a dot matrix printer having a print head 81 which is fixed to a carriage 83 slidably supported on a main guide shaft 82.
  • the carriage 83 is reciprocated along the main guide shaft 82 by means of a carriage drive motor 85 via timing belt 84 in order to perform printing on a line by line basis on a recording paper 87 set on a platen 86.
  • the ink ribbon 90 is housed in an ink ribbon cassette 95 which is set on a box-shaped ribbon frame 96.
  • the ribbon frame 96 is supported by a shift arm 23 to be movable in a vertical direction in Fig. 14 with respect to a printer base 88 and guided by a guide 22.
  • Moving the ribbon frame 96 up or down changes the relative position between the print head 81 and the ribbon 90 in the widthwise direction of the ribbon and thus selects any of the three printing tracks 91 to 93.
  • the shift arm 23 is moved up and down by a cam wheel 25 driven by a shift motor 21 via a gear 24.
  • a position sensor 26 is arranged to detect the position of the cam wheel to confirm the selected printing track.
  • FIG. 15 Another printer shown in Fig. 15 uses an ink ribbon with two printing tracks 91 and 92 colored black and red, respectively, and a print head 81 of this printer is driven along a guide shaft 82 by means of a drive arm 30 which is rotated by a carriage drive motor 85.
  • the ribbon 90 used in this printer is also housed in a ribbon cassette 95 which is set on a ribbon frame 96.
  • a track setting mechanism in this printer is formed by a solenoid 31 acting upon a setting arm 34 protruding from the ribbon frame 96 via a two-armed lever 33. When the solenoid 31 is energized, lever 33 is turned to pull the ribbon frame 96 into the lower one of its two positions.
  • a spring 36 causes a setting hook 35 to engage the ribbon frame 96 to latch it in the lower position.
  • a second solenoid 32 forms a track release mechanism which, when energized turns the setting hook 35 against the force of the spring 36 to release the latched condition of the ribbon frame 96 so that the latter will move to its upper position under the action of a spring or other biasing means.
  • the black printing track 91 is used whereas in the upper position the red printing track 92 is used.
  • the document EP-A-0 202 039 discloses an electronically controlled typewriter having an ink ribbon shift mechanism driven by means of a paper feed motor.
  • the ribbon is not shifted in order to select one of a plurality of printing tracks or colors. Instead, as is usual with typewriters, the ribbon is lifted prior to printing each character and then lowered again. Also, an electromagnetic clutch is required in this prior art to select whether the paper feed motor is to perform paper feed or operate the ribbon shift mechanism.
  • the present invention is intended to solve the above problems and its purpose is to provide a low-cost compact printer capable of easily switching between the printing tracks of an ink ribbon with three or more printing tracks without requiring a dedicated drive device for such switching operation.
  • Another purpose of the invention is to provide a control method for controlling the printer such as to achieve multi-color printing.
  • the line drive or carriage drive means of the printer is also used for operating the ribbon shift mechanism, thereby avoiding the necessity of a dedicated shift drive means.
  • the stroke of the reciprocating movement of the print head is divided into a printing region where the print head is capable of printing on a recording paper and at least one end region not used for printing.
  • the print head is moved to the non-printing end region in order to operate the ribbon shift means and to select a desired printing track.
  • Such non-printing end region(s) avoids the necessity of selecting whether the line drive means is to drive either the print head or the ribbon shift means. As long as the print head reciprocates within its printing region any drive connection between the line drive means and the ribbon shift means is disabled. When the print head enters the non-printing end region(s) the drive connection between the line drive means and the ribbon shift means is enabled but the drive connection between the line drive means and the print head need not be disabled.
  • Printers normally have a control system for controlling the line drive means in order to exactly position the print head to perform the desired printing. Since the line drive means is also used to operate the ribbon shift means according to the present invention, the control system for positioning the print head need only be modifyed to additionally allow selection of a desired printing track.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the printer and Figs. 2 and 3 are side views corresponding to arrows II and III in Fig. 1, respectively.
  • Fig. 4, which corresponds to Fig. 1, shows the printer with an ink ribbon cassette being removed.
  • Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the printer according to Fig. 4.
  • the printer comprises a plastics printer base 8 on which a platen 6, a carriage 3 carrying a print head 1, a ribbon frame 16 for accommodating an ink ribbon cassette 15 and a holder 9 for holding a roll of recording paper 7 are disposed.
  • the carriage 3 is slidably supported on a main guide shaft 2 extending in parallel to the platen 6.
  • the print head opposes the platen 6 via an exposed portion of an ink ribbon 10 housed in the ink ribbon cassette 15.
  • Recording paper 7 from the roll of paper is fed through a gap between the exposed portion of the ink ribbon 10 and the platen 6. Printing is performed on the recording paper by means of print head 1 and ink ribbon 10 while reciprocating carriage 3 along the main guide shaft 2.
  • the carriage 3 is connected to a timing belt 4 driven by a carriage drive motor 5 for reciprocating the print head 1 in the line direction of the recording paper.
  • the carriage 3, the carriage drive motor 5, the timing belt 4 and the main guide shaft 2 form a line drive means.
  • a gap control mechanism 60 shown in Fig. 1 and 2 is employed for maintaining the platen gap between the platen 6 and the print head 1 constant irrespective of a thermal deformation etc. of the plastics printer base 8.
  • a feed motor 61 for feeding the recording paper 7 from the roll of paper is disposed on the right side (as viewed in Fig. 1) or side II of the printer in this embodiment, and it turns a paper feed shaft 64 via gears 62 and 63.
  • an ink ribbon 10 having four printing tracks 11 to 14 extending in parallel in the lengthwise direction of the ink ribbon is used. Any of the four printing tracks 11 to 14 can be selected by shifting the ink ribbon in the direction of its width such that the selected printing track is set at the height of a printing area of the print head.
  • the ink ribbon can be shifted by moving up or down the ribbon frame 16 on which the ink ribbon cassette 15 is disposed.
  • a ribbon shift means used for moving the ribbon frame 16 up or down and, thus, for shifting the ink ribbon 10, comprises a track setting mechanism 40 and a track resetting mechanism 50.
  • the track setting mechanism 40 is disposed on the right side (as viewed in Fig. 1), namely side II, whereas the track resetting mechanism 50 is disposed on the left side or side III of the printer.
  • the track setting mechanism 40 serves to push up the ribbon frame 16 and thus to select a desired one of the printing tracks.
  • the track resetting mechanism 50 is used to release a setting condition of the track setting mechanism and causes the ribbon frame 16 to be pulled down once it has been pushed up by the track setting mechanism.
  • a setting protrusion 71 is provided which protrudes towards side II of the printer in parallel to the main guide shaft 2.
  • a similar resetting protrusion 72 is provided on the opposite side of the carriage 3.
  • the setting protrusion 71 is used to actuate the track setting mechanism 40 whereas the resetting protrusion 72 is used to actuate the track resetting mechanism 50.
  • the ribbon frame 16 in this embodiment is a roughly rectangular-shaped member that has one side pivotally connected to the printer base 8 by means of pivots 73.
  • the pivot axis defined by pivots 73 is parallel to the main guide shaft 2.
  • a spring 74 is stretched between the printer base 8 and the ribbon frame 16 to bias the latter into its lowest position.
  • a hole 75 formed in the ribbon frame 16 adjacent its side II end is part of a latch means for the track setting mechanism 40 as will be explained in detail below.
  • a ribbon drive shaft 76 which upon insertion of the ribbon cassette 15 enters the latter to wind up the ink ribbon 10, passes through the ribbon frame 16 and is mounted to the printer base 8.
  • the stroke of the reciprocating movement of the carriage 3 along the main guide shaft 2 covers a printing region substantially corresponding to the width of the recording paper and first and second non-printing end regions on the right side and the left side of the printing region, respectively.
  • the setting protrusion 71 comes into contact and pushes an engagement member 41 of the track setting mechanism 40.
  • This causes the ribbon frame 16 to be raised by an extent depending on how far the carriage 3 is moved into said first end region.
  • the ribbon frame 16 is latched in its raised position to keep this position when the carriage 3 returns to the printing region and the engagement between the setting protrusion 71 and the engagement member 41 is released.
  • the resetting protrusion 72 comes into contact and pushes an engagement member 51 of the track resetting mechanism 50. This releases the latched state between the track setting mechanism 40 and the ribbon frame 16 and allows the track setting mechanism either to assume another setting condition or to return to a reset state depending on how far the carriage is moved into the second end region. Then, when the carriage 3 returns to a position where the resetting protrusion 72 is no longer in contact with the engagement member 51, spring 74 pulls down the ribbon frame 16 into either its initial position or a new position defined by the track setting mechanism.
  • Fig. 6 shows the track setting mechanism 40.
  • the track setting mechanism 40 comprises a setting lever 43 pivotally connected to the printer base 8 by means of a pivot 44 whose pivot axis extends vertically in Fig. 6.
  • the setting lever 43 has a first arm 42a extending to one side of the pivot 44 and having the engagement member 41 formed at or affixed to its free end.
  • a second arm 42b of the setting lever 43 extends to the opposite direction of the pivot 44 and is sector-shaped.
  • a cam member 46 is formed at the free end of the second arm 42b to extend substantially in a circumferential direction concentric to the axis of the pivot 44.
  • the substantially wedge-shaped cam member 46 comprises an inclined front cam face 47d on the side facing the ribbon frame 16 and a stepped rear cam face on the opposite side with three steps 47a, 47b and 47c providing three different setting levels.
  • the front cam face 47d inclines toward the rear, and the stepped rear cam face declines toward the rear.
  • the three setting levels provided by the three steps 47a to 47c of the rear cam face correspond to the ink ribbon 10 of this embodiment having four printing tracks 11 to 14.
  • a spring 48 is stretched between a hook 45 provided at the end of the second arm 42b and the printer base 8 and biases the setting lever 43 into its inactivated initial position shown in Fig. 6.
  • the setting lever 43 When the engagement member 41 is pushed by the setting protrusion 71, the setting lever 43 is turned and the cam member 46 of the setting lever 43 enters below the ribbon frame 16.
  • the ribbon frame 16 is raised as it slides on the inclined front cam face 47d.
  • the raising portion in front of the first step 47a enters the hole 75 provided in the ribbon frame 16 as mentioned above, the ribbon frame 16 is lowered a bit until it comes to rest on the first and highest step 47a. This sets the ribbon frame 16 to the highest position or setting level.
  • the ribbon frame 16 will remain in its thus set position, even if the carriage 3 is returned and the engagement between the engagement member 41 and the setting protrusion 71 released despite the spring 48 tending to pull the setting lever 43 back to its initial position. Due to the combined actions of springs 74 and 48, the raising portion in front of the respective step will be caught and locked by the edge of the hole 75, preventing the setting lever 43 to be turned back to its initial position.
  • the stepped rear cam face the cam member 46, the hole 75 in the ribbon frame 16 and the two springs 74 and 48 form latch means locking the ribbon frame 16 at the set level until the latch is released by means of the track resetting mechanism 50 to allow spring 48 to turn the setting lever 43 back to its initial position.
  • Fig. 7 shows the track resetting mechanism 50 used in the printer of this embodiment.
  • This track resetting mechanism 50 comprises a release shaft 53 rotatably supported by a protrusion 54 protruding from the printer base 8.
  • the rotational axis of the release shaft 53 extends substantially in parallel to the printer base 8 and perpendicular to the main guide shaft 2.
  • the engagement member 51 is formed at one end of the release shaft 53 such when it is pushed by the resetting protrusion 72, the release shaft 53 will be turned about its rotational axis.
  • the new setting position of the ribbon frame is its lowest position where it rests on frame holders 77 and 78 provided for stabilization on the printer base 8 near the track setting mechanism 40 and the track resetting mechanism 50, respectively.
  • the ribbon frame will come to rest on the second or the first step 47b, 47a of the rear cam face.
  • the release shaft 53 is rotated back to its initial position.
  • the lowest level defined by frame holders 77 and 78 is lower than the third or lowest setting level determined by step 47c of the track setting mechanism 40.
  • Fig. 8 shows how the printing track is selected using the track setting mechanism.
  • Fig. 8(a) shows the ribbon frame 16 in a stable condition at the lower-most position, where the ribbon frame 16 is resting on the frame holders 77 and 78.
  • the highest printing track 11 black is set at the height of the print head 1 and printing in black is performed.
  • the track resetting mechanism 50 can be used either to completely reset the ribbon frame 16 down to its lowest position or, if the current position of the ribbon frame 16 is not in its highest position, to reset it into any of the higher positions still available.
  • the print head 1 is first moved by the line drive means toward side III until it reaches position P7 in the second end region, as shown in Fig. 9(a).
  • the resetting protrusion 72 engages the engagement member 51 starting to rotate the release shaft 53 causing the release lever 52 to begin pushing up the ribbon frame 16.
  • the setting of the ribbon frame 16 is that shown in Fig. 8(d)
  • the engagement between the hole 75 and the rising portion connecting steps 47c and 47b (Fig. 6) is released and the setting lever 43 is turned back (counterclockwise in Fig.
  • the printer of this embodiment allows to select a desired one of the printing tracks of the ink ribbon utilizing a movement of the print head into one of the end regions. Therefore, an independent motor, solenoid or other drive component for changing the printing track is not required allowing it to make the printer lighter and simplify its structure. Even ink ribbons with many tracks can be easily replaced and set in place since they are enclosed in a ribbon cartridge, and any of the printing tracks can be easily selected in short time by moving the print head into the respective end region.
  • a protrusion for setting and a protrusion for resetting are formed on the carriage mounting the print head. It will be appreciated, however, that corresponding protrusions could also be formed on the engagement members of the track setting mechanism and the track resetting mechanism, i.e. the engagement members could be designed to directly contact a part of the moving structure comprising the carriage and the print head.
  • a setting lever is used in the track setting mechanism, which is arranged to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.
  • This setting lever is swung by the carriage in nearly the same plane as the ribbon frame whereby the ribbon is shifted by insertion of the setting cam.
  • the invention is not limited to such swinging type setting lever.
  • a rotary member having a configuration like the release lever and being rotated by the carriage in a plane substantially perpendicular to the ribbon frame can also be employed for moving the ribbon frame up and down.
  • a swinging type member similar to the setting lever may be used instead of the rotary type explained above.
  • the initial position of the ribbon frame corresponds to its lowest position and the track setting mechanism is used to act from below the ribbon frame to move it up.
  • the invention is not limited to this and the explained embodiment could be modified to have the initial position of the ribbon frame corresponding to its uppermost position and the track setting mechanism acting from above for moving the ribbon frame down.
  • the setting lever 43 is latched in the position set by means of the carriage by engagement with a hole formed in the ribbon frame, and the latch is released by further lifting up the ribbon frame.
  • the printer is not limited to this and the setting lever may be latched by using a cam or other temporary stop member, in which case it is easy to drive this cam or other temporary stop member using a release lever.
  • the track setting mechanism and the track resetting mechanism are driven by the line drive means via the carriage.
  • the track setting mechanism and the track resetting mechanism can be driven in concert with the carriage moving outside the printing region.
  • the invention is not limited to printers in which the carriage is driven along a guide shaft by a carriage drive belt, and the shift mechanism according to the present invention can also be applied to printers, etc., that drive the carriage via a drive arm which is a way of driving the carriage known in the prior art.
  • the present invention allows multi-color printing.
  • the present invention can also be used with single-color multi-track ink ribbons that have a longer lifetime than single-track ribbons.
  • a compact, lightweight printer can be realized that requires no maintenance other than resupplying recording paper for long periods.
  • the ribbon frame is pivotally supported on the printer base and moving up or down does in fact refer to a rotary or swinging movement of the ribbon frame rather than a translatory shift.
  • the present invention can also be applied to a printer in which the ribbon frame or other element capable of causing a ribbon shift is supported to be moved up or down by a translatory shift.
  • Fig. 10 is a block diagram of a control device for controlling the printer.
  • 121 is a CPU which performs overall control of the printer.
  • 122 is a ROM in which the control program and various types of data are stored.
  • 123 is a RAM which includes a printing color memory section for use as a printing color memory means.
  • 120 is an interface connecting the control device to a host computer or other control device and receiving print data and commands from the host computer or other device.
  • I/O ports 124, 125 and 126 output signals for driving a paper feed (PF) motor driver 127, a carriage (CR) motor driver 128 and a head driver 129, respectively.
  • PF paper feed
  • CR carriage
  • the PF motor driver 127, the CR motor driver 128 and the head driver 129 are connected to the PF motor 61, the CR motor 5 and the print head 1, respectively, of the printer unit designated 130 in Fig. 10, and drive them based on signals from the CPU.
  • a reference position signal generating circuit 132 processes a signal from a reference position detection means mounted in the printer unit 130 and sends a reference position signal to an I/O port 131 from which the CPU receives that reference position signal.
  • Fig. 11 is a flow chart of a control method for selecting a desired color by selecting the corresponding printing track in the above explained embodiment of the printer.
  • a block 156 shows the relationship between printing track numbers of a multi-color ink ribbon used in this embodiment and printing colors.
  • the printing track numbers are the same as those used in the above explanation.
  • the control method 140 starts.
  • the printer initialisation step 141 the CR motor 5 is driven and the print head 1 is moved to position P9, whereby the printing color (black) is selected and the corresponding track number 11 is stored in the printing track memory section, after which the print head 1 is moved to the printing start position P1 on the left side.
  • the process then proceeds to step 142 bringing the control device into a standby condition waiting for the receipt of data or commands.
  • track number comparison is performed in steps 143 to 145 first to determine the new printing color from the received print data or commands and then to compare the track number corresponding to the new printing color (referred to as new track number below) with the track number corresponding to the currently set printing color (referred to as old track number below) and stored in the printing track memory section. If the two are the same, then processing proceeds to printing control in step 151.
  • step 144 When the two track numbers are not the same, the new track number and the track number corresponding to black are compared in step 144, and when the two are the same, i.e., when the new printing color is black, processing skips step 145 for selection of one of the non-printing end regions and proceeds to step 146 for setting the second end region (end region III).
  • This processing is an exception processing specific to the shape of the member used for the track setting in this embodiment, and when black is newly selected, it initializes the track setting mechanism.
  • step 145 the new and old track numbers are compared in step 145 for selection of the end region. Namely, when the new track number is larger than the old track number, processing proceeds to step 146 for setting the second end region. Otherwise the processing proceeds to step 152 for setting the first end region (end region II).
  • step 146 the position in the second end region corresponding to the new track number is set based on table 148, and the track resetting mechanism 50 is operated to set the new printing track at the height of the print head by moving the print head to the thus set position.
  • a printer has a home position for the print head, e.g., the print head is set to this home position when the printer is powered on and operation related to subsequent movement of the print head is performed using this home position as a reference. Therefore, since the position of the print head relative to its home position is already known, the direction and distance the print head is to be driven can be easily obtained by making the positions provided in tables 148 and 154 relative positions to the home position.
  • step 149 the print head is moved to P1, which is the side III printing start position, in step 149, and processing proceeds to step 150 updating the printing track memory section.
  • step 152 the position in the first end region corresponding to the new track number is set based on table 154, and by moving the print head to the set position, the track setting mechanism 40 is operated to set the new printing track at the height of the print head.
  • step 155 the print head is moved to P2, which is the printing start position near side II, and processing then proceeds to step 150.
  • Printing is then executed in the color selected and set by the above processing.
  • processing proceeds to step 142, i.e. the standby condition.
  • the printing start position P1 near the side III side of the printing region is assumed to be the home position, and the process that positions the print head at this position is referred to as the printing position initialization process. Correction of the position of the print head is performed using this printing position initialization process, which is explained below.
  • the photodetector 57 is a general-use U shaped photointerrupter having a light-emitting element on one side and a photodetecting element on the opposite side.
  • the reference position signal generation circuit 132 receives this signal from the reference position detection means and converts it to a voltage signal (from a non-active level to an active level in the case of this embodiment) and then sends a reference position signal to the I/O port 131, from which the CPU 121 receives the reference position signal, whereby it knows that the print head is at the reference position.
  • the reference position and the home position may be the same but in the present embodiment they are assumed to be different.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the printing position initialization process.
  • the reference position signal assumes an active level when the shield plate 58 blocks the light path of the photodetector 57.
  • the reference position signal is checked in step 101, and if it has its active level, then the print head is moved toward side II for only a unit amount in step 102 and the process returns to step 101 where the reference position signal is checked again.
  • the unit amount corresponds to one step or one cycle of an excitation phase of a stepper motor, or to one encoder pulse in the case of an encoder equipped DC motor used as the motor 5.
  • step 101 If the result of the check in step 101 shows the signal to have a non-active level, then the print head is moved toward side III for only the unit amount in step 103 and the reference position signal is checked again in step 104. Steps 103 and 104 are repeated until the signal has its active level.
  • a value Pr representing the reference position relative to the home position is stored in a head position memory section of the RAM 123 in step 105.
  • a value indicating the current position of the print head can be continually retained in the head position memory section by either adding or subtracting a value corresponding to the amount of movement from the currently stored value. Then the print head is moved to the home position P1 by being moved from the reference position (Pr) toward side II for only the distance between Pr and P1, and the printing position initialization process is completed.
  • any error in the position of the print head will be corrected and printing will start at the correct position even if step 146 or movement of the print head in processing performed prior to this was completed with errors.
  • the above explained printing position initialization process sets the print head to a correct position, namely a position correctly corresponding to the value stored in the head position memory section of the RAM 123 irrespective to nay position error that might have occurred prior to performing this process.
  • a correct position namely a position correctly corresponding to the value stored in the head position memory section of the RAM 123 irrespective to nay position error that might have occurred prior to performing this process.
  • FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a print head position confirmation process 110.
  • the printing position initialization process is included in step 149 for the resetting to position P1 operation after the end region III setting step 146 has been executed, but almost the same algorithm can be used when the printing position initialization process is included in step 155 for the resetting to position P2 operation after the end region II setting step 152 has been executed.
  • the head position confirmation process 110 is started after the end region III setting step 146 has been executed, and the print head is moved toward side II in step 111 by only the amount represented by Pr - Px.
  • Px is the position determined according to the printing color, which is set according to table 148, e.g., P9 if after selecting black.
  • the print head should have reached the reference position Pr. Therefore, if the reference position signal does not have the active level when it is checked in step 112, movement of the print head is judged to be completed with an error and the process proceeds to a management of an abnormal condition (step 115 and subsequent steps).
  • step 112 reveals the active level, then the print head is moved toward side II by only the unit amount in step 113. If movement of the print head is completed without error, then that position should differ from position Pr toward side II by only one unit amount, and therefore if a non-active level is obtained by checking the reference position signal in step 114, it is judged to be normal and the head position confirmation process is completed.
  • step 115 When the active level is obtained by checking the reference position signal in step 114, however, movement of the print head is judged to be completed with an error and abnormal condition management in step 115 is started. Retrying is performed as the abnormal condition management when movement of the print head is completed with error in this embodiment. That is, first the position of the print head is initialised by executing the printing position initialisation process 100, and following this the print head is moved toward side III for only the amount obtained by subtracting Px from Pr and processing proceeds to the processing 111 at the beginning of the head position confirmation process.
  • a photointerrupter and shield plate are used as the reference position detection means in this embodiment, but the invention is not limited to these, and a photoreflector and reflector plate, a reed switch and magnet, or other non-contact detection mechanism, or a limit switch or other contact switch can be used.
  • retrying is performed to manage an abnormal condition when movement of the print head is completed with errors in this embodiment
  • the invention is not limited to this, and a signal indicating an abnormal condition or status information may be sent to the host computer via the interface, or if a display means is provided on the printer, this can be used to notify the user.
  • a signal indicating an abnormal condition or status information may be sent to the host computer via the interface, or if a display means is provided on the printer, this can be used to notify the user.
  • it is extremely effective to increase the drive torque by changing the drive current of the motor or the drive method. It is also possible to perform retrying for a predetermined number of times and to stop the process and issue an error indication if even after those number of times a position error is detected.
  • switching of the printing tracks of the ink ribbon is realized in concert with the movement of the print head in non-printing regions, and a dedicated drive system for switching the printing tracks can be eliminated. Therefore, a compact, lightweight printer can be realized by omitting the heavy drive system. Further, by eliminating the drive system, the switching mechanism for the ink ribbon can be simplified, which reduces the number of parts and lowers the production cost of the printer. Due to these advantages, the configuration can be simplified more and more compared to the prior art as the number of colors of the multi-color ribbon increases.
  • the respective tracks can be easily selected in concert with the amount of movement of the print head. Therefore, even in cases in which multitrack ink ribbons are used, a lightweight, compact printer can be realized without having to add a drive system.
  • a Möbius type ink ribbon can be used as the ink ribbon in combination with the above ribbon shift mechanism to realize longer life of printing without changing the ink ribbon.
  • ribbon shifting is performed using the movement of the print head to non-printing regions, it is possible to control ribbon shifting independently of printing control of the print head, thus facilitating a simple control system.

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  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
EP19920121834 1991-12-25 1992-12-22 Dispositif de commande du décalage du ruban encreur Expired - Lifetime EP0552486B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP343448/91 1991-12-25
JP34344891 1991-12-25

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0552486A2 true EP0552486A2 (fr) 1993-07-28
EP0552486A3 EP0552486A3 (en) 1993-10-27
EP0552486B1 EP0552486B1 (fr) 1996-07-03

Family

ID=18361597

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19920121834 Expired - Lifetime EP0552486B1 (fr) 1991-12-25 1992-12-22 Dispositif de commande du décalage du ruban encreur

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0552486B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3404777B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69211978T2 (fr)
HK (1) HK1007713A1 (fr)
SG (1) SG83075A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1029699A1 (fr) * 1999-02-19 2000-08-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Imprimante, procédé de commande associé et support d'enregistrement de données
EP2105316A1 (fr) * 2007-01-17 2009-09-30 Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co., Ltd. Imprimante et procédé de commande d'impression

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100432241B1 (ko) * 2001-06-25 2004-05-20 세이코 엡슨 가부시키가이샤 프린터
CN106274065B (zh) * 2016-09-22 2017-11-10 江门市得实计算机外部设备有限公司 一种双色针式打印机及其使用方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0158963A2 (fr) * 1984-04-16 1985-10-23 BULL HN INFORMATION SYSTEMS ITALIA S.p.A. Cartouche à ruban encreur multicolore et son mécanisme de positionnement pour une imprimante sérielle
EP0160832A2 (fr) * 1984-05-07 1985-11-13 Lexmark International, Inc. Dispositif de guidage proportionnel d'un ruban encreur pour imprimantes à impact
US4854027A (en) * 1984-03-01 1989-08-08 Data Recording Instrument Company Limited Manufacture of impact printing ribbon cartridge
US4867587A (en) * 1986-04-30 1989-09-19 Seiko Epson Corporation, A Japanese Corporation Printer for monochrome and color printing

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2029327B (en) * 1978-09-02 1982-08-25 Ibm Printing apparatus
US4368993A (en) * 1981-04-30 1983-01-18 Centronics Data Computer Corporation Replaceable assembly for multicolor printing
DE3890244C2 (fr) * 1987-04-13 1992-05-27 Star Seimitsu K.K., Shizuoka, Jp

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4854027A (en) * 1984-03-01 1989-08-08 Data Recording Instrument Company Limited Manufacture of impact printing ribbon cartridge
EP0158963A2 (fr) * 1984-04-16 1985-10-23 BULL HN INFORMATION SYSTEMS ITALIA S.p.A. Cartouche à ruban encreur multicolore et son mécanisme de positionnement pour une imprimante sérielle
EP0160832A2 (fr) * 1984-05-07 1985-11-13 Lexmark International, Inc. Dispositif de guidage proportionnel d'un ruban encreur pour imprimantes à impact
US4867587A (en) * 1986-04-30 1989-09-19 Seiko Epson Corporation, A Japanese Corporation Printer for monochrome and color printing

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1029699A1 (fr) * 1999-02-19 2000-08-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Imprimante, procédé de commande associé et support d'enregistrement de données
US6431774B1 (en) 1999-02-19 2002-08-13 Seiko Epson Corporation Printer, control method for the same, and data storage medium for recording the control method
EP2105316A1 (fr) * 2007-01-17 2009-09-30 Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co., Ltd. Imprimante et procédé de commande d'impression
EP2105316A4 (fr) * 2007-01-17 2011-12-14 Shandong New Beiyang Inf Tech Imprimante et procédé de commande d'impression
US8246260B2 (en) 2007-01-17 2012-08-21 Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co., Ltd. Printer with ribbon cassette shifting mechanism and control method therefor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0552486A3 (en) 1993-10-27
DE69211978D1 (de) 1996-08-08
JPH05318893A (ja) 1993-12-03
SG83075A1 (en) 2001-09-18
JP3404777B2 (ja) 2003-05-12
HK1007713A1 (en) 1999-04-23
EP0552486B1 (fr) 1996-07-03
DE69211978T2 (de) 1996-12-19

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