The present invention relates to a recording apparatus
for printing images such as characters, marks, and the like
on a first or a second recording medium, and more
particularly to a recording apparatus capable of being
selectively operated in a line recording mode for performing
recording on the first recording medium by using a recording
head fixed while feeding the first recording medium and in a
serial recording mode for performing recording on the second
recording medium by making the recording head scan the second
recording medium.
The applicant has proposed a recording device for
producing label tape disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,232,297.
The device is provided with a keyboard, a display, and a
recording mechanism of a thermal recording type. In such a
device, the thermal head prints characters and marks of an
input text on a recording tape through an ink ribbon to make
a label affixable to a spine of a file and the like.
The label made of the recording tape has a width, for
example, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm, and 24 mm, and can be
printed thereon images such as characters and marks with
various sizes and fonts in correspondence with the width of
the label tape. The above label tape has been recently used
not only for the spine of a file but also information boards,
price cards and others. The label tape is accordingly
desired to have a wider width than the above widths and to be
usable for a color printing.
The above device is operated in a line recording mode for
performing recording by fixing a recording head while feeding
a recording tape. This device thus needs recording heads
having larger widths corresponding to the width of a label
tape to be printed, resulting in high cost.
Another recording device has conventionally been proposed
as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
7-117297, which can be operated in a line recording mode for
performing recording on a recording sheet by using a fixedly
supported recording head and in a serial recording mode for
performing recording by making the recording head scan the
recording sheet. In this recording device, the recording
head performs recording on a small-width sheet in the line
recording mode and, alternatively, on a larger-width sheet in
the serial recording mode by being rotated by an angle of 90°
to scan the recording sheet in an orthogonal direction with
respect to the feeding direction of the sheet. The
rotational mechanism of the recording head may cause a
large-sized device and an increased the manufacturing cost
thereof.
The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances and has an object to overcome the above
problems and to provide a recording apparatus capable of
performing recording with a recording head on a first
recording medium in a line recording mode and on a second
recording medium in a serial recording mode, and of being
manufactured at low cost.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and in
part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned
by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of
the invention may be realized and attained by means of the
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out
in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose
of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a
recording apparatus of this invention comprises a recording
head mounted on a carriage, on which a plurality of recording
elements are arranged in a row, a first feeding means for
feeding a first recording medium in a first direction with
respect to the recording head, a line recording mode setting
means for setting a line recording mode wherein the recording
head in a fixed position performs recording on the first
medium while the first feeding means feeds the first
recording medium in the first direction, a carriage moving
means for moving the carriage reciprocatingly in the first
direction, a second feeding means for feeding a second
recording medium in a second direction which is different
from the first direction, and a serial recording mode setting
means for setting a serial recording mode wherein the
recording head performs recording on the second recording
medium which is in a stopped state while the carriage moving
means moves the carriage mounting thereon the recording head
in the first direction with respect to the second recording
medium.
The above apparatus can, accordingly, perform recording
on the first recording medium in the line recording mode
wherein the recording head is fixedly supported with respect
to the first recording medium while the first feeding means
feeds the first recording medium in a first direction and on
the second recording medium in the serial recording mode
wherein the carriage moving means is driven to move the
recording head reciprocatingly in the first direction without
needing rotation of the recording head.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification illustrate an
embodiment of the invention and, together with the
description, serve to explain the objects, advantages and
principles of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tape printing apparatus
in an embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of an internal structure of the
tape printing apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plane view of the internal structure of the
tape printing apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 4(a) is a side view showing a relation between a
large-width recording medium and a recording head in the tape
printing apparatus; Fig. 4(b) is a plane view showing the above relation; Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged front view of a tape-station
shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged plane view of the tape
station shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is an enlarged front view of a tape cassette in
the embodiment; Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view of a ribbon cassette in
the embodiment; Fig. 9 is an enlarged front view of a carriage in the
embodiment; Fig. 10 is a side view of main components mounted on the
carriage, viewed along I-I line of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a side view of the main components viewed
along - line of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a side view of the main components viewed
along - line of Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a side view of the main components viewed
along - line of Fig. 9; Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing a control system of
the tape printing apparatus in the embodiment; Fig. 15 is an enlarged front view of the carriage of Fig.
9 from which gears and others are removed, showing a state of
a recording head being pressed against a platen; Fig. 16 is an enlarged front view of the carriage of Fig.
9 from which gears and others are removed, showing a state of
the recording head being released from the platen; Fig. 17 is an enlarged front view of a head driving cam
gear in the embodiment; Fig. 18 is an enlarged front view of a part of the head
driving cam gear of Fig. 17 and a gear; Fig. 19 is an enlarged plane view of main components for
feeding the large-width recording medium and
pressing/separating the recording head and a first platen; Fig. 20 is an enlarged plane view of the main components
for feeding a large-width recording medium and
pressing/separating the recording head and a first platen; Figs. 21 (a) through (c) are explanatory views showing
the relative position of the recording head to the first
platen when the first platen is pressed to or separated from
the recording head; Fig. 22 is a perspective exploded view of a transmission
delaying member in the embodiment; Fig. 23 is a front view of another embodiment of
operation members for separating the recording head from the
first platen; Fig. 24 is an explanatory view of showing the relation
between the movement of the carriage and a switch lever in
the first embodiment according to the present invention; and Figs. 25(A) and (B) are a flow chart and a table showing
the control operation of a control unit in the first
embodiment.
A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a
recording apparatus embodying the present invention will now
be given referring to the accompanying drawings.
A recording apparatus in the embodiment is a tape-printing
apparatus 1 for printing various images such as
characters including alphabets and symbols, etc., and marks
on a recording medium (tape) having a small or large width.
In this tape printing apparatus 1, a tape station TS for
recording the images with single color on a small-width
recording medium D1 as a first recording medium and a wide
station WS for recording the images with any of multiple or
single color(s) on a large-width recording medium D2 as a
second recording medium. The tape printing apparatus 1
discharges the first recording medium D1 printed with a
single color in the tape station TS from a discharge port
(not shown) formed in a side wall (in a left side in Fig. 1)
of a main body frame 2, alternatively, the second recording
medium D2 printed with multiple or single color(s) in the
wide station WS from another discharge port 2a formed in the
substantially center of a front face of the main body frame
2.
A keyboard 3 has a return key, a plurality of character
keys for inputting alphabet and other characters, mark keys,
and further various keys, for example, edition keys such as a
cancel key, selection keys for selecting a vertical/lateral
printing. The keyboard 3 is connected to the tape printing
apparatus 1 through a cable 4, whereby signals representing
data input with the various keys of the keyboard 3 can be
transmitted to the tape printing apparatus 1. On the front
right face of the main body frame 2 (in a right side in Fig.
1), also provided is a display 5 for displaying thereon the
images such as characters and others input with the keyboard
3 in a plurality of lines.
A cover 7 is provided in another side (left side in Fig.
1) of the front face of the main body frame 2. This cover 7
can be opened forward. Accordingly, an user can open the
cover 7 and insert, on a carriage CA, one of a tape cassette
TC to be used for a recording operation in the tape station
TS and an ribbon cassette RC of multiple or single color(s)
to be used for a recording operation in the wide station WS
according to which recording medium the user makes a choice,
the first recording medium D1 or the second medium D2. Note
that the tape printing apparatus 1 in the embodiment records
images with a single color on the first recording medium D1
in the tape station TS. The invention, however, is not
limited to this embodiment and may be modified to be
printable with full colors.
Fig. 2 is a front view of main components of a recording
mechanism of the tape printing apparatus 1 and Fig. 3 is a
plane view of the same. The tape station TS is a recording
area disposed at a left side in the drawings of a base
chassis HS of the main frame 2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
The wide station WS is another recording area disposed at a
right side in the drawings of the base chassis HS. In the
tape station TS, a recording operation is performed in a line
recording mode wherein the first recording medium D1 drawn
out of the tape cassette TC and an ink ribbon IR to be used
for recording the images on the first recording medium D1 are
fed in the same direction, namely, in a sideward direction
toward the outside of the main frame 2, and the recording
head (thermal head) HD fixedly supported on the carriage CA
records images through the ink ribbon IR on the first
recording medium D1. A recorded part of the first recording
medium D1 is then discharged through the discharge port
formed at the side of the main frame 2.
On the other hand, in the wide station WS, a recording
operation is conducted on the second recording medium in a
serial recording mode by moving the recording head HD in a
main scanning direction (a first direction), i.e., in a
lateral direction in Figs 2 and 3, which intersects a feeding
direction of the second recording medium D2 (a second
direction), i.e., in an up and down direction in Fig. 3.
After recording, the second recording medium D2 is fed by a
predetermined amount in the feeding direction, and the
recording head HD records again while being moved in the main
scanning direction.
More specifically, while a carriage moving mechanism CH
moves the carriage CA mounting thereon the recording head HD
reciprocatingly in the main scanning direction intersecting
the feeding direction of the second recording medium D2, the
recording head HD records images such as the characters
"ABCDE" in a line in the main scanning direction and "FGHI"
in another line at the same time, as shown in Fig. 4(b), on
the second recording medium D2. Upon completion of the
recording processing, a feeding mechanism QH feeds the second
recording medium D2 by a predetermined amount in
correspondence with an arrangement length L1 of a plurality
of heating elements serving as recording elements (see Fig.
4(a)) in the feeding direction, i.e., in an up and down
direction in Fig. 3. The carriage moving mechanism CH moves
again the carriage CA in the main scanning direction with
respect to the second recording medium D2, and the recording
head records the characters "JKLMN" in a third line on the
second recording medium D2, then repeating the same
processing as above.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this carriage moving mechanism
CH is provided with a step motor SM disposed at a right side
in the main frame 2, a small diameter gear SM2 attached so as
to mesh with a driving shaft SM1 of the motor SM, a large
diameter gear SM3 meshing with the gear SM2, a driving pulley
SP2 which rotates integrally with the gear SM3 for rotating a
timing belt, a follower pulley SP1 disposed in a left side in
the main frame 2, which feeds the timing belt in cooperation
with the driving pulley SP2, the timing belt TB laid over the
pulleys SP1 and SP2 and secured to a rear end portion CA1 of
the carriage CA, and a guide rod GD extending between both
side walls of the main frame 2, penetrating a rear end
portion CA2 of the carriage CA for supporting the carriage
CA.
When the step motor SM is driven to rotate regularly or
reversely, the driving pulley SP2 is rotated in a direction
or reverse through the driving shaft SM1 and the driving
gears SM2 and SM3, moving the timing belt TB in a direction
or reverse.
According to the movement of the timing belt TB, the carriage
CA on which the recording head HD is mounted is moved by
step-feeding between the pulleys SP1 and SP2 along the guide
rod GD in a lateral direction in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the
carriage CA can be positioned at the tape station TS as shown
by a solid line in Figs. 2 and 3 or can be moved
reciprocatingly within the recording area of the wide station
WS as shown in a two-dot chain line in Figs. 2 and 3. Note
that a pulse number for controlling the step motor SM exactly
corresponds to a feeding amount of the timing belt TB. When
pulses of a predetermined number is supplied to the step
motor SM, accordingly, the timing belt TB is fed by a
predetermined amount, thereby precisely moving the carriage
CA.
The feeding mechanism QH for the second recording medium
D2 is provided with support members ST1 and ST2 for
supporting the second recording medium D2 as a rolled state,
disposed in the back side of the main frame 2, paper feeding
roller members JR1 and JR2 disposed in that order, parallel
to the main scanning direction and separately from each other
by a predetermined distance in the feeding direction
(sub-scanning direction) of the second recording medium D2.
More specifically, the supporting members ST1 and ST2 are
respectively secured between a long side chassis HS2 of the
chassis HS and a chassis KS. These supporting members ST1 and
ST2 are inserted from both sides of the rolled second
recording medium D2 into an axial hollow portion D2a thereof
to support the second recording medium D2 (see Figs. 4). It
is noted that a cassette case HSO shown by a two-dot chain
line in Figs. 4(a) and 4(b) is preferably used to accommodate
therein the rolled second recording medium D2, but it is not
limited thereto.
In the above case, a compression spring AB is attached to
the supporting member ST1 fixed to the base chassis HS
thereby to bias the supporting member ST1 toward the chassis
KS. The supporting member ST2 fixed to the chassis KS is
movable toward the supporting member ST1 in correspondence
with a width of the second recording medium D2, as shown by a
one-dot chain line in Fig. 3. Accordingly, both the
supporting members ST1 and ST2 can surely support the second
recording medium D2 as rolled according to different widths
of the second recording medium D2, for example, shown by a
solid line or a two-dot chain line in Fig. 3. The top end of
the second recording medium D2 can thus be fed toward the
roller members JR1 and JR2.
These roller members JR1 and JR2 are each disposed
rotatably between the long side chassis HS2 of the base
chassis HS and the chassis KS secured in the wide station WS
side, as mentioned above. A step motor SN is mounted on a
short side chassis HS1 of the base chassis HS in the tape
station TS side. Driving power of the motor SN in being
regularly or reversely rotated is transmitted through a gear
train GY disposed parallel to the long side chassis HS2 to
the roller members JR1 and JR2 and the supporting member ST1,
thereby rotating them clockwise or counterclockwise. The
gear train GY includes gears Y1 - Y7, ST3, and ST4 and others
which will be described in detail.
The roller member JR1 is constructed of a pair of roller
shafts JR1a and a plurality of separate rollers JR1b mounted
on each of the upper and lower roller shafts JR1a, the
rollers JR1b mounted respectively on the upper and lower
shafts JR1a being in firmly contact to each other. The
roller member JR2 has the substantially same structure as the
JR1a. With those roller members JR1 and JR2, the top end of
the second recording medium D2 is caught between the rollers
JR1b of the roller members JR1 and then between the rollers
JR2b of the roller members JR2, so that the second recording
medium D2 is fed forward in accordance with the rotation of
the roller members JR1 and JR2 or backward to be rewound.
A second platen P2 is provided on the base of the main
frame 2, below the carriage CA moving parallel to and between
the roller members JR1 and JR2. This second platen P2 is
designed to have a substantially flat surface on which the
second recording medium D2 is to be supported. If the second
platen P2 is a cylindrical platen, the row of the heating
elements of the recording head HD is orthogonal to the axis
of the second platen P2, the heating elements in both sides
of the row can not be fully in contact under pressure against
such the cylindrical platen, so that it will tend to result
in patchy and missing recorded medium. Consequently, to
prevent the above problem, a flat platen is preferably used
as the second platen P2.
On an upper left surface (a left side in Fig. 3) of the
platen P2, a sensor mark SX is formed to be used for
detecting a home position of the recording head HD in the
wide station WS in the reciprocating movement of the
recording head HD along the guide rod GD. When a control
unit CP of the tape printing apparatus 1 transmits a
predetermined number of pulses to the step motor SM to move
the recording head HD reciprocatingly in the main scanning
direction during the recording operation, the home position
based on the mark SX of the second platen P2 is a standard
point for controlling the position of the recording head HD.
Concretely, the mark SX is formed of two patterns each
having a reflection part and a non-reflection part
alternately arranged, and attached on the second platen P2.
A reflecting sensor (not shown) mounted on the carriage CA
detects the mark SX as a target. The control unit CP
determines the position where the reflecting sensor detects
twice a change point from the reflection part to the
non-reflection part as the home position of the carriage CA.
The reason why the mark SX has two patterns is that if only
one change point is used, the control unit CP should
determine by mistake a border of a white recording medium D2
with respect to a black platen P2 as the change point.
Accordingly, it is preferable to form the sensing mark SX
having two patterns as above to prevent the error detection.
Near the roller members JR2 in a downstream thereof,
provided is a detection sensor SW for detecting the top end
of the second recording medium D2. The second recording
medium D2 is controlled to be fed in accordance with output
signals from the sensor SW. For example, when the user sets
the second recording medium D2 in a predetermined part of the
main frame 2 and feeds the top end of the medium D2 toward
the paper feeding roller members JR1 and JR2, the second
recording medium D2 can be fed further forth. When the step
motor SN is driven to regularly rotate, this regular rotation
of the step motor SN is transmitted through the gear train GY
to the both roller members JR1 and JR2 and the supporting
member ST1 respectively, thus rotating them. The control
unit CP continuously drives the step motor SN until the
sensor SW detects the top end of the second recording medium
D2. It is noted that the control pulse number of the step
motor SN exactly corresponds to the feeding amount of the
recording medium D2, unless feeding errors such as a zigzag
feeding. The control unit CP controls, accordingly, the
recording medium D2 to be fed by transmitting a predetermined
number of pulses to the step motor SN.
A cutter unit KC for cutting the second recording medium
D2 is disposed downstream of the roller member JR2. This
cutter unit KC is operated timely to cut the recording medium
D2 under feeding control. Any type of cutter unit KC, as
long as it can cut the recording medium D2, may be used. For
example, a type of cutter unit is to cut the second recording
medium D2 with a blade KC1 (see Fig. 4 (a)) reciprocating in
the width direction of the recording medium D2 (in a lateral
direction of Fig. 3), another is to cut the same with a
different blade KC1 having a length substantially
corresponding to the width of the recording medium D2,
movable up and down.
Next, a structure of the carriage CA will be explained.
The carriage CA can mount, on its mounting surface,
selectively any one of the tape cassette TC accommodating
the first recording medium D1 and the ink ribbon IR and
others (see Figs. 2, 5, and 7) and the ink cassette RC
accommodating only the ink ribbon IR (see Fig. 8). On the
back side of the carriage CA, a step motor SL (see Figs. 3
and 6) is mounted. This step motor SL is used for feeding
the ink ribbon IR and the like accommodated in the tape
cassette TC mounted on the carriage CA and for making the
recording head HD press the second recording medium D2 or
release from the same during a recording processing in the
wide station WS. The step motor SL is used as a driving
power source for two purposes in order to effectively utilize
the driving power of the step motor SL.
The recording head HD is mounted on the lower side of the
carriage CA and, on its recording surface, is provided with a
plurality of heating elements arranged in a row with a
predetermined length (corresponding to a printing width L1
shown in Figs. 4(a) and 4(b)), the heating elements-being
able to heat per dot. The tape feeding mechanism using the
driving power of the step motor SL feeds the first recording
medium (tape) D1 and others accommodated in the cassette TC
mounted on the carriage CA toward the recording surface of
the recording head HD in a direction orthogonal to the row of
the heating elements. The heating elements melt ink of the
ink ribbon IR to make the ink adhere per dot to the first
recording medium D1.
The tape cassette TC is, as shown in Fig. 7, constructed
of a substantially rectangular cassette case which
accommodates the first recording medium D1 to be used for a
recording process in the tape station TS and the ink ribbon
IR. The ribbon cassette RC is, as shown in Fig. 8,
constructed of a substantially rectangular cassette case
which accommodates only the ink ribbon IR to be used in the
wide station WS, without any recording medium, differently
from the tape cassette TC.
Concretely, the tape cassette TC accommodates the first
recording medium D1 formed of transparent tape and the like
having a small width, the ink ribbon IR used for printing on
the first recording medium D1, and a double-sided adhesive
tape YT to be adhered to the back of the printed recording
medium D1, those being wound on reels TC1, TC2, and TC3
respectively as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. It is also provided
with a reel TC4 for winding the used ink ribbon IR onto.
The unused ink ribbon IR wound on the reel TC2 is drawn
therefrom and put on the first recording medium D1, and then
fed into an open portion TC5 to pass between the recording
head HD and the first platen P1. After that, the ink ribbon
IR is separated from the first recording medium D1, and wound
onto the reel TC4 driven by the step motor SL.
A cam member PC4a provided on the surface of the carriage
CA is inserted in the reel TC4 of the tape cassette TC
mounted on the carriage CA, and a driving cam follower TC4b
is integrally fitted in the inside of the reel TC4, engaging
with the cam member PC4a. Under the engagement of the
driving cam follower TC4b and the cam member PC4a, the reel
TC4 receives the driving power of the step motor SL through
the gear train which will be described later, winding the
used ink ribbon IR thereon.
The double-sided adhesive tape YT is accommodated in the
tape cassette TC, which is wound on the reel TC3 with a
releasable paper provided on the outside thereof. The
double-sided adhesive tape YT drawn from the reel TC3 is made
to pass between a tape driving roller TC6 and a joint roller
P3 thereby to adhere an adhesive surface of the tape YT on
which no releasable paper is provided to the first recording
medium D1. Note that it is preferable to attach a
double-sided adhesive tape one surface of which is provided
with a releasable paper thereon to the back surface of the
second recording medium D2.
The first recording medium D1 wound on the reel TC1 and
drawn therefrom is fed between a pair of sensors SE for
detecting a terminal end and a color of the medium D1 of the
tape cassette TC and the ink ribbon IR of the ribbon cassette
RC and via a guide pin TB1 into the opening portion TC5 of
the tape cassette TC. Then, the first recording medium D1 is
attached with the double-sided adhesive tape YT while passing
between the tape driving roller TC6 rotatably disposed at a
lower position in one side of the tape cassette TC, which is
made to rotate by the driving power of the step motor SL, and
the roller P3 disposed opposite to the roller TC6. The first
recording medium D1 is discharged out of the tape cassette TC
and then the main frame 2. At this time, the double-sided
adhesive tape YT is adhered to the first recording medium D1
between both rollers TC6 and P3.
The roller P3 is supported in parallel with a first
platen P1 on a roller holder LD. This roller holder LD can
make the roller P3 press against or separate from the roller
TC6, and the first platen P1 press against or separate from
the recording head HD at the same time. Since the platen P1
is required to be rotatable in order to feed the recording
medium D1, a cylindrical platen is preferably used.
The tape driving roller TC6 is provided with a through
hole TC8 as shown in Fig. 7, in which a cam follower TC9 is
formed. When a cam member PC6b (see Fig. 9) formed on the
surface side of the carriage CA is inserted in the through
hole 8, the cam member PC6b is engaged with the cam follower
TC9. On the other hand, a cam member PC3a formed on the
surface side of the carriage CA is inserted in the reel TC3.
This reel TC3 is, however, provided therein with no cam
follower rotatable integrally with the reel TC3, so that the
reel TC3 only idles, not participating in the feeding of the
double-sided adhesive tape Yt.
The ribbon cassette RC used for recording character
images on a surface D2b (see Fig. 4(b)) of the second
recording medium D2 during a recording process in the wide
station WS accommodates a reel RC1 for winding thereon an
unused part of ink ribbon and a reel RC2 for winding thereon
a used part of the ink ribbon. With the rotation of the reel
RC2, the ink ribbon IR drawn from the reel RC1 is passed
between the sensors SE, and is fed to an open portion RC3 of
the ribbon cassette RC via a guide member RB1 (see Fig. 8),
finally is wound on the reel RC2 via a guide member RB2.
In a state that the ribbon cassette RC is set on the
carriage CA, the cam members PC4a and PC6b both formed on the
surface of the carriage CA are inserted into reels RC4 and
RC5 respectively. These reels RC4 and RC5 of the ribbon
cassette RC, differently from the tape cassette TC, are not
provided with any cam follower being rotatable integrally
with the reels RC4 and RC5. Accordingly, the cam member PC4a
and the tape driving roller TC6 only idle in receiving the
driving power of the step motor SL, providing no influence on
the feeding of the ink ribbon IR. There is no necessary to
especially stop driving the cam member PC4a and the roller
TC6.
The color ink ribbon IR in the ribbon cassette RC is
applied thereon with a plurality of inks, for example, Cyan
(C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), etc. by a predetermined length
each, namely by a recording area of a line L2 (see Fig.
4(b)), which are repeatedly arranged in that order. This is
to make the recording head HD moving in the main scanning
direction record on the second recording medium D2 with a
single color by one line L2 through a part of the ink ribbon
IR having any one color among magenta, cyan, and yellow in
one line L2 length, and besides, with a mixed color by one
line L2 through several parts of the ink ribbon IR. Note
that a cross line shown in Fig. 4(b) represents an area where
the part recorded by one line L2 length by the recording head
HD. In this case, the recording medium D2 is recorded by one
line through a part of the ink ribbon IR having any one color
among magenta, cyan, and yellow, and then on the same line
through a different part of the ink ribbon IR having a
different color and, if necessary, on the same line through a
further different part of the ink ribbon IR. Thus, if
recording the same line area of the recording medium D2 by
using different parts of the ink ribbon IR having different
colors so as to be superimposed one after another, the images
with a mixed color of cyan, magenta, and yellow such as red,
blue, etc. can be recorded on the second recording medium D2.
Deference points between the tape cassette TC and the
ribbon cassette RC are in that the position of the reels TC2
and RC1 for winding thereon unused ink ribbon and the
position of the reels TC4 and RC2 for winding thereon used
ink ribbon in addition to whether the double-sided adhesive
tape YT and the first recording medium D1 are accommodated or
not. Specifically, the position of the reel TC1 of the tape
cassette TC corresponds to the position of the reel RC1 of
the ribbon cassette RC, and the position of the reel TC3 for
the double-sided adhesive tape YT corresponds to the reel RC2
of the ribbon cassette RC. This is because it is sufficient
if only the tape cassette TC for a single color recording
accommodates the ink ribbon IR of a single color, having a
length corresponding to that of the first recording medium
(tape) D1, while the ribbon cassette RC for a multicolor
recording is needed to accommodate the ink ribbon having a
length three times or more as the length of a recording area
because the ink ribbon IR is required to have three parts
each having any one color of cyan, magenta, yellow, etc., for
example, by a predetermined length each (namely, by one
line). If the ribbon cassette RC is used for a single color
recording, it is not necessary to apply three colors such as
cyan, magenta, and yellow on the ink ribbon IR.
Consequently, if both the cassette TC and RC are formed
to accommodate an ink ribbon in substantially the same
position, each accommodating efficiency of the cassette TC
and RC is deteriorated and a wastefully larger cassette case
is needed, which is not desirable in view of the cost of the
cassettes TC and RC and the increased size of the main frame
2. Accordingly, the cassettes TC and RC used for the
recording stations TS and WS respectively are constructed as
shown in Figs. 7 and 8 so that internal components be
efficiently arranged without obstructing each other.
In order to distinguish two cassettes mentioned above,
each of the tape cassette TC and the ribbon cassette RC is
provided with a plurality of marks (seven marks, for example)
TC7 or RC6 at a right upper portion of the cassette. Those
marks TC7 and RC6 are formed to be concave or not, which
indicate a distinction between the tape cassette TC and the
ribbon cassette RC. Additionally, the marks TC7 of the tape
cassette TC indicate a width of the first recording medium D1
and the marks RC6 of the ribbon cassette RC indicate a type
of color, i.e., single or multiple. As shown in Fig. 8, a
sensor SQ detects as to whether the marks TC7 or RC6 are
concave, so that the control unit CP can detect a distinction
between the two cassettes TC and RC, the width of the first
recording medium D1, and the color of the ink ribbon of the
ribbon cassette RC, i.e., single or multiple.
The sensor SE is set to detect yellow ink of the ink
ribbon IR in the ribbon cassette RC. When a yellow ink
portion of the ink ribbon IR is fed to a front of the sensor
SE, the control unit CP can detect the part to be yellow.
Accordingly, in a multicolor recording process, the control
unit CP detects the start end of the yellow ink portion to
feed precisely the ink ribbon IR having each color, cyan,
magenta, yellow, by a predetermined length L2 each,
preventing the recording head HD from recording images with
incorrect color. On the other hand, in case of a single
color ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is applied on its entire
base material with ink of a single color such as black and on
the terminal end portion with a sensing mark (not shown).
When the sensor SE detects the sensing mark, therefore, the
control unit CP receives a detected signal from the sensor SE
and distinguishes the terminal end portion of the ink ribbon
IR.
Next, explanation is made in relation to a mechanism for
winding the ink ribbon IR accommodated in the ribbon cassette
RC used for a recording operation in the wide station WS,
referring to Figs. 9 through 13. Note that Figs. 10 through
13 are views of the carriage CA viewed along arrows I-I,
II-II, III-III, and IV-IV respectively in Fig. 9, those
figures being modified to simplify the explanation of the
positional relation between components by shifting the
positions of components from their actual positions, also
omitting some components. The components shown in Fig. 9
therefore do not correspond to those in Figs. 10 - 13. For
example, a pinion PN in Fig. 9 is disposed in an actual
position, while the pinion PN and a swing lever YB in Figs.
10 -13 are shifted from the actual position so as to easily
find the gear C11 and others in the figures. Furthermore,
the sensor SZ and the cam follower CF and the like are not
shown in Fig. 13 to clearly show the gear C11 and others.
A pinion PN is provided on the carriage CA at its upper
side as shown in Fig. 9. This pinion PN is meshed with a
rack LA (see Fig. 5) provided in a lateral direction in Fig.
2, corresponding to a length of the timing belt TB. With the
movement of the carriage CA, the pinion PN is rotated by the
rack LA, transmitting the rotational power to the gears R1
and R2 mentioned later, thus rotating the reel RC2 in the
ribbon cassette RC to wind used ink ribbon IR thereon.
The pinion PN comprises a large diameter gear PNa and a
small diameter gear PNb arranged in tiers (see Figs. 12 and
13). The small diameter gear PNb is meshed with the rack LA.
The large diameter gear PNa is meshed with a small diameter
gear R1a of a first winding gear R1 comprising the small
diameter gear R1a and a large diameter gear R1b. The cam
member PC3a which is to be inserted in the reel TC3 or RC2 is
provided to cover the rotating shaft PC3b as shown by an
imaginary line in Fig. 13 (not shown in Figs. 9 - 12). To
this rotating shaft PC3b, attached is a swing bar BD which
swings about the rotating shaft PC3b. A second winding gear
R2 is rotatably attached to the tip end of the swing bar BD
so that it is meshed or not with the large diameter gear R1b
of the first gear R1 according to the swinging of the swing
bar BD. This is to make the reel RC2 of the ribbon cassette
RC wind the ink ribbon IR during a recording operation while
the carriage CA is moved forward (in a rightward direction in
Fig. 2) in the wide station WS. Thus, the second gear R2 is
meshed with the large diameter gear R1b thereby to rotate the
cam member PC3a by the driving power produced by the rotation
of the pinion PN. To the contrary, the gear R2 is positioned
not to mesh with the large diameter gear R1b during a
non-recording operation while the carriage Ca is moved
backward (in a leftward direction in Fig. 2), because it is
necessary that the driving power by the pinion PN is not
transmitted to the gear R2 in order to prevent the ink ribbon
IR from being wound.
When the gear R2 is meshed with the large diameter gear
R1b, the gear R2 is also meshed with the gear R3 (shown only
in Fig. 13) rotatably supported on the rotating shaft PC3b,
making the gear R3 rotate to wind the ink ribbon IR. With
the rotation of this gear R3, a spring BZ shown by an
imaginary line in Fig. 13 mounted on the gear R3 generates
torque to rotate the cam member PC3a, thus winding the ink
ribbon IR.
A mechanism for feeding the ink ribbon IR accommodated in
the tape cassette TC during the recording operation in the
tape station TS will be explained hereinafter. On the back
side of the carriage CA, the step motor SL serving as a
driving motor as mentioned above is fixedly mounted. As
shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the driving shaft SL1 of the
step motor SL is provided so as to extend through an through
hole of the carriage CA to its surface side. A gear G1 is
mounted on the end portion of the driving shaft SL1. On the
surface side of the carriage CA, gears C2 and C3 and others
mentioned later are rotatably mounted, forming a gear train
for feeding the ink ribbon. The driving power of the driving
shaft SL1 is transmitted to carriage gears C1, C2, C4, and
PC4c in order to rotate the driving cam follower PC4a for
winding the ribbon IR, and to the gears C1, C2, C4, C5, and
PC6a in order to rotate the cam member PC6b for feeding the
tape (the first recording medium D1).
More specifically, the first gear C1 rotatably mounted on
the surface of the carriage CA is constructed of a small
diameter gear C1a and a large diameter gear C1b arranged in
tiers as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. The large diameter gear
C1b is meshed with the gear G1 which rotates integrally with
the driving shaft SL1. The second gear C2 and the third gear
C3 are rotatably mounted on the carriage CA at a left and a
right upper sides respectively (see Fig. 9) with respect to
the small diameter gear C1a disposed on the large diameter
gear C1b in Fig. 10.
The second gear C2 serves to transmit the driving power
for feeding the tape of the tape cassette TC to the fourth
gear C4 connected to the second gear C2. The gear C2 is
constructed of a large diameter gear C2a and a small diameter
gear C2b disposed in tiers as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This
large diameter gear C2a is meshed with the small diameter
gear C1a of the first gear C1. The small diameter gear C2b
disposed underneath the larger diameter gear C2a (see Fig.
10) is meshed with the fourth gear C4 rotatably mounted on
the surface of the carriage CA.
At the side of this fourth gear C4, as shown in Figs. 9
and 10, a cam member PC4a used for a tape feeding operation,
insertable into the reel TC4 for winding a used ink ribbon IR
in the tape cassette TC. The fourth gear C4 is meshed with a
gear PC4c disposed underneath the cam member PC4a, and with a
fifth gear C5 arranged at the left side of the fourth gear
C4. The fifth gear C5 is meshed with an idle gear IG
disposed at a recording head HD side of the fifth gear C5.
At the side of the fifth gear C5 is provided a cam member
PC6b insertable into the tape driving roller TC6 for pressing
the first recording medium D1 and the double-sided adhesive
tape YT. A gear PC6a is disposed underneath the gear PC6a
and meshed with the fifth gear C5.
Accordingly, when the driving shaft SL1 of the step motor
SL is rotated clockwise (or counterclockwise) in Fig. 9,
rotating the first gear C1 counterclockwise (clockwise), the
second gear C2 clockwise (counterclockwise), the fourth gear
C4 counterclockwise (clockwise), the fifth gear C5 clockwise
(counterclockwise), and the gear PC6a counterclockwise
(clockwise), to rotate the driving cam member PC6b
counterclockwise (clockwise) and the gear PC4c clockwise
(counterclockwise) respectively.
With the above structure, the counterclockwise rotation
of the gear PC4 causes a spring OSN attached at a lower
portion of the cam member PC4a to generate torque based on a
clamping function, making the reel TC4 of the tape cassette
TC set on the carriage CA wind the used ink ribbon IR on the
reel TC4. On the other hand, the clockwise rotation of the
gear PC4c causes the spring to be loosen, preventing the reel
TC4 from winding the ink ribbon IR.
Note that the idle gear IG is meshed with a gear not
shown attached rotatably to the platen P1 when the roller
holder LD is moved toward the tape cassette TC to make the
platen P1 come into contact with the recording head, thereby
to rotate the platen P1.
Meanwhile, the rotation of the third gear C3 is utilized
to transmit the driving power for pressing or releasing the
recording head HD against or from the platen P2 during a
recording operation in the wide station WS . This driving
power is transmitted through the gears C3, C6, C7, C8, C9,
C10, and C11 in that order, finally to a head driving cam
gear CK. The third gear C3 is, more specifically,
constructed of a large diameter gear C3a and a small diameter
gear C3b arranged in tiers as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 12.
This large diameter gear C3a is meshed with the small
diameter C1a of the first gear C1, while the small diameter
gear C3b is meshed with the sixth gear C6 rotatably attached
to the surface of the carriage CA.
On the left side of the sixth gear C6, as shown in Figs.
9, 11 and 12, a swing lever YB is disposed. This lever YB is
formed in the shape of an arc extending toward the outside of
the carriage CA (i.e., upward in Fig. 9) and is rotatable
about a rotating shaft YB1 inserted in the base portion of
the swing lever YB. A seventh gear C7 is rotatably attached
between the swing lever YB penetrating the rotating shaft YB1
and the carriage CA. This gear C7 is meshed with the sixth
gear C6 and also with the eighth gear C8 rotatably attached
to the swing lever YB at a base portion thereof. At both
sides of this eighth gear C8, slightly separately therefrom,
a pair of ninth gears C9 and C9 are rotatably attached as
shown in Figs. 9 and 12. These gears C9 are arranged so that
the eighth gear C8 is meshed with any one of the ninth gears
C9 or is not meshed with any ninth gears C9 according to the
swinging of the swing lever YB about the rotating shaft YB1.
When the eighth gear C8 is not meshed with any ninth gear
C9, it is in the middle position between the two ninth gears
C9 and C9. The eighth gear C8 is located in this position
when an upper end portion YB2 of the swing lever YB is on an
upper step GIa of the guide member GI in an upper left side
of Fig. 9, where the upper step GIa serves as a holding
means. At this time, the driving power of the step motor SL
is transmitted through the gears C3, C6, and C7 to the gear
C8, and not to the gears 9. As a result, when the carriage
CA is in the above position, namely, in the tape station TS,
the driving power of the step motor SL does not cause a
pressing/separating operation between the recording head HD
and the platen P1.
The eighth gear C8 is meshed with one of the two gears C9
when the carriage CA is moved in a right direction in Fig. 2,
moving the upper end portion YB2 of the swing lever YB down
from the upper step GIa along the guide member GI, to the
wide station WS side, and the swing lever YB is inclined a
little rightward by the driving power transmitted via the
above gears from the step motor SL rotating clockwise, the
eighth gear C8 being meshed with the right ninth gear C9, or
the swing lever YB is inclined a little leftward by the
driving power similarly transmitted from the step motor SL
rotating counterclockwise, the eighth gear C8 being meshed
with the left ninth gear C9. In these both cases, the
driving power of the step motor SL is transmitted to the gear
C9 and the following gears.
It is noted that the gear C8 is meshed with any one of
the right and left gears C9 according to the rotating
direction of the step motor SL, thereby transmitting the
driving power of the motor SL to the gear C9 meshed with the
gear C8, so that the driving power caused by the rotation in
both directions of the motor SL can be efficiently utilized.
In the case that two operations are made using one motor in
the above manner, the motor is generally rotated in only one
direction to perform each operation. It was sufficient to
selectively make that the gear C8 supported on the swing
lever YB mesh or not with a gear C9 in accordance with the
rotation of the swing lever YB in one direction. In the
embodiment, however, utilizing the driving of the step motor
SL in both directions, the swing gear, i.e., the eighth gear
C8 tends to escape from the gear C9 when the motor SL is
rotated in one direction, preventing the driving of the gear
C9. Therefore engaging gears, i.e., the ninth gears C9 and
C9 are provided at both sides of the swing lever YB
respectively to prevent the eighth gear C8 from escaping from
the ninth gear C9. The eighth gear C8 can be meshed with any
one of the two gears C9 when the swing lever YB is swung in a
right and left directions along with the eighth gear C8.
When the swing lever YB and the eighth gear C8 are not swung,
alternatively, the eighth gear C8 can be put in a neutral
state where it is not meshed with any ninth gears C9
according to the position of the ninth gears C9.
The two ninth gears C9 are also meshed with the tenth
gear C10. This tenth gear C10 is rotatably mounted on the
rotating shaft YB1 above the swing lever YB in the Fig. 12
and is meshed with the eleventh gear C11. This gear C11 is
meshed with a head driving cam gear CK which is rotatably
about the rotating shaft PC3b.
Accordingly, when the driving shaft SL1 of the step motor
SL is rotated clockwise (or counterclockwise) in Fig. 9,
rotating sequentially the first gear C1 counterclockwise
(clockwise), the third gear C3 clockwise (counterclockwise),
the sixth gear C6 counterclockwise (clockwise), the seventh
gear C7 clockwise (counterclockwise), the eighth gear C8
counterclockwise (clockwise), the ninth gear C9 clockwise
(counterclockwise), the tenth gear C10 counterclockwise
(clockwise), and the eleventh gear C11 clockwise
(counterclockwise), the head driving cam gear CK is rotated
counterclockwise (clockwise).
A head driving cam CKa is integrally provided on a lower
surface of the gear CK, namely, a surface opposite to the
carriage CA, which is used for pressing or releasing the
recording head HD against/from the platen P2. This cam CKa
comprises a large diameter portion CK1 and a small diameter
portion CK2 as shown in Fig. 17.
The head driving cam CKa is supported at its peripheral
surface with a swing lever YP so as to make a cam follower CF
be in contact with the peripheral surface. When this cam
follower CF is in contact with the large diameter portion CK1
of the cam CKa, the recording head HD is made to press
against the platen P2. On the other hand, when the cam
follower CF is in contact with the outer periphery of the
small diameter portion CK2, the recording head HD is released
from the platen P2. The recording head HD is thus rotatably
about an supporting axis HD1 as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, and
can be pressed against and released from the platen 2.
A press/release member HB is provided on the back surface
of the carriage CA as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. A lower end
portion HB1 of the press/release member HB is connected with
the base portion of the recording head HD. An upper end
portion HB2 of the press/release member HB is connected with
each of two springs AS and RS serving for a release and press
operations respectively. The spring AS is coupled with an
end YP2 of the swing lever YP and the spring RS with the
carriage CA at the upper right side in Figs. 15 and 16.
When the cam follower CF is in contact with the large
diameter portion CK1 of the head driving cam CKa, as shown in
Fig. 15, the spring AS attached on the back surface of the
carriage CA is largely stretched, beyond the tensile strength
of the spring RS, thereby pulling the upper end portion HB2
of the member HB toward the head driving cam gear CK side.
With the upward movement of the lower end portion HB1,
consequently, the recording head HD is rotated
counterclockwise about the supporting axis HD1, coming into
contact under pressure with the platen P2. On the other
hand, when the cam follower CF is in contact with a portion
close to the small diameter portion CK2, the spring AS is not
stretched, the tensile strength of the spring AS balancing
with that of the spring RS.
Consequently, the upper end portion HB2 of the
press/release member HB is separated from the head driving
cam gear CK as shown in Fig. 16, moving the lower end portion
HB1 downward, so that the recording head HD is rotated
clockwise about the supporting axis HD1, separating from the
platen P2. As above, the press/release member HB constructs
means for pressing or releasing the recording head HD against
or from the platen 2. Note that Figs. 15 and 16 show the
carriage CA on which most of the gears mentioned above are
not mounted to clearly show the relation among the driving
cam gear CK, the eleventh gear C11, and both springs RS and
AS and others.
As mentioned above, the driving cam gear CK serves as a
member for receiving the driving power of the step motor SL
and transmitting that driving power to another member, i.e.,
the cam follower CF. This gear CK is provided on its
periphery with tooth CKg meshing with the eleventh gear C11
and a guard portion CKb covering about two-third of the tooth
CKg. The sensor SZ of transmission type for detecting
whether the guard portion CKb exists or not is provided on
the carriage CA at its upper left side in Fig. 9. This
sensor SZ, detecting the guard portion CKb, serves to detect
the starting point during a press/release operation between
the recording head HD and the platen P2. It is noted that
Fig. 17 is a view of the head driving cam gear CK of Figs. 15
and 16, viewed from back.
More specifically, while the head driving cam gear CK
shown in Fig. 16 being rotating counterclockwise to a
position shown in Fig. 15, that is, the cam follower CF
moving between the small diameter portion CK2 and the large
diameter portion CK1, the guard portion CKb of the cam gear
CK exists in the detecting point of the transmission type of
sensor SZ, thereby blocking the transmission of light of the
sensor SZ. When the recording head HD is in a contact
position (the stop end portion of the large diameter CK1 of
the cam follower CF) with the platen P2 or a separate
position from the platen P2 (the small diameter portion CK2
of the cam follower CF), the guard portion CKb is out of the
detecting point, allowing the transmission of light of the
sensor SZ. The position of the guard portion CKb does not
always correspond to the positions of the large and small
diameter portions CK1 and CK2 of the cam gear CK because the
position at which the sensor SZ detects the guard CKb is
displaced.
In the above condition, if the sensor SZ detects only
whether the guard portion CKb exists or not, i.e., blocking
or transmitting, in detecting the starting point for
pressing/releasing the recording head HD, it can not judge
where the head driving cam gear CK exists, namely, in a
press/release position or between both positions. That is to
say, the control unit CP can not distinguish whether the head
HD is in contact with or away from the platen P1 when the
guard portion CKb does not exist in the detecting point of
the sensor SZ, i.e., in a transmission condition, and further
whether the head HD is moving from the pressing position to
the release position or the reverse when the guard portion
CKb exists in the detecting point.
Therefore a part where the tooth CKg does not exist,
namely, a non-tooth portion CKc is provided at an area where
the guard portion CKb is formed in the peripheral tooth CKg
of the head driving cam gear CK, as shown in Fig. 17. In
this non-tooth portion CKc, the eleventh gear C11 is meshed
with the peripheral tooth CKg. The head driving cam gear CK
serving as a driving power transmitting member is thus
provided with the non-tooth portion CKc serving as a
non-transmitting part at which the driving power of the step
motor SL is not transmitted to other components. The cam
gear CK is allowed to rotate until the eleventh gear C11
reaches the non-tooth portion CKc, and prevented from further
rotating when the gear C11 comes to the non-tooth portion CKc
by the rotation of the cam gear CK in a clockwise direction
in Fig. 17 (a counterclockwise direction in Figs. 15 and 16).
The cam gear CK can not be rotated even if the control unit
CP applies more pulses than required to the step motor SL
accordingly, and the guard portion CKb is in the detecting
point of the sensor SZ of transmission type, not putting the
sensor SZ in a transmissible condition.
To the contrary, when the cam gear CK is rotated in a
counterclockwise direction in Fig. 17 (a clockwise direction
in Figs. 15 and 16), the guard portion CKb is shifted from a
blocking state where it exists in the detecting point of the
sensor SZ to a transmitting state where it does not exist in
the detecting point. As a result, the control unit CP can
distinguish the rotating direction of the cam gear CK. When
the control unit CP applies pulses more than the
predetermined number to the step motor SL to rotate the cam
gear CK in a direction to release the recording head HD, the
non-tooth portion CKc of the cam gear CK works. This position
is the starting point for the control of a pressing/releasing
operation with respect to the recording head HD.
Accordingly, if detects the rotating direction of the cam
gear CK and the starting point for press/release control, the
control unit CP can determine how much pulses from the
starting point should be applied to the step motor SL to
press/release the recording head HD against/from the platen
P2, or whether the recording head HD is in moving from the
press position to the release position or the reverse.
It is consequently required to detect the starting point
for the press/release control with respect to the recording
head HD in driving the tape printing apparatus 1 in the
embodiment. This may be achieved by that the control unit CP
first applies pulses more than the predetermined number to
the step motor SL to rotate it in a direction and detects
whether the signal representing the blocking state,
transmitted from the sensor SZ, changes or not to the signal
representing the transmitting state in response to the
pulses. If detecting no change of signals, the control unit
CP drives the step motor SL to rotate in a reverse direction,
and confirms the change from the signal of the blocking state
to another signal of the transmitting state to determine the
rotating direction of the cam gear CK.
With the above structure, the control unit CP serving as
a judging means can distinguish the press/release states
between the platen P2 and the recording head HD and also the
shifting state from the press to release states or from the
release to press states. Concretely, when the detecting
sensor SZ as a detecting means distinguishes the
press/release states and the shifting state, the control unit
CP can distinguish the press state and the release state
based on the result detected by the sensor SZ.
A cut portion CKd is formed in the non-tooth portion CKc,
in which a resilient piece CKe constructing a part of the
tooth portion CKg is formed. When the gear C11 is in the
non-tooth portion CKc of the cam gear CK in rotating the cam
gear CK clockwise in Fig. 17, the resilient piece CKe, having
resilience, is biased toward the eleventh gear C11 and not
meshed with an outer peripheral tooth portion of the gear C11
by being flicked toward the center of the cam gear CK, thus
allowing the cam gear CK not to rotate in a clockwise
direction in Fig. 17.
To the contrary, the eleventh gear C11 can be meshed with
the resilient piece CKe and the outer peripheral tooth CKg of
the cam gear CK if the cam gear CK is rotated
counterclockwise in Fig. 17. However, if the gear C11 in
being at the non-tooth portion CKc attempts to rotate the cam
gear CK in a counterclockwise after attempting to rotate the
same in a clockwise direction, the gear C11 does not mesh
with the tooth portion CKg of the cam gear CK. The carriage
CA is therefore provided with a plate spring UB shown by a
broken line in Figs. 15 and 16, biasing the cam gear CK in a
clockwise direction in Figs. 15 and 16, whereby the gear C11
can mesh with the tooth portion CKg (as shown by an imaginary
line in Fig. 18). It is noted that the detecting means for
distinguishing which state the recording head HD is, a
pressing state, a release state, or a moving state from the
pressing to the release positions is not limited to the above
example and may be other appropriate structures.
In Fig. 9, a sensor SY for detecting the presence of the
recording head HD is provided on the rack LA at the back side
of the swing lever YB, i.e., in an area where a recording
operation in a line recording mode is made. This sensor SY
serves as a detecting means for detecting an initial
condition of the recording apparatus. The sensor SY detects
the carriage CA when a protrusion RZ provided on the carriage
CA comes into contact with a working member SY1 of the sensor
SY during the movement of the carriage CA mounting thereon
the recording head HD between the wide station WS and the
tape station TS. The control unit CP can detect the existing
position of the carriage CA accordingly.
Next, described is a mechanism for pressing/releasing the
recording head HD and others against/from the platen P1 for
feeding the first recording medium D1.
This mechanism comprises, as shown in Fig. 6, the driving
motor SN for rotating a driving shaft SN1 in a regular or
reverse direction and a rotation transmitting means SD which
receives the rotation of the driving shaft SN1. In response
to the rotation of the driving shaft SN1 in one direction,
the rotation transmitting means SD works to make the roller
holder LD supporting the platen P1 and the roller P3 press
against the recording head HD and the roller TC6. In
response to the rotation of the same in the reverse
direction, to the contrary, the means SD works to make the
roller holder LD to separate from the recording head HD and
the roller TC6.
The step motor SN is fixedly mounted on the chassis HS at
a side near the tape station TS, and is used for selectively
performing a pressing/separating operation between the
recording head HD and the platen P1 in the tape station TS
and another operation to feed the second recording medium D2
in the wide station WS. The step motor SN is thus used as a
driving power for two purposes in order to fully utilize the
driving power of the step motor SN.
A gear train GY is provided between the short side
chassis HS1 and the long side chassis HS2 of the chassis HS,
which constructs a part of the rotation transmitting means
SD, working for a paper feeding operation and for a
pressing/separating operation. The gear train GY is
constructed, as shown in Figs. 6, 19 and 20, so as to
selectively transmit the driving power for a
pressing/separating operation between the recording head HD
and the platen P1 in the tape station TS and the driving
power for a paper feeding operation in the wide station WS.
The driving shaft SN1 of the step motor SN is disposed
extending through a hole not shown of the short side chassis
HS1 toward the long side chassis HS2. At an end of the
driving shaft SN1, mounted is a gear G2 which is rotatable
integrally with the driving shaft SN1.
The gear G2 is meshed with a large diameter gear portion
G3a of a gear G3, thereby transmitting the driving power for
a pressing/separating operation between the recording head HD
and the platen P1 to the rotation transmitting means SD
including a small diameter gear portion G3b of the gear G3, a
slidable gear SG, a first bevel gear K1, a second bevel gear
K2, a double-gear NG serving as a member for delaying
transmission, and a fan-shaped gear ED and the like (see
Figs. 6, 20, and 21). As a result, the roller release rod LT
reciprocates in a lateral direction (see Figs. 21(a) through
21(c)) in response to the regular or reverse rotation of the
driving shaft SN1, moving the platen P1 and roller P3 both
supported in the roller holder LD to press against or release
from the recording head HD and the roller TC6 respectively.
The structure for pressing/separating the platen P1
against/from the recording head HD is in further described in
detail with reference with Fig. 21. The roller holder LD
supports rotatably thereon the platen P1 and the roller P3 at
the top end side and is supported on the carriage CA so as to
be rotatable about a rotating shaft LD1. A cam member LT1 of
the roller release rod LT, provided with a rotatable roller
therein, is in contact with a lower side of the roller holder
LD. With the movement of the roller release rod LT in a left
direction (see Fig. 21(b)), the cam member LT1 pushes the
roller holder LD up to press the platen P1 and the roller P3
against the recording head HD and the roller TC6 respectively
(see Fig. 21(c)). When the roller release rod LT is moved in
a right direction, to the contrary, the cam member LT1 not
pushing the roller holder LD, the roller holder LD is moved
down by its weight and is separated from the carriage CA (see
Fig. 21(a)).
The roller release rod LT is connected at its bottom
portion to a swing end LB1 of a swing plate LB and is
constructed so as to be movable in a lateral direction
according to the swing of the end LB1 in a lateral direction
in Fig. 21. This swing plate LB is fixed at a bottom end LB2
with the fan-shaped gear ED. The swing movement of the end
LB1 of the swing plate LB is thus caused when the end LB2 of
the swing plate LB is rotated integrally with the fan-shaped
gear ED which receives the driving power of the driving shaft
SN1 rotating in a regular or reverse direction via the first
bevel gear K1, the second bevel gear K2, and the double-gear
NG. When the second bevel gear K2 is rotated
counterclockwise (or clockwise), the double-gear NG is
rotated clockwise (counterclockwise) and the fan-shaped gear
ED counterclockwise (clockwise), moving the swing end LB1 of
the swing plate LB in a right direction (a left direction),
and thus the roller release rod LT in the same direction. It
is noted that the structure of the rotation transmitting
means SD is not limited to the above embodiment, a different
structure from the above mentioned gear train may be used.
The rotation transmitting means SD comprises the
double-gear NG serving as a member for delaying the
transmission by a predetermined time, whereby the rotation of
the driving shaft SN1 is not transmitted immediately in
rotating in a reverse direction to perform the separating
operation after the driving shaft SN1 is rotated in a regular
direction to perform the pressing operation.
This transmission delaying member is provided with two
gears NG1 and NG2, as shown in Fig. 22, both gears being
disposed coaxially with each other through a shaft NG3. The
gear NG1 is provided therein with a long hole NGa and the
gear NG2 is provided, on a plane facing the NG1, with a pin
NGb which can be slidably inserted into the long hole NGa.
While the pin NGb is made to slide between both ends NGa1 and
NGa2 of the long hole NGa, the transmission delaying member
does not transmit immediately the rotational driving power of
the driving shaft SN1 even if the step motor SN drives the
driving shaft SN1 to rotate in the reverse direction.
Specifically, the double-gear NG is disposed so that the
gear NG2 is arranged at this side with respect to the drawing
paper of Fig. 21 and the gear NG1 at the opposite side.
These gears NG1 and NG2 are rotatable about the shaft NG3
being inserted into both through holes formed on the gears
NG1 and NG2. The gear NG1 is meshed with only the fan-shaped
gear ED as shown in Fig. 6, and the gear NG2 is meshed with
only a base side gear K2a of the second bevel gear K2.
While the pin NGb inserted in the long hole NGa is slid
between the both ends NGa1 and NGa2 by the rotation of the
gear NG2 caused by the second bevel gear K2, the gear NG2
does not cause the rotation of the gear NG1 even if the
driving shaft SN1 is driven to rotate in the reverse
direction, thus not transmitting immediately the rotational
driving power of the driving shaft SN1 to the fan-shaped gear
ED. Right after the pin NGb comes into contact with any one
of the ends NGa1 and NGa2 of the long hole NGa, the gear NG2
causes the gear NG1 to rotate, transmitting the driving power
of the driving shaft SN1 to the fan-shaped gear ED.
As a result, the rotation transmitting means SD is
stopped from immediately transmitting the driving power of
the driving shaft SN1 for a predetermined time during the
transmission delaying member works, namely, for a time during
which the pin NGb is slid between the both ends NGa1 and NGa2
of the long hole NGa. This can remove or reduce detent
torque of the step motor SN or the load exerted between the
gears K1, K2, NG and ED. The transmission delaying member
mentioned above is not always limited to the above
embodiment, though. For example, the rotation transmitting
means SD constructed of mechanical parts assembled with each
other may be provided mechanically or electrically with a
so-called play and a non-sensitive zone where the driving
power of the driving shaft can not be immediately
transmitted, both corresponding to the transmission delaying
member. Other structures may be also used.
Moving in a left direction in Fig. 21(c), the cam member
LT1 of the roller release rod LT is sandwiched between the
roller holder LD and a bottom surface 2b of the main frame 2.
This cam member LT1 in this state serves as a support means
for supporting the platen P1 and the roller P3 as being in
contact under pressure with the recording head HD and the
roller TC6 respectively, without needing further the driving
of the step motor SL. The recording head HD can thus print
images on the first recording medium D1 supported between the
platen P1 and the recording head HD. Accordingly, it is
preferable to control the driving of the step motor SN to
rotate the driving shaft SN1 in the reverse direction in Fig.
21(c) thereby to move the pin NGb from the end (NGa1) being
in the recording head HD side to the other end (NGa2) being
in the step motor SN side.
In the embodiment, an operating unit (not shown) is
disposed in the back of the main frame 2 so as to be operable
in the outside of the main frame 2, thereby to release the
pressing state of the platen P1 against the recording head HD
by separating the platen P1 from the head HD. The operating
unit, however, is not limited to the above structure. For
example, an operational lever LX may be attached to the base
end of the rod LT as shown in Fig. 23. When the operational
lever LX is rotated in a direction shown by an arrow in Fig.
23 by taking an end portion of the lever LX by hand when the
pin NGb is in the end (NGa2), the transmission of the driving
power in the rotation transmitting means SD is released. The
detent torque of the step motor SN or the load exerted on the
gears K1, K2, and KG and the like being removed or reduced as
mentioned above, the platen P1 can be separated from the
recording head HD by a relatively small strength.
A structure of rotating the paper feeding roller members
JR1 and JR2 is explained hereinafter. The slidable gear SG
is slid in a lateral direction in Figs. 19 and 20 by the
switching lever KB in cooperation with springs SB1 and SB2,
to be selectively meshed with a small diameter gear G3b. The
large diameter gear G3a of the gear G3 in receiving the
driving power of the step motor SN causes the rotation of the
small diameter gear G3b, the slidable gear SG, and the first
Y1 through seventh gears Y7 used for a paper feeding
operation, disposed in order and parallel to the long side
chassis HS2, making the roller members JR1 and JR2 rotate.
By sliding the slidable gear SG in a lateral direction in
Figs. 19 and 20, the driving power of the step motor SN can
be utilized for feeding paper in the recording operation in
the wide station WS and for pressing or separating the platen
P1 against or from the recording head HD in the tape station
TS, to fully utilize the driving power of the step motor SN
serving as a driving power source.
A rotating axis HS3 is provided on the long side chassis
HS2 toward the short side chassis HS1. On this rotating axis
HS3, two gears, namely, the gear G3 and the second gear Y2
are mounted side by side so as to be rotatable about the
rotating axis HS3. The gear G3 arranged in a side near the
short side chassis HS1 is constructed of the large diameter
gear G3a and the small diameter gear G3b, both being
integrally formed. On the other hand, the second gear Y2
arranged in a side near the long side chassis HS2 is made in
the form of a flat plate. The slidable gear SG arranged in
the side of the gear G3 is made slidable on a support HS4
fixed on the long side chassis HS2, extending toward the
short side chassis HS1, as meshed with the small diameter
gear G3 of the gear G3.
On the support shaft HS4, the spring SB1, the slidable
gear SG, and a slidable member F1 are attached in that order
from the long side chassis HS2 side, in which the spring SB1
biases the slidable gear SG and the slidable member F1 toward
the short side chassis HS1 side. A support shaft HS5 is
fixed on the long side chassis HS2 at its backside (in an
upper part in Fig. 19) so as to extend from the wide station
WS side to the tape station TS side. The support shaft HS5 is
provided at a tip end thereof with a stopper HS6. The
slidable member F1 and the spring SB2 are mounted on the
support shaft HS5, in which the spring SB2 biases the
slidable member F1 toward the wide station WS side.
With the cooperative action of the springs SB1 and SB2
and the switching lever KB, the slidable member F1 is made to
move the slidable gear SG close to the long side chassis HS
or the short side chassis HS1, then to mesh the same with any
one of the first bevel gear K1 and the first gear Y1.
The switching lever KB serving to mesh the slidable gear
SG with any one of the first bevel gear K1 and the first gear
Y1 is constructed of a first, a second, and a third arm
portions KB1, KB2, and KB3 as shown in Fig. 24. This
switching lever KB is mounted on an axis KB4 fixed to the
long side chassis HS2, so as to be rotatable about the axis
KB4. By coming into contact with the slidable member F1 or
not, the switching lever KB can move the slidable gear SG
toward the long side chassis HS2 side (i.e., the wide station
WS side) or toward the short side chassis HS1 (i.e., the tape
station TS side).
While the carriage CA is positioned in the tape station
TS, the switching lever KB is in a state where the first and
second arm portions KB1 and KB2 are rotated about the axis
KB4 toward the tape station TS and the third arm portion KB3
stands up, so that an tip end of the first arm portion KB1
presses the slidable member F1 as shown by a solid line in
Fig. 24, thereby moving the slidable member F1 toward the
tape station TS side (see Fig. 20). On the other hand, while
the carriage CA is in the wide station WS, the switching
lever KB is in a state where the first and second arm
portions KB1 and KB2 are rotated to stand up and the third
arm portion KB3 is accordingly turned toward the wide station
WS side as shown by an imaginary line in Fig. 24, so that the
tip end of the first arm portion KB1 does not press the
slidable member F1. Accordingly the slidable member F1 is
moved to the long side chassis HS2 side (i.e., the wide
station WS side) and comes into contact with a side of the
first arm portion KB1 (see Fig. 19).
In the movement of the carriage CA from the tape station
TS to the wide station WS (from the solid line to the
imaginary line in Fig. 24), a protrusive portion CP1 serving
as a contact member formed in the carriage CA pushes the side
of the third arm portion KB3 to rotate the switching lever KB
at an angle of almost 90° about the axis KB4, releasing the
first arm portion KB1 from the slidable member F1. To the
contrary, in the movement of the carriage CA from the wide
station WS to the tape station TS (from the imaginary line to
the solid line in Fig. 24), the protrusive portion CP1 pushes
the side of the second arm portion KB2 to rotate the
switching lever KB toward the tape station TS at an angle of
almost 90° about the axis KB4, making the tip end of the
first arm portion KB1 engage with the slidable member F1.
In this way, when the switching lever KB in cooperation
with the spring KB1 moves the slidable member F1 toward the
short side chassis HS1, i.e., the tape station TS side (see
Fig. 20), the slidable gear SG is meshed with the small
diameter gear G3b of the gear G3. As a result, the slidable
gear SG is also meshed with the first bevel gear K1 and thus
transmits the driving power utilized for pressing or
separating the roller holder HD against or from the recording
head HD in the recording operation in the tape station TS, as
mentioned above.
When the switching lever KB in cooperation with the
second spring SG2 moves the slidable member F1 toward the
long side chassis HS2, i.e., the wide station WS side (see
Fig. 19), the slidable gear SG is meshed with the first gear
Y1 disposed at the side of the second gear Y2. As a result,
the slidable gear SG transmits the driving power utilized for
feeding paper in the recording operation in the wide station
WS to the second Y2 through seventh gears Y7 forming the gear
train.
The first gear Y1 comprises a large diameter gear Y1a to
be meshed with the slidable gear SG and a small diameter gear
Y1b arranged at the side of the larger diameter gear Y1a.
The small diameter gear Y1b is meshed with a gear JR2c
attached to the end of a shaft JR2b of the roller member JR2,
thereby to rotate the shaft JR2b to feed the top end of the
second recording medium D2 forward and backward. The large
diameter gear Y1a of the first gear Y1 is meshed with the
second gear Y2. This second gear Y2 is meshed with the third
gear Y3 arranged at the side of the second gear Y2 (in an
upper side thereof in Figs. 19 and 20), and the third gear Y3
is meshed with the fourth gear Y4 arranged at the side of the
gear Y3 (in an upper side thereof in Figs. 19 and 20).
The fourth gear Y4 is meshed with the fifth gear Y5
arranged at the side of the fourth gear Y4 (in an upper side
thereof in Figs. 19 and 20) and the fifth gear Y5 is meshed
with the sixth gear Y6 arranged at the side of the fifth gear
Y5 (in a left side thereof in Figs. 19 and 20). This sixth
gear Y6 is meshed with the seventh gear Y7 arranged at the
side of the sixth gear Y6 (at this side in Figs. 19 and 20).
This seventh gear Y7 comprises a large diameter gear Y7a
meshing with the sixth gear Y6 and a small diameter gear Y7b
arranged at the long side chassis HS2 side of the large
diameter gear Y7a. The small diameter gear Y7b is meshed
with a gear JR1c attached to the end of a shaft JR1b of the
roller member JR1, thereby to rotate the shaft JR1b to feed
the top end of the second recording medium D2 forward and
backward.
It is noted that a gear ST4 is provided at the side of
the larger diameter gear Y7a (in an upper side thereof in
Fig. 3) to connect the large diameter gear Y7a with a gear
ST3 which is rotatable integrally with the supporting member
ST1. The supporting member ST1, in receiving the rotational
driving power of the step motor SN through the above gears,
rotates to wind back the top end of the second recording
medium D2 being in a rolled state or to draw the same.
Next, the control system of the tape printing apparatus 1
in the embodiment is explained with reference to Fig. 14.
The control unit CP of the tape printing apparatus 1
comprises a central processing unit (CPU) as a core, the CPU
including a read only memory (ROM) and a random access
memory (RAM). The ROM stores a control program for
controlling the driving of the motors SL, SM, and SN, a
display program for displaying on the display 5 the images
such as characters input through each key of the keyboard 3,
and other programs needed for operating the tape printing
apparatus 1. CG-ROM connected to the CPU is a character
generator for producing image data in displaying or printing
the character images and the like. The RAM has various data
storing area, e.g., display buffer, print buffer, to
temporarily the data in each corresponding area.
Motor driving circuits SLk, SMk, and SNk are the circuits
for driving the step motors SL, SM, and SN respectively. The
sensors SQ, SY, SE, and SZ detect, as mentioned above,
whether the cassette TC or RC is set or not, whether the
carriage CA exists or not, and the kind, the width of the
first or second recording medium D1 or D2 and the like,
respectively, and then transmit signals representing the
detected result to the CPU.
Provided with a plurality of heating elements arranged in a
row, the recording head HD can print images on the first or
second recording medium D1 or D2 through the ink ribbon IR by
the heating elements selectively driven by the CPU.
Next, the control operation of the control unit CP to
initialize the tape printing apparatus will be described
hereinafter. Here, initializing the recording apparatus
intends to put the apparatus into a stand-by mode for a
recording operation. This stand-by mode may be a condition
where the apparatus can immediately start a recording
operation and another condition where the apparatus can start
a recording operation after other steps.
The detecting sensor SY serving as a detection device is
disposed on the carrying way of the carriage CA. The
detecting sensor SY is used for putting the tape printing
device 1 in the initial condition. The detecting sensor SQ
for distinguishing between the tape cassette TC (the first
cassette) and the ribbon cassette RC (the second cassette)
and the transmitting type sensor SZ are also utilized for
initialization of the tape printing device 1.
As shown in Fig. 25, the control unit CP judges as to
whether the tape cassette TC is set on the carriage CA or
not, namely, whether the signal of the detecting result of
the detecting sensor SQ represents a tape cassette TC (in
S1). When it is detected to be "NO" in S1 or neither the
cassette TC nor the cassette RC is set on the carriage CA, it
is judged whether the sensor SY is ON or not (S2). When it
is detected to be "NO" in S2, that is, when the recording
head HD is in the wide station WS (the serial recording
mode), the control unit CP controls to detect the starting
point for press/release operations of the head HD (S3). In
case of the control for detecting the starting point for
press/release operations of the head HD, as mentioned before,
the non-tooth portion CKc of the head driving cam gear CK
acts to make the recording head HD be separated from the
platen P2, which can prevent the head HD from sliding as
touching the surface of the platen P2.
The control unit CP then controls to detect the home
position of the carriage CA in the tape station TS (S4),
namely, to move the carriage CA so that the sensor SY be ON.
This is to enable to set any of the cassettes TC and RC on
the carriage CA inside of the cover case 7 or to change the
cassette TC on the carriage CA to the cassette RC, and vice
versa. Succeedingly, the control unit CP controls to detect
the home position of the roller holder LD (S5) so as to
separate the roller holder LD from the recording head HD. In
this way, the control unit CP drives the carriage CA to move
in S2 so that the sensor SY becomes ON in S4 even if it is
detected to be "NO" in S2, so that the carriage CA exists in
the tape station TS. As a result thereof, the tape printing
apparatus 1 is put in the initial condition, i.e., in a
stand-by mode for starting recording, the line recording
operation can be performed in the tape station TS as well as
the serial recording operation in the wide station WS as
mentioned above.
On the other hand, when it is detected to be "YES" in S1,
in other words, when the tape cassette TC is set on the
carriage CA or when it is detected to be "YES" in S2 as the
sensor SY is ON, the control unit CP controls to detect the
home position of the roller holder LD (S6) to separate the
roller holder LD from the recording head HD. This is because
it is hard to move the carriage CA toward the wide station WS
if the driving roller P1 of the roller holder LD is in
contact with the recording head HD.
The control unit CP moves the carriage CA to the wide
station WS (S7) and controls to detect the starting point of
the head HD for press/release operations, making the head HD
be separated from the platen P2. Thereafter, the control
unit CP controls to detect the home position of the carriage
CA in the tape station TS (S9), namely, to move the carriage
CA so that the sensor SY be ON. The control unit CP
controls, in this way, so as to judge to be "YES" again in S2
even when it was detected to be "NO" in S1, in order to
correctly make the carriage CA be positioned in the tape
station TS. Accordingly, the tape printing apparatus 1 is
initialized, in other words, it is put in a stand-by mode for
starting recording.
The control unit CP in the embodiment, as mentioned
above, gives priority to the detection result of the
detecting sensor SQ and the discrimination result of the
sensor SY and thus can precisely conduct the steps for
initializing in the serial recording mode or the line
recording mode, which causes no structural contradiction in
the tape printing apparatus 1 even if the step for
initializing starts in any mode.
As mentioned above in detail, the tape printing apparatus
1 in the embodiment is provided with the recording head HD
which is to be pressed against or separated from the first
recording medium D1 and the platen P1 acting as a driving
roller for feeding the first recording medium D1 with respect
to the recording head HD. This tape printing apparatus 1
performs recording in a line recording mode in which the
recording head HD, as fixed, is pressed against the first
recording medium D1 to record images on the first recording
medium D1 while the platen P1 feeds the first recording
medium D1. The tape printing apparatus 1 is also provided
with the head moving means CH for moving the carriage CA
reciprocatingly in the main scanning direction of the second
recording medium D2, the carriage CA mounting thereon the
recording head HD which is to be pressed against or separated
from the second recording medium D2, and a platen P2 for
supporting the second recording medium D2 in feeding in the
sub-scanning direction (the second direction). This tape
printing apparatus 1 performs recording in a serial recording
mode wherein the recording head HD records images on the
second recording medium D2 by being pressed against the
platen P2 and moving in the main scanning direction.
Accordingly, the tape printing apparatus 1 can be made at
extreme low cost without needing a rotating mechanism used in
the prior art. On the way of moving the carriage CA, there
is provided the detecting sensor SY for putting the tape
printing apparatus 1 in the initial condition and the control
unit CP for controlling the movement of the carriage CA so
that the detecting sensor SY may detect the carriage CA moved
in the serial recording mode with the recording head HD
separated from the platen P2 to make the detecting sensor SY
detect and in the line recording mode with the recording head
HD separated from the platen P1.
In the serial recording mode, the control unit CP drives
to move the carriage CA with the recording head HD separated
from the platen P2 and drives the detecting sensor SY to
detect the carriage CA to put the carriage CA in the initial
condition. In the line recording mode, the control unit CP
drives to move the carriage CA with the recording head HD
separated from the platen P1 and the detection sensor SY
detects the carriage CA, so that the initializing operation
can precisely be made by predetermined steps at the time of
applying electric power to the apparatus or exchanging the
cassettes.
Specifically, the recording apparatus in performing
recording in the serial recording mode is needed to be
initialized by feeding the carriage CA after separating the
recording head HD from the platen P2 to drive the detection
sensor SY to detect the carriage CA. If not so, in the worst
case, the recording head HD may slid on the surface of the
platen P2 as being in contact with it, and the carriage CA
may be moved with the ink ribbon IR and the like dragged from
the second cassette RC, resulting in impossible use of the
ink ribbon IR. Such the situation must be prevented from
occurring. To initialize the recording apparatus in
performing recording in the line recording mode, similarly,
it is needed to move the carriage CA after separating the
recording head HD from the platen P1 to drive the detection
sensor SY to detect the carriage CA. If not so, the carriage
CA may be moved with the recording head HD as being contact
under pressure against the platen P1. The occurrence of this
situation must be prevented.
Furthermore, as mentioned above, the tape printing
apparatus 1 in the embodiment is provided with the recording
head HD on which a plurality of heating elements are disposed
in a row and a feeding mechanism for feeding the first
recording medium D1 and the ink ribbon IR. This tape
printing apparatus 1 performs recording on the first
recording medium D1 through the ink ribbon IR by using the
recording head fixedly supported while the medium feeding
means feeds the first recording medium D1 and the ink ribbon
IR in an intersecting direction (the first direction) with
respect to the arrangement direction of the heating elements.
The tape printing apparatus 1 is also provided with the head
moving means CH for moving reciprocatingly the recording head
HD and the ink ribbon IR in the main scanning direction
intersecting the heating element arrangement direction in the
area where the large-width recording medium D2 differently
from the first recording medium D1, and a feeding means GY
for feeding the second recording medium D2 in the heating
element arrangement direction. The tape printing apparatus 1
performs recording in a serial recording mode in which the
recording head HD moving in the main scanning direction
records images on the second recording medium D2 supported in
a stopped state through the ink ribbon IR and, after
recording, the second recording medium D2 is fed by a
predetermined amount in the heating element arrangement
direction, and then the recording head HD moves again in the
main scanning direction to record images on the second
recording medium D2 again. Accordingly, the recording head
HD can record on the first recording medium D1 through the
ink ribbon IR in a line recording mode wherein the first
recording medium D1 and the ink ribbon IR are fed in a
direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the
heating elements as the recording head HD is fixedly
supported with respect to the first recording medium D1. The
recording head HD can record on the second recording medium
D2, on the other hand, through the ink ribbon IR in the
serial recording mode wherein the recording head HD is moved
reciprocatingly in the main scanning direction orthogonal to
the heating element arrangement direction, without needing
the rotation of the recording head HD.
The apparatus 1 is further provided with the first platen
P1 for supporting the first recording medium D1 so as to be
opposite to the recording head HD in the line recording mode
and the second platen P2 for supporting the second recording
medium D2 so as to be opposite to the recording head HD in
the serial recording mode. It is therefore possible to use
one of the first and second platens P1 and P2 according to
the recording modes.
According to the tape printing apparatus 1 in the
embodiment described above, provided are the recording head
HD capable of recording on the first recording medium D1 and
the platen P1 acting as a driving roller for feeding the
first recording medium D1 with respect to the recording head
HD. While the platen P1 feeds the first recording medium D1,
the recording head HD in a fixed state records on the first
recording medium D1 in the line recording mode. The tape
printing apparatus 1 is also provided with the head moving
means CH for moving the carriage CA reciprocatingly in the
main scanning direction of the second recording medium D2,
the carriage CA mounting thereon the recording head HD, and
the rollers JR1 and JR2 serving as a feeding device for
feeding the second recording medium D2 in a sub-scanning
direction, where the recording head HD records on the second
recording medium D2 supported as stopped while the recording
head HD is made to scan in the main scanning direction as
being pressed against the second recording medium D2. Upon
completion of the recording operation, the second recording
medium D2 is separated from the recording head HD and fed in
the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount, and
then the recording head HD moving in the main scanning
direction records again in the serial recording mode. At
this time, since the step motor SL for feeding the first
recording medium D1 is used for pressing or separating the
recording head HD against or from the second recording medium
D2, the driving power of the driving power source can be
efficiently used.
According to the tape printing apparatus 1 in the
embodiment, it is provided with the recording head HD capable
of recording on the first recording medium D1 as being in
contact under pressure against the medium D1, and the platen
P1 which can be pressed against and separated from the
recording head HD, acting as a driving roller for feeding the
first recording medium D1 while it is pressed against the
recording head HD. While the platen P1 feeds the first
recording medium D1, the recording head HD in a fixed state
records on the first recording medium D1 in the line
recording mode. The tape printing apparatus 1 is also
provided with the carriage moving means CH for moving the
carriage CA mounting thereon the recording head HD in the
main scanning direction of the second recording medium D2 in
the area where the second recording medium D2, different from
the first recording medium D1, is disposed, and the platen P2
for supporting the second recording medium D2 which is to be
fed in the sub-scanning direction. The recording head HD
moving in the main scanning direction records on the second
recording medium D2 supported as stopped. After the
completion of the recording operation, when the second
recording medium D2 is fed by a predetermined amount in the
sub-scanning direction, the recording head HD records again
while it is moving in the main scanning direction in the
serial recording mode. In this case, since the step motor SN
acting as a driving power source for feeding the second
recording medium D2 is used to press/separate the recording
head against/from the first recording medium D1, the tape
printing apparatus 1 can be manufactured at low cost.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or essential
characteristics thereof. For instance, in the embodiment,
the first cassette TC accommodating the recording medium D1
is used in the line recording mode and the second cassette RC
accommodating only the ink ribbon IR is used in the serial
recording mode, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. A cassette TC accommodating only the recording
medium D1 may be used, for example. The ink ribbon IR in the
second cassette RC is not limited to the ink ribbon on which
plural colors of ink are applied, may be a single colored-ink
ribbon. Furthermore, motors besides the step motor may be
used.
Though it is preferable that the step motor SL for
feeding the first recording medium D1 is used for a
press/release operation between the recording head HD and the
second recording medium D2 in the serial recording mode and
the step motor SN for feeding the second recording medium D2
is used for a press/release operation between the recording
head HD and the first recording medium D1 in the line
recording mode, it is not limited to such a condition.
Preferably, the first platen P1 is formed in the shape of
a cylinder and the second platen P2 is formed to have a flat
surface for supporting the second recording medium D2;
however, no limitation is put thereon.
The cassette HS0 (see Fig. 4) supporting the second
recording medium D2 as rolled may be provided with a feeding
roller at the paper feeding port side. The platen and the
driving roller are formed of separate members in the above
embodiment and may be formed of an integral member.
Furthermore, any one or both of the platen and the driving
roller may be provided.
The recording apparatus of the invention is not limited
to the tape printing apparatus and may be applied to, besides
a general thermal printer and the like, a stamper using
thermosensitive porous paper and porous resin plate and the
like as a recording medium, which is to be used as print
manuscripts of stamps.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of
the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to
limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and
modifications and variations are possible in light of the
above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the
invention. The embodiment chosen and described in order to
explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the
invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention
be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their
equivalents.