JP2006044065A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a color of an ink ribbon cassette to be set next. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 101 displays a message indicating that an ink ribbon cassette with a ribbon color corresponding to a specified delivering address or quantity is set on a screen of a displaying part 7 based on a ribbon color of a color cassette of a ribbon color setting table on every delivering address or on every quantity stored in an ROM 102. When an operator sets the ink ribbon cassette with the indicated ribbon color, it is confirmed by a color detecting sensor 114, and when it is the ink ribbon cassette with a correct color, under a control of the CPU 101, a platen controlling part 107 controls a stepping motor 108 to deliver a printing paper based on detected data from a paper sensor controlling part 111 controlling the paper sensor 112. Printing data corresponding to the specified delivering address or quantity are printed on the printing paper by a thermal head 5 by a control of a head controlling part 109. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly to a thermal transfer printer that performs printing using an ink ribbon.

In addition to providing a color identification sensor that identifies the color of the ink ribbon, this color identification sensor can be used to detect the attachment / detachment state of the ribbon cassette, simplifying the structure by reducing various detection means, and reducing manufacturing costs. There is a thermal transfer printer that can be used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-063195 A

  However, in the background art, when it is necessary to set a ribbon cassette of a color corresponding to the print data according to the print data, there is a problem that a ribbon cassette of another color may be set by mistake. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by displaying a message instructing the color of the ink ribbon cassette to be set according to the print data, the ink ribbon cassette of another color is erroneously set. It is intended to be able to suppress the situation of end.

The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 is a thermal transfer printer in which an ink ribbon is fed between a thermal head and a sheet to print predetermined print data on the sheet, and a table in which the color of the ink ribbon is designated according to the print data is provided. Storage means for storing; selection means for selecting predetermined print data; and determination means for determining the color of the ink ribbon corresponding to the print data selected by the selection means based on a table stored by the storage means; And display means for displaying a message for instructing the thermal transfer printer to set the ink ribbon of the color determined by the determining means.
Further, a window for visually confirming the ink ribbon can be provided in the housing of the thermal transfer printer.
In addition, when the color of the ink ribbon corresponding to the predetermined print data is not specified in the table, the display means may display a message instructing to set the ink ribbon of the predetermined default color on the thermal transfer printer. it can.

  According to the thermal transfer printer of the present invention, since the message indicating the color of the ink ribbon to be set is displayed according to the print data, a situation in which an ink ribbon of another color is set by mistake. Can be suppressed. In addition, since the housing is provided with a window, the color of the currently set ink ribbon can be easily visually confirmed. Further, when no color is designated for the print data, a message instructing setting of an ink ribbon of a predetermined default color is displayed, so that the amount of work at the time of table creation can be reduced.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of an embodiment of an ink ribbon printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the ink ribbon cassette 6 shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the ink ribbon printer of the present embodiment includes a lower casing 1, an upper casing 2 that can be opened and closed, a platen roller 3 that is rotatably attached to the lower casing 1, and a lower casing. The printing paper 4 loaded on the body 1, a thermal head 5 attached to the upper housing 2, and an ink ribbon cassette 6 detachably attached to the upper housing 2. The upper housing 2 is provided with a display unit 7 such as a liquid crystal display and an operation unit 8 including a numeric keypad. Further, the upper housing 2 is provided with a window 9 so that even when the upper housing 2 is closed, the color of the ink ribbon (not shown) of the ink ribbon cassette 6 currently attached can be visually confirmed. ing. In addition, a remaining amount window (not shown) for confirming the remaining amount of the printing paper 4 is provided in the lower casing 1, and a light source (not shown) is provided inside the lower casing 1 and the upper casing 2, thereby providing an upper casing. The color of the ink ribbon can be easily confirmed with the body 2 closed. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the upper housing 2 is opened.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the ink ribbon cassette 6 includes a ribbon supply shaft 61, a first guide shaft 62, a second guide shaft 63, a third guide shaft 64, and a ribbon take-up shaft 65 between the left and right support members 67 and 68. A handle 66 for attaching / detaching the ink ribbon cassette 6 to / from the upper housing 2 is attached to one support member 68. The ribbon supply shaft 61 and the ribbon take-up shaft 65 are detachable with respect to the ink ribbon cassette 6, and the ink (not shown) wound around the ribbon supply shaft 61 and the ribbon take-up shaft 65 removed from the ink ribbon cassette 6 in a roll shape. A ribbon and a winding paper tube (not shown) are respectively loaded.

  The ink ribbon loaded on the ribbon supply shaft 61 is unwound from the ribbon supply shaft 61, bridged between the first guide shaft 62 and the second guide shaft 63, and further passed through the third guide shaft 64. It is fixed to a winding paper tube (not shown) loaded on the winding shaft 65.

  The ink ribbon cassette 6 loaded with the ink ribbon is mounted on the upper housing 2 in the state shown in FIG. 1, and the upper housing 2 is closed from the state shown in FIG. The ink ribbon spanned between the second guide shaft 63 and the second guide shaft 63 is sandwiched between the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 5 in a state where the ink ribbon is superimposed on the printing paper 4. By driving, the ink ribbon and the printing paper 4 are transported in an overlapped state, and the ink of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred to the printing paper 4 by the thermal head 5 to perform printing. When the ink ribbon cassette 6 is mounted on the upper housing 2, the ribbon take-up shaft 65 is a power transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits a driving force from a driving source such as a motor, and the ribbon supply shaft 61 is an ink ribbon. The ink ribbon after printing is wound around a winding paper tube (not shown) mounted on the ribbon winding shaft 65. Taken.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the embodiment of FIG. As shown in the figure, the present embodiment operates in accordance with a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, which will be described later, and executes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 that executes various processes, a control program, ROM 102 for storing various data such as various tables to be described later, RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 for temporarily storing various data necessary for CPU 101 to execute various processes, and for inputting various data An operation unit 8 including a numeric keypad, a display unit 7 including a liquid crystal display for displaying various data, a platen control unit 107 that supplies a pulse signal to the stepping motor 108 and rotationally drives the stepping motor 108, and a thermal head. 5 is supplied with a control signal corresponding to predetermined printing data to perform a printing operation, a light emitting unit that emits predetermined light, and a printing paper 4 of light emitted from the light emitting unit. And a light receiving unit that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the received light (the amount of light received per unit time). The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged side by side on the back side of the printing paper 4. A paper sensor 112 that detects the presence or absence of the printing paper 4 and an identification mark printed on the back surface of the printing paper 4 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit, and supplies a detection signal to a paper sensor control unit 111 described later; A paper sensor control unit 111 that controls the paper sensor 112 and supplies detection data corresponding to the detection signal from the paper sensor 112 to the CPU 101, detects the color of the ink ribbon, and detects the detection signal as described later. The color detection sensor 114 is supplied to the sensor control unit 113, and the color detection sensor control unit 113 controls the color detection sensor 114 and supplies detection data corresponding to the detection signal from the color detection sensor 114 to the CPU 101. Yes. Various data and commands input from the operation unit 8 are supplied to the CPU 101 via the interface (I / F) 104. The display unit 7 displays the display data supplied from the CPU 101 via the interface 104.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a ribbon color setting table for each delivery destination stored in the ROM 102. In this example, each record in the ribbon color setting table for each delivery destination is composed of setting items such as a preset number (No.) (calling number), a store name, an address, and a ribbon color. “A store” is set as the store name of the record in which “00001” is set as the preset number, and “red” is set as the ribbon color. Illustration and description of other setting items are omitted. In addition, “B store” is set as the store name of the record in which “00002” is set as the preset number, and “blue” is set as the ribbon color. “C store” is set as the store name of the record in which “00003” is set as the preset number, and “green” is set as the ribbon color.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S <b> 1, display data for displaying a predetermined selection screen is generated by the CPU 101 and supplied to the display unit 7 via the interface 104. The display unit 7 displays the display data supplied from the CPU 101 on the screen. FIG. 6 shows an example of the selection screen displayed on the display unit 7. On this selection screen, “1. A store”, “2. B store”, and “3. C store” are displayed as selection items. When the operator operates the operation unit 8 to instruct display of a delivery destination selection screen, a selection screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 7.

  Next, in step S2, the operation unit 8 is operated by the operator, and the CPU 101 determines whether or not a predetermined selection item is selected from the selection items displayed on the selection screen. That is, when the operation unit 8 is operated by the user, a key code signal indicating the operated key is supplied to the CPU 101 via the interface 104, so that the CPU 101 operates which key is operated based on the key code signal. It can be determined that the selection item corresponding to the key has been selected.

  Next, in step S3, the color (ribbon color) of the ink ribbon cassette 6 corresponding to the selection item selected in step S2 is based on the ribbon color table (FIG. 4) for each delivery destination stored in the ROM 102. decide. For example, when “A store” is selected as the delivery destination, the ribbon color is set to “red” based on the ribbon color table for each delivery destination. When “B store” is selected as the delivery destination, the ribbon color is “blue”. When “C store” is selected as the delivery destination, the ribbon color is “green”.

  Next, in step S <b> 4, the CPU 101 generates display data for displaying a label issuance screen including the character string indicating the ribbon color determined in step S <b> 3 and supplies the display data to the display unit 7 via the interface 104. . The display unit 7 displays the display data supplied from the CPU 101.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a label issuance screen displayed when “1. B store” is selected on the selection screen of FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the label issuance screen includes a product information display field including a preset number, the number of sheets to be issued, a color cassette, and a delivery destination. In this example, the preset number is “00001”, the number of issued sheets is “000001”, the color cassette is “Set Blue”, and the delivery destination is “Store B”. A scroll key is displayed on the right side of the product information display column, and the display content of the product information display column can be scrolled up and down.

  In addition, buttons for instructing execution of various functions are displayed at the right end of the screen. The “master” button is operated when displaying and selecting a list of master tables. The “layout” button is operated when a list of layouts is displayed and selected. The “confirm storage” button is operated when a list of reserved presets is displayed. The “date change” button is operated when the date is temporarily changed. The button displaying “continuous” is an issue operation change button, and the currently selected issue operation is displayed. Each time this issuance operation change button is operated, the display changes sequentially as “tear-off”, “break”, “cutter”, “continuous”, “non-separator”, “tear-off”,. Since “continuous” is displayed now, the issuing operation is “continuous” issuing. The “return” button is operated when returning to the previous screen.

  Next, in step S5, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the ink ribbon cassette 6 has been replaced. If it is determined that the ink ribbon cassette 6 has not been replaced, the process of step S5 is repeatedly executed. Here, the operator opens the upper casing 2 of the ink ribbon printer according to the message “Set blue” in the color cassette column displayed on the label issuing screen in FIG. When the ink ribbon cassette 6 is mounted and the upper housing 2 is closed, the CPU 101 is closed after the upper housing 2 is opened based on a detection signal from a switch (not shown) that detects opening and closing of the upper housing 2. It is determined that the ink ribbon cassette 6 has been replaced.

  Next, in step S6, the ribbon color of the ink ribbon cassette 6 replaced by the operator is determined in step S3 described above, and whether or not it matches the ribbon color displayed in the color cassette column of the label issuing screen in step S4. Is determined. As a result, if the ribbon color of the ink ribbon cassette 6 replaced by the operator is determined in step S3 described above and it is determined in step S4 that it does not match the ribbon color displayed in the color cassette column of the label issuing screen, Proceed to step S7.

  In step S7, the CPU 101 generates display data for displaying, for example, the following error message “The color of the installed ink ribbon cassette is incorrect” and supplies the display data to the display unit 7 via the interface 104. Is done. The display unit 7 displays the display data supplied from the CPU 101 on the screen.

  On the other hand, in step S6, the ribbon color of the ink ribbon cassette 6 replaced by the operator is determined in step S3 described above, and it is determined in step S4 that the ribbon color matches the ribbon color displayed in the color cassette column of the label issuing screen. If yes, go to Step S8. In step S8, the printing process is executed based on the content displayed on the label issuing screen of FIG. In this case, since the determined ribbon color is blue and the ribbon color of the replaced ink ribbon cassette 6 is also blue, the printing process is executed.

  That is, the CPU 101 generates print data including items to be printed based on the contents displayed on the label issuing screen, supplies the generated print data to the head control unit 109, and instructs the print processing. Then, it instructs the platen control unit 107 to convey the printing paper 4. The platen control unit 107 controls the stepping motor 108 based on a command from the CPU 101 and conveys the printing paper 4 at a predetermined conveyance speed at a predetermined timing. The head control unit 109 controls the thermal head 5 based on a command from the CPU 101 and prints the print data supplied from the CPU 101 on the printing paper 4 at a predetermined timing. The CPU 101 determines the conveyance timing and the printing timing based on detection data from the paper sensor control unit 111, and controls the platen control unit 107 and the head control unit 109 based on the timing.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which print data is printed on the printing paper 4. In this example, the delivery destination “Store B” and the address “123 prefecture △ city, 123 supermarket □□” are printed. This address is set in the ribbon color setting table for each delivery destination shown in FIG. Printing is performed on the printing paper 4 in the ribbon color (in this case, blue) of the mounted ink ribbon cassette 6. In this way, since printing is performed with the ribbon color designated for each delivery destination, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a delivery error that the product is delivered to the wrong delivery destination. In addition, since a message corresponding to the ribbon color of the ink ribbon cassette 6 to be replaced is displayed on the label issuing screen, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where the operator installs the wrong color ink ribbon cassette 6.

  Moreover, it is also possible to print on the printing paper 4 by color-coding for each product volume. In this case, the ROM 102 stores a ribbon color setting table in which the ribbon color of the ink ribbon cassette 6 is associated with each product volume. FIG. 9 shows an example of a ribbon color setting table for each capacity stored in the ROM 102. Here, an example of a ribbon color setting table for each capacity of the product name “Swordhead” is shown. Each record of the ribbon color setting table for each capacity is composed of setting items such as a preset number (No.) (calling number), a capacity (g (gram)), and a ribbon color. “100 g” is set as the capacity of the record in which “00001” is set as the preset number, and “blue” is set as the ribbon color. Illustration and description of other setting items are omitted. In addition, “200 g” is set as the capacity of the record in which “00002” is set as the preset number, and “red” is set as the ribbon color. “300 g” is set as the capacity of the record in which “00003” is set as the preset number, and “green” is set as the ribbon color.

  In the case of printing by color-coded for each product capacity, first, a desired capacity is selected on the selection screen as shown in FIG. In this example, “1.100 g”, “2.200 g”, “3.300 g”, “4.500 g”, and “5.1 kg” are displayed as selection items. It is assumed that the selection item “2.200 g” is selected. Thereafter, a label issuing screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 7.

  In the example shown in FIG. 11, the label issuance screen is composed of a product information display column including a preset number, number of sheets to be issued, color cassette, price, and content, and a product selection column described later. In this example, the preset number is “00002”, the number of issued cards is “000001”, the color cassette is “set red”, the price is “315”, and the content is “200 g”. The possible products are “sword tip 100 g”, “sword tip 200 g”, “sword tip 300 g”, “sword tip 500 g”, “sword tip 1 kg”.

  The ink ribbon cassette 6 of the ribbon color (in this case, red corresponding to the internal capacity 200 g) corresponding to the message (in this case, “set red”) displayed in the color cassette column by the operator is placed inside the upper housing 2. When the upper casing 2 is closed after being attached to the printer, a print result as shown in FIG. In this example, the name of the product “sword tip”, the content “200 g”, and the price “315 yen” are printed on the printing paper 4. Further, the printing paper 4 is printed in the ribbon color (in this case, red) of the mounted ink ribbon cassette 6. Thus, since printing is performed with the ribbon color designated for each product volume, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where similar products are mixed.

  For store names for which no ribbon color is specified in the delivery destination ribbon color setting table shown in FIG. 4, “set black” is displayed in the color cassette column of the label issuing screen in FIG. Can be instructed to set the ink ribbon cassette 6. The same applies to the ribbon color setting table for each capacity shown in FIG. Thus, when instructing to set the black ink ribbon cassette 6, it is sufficient to leave the color cassette column blank, and the amount of work when creating each table can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the determined color of the ink ribbon is displayed as a message as a message (for example, “set blue” etc.), but the determined color of the ink ribbon itself is displayed. It is also possible to blink the determined color of the ink ribbon itself.

  Further, the configuration and operation of the above-described embodiment are examples, and it goes without saying that they can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of an embodiment of an ink ribbon printer according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the ink ribbon cassette of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structural example of embodiment of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the ribbon color setting table for every delivery destination memorize | stored in ROM. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of embodiment of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the selection screen displayed on a display part. FIG. 7 is an example of a label issuance screen displayed when “B store” is selected on the selection screen of FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows the example by which print data was printed on the printing paper. It is a figure which shows the example of the ribbon color setting table for every capacity | capacitance memorize | stored in ROM. It is a figure which shows the other example of the selection screen displayed on a display part. It is a figure which shows the other example of a label issue screen. It is a figure which shows the other example by which the printing data were printed on the printing paper.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower housing | casing 2 Upper housing | casing 3 Platen roller 4 Printing paper 5 Thermal head 6 Ink ribbon cassette 7 Display part 8 Operation part 9 Window 61 Ribbon supply shaft 62 1st guide shaft 63 2nd guide shaft 64 3rd guide shaft 65 Ribbon winding Handle 66 Handle 67, 68 Support member 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 interface (I / F)
107 Platen Control Unit 108 Stepping Motor 109 Head Control Unit 111 Paper Sensor Control Unit 112 Paper Sensor 113 Color Detection Sensor Control Unit 114 Color Detection Sensor

Claims (3)

In the thermal transfer printer that draws out the ink ribbon between the thermal head and the paper and prints predetermined print data on the paper,
Storage means for storing a table in which the color of the ink ribbon is designated according to the print data;
Selecting means for selecting predetermined print data;
Determining means for determining a color of the ink ribbon corresponding to the print data selected by the selecting means based on the table stored by the storage means;
And a display means for displaying a message for instructing the thermal transfer printer to set the ink ribbon of the color determined by the determination means. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein a window for visually confirming the ink ribbon is provided in a housing of the thermal transfer printer. When the color of the ink ribbon corresponding to predetermined print data is not specified in the table, the display means displays a message instructing to set the ink ribbon of a predetermined default color in the thermal transfer printer. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2.

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