JP2007038442A - Ink ribbon and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink ribbon and a printer in which waste consumption of the ink ribbon can be suppressed when a screen in a small size is printed on a plurality of sheets by the ink ribbon in a large size. <P>SOLUTION: In an ink ribbon 1 on which ink layers of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are periodically arranged, a discrimination mark 2 is provided to a rear end section of the ink layer of yellow (Y). The discrimination mark 2 is printed on a paper sheet together with a second screen when the second screen is printed, and then the mark 2 is removed from the ink ribbon 1. As a result, by detecting the presence or absence of the discrimination mark 2 on the ink ribbon 1, it is possible to check whether or not there is a non-used portion on the ink layer. When it is judged that there is, the printing is started from the non-used portion of the ink layer upon the next print command. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink ribbon and a printer in a thermal recording type printer.

  A thermal recording printer (also called a sublimation printer) presses a thermal head against an ink ribbon coated with a dye or pigment, and heats the thermal head to transfer the ink ribbon dye or pigment onto a recording medium such as paper. An image is formed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing unit of a thermal recording type printer. As shown in the figure, an ink ribbon roll 22 (unused part) on the unwinding side, a guide roll 23 for ink ribbon, and a thermal head 24 are provided on the upper surface side of the sheet unwound from the roll paper 21 (supply side). The ink ribbon core 28 (used part) on the winding side is arranged in order. On the ink ribbon, three ink layers of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) (which may include an overcoat layer) are periodically arranged. After the ink ribbon unwound from the ink ribbon roll 22 is guided by the guide roll 23 and superimposed on the paper unwound from the roll paper 21, it is conveyed between the thermal head 24 and the platen roll 25. The ink ribbon core 28 is wound up.

  On the lower surface side of the sheet, a platen roll 25 is disposed at a position facing the thermal head 24, and the sheet is appropriately pressed against a heating resistor (not shown) of the thermal head 24 by the platen roll 25. A feed roll 27 is disposed at a position facing the pinch roll 26. The paper is conveyed by sandwiching the paper between the pinch roll 26 and the feed roll 27 and rotating the feed roll 27. The feed roll 27 is connected to a pulse motor via a gear (not shown), and the pulse motor drives the feed roll 27.

  As described above, the sublimation printer applies heat to the ink ribbon coated with the dye with the thermal head and transfers the ink ribbon onto the paper. In this case, for example, in order to perform printing of 6 inch × 4 inch size, an ink ribbon having an area of 6 × 4 size or more is required. For this reason, when printing a 6 × 4 inch size and when printing a 6 × 8 inch size, it is necessary to prepare two types of ink ribbons. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, it is necessary to prepare two types of ink ribbons 31 of 6 × 4 inch size and ink ribbons 32 of 6 × 8 inch size.

  Recently, an improvement in print speed has been demanded. For example, when printing a plurality of 6 × 4 inch sizes, a 6 × 8 inch size ink ribbon 32 is used to print two screens continuously. There is a method of cutting to 6 × 4 inch size after printing. Regarding the shortening of the printing time, the time actually applied to the thermal head does not change, but it is effective to shorten or delete other times (thermal head driving time, paper transport time, etc.). In the case of the L size, two screens of the L size are printed with a 2L size ribbon. In such a case, the ink ribbon does not require a 6 × 4 size ink ribbon, and there is an advantage that the types of ink ribbon can be reduced.

  However, as shown in FIG. 7, when a 6 × 4 inch size screen is printed using a 6 × 8 inch size ink ribbon 32, an even number of sheets is printed as shown in FIG. 7A. In this case, the ink ribbon 32 can be used efficiently. However, as shown in FIG. 7B, there is a problem that the ink ribbon 32 is wasted when printing an odd number of sheets.

Note that there is a conventional print control apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This prior art print control apparatus, when performing layout printing on a roll paper by laying out a plurality of print pages of a predetermined size, sets the margin area of the print page located at the upper end and the left end of the roll paper as the upper end of the roll paper. In addition, each printed page is allocated so that the blank area is not added together with the left end, and paper waste is reduced. However, this prior art print control apparatus has a main purpose of reducing the waste of the roll paper, and as in the present invention, the ink ribbon is used efficiently to reduce the waste of the ink ribbon. Is different from the object and configuration of the invention.
JP 11-314423 A

  As described above, when printing a plurality of small size screens with a large size ink ribbon, for example, when printing a 6 × 4 inch size screen using a 6 × 8 inch size ink ribbon. If an even number of sheets are printed, the ink ribbon can be used efficiently, but if an odd number of sheets are printed, there is a problem that the ink ribbon is wasted.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to reduce wasteful consumption of an ink ribbon when printing a plurality of small size screens with a large size ink ribbon. It is to provide a ribbon and a printer.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the ink ribbon of the present invention presses an ink ribbon in which a plurality of ink layers of basic colors are periodically arranged against a sheet of paper, and against the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon is used for a printer having a function of printing a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the size of the surface of the ink layer while performing printing by transferring the ink to a sheet by applying an external action. And a discrimination mark provided on the surface of the ink layer of at least one of the plurality of basic colors and indicating whether or not there is an unused portion in the ink layer.
With such a configuration, when a plurality of screens are printed on one surface of the ink layer of the ink ribbon, a discrimination mark for determining whether or not an unused portion remains in the ink layer is provided.
Thus, when printing a plurality of small screens with a large ink ribbon, for example, when printing two 6 × 4 inch screens with a 6 × 8 inch ink ribbon, the ink ribbon Whether or not all the ink layer surfaces have been used can be easily and reliably detected by the discrimination mark. Therefore, by using a large size ink ribbon, it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon when the types of ink ribbon are reduced and the speed is increased.

In the ink ribbon of the present invention, the discrimination mark is a discrimination mark used when printing a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the surface of the ink layer by the ink layer. It is provided on the surface of the color ink layer, and when printing the last screen of the plurality of screens, it is printed on the paper together with the last screen and disappears from the ink ribbon. And
With such a configuration, the discrimination mark is arranged on the surface of one ink layer, printed on the paper together with the screen to be printed last, and disappears from the ink ribbon.
As a result, when printing multiple small-size screens with large-sized ink ribbons, it is possible to easily and reliably detect whether or not all ink layer surfaces of the ink ribbon have been used, based on the presence or absence of discrimination marks. it can.

Further, the ink ribbon of the present invention is characterized in that the discrimination mark is arranged so as to be printed in an area to be cut as an unnecessary portion of the printing surface of the paper.
Thereby, when all the surfaces of the ink layer of the ink ribbon have been used, the discrimination mark can be erased from the ink ribbon and the printed matter can be prevented from being affected.

In addition, the ink ribbon of the present invention includes an ink ribbon of three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) and an overcoat layer (OP), or yellow (Y), magenta. (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) are configured by four color ink layers.
With such a configuration, the discrimination mark is arranged on the surface of one basic color in the ink ribbon composed of the YMC ink layer and the OP layer or the ink ribbon composed of the YMCBk ink layer. Accordingly, whether or not the surface of the ink layer of the ink ribbon has been used can be easily and reliably detected based on the presence or absence of the discrimination mark on the surface of the ink layer.

Further, the ink ribbon of the present invention is characterized in that the discrimination mark is arranged at the rearmost or frontmost end in the traveling direction of the ink ribbon on the surface of the yellow (Y) ink layer. With such a configuration, the discrimination mark is arranged at the rear end or front end of the yellow (Y) ink layer. Accordingly, whether or not the surface of the ink ribbon has been used can be easily and reliably detected based on the presence or absence of the discrimination mark on the surface of the yellow (Y) ink layer.

Further, the printer of the present invention presses an ink ribbon, in which a plurality of ink layers of basic colors are periodically arranged, against the paper, and applies an external action to the ink ribbon to transfer the ink onto the paper for printing. In the printer having a function of printing a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the surface of the ink layer, the printer is provided on the surface of the ink layer of at least one basic color of the plurality of basic colors. A print unit that uses an ink ribbon having a discrimination mark indicating whether or not the ink layer has an unused portion, a discrimination mark detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a discrimination mark on the ink ribbon, and A determination mark presence / absence determination unit that determines whether or not there is an unused portion in the ink layer according to presence / absence, and the determination mark presence / absence determination unit If it is determined that there is a use portion, in order to start printing from the unused portion of the ink layer, characterized in that it comprises an ink ribbon drive controller to rewind the ink ribbon to a predetermined position.
With such a configuration, in order to print a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the surface of the ink layer, an ink ribbon having a discrimination mark for detecting that the entire ink layer has been used for printing is used. . When the presence or absence of the discrimination mark is detected and it is determined that there is an unused portion in the ink layer, the ink ribbon is rewound to a predetermined position in order to start printing from the unused portion of the ink layer.
Thus, when printing a plurality of small screens with a large ink ribbon, for example, when printing two 6 × 4 inch screens with a 6 × 8 inch ink ribbon, the ink ribbon Whether or not all the ink layer surfaces have been used can be easily and reliably detected by the discrimination mark. Therefore, by using a large size ink ribbon, it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon when the types of ink ribbon are reduced and the speed is increased.

In the printer of the present invention, the determination mark is a determination mark used when printing a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the surface of the ink layer by the ink layer. And when the last screen of the plurality of screens is printed, it is printed on the paper together with the last screen and disappears from the ink ribbon. To do.
With such a configuration, the discrimination mark is arranged on the surface of one ink layer, printed on the paper together with the last screen, and disappeared from the ink ribbon.
As a result, when printing multiple small-size screens with large-sized ink ribbons, it is possible to easily and reliably detect whether or not all ink layer surfaces of the ink ribbon have been used, based on the presence or absence of discrimination marks. it can.

The printer according to the present invention is characterized in that the discrimination mark is arranged so as to be printed in an area to be cut as an unnecessary portion of the print surface of the paper.
Thereby, when all the surfaces of the ink layer of the ink ribbon have been used, the discrimination mark can be erased from the ink ribbon and the printed matter can be prevented from being affected.

  In the present invention, when printing a plurality of small sized screens with a large ink ribbon, for example, when printing two 6 × 4 inch screens with a 6 × 8 inch ink ribbon, It can be easily and reliably detected whether or not the ink layer surface of the ink ribbon has been used. Therefore, by using a large size ink ribbon, it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon when the types of ink ribbon are reduced and the speed is increased.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an ink ribbon according to the present invention, and shows an example of a 6 × 8 inch size ink ribbon used in a thermal recording type printer.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the ink ribbon 1 of the present invention includes a three-color ink layer in which yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are arranged in order, and a fading prevention. A laminate specification overcoat layer (OP layer) is periodically formed on a film substrate and wound into a roll. A discrimination mark 2 for discriminating whether or not the ink ribbon 1 has an unused portion is formed on the ink ribbon 1 at the rearmost end portion in the traveling direction of the ink ribbon on the surface of the yellow (Y) ink layer. It is attached.

  Although FIG. 1A shows an example in which the black mark 8 is provided for detecting the head of each color, an ink ribbon that detects each color with a color sensor (color detection sensor) without providing the black mark 8. The same applies to. The same applies to an ink ribbon provided with a black (Bk) ink layer in addition to YMC as a basic color.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the discrimination mark 2 is arranged at the rearmost end in the traveling direction of the ink ribbon on the surface of the yellow (Y) layer. Y) It can also be arranged on the foremost end in the direction of the ink ribbon on the surface of the layer. Further, the discrimination mark 2 may be arranged not in the yellow (Y) layer but in the magenta (M) layer or the cyan (C) layer. Furthermore, the discrimination marks 2 can be arranged on the surfaces of a plurality of ink layers.

  By the way, in the case of borderless printing using roll paper, as shown in FIG. 2, printing is usually performed larger than the actual finished size, and the space between the cutting positions a and b is cut. The cut paper is discarded as chips.

  Therefore, for example, when 6 × 4 size two-screen printing is performed, a determination mark 2 is attached to the ink ribbon 1 so that it is possible to determine that the second screen has been printed. Further, when the second screen is printed, the discrimination mark 2 is printed by applying heat from the thermal head to a portion discarded as paper chip waste.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the first screen is printed (using the portion indicated by area 3) and the second screen is printed (using the portion indicated by area 4) using the ink ribbon 1. When the second screen is printed, the part including the discrimination mark 2 (the part indicated by the area 4a) is printed at the same time, and the discrimination mark 2 is lost from the ink ribbon 1.

  In this way, in the ink ribbon 1, the discrimination mark 2 disappears by printing the second screen, and whether the second screen is printed (whether there is an unused portion in the ink layer) or not is determined. This can be determined by detecting whether or not there is a discrimination mark 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of using the ink ribbon according to the present invention, and illustrates an example of a method of using the ink ribbon 1 with a discrimination mark.
In FIG. 3, the positional relationship between the ink ribbon 1 and the thermal head 24 indicates a state where the colors Y, M, and C of the first screen are printed on the roll paper and the printing of the first screen is completed. In this state, the discrimination mark 2 is left on the ink ribbon 1, and the discrimination mark 2 is read by the discrimination mark detection sensor 7 using a reflective optical sensor or the like.

  In this state, the pulse motor (or servo motor) 30 is driven by the next print command (print finger command for the second screen having the same size as the first screen), and the ink ribbon roll 22 and the ink ribbon core 28 are used for the ink ribbon. 1 is rewound in the direction of the arrow b, and the second screen is printed with the remaining portions of the Y, M, and C colors of the ink ribbon 1. If the discrimination mark 2 is not detected, the ink ribbon 1 is advanced (in the direction of arrow a) without rewinding the ink ribbon 1 in the next print command, and a new portion of the ink ribbon 1 is used. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a printer according to the present invention, and shows a part directly related to the present invention. The printer 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a control unit 11 and a print unit 20.

  A print image data generation unit 12 in the control unit 11 receives an image to be printed from an external host computer (not shown) or the like, such as YMC (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C)). The YMC input image data is converted into image data for printing corresponding to the ink ribbon 1. The image data for printing is sent to the printing unit 20 and printed on the paper by the thermal head 24 and the ink ribbon 1.

  The multi-screen print control unit 13 determines whether or not a plurality of small screens (for example, 6 × 4 inch size) can be printed with a large size ink ribbon (for example, 6 × 8 inch size), and When it is determined that the sheet can be printed, the print layout is determined, a command signal for printing a plurality of sheets is generated, and control of each component such as the ink ribbon drive control unit 15 and the roll paper drive control unit 16 is controlled. Do.

  The determination mark presence / absence determination unit 14 receives a signal from the determination mark detection sensor 7 in the printing unit 20 and determines whether or not the determination mark 2 exists (is left) on the ink ribbon 1. Information on the determination result is notified to the multi-screen print control unit 13.

  The ink ribbon drive control unit 15 drives the pulse motor 30 in response to a command signal from the multiple screen print control unit 13 (see FIG. 3), and prints a plurality of screens with the ink ribbon roll 22 and the ink ribbon core 28. Is rotated to control the unwinding and rewinding of the ink ribbon 1.

  The roll paper drive control unit 16 controls the unwinding of the roll paper 21 for printing and the rewinding for cutting the roll paper in response to a command signal from the multi-screen printing control unit 13.

  Even if the discrimination mark 2 on the ink ribbon 1 is not used, for example, a sensor (for example, an encoder) that can detect the rotation speed and rotation angle of the ink ribbon 1 is arranged on the ribbon winding side and the supply side (winding side). The printer 10 itself or the application on the host computer (not shown) side memorizes that the two-screen printing is not performed, and rewinds the ink ribbon 1 with the next print command, and prints with the remaining part. It can also be configured. However, with this method, it is impossible to discriminate when the ink ribbon is replaced when the printer is turned off, or when a jam (failure or failure) occurs. In the method of detecting using, there is no problem because the discrimination mark 2 on the ink ribbon itself is directly detected.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the ink ribbon and the printer of the present invention are not limited to the above illustrated examples, and various modifications are made within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you get.

  In the present invention, when a small-sized screen is printed with a large-sized ink ribbon, an effect that wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon can be reduced, the present invention is useful for an ink ribbon, a printer, and the like.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the ink ribbon by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the print area and cut position in roll paper. It is a figure which shows the example of the usage method of the ink ribbon by this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional printer. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional ink ribbon. It is a figure which shows the use condition of a 6x8 inch size ink ribbon.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink ribbon 2 Discrimination mark 7 Discrimination mark detection sensor 10 Printer 11 Control part 12 Print image data generation part 13 Multiple screen printing control part 14 Discrimination mark existence judgment part 15 Ink ribbon drive control part 16 Roll paper drive control part 20 Print part 21 Roll Paper 22 Ink Ribbon Roll 23 Ink Ribbon Guide Roll 24 Thermal Head 25 Platen Roll 26 Pinch Roll 27 Feed Roll 28 Ink Ribbon Core 30 Pulse Motor 31 Ink Ribbon 32 Ink Ribbon

Claims (8)

An ink ribbon in which a plurality of ink layers of basic colors are periodically arranged is pressed against the paper, and an external action is applied to the ink ribbon to transfer the ink onto the paper for printing. An ink ribbon used in a printer having a function of printing a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the size of a surface,
An ink ribbon provided on a surface of an ink layer of at least one basic color of the plurality of basic colors and having a discrimination mark indicating whether or not there is an unused portion in the ink layer. The discrimination mark is
A discrimination mark used when printing a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the surface of the ink layer by the ink layer,
Provided on the surface of one basic color ink layer,
2. The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein when the last screen of the plurality of screens is printed, the ink ribbon is printed on a sheet together with the last screen and disappears from the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon according to claim 2, wherein the discrimination mark is arranged so as to be printed in an area to be cut as an unnecessary portion of a print surface of the paper. The ink ribbon has three ink layers of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) and an overcoat layer (OP), or yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), The ink ribbon according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ink ribbon is composed of four color ink layers of black (Bk). The discrimination mark is arranged on the rearmost or frontmost end of the yellow (Y) ink layer in the direction of ink ribbon travel, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The ink ribbon described in 1. An ink ribbon in which a plurality of ink layers of basic colors are periodically arranged is pressed against the paper, and an external action is applied to the ink ribbon to transfer the ink onto the paper for printing. In a printer having a function of printing a plurality of screens of a size smaller than the surface,
A print unit using an ink ribbon provided on the surface of an ink layer of at least one of the plurality of basic colors and having a determination mark indicating whether or not the ink layer has an unused portion; ,
A discrimination mark detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a discrimination mark on the ink ribbon;
A determination mark presence / absence determination unit for determining whether or not there is an unused portion in the ink layer based on the presence or absence of the determination mark;
Ink ribbon drive control for rewinding the ink ribbon to a predetermined position in order to start printing from the unused part of the ink layer when the discrimination mark presence / absence determination unit determines that the ink layer has an unused part And a printer. The discrimination mark is
A discrimination mark used when printing a plurality of screens having a size smaller than the surface of the ink layer by the ink layer,
Provided on the surface of one basic color ink layer,
The printer according to claim 6, wherein when printing the last screen of the plurality of screens, the printer is configured to print on the paper together with the last screen and disappear from the ink ribbon. The printer according to claim 7, wherein the discrimination mark is arranged so as to be printed in an area to be cut as an unnecessary part of a print surface of the paper.

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