JP2007223200A - Printer and method for detecting residual amount of ink ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the residual amount of an ink ribbon while performing the detections of the residual amount and rotation of a reel base and the search of the printing start position of the ink ribbon with one sensor. <P>SOLUTION: A printer is equipped with a reel base 1 for winding the ink ribbon 62 provided with a search mark 65 at a nearly constant angular speed, a mark recognition sensor 7 which is arranged on the passage for travelling and shifting of the ink ribbon 62 and detects the passing of the search mark 65 and CPU 2 for acquiring the travelling speed of the ink ribbon from the time for which the search mark 65 has passed the sensor 7 and the winding diameter of the ink ribbon 62 from the travelling speed. The residual amount of the ink ribbon 62 is acquired from the winding diameter of the ink ribbon 62 by CPU 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as a thermal transfer recording apparatus or a thermal sublimation recording apparatus.

Printing apparatuses such as a thermal transfer recording apparatus and a thermal sublimation recording apparatus have been proposed for printing image data of a personal computer or a digital camera on recording paper. In such a printing apparatus, an ink cartridge (6) shown in FIG. 7 is used to print an image on recording paper, and the cartridge (6) is attached to and detached from the printing apparatus.
In the cartridge main body (60), the take-up roller (64) and the supply roller (61) are provided apart from each other, and the ink ribbon (62) is suspended between the rollers (61) and (64). On the cartridge main body (60), between the rollers (61) and (64), an opening (63) that allows entry of the thermal head (5) described later is opened. In the printing apparatus, a take-up reel table (1) and a supply-side reel table (1) which are fitted to the take-up roller (64) and the supply roller (61) and rotate the rollers (61) and (64). 10) is provided. The take-up reel base (1) is driven by a motor (M) to rotate the take-up roller (64) and take up the ink ribbon (62) wound around the supply roller (61).

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing both rollers (61) and (64) and the ink ribbon (62), and FIG. 9 is a front view thereof. On the ink ribbon (62), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) inks are separately applied along the winding direction, and the lower side of the ink ribbon (62). A platen roller (4) is provided. A thermal head (5) for heating the ink ribbon (62) is provided above the ink ribbon (62), and the ink ribbon (62) is disposed between the ink ribbon (62) and the platen roller (4). The recording paper (40) to which the ink is transferred and conveyed by the platen roller (4) is arranged to be movable in parallel with the ink ribbon feeding direction. The thermal head (5) is connected to the image processing circuit (50), and image information corresponding to each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan is sent from the image processing circuit (50) to the thermal head (5).
It is also known that a cue mark (65) is provided on the feeding side of the ink ribbon (62) from the location where the yellow ink is applied, and the print start position is detected by a sensor (for example, patent document). 1). The ink ribbon (62) is fed only in one direction. When the ink ribbon (62) is used up, the cartridge (6) is replaced.

At the time of printing, the platen roller (4) is rotated so that the thermal head (5) is opposed to the first recording position on the recording paper (40). The winding roller (64) is rotated so that the yellow head position is first opposed to the thermal head (5). The thermal head (5) is brought close to the ink ribbon (62), and the thermal head (5) is heated.
First, image information corresponding to yellow is sent to the thermal head (5). Since the thermal head (5) is heated, the ink ribbon (62) is heated, and when the take-up roller (64) and the platen roller (4) are rotated in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon (62), the image information The yellow component is printed on the recording paper (40). When printing of the yellow component is completed, the thermal head (5) is moved away from the platen roller (4), and the platen roller (4) is rotated as it is to set the recording paper (40) to the original position. Next, image information corresponding to magenta is sent to the thermal head (5), and the winding roller (64) and the platen roller (4) are rotated in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon (62). The image information of the magenta component is printed on the recording paper (40). Thereafter, image information corresponding to cyan is similarly printed on the recording paper (40).

When printing is completed, the thermal head (5) is moved away from the platen roller (4), the platen roller (4) is rotated, and the recording paper (40) is discharged.
Conventionally, a sensor (75) for detecting the rotation of the reel base (10) is provided opposite to the supply side reel base (10) shown in FIG. 7, and the take-up reel base (1) operates. If the sensor (75) detects that the supply reel base (10) is not rotating despite being inside, the ink ribbon (62) has run out or all of the ink ribbon (62) has been wound. As a result, energization to the motor (M) connected to the take-up reel base (1) is stopped. A mark recognition sensor (7) for detecting the cue mark (65) is provided to detect the print start position of the ink ribbon (62), that is, the position corresponding to yellow. In other words, the sensor (75) facing the supply reel base (10) and the mark recognition sensor (7) for detecting the cue mark (65) are necessary.

JP-A-6-71992

In the conventional configuration, abnormalities such as the ink ribbon (62) being cut off can be detected by the sensor (75) facing the supply-side reel stand (10), but the user can use the ink ribbon (62) while using the ink ribbon (62). The remaining amount of (62) cannot be known. In particular, with a large-capacity ink ribbon capable of printing 100 sheets, it is not possible to know the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62).
Accordingly, it is necessary to prepare the cartridge (6) after the ink ribbon (62) has been used up, and when the user wants to print an image, a problem that cannot be printed occurs. In addition, it would be convenient and cost-effective if a single sensor could be used to detect the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62), detect the rotation of the conventional reel base, and cue the print start position of the ink ribbon (62). It leads to down.
An object of the present invention is to detect the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62). Another object of the present invention is to detect the remaining amount, detect the rotation of the reel base, and cue the print start position of the ink ribbon (62) with a single sensor.

  The printing apparatus is arranged on a reel stand (1) for winding up an ink ribbon (62) with a cue mark (65) at a predetermined angular velocity, and on the travel transition path of the ink ribbon (62). The sensor means for detecting the passage of the mark (65), the traveling speed of the ink ribbon from the time when the cue mark (65) has passed the sensor means, and the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) is obtained from the traveling speed. Computation means and determination means for obtaining the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) from the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) obtained by the computation means are provided.

Since the ink ribbon (62) is wound at a constant angular speed by the reel base (1), if the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) is small, the traveling speed of the ink ribbon (62) is slow and the ink ribbon (62) If the winding diameter of 62) is large, the traveling speed of the ink ribbon (62) is fast. Since the traveling speed of the cue mark (65) is detected by the sensor means and the calculation means, the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) can be determined. Since the sensor means detects the cue mark (65), the printing start position of the ink ribbon (62) is known, and the sensor means detects the passage of the cue mark (65). It can also be seen whether the table (1) is rotating normally.
The determining means obtains the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) from the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) obtained by the sensor means and the computing means, and notifies the user of this. As a result, the user knows that the cartridge (6) should be replaced in advance, and the trouble that cannot be printed when the user wants to print an image is solved.
In addition, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62), the rotation of the reel base, and the cueing of the print start position of the ink ribbon (62) are performed by one sensor means, which simplifies the configuration and reduces the cost. It leads to reduction.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the printing apparatus. A through hole (30) into which the ink cartridge (6) is inserted is opened in the side plate (31) of the apparatus main body (3), and a platen roller (4) and recording paper (recording paper (4) are disposed below the through hole (30). A paper feed tray (8) for storing 40) is provided. The ink cartridge (6) is the same as the conventional one in that the take-up roller (64) and the supply roller (61) are provided apart from each other.
In the apparatus main body (3), above the through hole (30), a support plate (51) that includes a thermal head (5) and also serves as a heat sink is provided so as to be swingable. As is well known, the thermal head (5) heats the ink sheet (62) in the ink cartridge (6), sublimates the ink, and prints an image on the recording paper (40).

A take-up roller drive unit (11) having a take-up reel stand (1) is provided at the back of the apparatus main body (3). The take-up roller drive unit (11) includes a gear train (33) that meshes with the motor (M) and the reel base (1). When the motor (M) is energized, the reel base (1) rotates. In addition, a supply-side reel base (10) is also provided as in the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 and shows an outline of the entire configuration. The recording paper (40) in the paper feed tray (8) is taken out one by one by the pickup roller (80), and the recording paper (40) is wound around the platen roller (4) as in the conventional case. The platen roller (4) is rotated, the ink sheet (62) is conveyed by the take-up roller (64) while being heated by the thermal head (5), and the image information of yellow, magenta and cyan is sequentially recorded on the recording paper ( 40) to print. When printing is completed, the paper is discharged from the discharge portion (39) formed at the upper end of the apparatus main body (3) by the transport roller (81).

(ink ribbon)
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ink ribbon 62 used in this example. The ink ribbon (62) has yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) ink applied separately on the transparent film along the ribbon feed direction. The ink ribbon (62) feed side has an unused area where no ink is applied, and a black cue mark (65) is provided in the unused area. The width L of the cue mark (65) along the ink feeding direction is constant, and this width L is known in advance.

(Details of the main parts)
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a main part of the printing apparatus of this example. The ink ribbon (62) is fed from the supply roller (61) and wound around the winding roller (64) at a constant angular velocity ω as in the conventional case. A mark recognition sensor (7) for detecting a cue mark (65) is provided in the vicinity of the winding roller (64). The mark recognition sensor (7) emits light and detects reflected light, for example. Sensor. The mark recognition sensor (7) is connected to a CPU (2) which is a control means, and the CPU (2) is connected to a memory (20) in which values of various ink ribbon winding diameters are stored.
By detecting the cue mark (65) by the mark recognition sensor (7), the printing start position of the ink ribbon (62) is known, and the mark recognition sensor (7) detects the passage of the cue mark (65). Therefore, it can also be determined whether or not the take-up reel table (1) is rotating normally. That is, the CPU (2) determines whether all of the ink ribbon (62) is wound on the take-up reel stand (1) or the ink ribbon (62) is cut by a signal from the mark recognition sensor (7). Can be detected.

Furthermore, the mark recognition sensor (7) and the CPU (2) can determine not only the presence of the cue mark (65) but also the passing speed of the cue mark (65). That is, the cue mark (65) is a black mark on a transparent film. When the mark recognition sensor (7) faces the head of the cue mark (65), the light is blocked and the cue mark (65) It can be seen that is going through. The CPU (2) divides the internal clock to make a timer, and starts measuring the time that the cue mark (65) passes.
When the mark recognition sensor (7) faces the end of the cue mark (65) by running the ink ribbon (62), light passes through the transparent film, so that it can be seen that the cue mark (65) has passed. The CPU (2) ends the time measurement and obtains the time from the start to the end.
Since the width L of the cue mark (65) is known, if the width L is divided by the passage time t of the cue mark (65), the passing speed of the cue mark (65), that is, the ink ribbon (62) The traveling speed V can be obtained.

If the traveling speed of the ink ribbon (62) is known, the winding diameter of the winding roller (64) can be known. Since the winding roller (64) rotates at a constant angular velocity ω, if the traveling speed of the ink ribbon (62) is V and the winding diameter of the winding roller (64) is r,
V = r × ω
Therefore, when the traveling speed V is divided by the angular speed ω, the winding diameter r of the winding roller (64) is obtained.

Next, the CPU (2) compares the obtained winding diameter r with the value of the ink ribbon winding diameter in the memory (20). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a table in the memory (20), in which the value of the ink ribbon winding diameter and the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) corresponding to the value are stored in advance. The ink ribbon winding diameter has a plurality of values having at least the maximum diameter R1 and the minimum diameter r1, and the CPU (2) determines the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) corresponding to the winding diameter r read from the memory (20). And displayed on a display (not shown). In addition, the user may be notified by LED or buzzer that the ink ribbon (62) is low.
Further, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) is not stored in the table in the memory (20), and the CPU (2) calculates the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) each time from the obtained winding diameter r. Also good.

If the width L of the cue mark (65) is large, the traveling speed of the ink ribbon (62) and the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) are increased. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of ink ribbon (62) used and the passage time, and shows the simulation results for the width L of the three types of cue marks (65). Note that the size of the PC size is used for the recording paper (40), the solid line in the graph indicates the width L of 5 mm, the dotted line indicates the width L of 10 mm, and the alternate long and short dash line indicates the width L of 20 mm.
When the width L of the cue mark (65) is 5 mm, the time for the cue mark (65) to pass through the mark recognition sensor (7) is 100 msec. If it is a general sensor, measurement in units of 10 msec is possible, and even if the width L of the cue mark (65) is 5 mm, the running speed of the ink ribbon (62) and the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) Detection is possible. From the graph of FIG. 6, it can be seen that if the width L of the cue mark (65) is increased, the detection accuracy is improved, but the unused area on the ink ribbon (62) increases, which is uneconomical. Accordingly, the width L is determined in consideration of both the detection accuracy of the mark recognition sensor (7) and the economics of the ink ribbon (62).

Advantages of this example In this example, the ink ribbon (62) is wound by the reel base (1) at a constant angular velocity, so that if the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) is small, the ink ribbon ( If the running speed of 62) is slow and the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) is large, the running speed of the ink ribbon (62) is fast. Since the mark recognition sensor (7) and the CPU (2) detect the traveling speed of the cue mark (65), the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) can be determined. Further, since the mark recognition sensor (7) detects the cue mark (65), the printing start position of the ink ribbon (62) is known, and the mark recognition sensor (7) passes the cue mark (65). Is detected, it is also known whether the reel base (1) is rotating normally.
The CPU (2) obtains the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62) from the winding diameter of the ink ribbon (62) obtained by the sensor means, and notifies the user of this. As a result, the user knows that the cartridge (6) should be replaced in advance, and the trouble that cannot be printed when the user wants to print an image is solved.
In addition, a single mark recognition sensor (7) is used to detect the remaining amount of the ink ribbon (62), to detect the rotation of the reel stand, and to cue the print start position of the ink ribbon (62). And lead to cost reduction.

The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. In addition, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.
In the printing apparatus, the angular speed of the reel base (1) is different between when printing and when recording paper is sent without printing, and when recording paper is sent, it is faster. In this case, the reel base (1) rotates at a constant angular speed during printing, and the reel base (1) rotates at a higher constant angular speed when feeding recording paper. That is, the reel base (1) rotates at a constant angular velocity within the same mode.

It is a disassembled perspective view of a printing apparatus. It is a front view of FIG. 1, and shows the outline of the whole structure. It is a top view of the ink ribbon used for this example. It is a front view which shows the principal part of the printing apparatus of this example. It is a figure which shows the table in memory. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the usage-amount of an ink ribbon, and passage time. It is a perspective view of an ink cartridge. It is a top view which shows both rollers and an ink ribbon. It is a front view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

(1) Reel stand on take-up side
(2) CPU
(4) Platen roller
(5) Thermal head
(6) Cartridge
(7) Mark recognition sensor
(62) Ink ribbon
(65) Cue mark

Claims (4)

A reel base that winds up an ink ribbon with a cue mark at a predetermined angular velocity, a sensor means that is disposed on a travel transition path of the ink ribbon and detects the passage of the cue mark, and the cue mark is a sensor means Calculating means for determining the running speed of the ink ribbon from the time passed, the winding diameter of the ink ribbon from the running speed, and the determining means for calculating the remaining amount of the ink ribbon from the winding diameter of the ink ribbon obtained by the computing means. A printing device characterized by comprising. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user of the remaining amount of the ink ribbon. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit detects completion of winding of the ink ribbon or cutting of the ink ribbon from a signal of the sensor unit. Using a printing apparatus comprising a reel base for winding an ink ribbon with a cue mark attached at a predetermined angular velocity, and sensor means arranged on the travel transition path of the ink ribbon to detect passage of the cue mark And
A step of determining the running speed of the ink ribbon from the time when the cue mark has passed the sensor means, and the winding diameter of the ink ribbon from the running speed;
A method for detecting a remaining amount of ink ribbon in a printing apparatus, the method further comprising: obtaining a remaining amount of ink ribbon from a determined winding diameter of the ink ribbon.

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