JP2008155452A - Ink ribbon cassette and dot line printer loaded therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent abnormal traveling of an ink ribbon which may occur when a mobius mechanism is erroneously set to a left side in the event of loading the ink ribbon to a dot line printer, to prevent abnormal traveling of an ink ribbon which may tend to occur while a new ribbon is circulated once even when the mobius mechanism is adequately set, to eliminate a confirmation work of defective printing, a replacement/repair work of the ink ribbon and a reprinting work, and to prevent the execution printing speed from being lowered. <P>SOLUTION: This dot line printer is provided with a mechanism for detecting a position of the mobius mechanism in the event of being loaded with an ink ribbon, and then the missetting position of the mobius mechanism is immediately detected. The dot line printer is further provided with a mechanism that monitors a time period that the ink ribbon is operated from when it is loaded to the dot line printer to confirm that the mobius mechanism is correctly moved within a predetermined time period after a predetermined time period has elapsed, judges that an abnormal condition occurs on the ink ribbon when the movement is done out of the above time period, and then stops the operation of devices by displaying an error. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dot line printer, and more particularly to an ink ribbon mechanism used in a dot line printer.

  FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view schematically showing the vicinity of a hammer mechanism portion of a conventional dot line printer. FIG. 8 shows a state where an ink ribbon is newly loaded in the dot line printer of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the ink ribbon 104 travels when the ribbon drive roller 106 rotates counterclockwise. That is, when the ribbon drive roller 106 rotates counterclockwise, the ink ribbon 104 is drawn into the ribbon cassette 107, while the ink ribbon 104 in the ribbon cassette 107 is moved to the Mobius mechanism 108 for turning the ink ribbon 104 upside down. The ribbon is pulled out of the ribbon cassette 107 through a ribbon brake 109 that applies an appropriate tension to the traveling ink ribbon 104. Thereafter, the first cassette arm 112, the first ribbon guide 113 for defining the ribbon travel position, the second ribbon guide 101, the second cassette arm 103, the ribbon travel position sensor 102, and the ribbon drive roller. The ink ribbon 104 travels in the clockwise direction by being pulled into the Boncassette 107 again by 106.

  During printing, when the ink ribbon 104 is running, the printing hammer 114 is driven by energizing the release electromagnetic coil 111 mounted on the hammer mechanism unit 110, and a hammer pin (see FIG. The ink on the ink ribbon 104 is transferred to the printing paper 115 by striking the printing paper 115 placed between the platen 116 and the printing paper 115 via the ink ribbon 104. Printing is performed by receiving print data and paper transport data transferred from a host device (not shown) (see, for example, cited document 1).

JP 08-11404 A

  Normally, the replacement of the ink ribbon is performed manually by refilling the ink ribbon with a new one when the operator sensuously determines that “the printing has become thin” based on the output result of the density detection sensor. The refilling ink ribbon is stored in a ribbon subcassette in which the Mobius mechanism for reversing the ink ribbon base fabric and the ink ribbon is stored, and when the ink ribbon is replaced, the ink ribbon and Mobius mechanism of the ribbon subcassette Is transferred to the ribbon cassette.

  When a new ribbon is loaded in the ribbon cassette, the volume is considerably smaller than the ribbon cassette (less than half the volume in the ribbon cassette) in anticipation of an increase in volume due to fluffing of the ribbon after use. . Therefore, when the ribbon is loaded, the ribbon collapses unless the ribbon in the cassette is supported. Therefore, when the operator loads the refill ink ribbon, the Mobius mechanism 108 is set on the ribbon drive roller 106 side in the ribbon cassette as shown in FIG.

  However, when the ink ribbon 104 is worn out and replaced, as shown in FIG. 7, the Mobius mechanism 108 is on the ribbon brake 109 side. Therefore, when the operator sets a new ink ribbon, the Mobius mechanism starts from the beginning. There is a case where it is mistakenly loaded so that the Mobius mechanism 108 is positioned on the ribbon brake 109 side. If printing is performed in this state, the ink ribbon is likely to get caught on the Mobius mechanism 108, so the ink ribbon does not operate smoothly, the ribbon falls, the ribbon double feeds, or the ribbon width direction is folded, resulting in poor printing. Will be triggered.

  The ribbon sub-cassette is supplied in a state of being folded to a certain width by the ink ribbon manufacturer. Usually, a certain amount of ribbon subcassette is purchased and stored. At this time, if the storage time is long, the ink impregnated in the ribbon base fabric flows and moves downward (in the direction of gravity) during storage. This phenomenon progresses faster at higher ambient temperatures. In addition, the folds of the ink ribbon that has been packed and folded have wrinkles, and the creases are still present even when the ink ribbon is stretched.

  If printing is performed with ink biased or creased in this way, the fluid resistance increases the frictional resistance between the ribbon base fabric and the bottom of the ribbon cassette, causing the ribbon to collapse in the ribbon cassette. End up.

  The conventional dot line printer has no means for detecting these phenomena, and character printing, shading defects, etc. have occurred in the printing result. Because these phenomena are difficult for the operator to find during printing, if missing print characters are found after the print job is completed, it is necessary to check for missing characters on a large number of printed pages. There was a problem that it was discovered by a complaint from an end user who confirmed the above.

  Therefore, the present invention prevents the abnormal running of the ink ribbon that occurs when the Mobius mechanism is accidentally set on the left side when the ink ribbon is loaded in the dot line printer, and when the Mobius mechanism is normally set. However, the problem is to prevent the abnormal running of the ink ribbon, which is likely to occur during one revolution of the new ribbon, to eliminate printing failure confirmation work, ink ribbon replacement repair work, and reprint work, and to prevent a decrease in the effective printing speed. To do.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an endless ink ribbon accommodated in a ribbon cassette, a drive source for conveying the ink ribbon, and a biasing means for applying tension to the ink ribbon. Reversing means for reversing the ink ribbon, a first sensor provided on the drive source side of the ribbon cassette, a second sensor provided on the biasing means side, and the reversing means. Further, a detection source of the first sensor and the second sensor is provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the first aspect, the first sensor and the second sensor are optical sensors, and the detection source is a reflective sheet. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention for solving the above-described problems is provided with a plurality of leaf spring-like printing hammers provided with hammer pins arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch in the girder direction and performing dot printing at the tip, and the printing hammers Permanent magnets that generate a magnetic attraction force to hold the ink in a non-printing position, and a release magnet that is provided in each printing hammer to drive the printing hammer and that supplies a predetermined release current to cancel the magnetic field of the permanent magnet. 3. A ribbon cassette according to claim 1, further comprising: a hammer mechanism having an electromagnetic coil for recording, wherein the hammer pin strikes a recording medium disposed at an opposing position via an ink ribbon to perform recording. It is characterized by wearing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the third aspect of the present invention, the time of operating the ink ribbon is monitored since the ribbon cassette is loaded, and the detection source of the first sensor is detected. The printing operation is stopped when the time between detection and detection by the second sensor is outside a predetermined time range.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to detect that the refill ribbon has been set correctly, and to provide stable running of the ink ribbon, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of printing defects. Further, it is possible to eliminate the confirmation work when the printing defect occurs, the ink ribbon replacement repair work and the reprint work, and prevent the execution print speed from being lowered.

  As described above, most of the troubles of the cassette type ribbon occur during the one round of the ink ribbon after the ribbon is refilled due to the above-described factors. When the ribbon makes one turn, the lower end where the ink flowed (the end with the higher ink density) is reversed to the upper side as the Mobius mechanism is reversed, and the ink flows toward the lower ink density. Stretched by passing through the hammer gap. Therefore, if it can be confirmed that the ink ribbon has made one complete rotation, it is possible to detect whether or not trouble has occurred with the ink ribbon, and trouble with the ink ribbon can be greatly reduced. Therefore, in the present invention, a sensor that detects the position of the Mobius mechanism when the ink ribbon is replaced and the Mobius mechanism detect whether the ink ribbon has moved a predetermined distance within a certain period of time. By providing a sensor, it was possible to detect unauthorized movement of the ribbon.

  The present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view schematically showing the vicinity of the hammer mechanism portion of the dot line printer of the present invention (the Mobius mechanism 108 is a position when the ink ribbon 104 is operated one or more times in the travel path). FIG. 2 shows a state where an ink ribbon is newly loaded in the dot line printer of FIG. Further, FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing an outline of the hammer mechanism used in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of printing hammers 114 having a leaf spring 10 and 11 hammer pins are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the digit direction. The platen 17 that receives the striking force of each printing hammer 114 is arranged with a predetermined gap so as to face the hammer mechanism 50 via the printing paper 16 and the ink ribbon 15.

  Most of the endless ink ribbon 15 is accommodated in a ribbon cassette 54, and the ink ribbon 15 pre-tensioned by a ribbon brake 59 is wound by a ribbon drive roller 55 via a plurality of ribbon guides 56. The mechanism is taken and returned to the ribbon cassette 54 again.

  The hammer mechanism is connected to a shuttle mechanism (not shown), and is configured to reciprocate with the driving force of the shuttle mechanism.

  Details of the hammer mechanism 50 are shown in FIG. The printing hammer 114 is configured by attaching the hammer pin 11 to the tip of the leaf spring 10. The comb yoke 14 that holds the printing hammer 114 in the non-printing position extends so as to face the surface opposite to the mounting surface of the hammer pin 11 at the upper part of the leaf spring 10 of the printing hammer 114, and the proximal end portion of the comb yoke 14. Is in contact with the permanent magnet 13 which generates a magnetic attractive force to hold the printing hammer 114 in the non-printing position. Further, a release printing coil 111 for driving the printing hammer 52 is disposed on the com yoke 14.

  The leaf spring 10 is magnetically attracted to the comb yoke 14 in a state where the bending energy is given in advance, and the leaf spring 10 is opened when the magnetic attraction force is canceled by the release electromagnetic coil 111. At this time, the hammer pin 11 attached to the tip of the leaf spring 10 performs dot printing on the printing paper 115 via the ink ribbon 104. Printing is sequentially performed by repeating a series of operations until the leaf spring 10 returns to the contact position (non-printing position) with the comb yoke 14 by the return of the magnetic attractive force of the permanent magnet 13. A platen 116 is disposed at a position facing the ink ribbon 114 of the printing paper 115 and supports the striking force of the printing hammer 114.

  As described in the section of the prior art, in FIG. 1, the ink ribbon 104 travels when the ribbon drive roller 106 serving as a drive source rotates counterclockwise. That is, when the ribbon drive roller 106 rotates counterclockwise, the ink ribbon 104 is drawn into the ribbon cassette 107, while the ink ribbon 104 in the ribbon cassette 107 is moved to the Mobius mechanism 108 for turning the ink ribbon 104 upside down. The ribbon is pulled out of the ribbon cassette 107 through a ribbon brake 109 that applies an appropriate tension to the traveling ink ribbon 104. Thereafter, the first cassette arm 112, the first ribbon guide 113 for defining the ribbon travel position, the second ribbon guide 101, the second cassette arm 103, the ribbon travel position sensor 102, and the ribbon drive roller. The ink ribbon 104 travels in the clockwise direction by being pulled into the Boncassette 107 again by 106.

  During printing, when the ink ribbon 104 is running, a current is applied to the release electromagnetic coil 111 mounted on the hammer mechanism 110 to drive the print hammer 114, and a hammer pin attached to the tip of the release electromagnetic coil 111. 11 hits the printing paper 115 placed between the platens 116 via the ink ribbon 104, whereby the ink on the ink ribbon 104 is transferred to the printing paper 115. Printing is performed by receiving print data and paper transport data transferred from a host device (not shown).

  In the present invention, the reflection sheet 122 serving as a detection source to be detected by the sensor is attached to the side surface of the Mobius mechanism 108, and the first sensor for detecting the reflection sheet 122 of the Mobius mechanism is attached to the side surface of the ribbon cassette. 120 and a second sensor 121 are provided. The first sensor 120 is arranged at the position of the Mobius mechanism when the ink ribbon 104 is newly set, that is, on the ribbon drive roller 106 side, and the second sensor 121 is operated by the ink ribbon 104 and the ink ribbon is rotated almost once. The position of the Mobius mechanism at the time, that is, the ribbon brake 109 side is arranged.

  Next, the detection principle of the first sensor 120 and the second sensor 121 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 5 and the flowchart of FIG.

  After the ink ribbon is loaded, the ink ribbon 104 starts to operate by driving the ribbon drive roller 106 in accordance with a print command from the host, and then the hammer mechanism starts printing. When the ink ribbon 104 is loaded (S1), it is confirmed whether or not the first sensor 120 has detected the reflection sheet 122 (S2). For example, when the Mobius mechanism 108 is set on the ribbon brake 109 side from the beginning of the loading of the ink ribbon, the first sensor 120 cannot detect the reflection sheet 122 of the Mobius mechanism 108, and in that case, an error is immediately detected (S3). .

  On the other hand, when the Mobius mechanism 108 is set at a prescribed position, the ink ribbon is driven normally and the printing operation is executed. When a signal indicating that the ribbon cassette has been loaded is received as a signal from the first sensor 120 that detects loading of the ink ribbon during execution of the printing operation, measurement of the driving time (Tn) of the ink ribbon is started (S4). ). This driving time is added to monitor the time from when the first sensor 120 is detected until the second sensor 121 detects it. If printing is continued, the Mobius mechanism 108 moves to the ribbon brake 109 side, but the first sensor 120 continues to detect until the reflective sheet 122 of the Mobius mechanism 108 is out of the detection area of the first sensor 120. Then, when the normal time that is out of the detection range of the first sensor 120 and cannot be detected is set as Ta (S5), and the first sensor 120 becomes unable to detect the reflection sheet 122 earlier than Ta, Since it is considered that a short loop of the ribbon as shown in FIG. 5 has occurred, the first sensor signal 1 is detected and an error is immediately detected (S6).

  Further, when the first ribbon timer set at the same time as the ink ribbon drive timing reaches the time Σ (Tn-1) in the process in which the ink ribbon 104 is normally transported and goes around the transport path once, the Mobius check is performed. The signal is set, and the Mobius check signal is reset when the second ribbon timer reaches time Σ (Tn + 1). If the second sensor 121 detects the reflection sheet 122 of the Mobius mechanism 108 during the time that this ribbon is supposed to take one turn, during Σ (Tn-1) to Σ (Tn + 1), The ribbon is processed as normal (S7 to S9).

  If the detection time of the second sensor 121 is earlier than (Tn-1), it is considered that an abnormality has occurred in the folding of the ribbon such as a short loop. Therefore, if the second sensor signal is detected, an error set signal is detected. Is output as an error (error detection 2: S10).

  If the detection time of the second sensor 121 cannot be detected even after the time Tn + 1 has elapsed, it is considered that an abnormality has occurred in the running of the ink ribbon, so the second sensor signal is detected and the error set signal is immediately detected. An error is output to prompt the ribbon to be reset (in the case of error detection 3: S11).

  It should be noted that when the above error is detected, it is preferable to control to stop the printing operation.

  FIG. 3 shows a modification of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the ribbon cassette. Even when the reflection sheet 222 is attached to the lower surface of the Mobius mechanism 208 in the ribbon cassette 207 and the first sensor 220 and the second sensor 221 are arranged below the ribbon cassette 207, the present invention is established. .

  The present invention enables stable running of a tape-shaped ink ribbon, and can be applied to any printing apparatus using a movable Mobius mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing an outline of the vicinity of a hammer mechanism of a dot line printer as an example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing an initial position of a Mobius mechanism of the dot line printer of FIG. 1. The schematic front view of the ribbon cassette of the dot line printer which becomes the other example of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of an error detection by short loop generation | occurrence | production. The timing chart of the error detection of this invention. The flowchart of the error detection control of this invention. FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view schematically showing the vicinity of a hammer mechanism portion of a conventional dot line printer. FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view showing an initial position of a Mobius mechanism of the dot line printer of FIG. 7. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a hammer mechanism portion of a dot line printer used in the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 Second ribbon guide
102 Ribbon sensor
103 Second cassette arm
104 Ink ribbon
105 Ribbon brake
106 Ribbon drive roller
107 Ribbon cassette
108 Mobius mechanism
109 Ribbon brake
110 Hammer mechanism
111 Electromagnetic coil for release
112 First cassette arm
113 First ribbon guide
114 printing hammer
115 printing paper
116 Platen
120 First sensor
121 Second sensor
122 Reflective sheet

Claims (4)

  An endless ink ribbon housed in a ribbon cassette, a drive source for conveying the ink ribbon, a biasing means for applying tension to the ink ribbon, a reversing means for reversing the ink ribbon back and forth, and a ribbon cassette A first sensor provided on the drive source side; a second sensor provided on the biasing means side; and a detection source for the first sensor and the second sensor provided on the reversing means. Ribbon cassette characterized by that.   The ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are optical sensors, and the detection source is a reflection sheet. A plurality of leaf spring-shaped printing hammers arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch in the digit direction and provided with hammer pins for dot printing at the tip, and a permanent magnet that generates a magnetic attractive force to hold the printing hammer in a non-printing position A hammer mechanism having a magnet and a release electromagnetic coil provided in each printing hammer for driving the printing hammer and supplied with a predetermined release current to cancel the magnetic field of the permanent magnet, the hammer pin being an ink In a dot line printer that performs recording by striking a recording medium disposed at an opposing position via a ribbon,
A dot line printer comprising the ribbon cassette according to claim 1. The dot line printer according to claim 3.
When the ribbon ribbon is loaded, the time for operating the ink ribbon is monitored, and if the time between the detection of the detection source of the first sensor and the detection of the second sensor is outside the predetermined time range, printing is performed. A dot line printer characterized in that the operation is stopped.

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