JP2019209557A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printer that is easy for an operator to perform work for adjusting an ink ribbon.SOLUTION: The printer comprises an enclosure, a cover for covering a portion of the enclosure and a printing unit for holding an ink ribbon. The printing unit has a ribbon adjustment mechanism, arranged at a position that is exposed when the printing unit is closed and when the cover is opened, which adjusts a conveyance state of the ink ribbon, and performs printing by thermal transfer configured so that operation of conveying the ink ribbon can be executed when the printing unit is closed and the cover is opened.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a printer that is configured so that an error display “open cover” is executed and a printing operation is not performed when an exterior cover that is attached to the printer so as to be opened and closed is not closed. It is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-230610

  For example, in a printer that performs printing by thermal transfer, an operation for adjusting the conveyance state of the ink ribbon is performed. At this time, it is preferable that the operator can perform the ink ribbon feeding operation (that is, the printing operation) while confirming the ink ribbon conveyance status.

  However, the printer as described above is configured such that printing cannot be executed when the exterior cover is opened. For this reason, after confirming the state of the ink ribbon, the operator closes the exterior cover, performs test printing, confirms the printing state, opens the exterior cover, and performs the adjustment work of the ink ribbon. After closing, the test printing must be performed again to check the printing state. Such work is inefficient for the operator and still leaves room for improvement.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printer that allows an operator to easily adjust an ink ribbon.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, a printer that performs printing by thermal transfer, covers a casing and a part of the casing, and is attached to one side of the casing so as to be openable and closable with respect to the casing. A printing unit that holds the ink ribbon, is attached to the one side of the housing so as to be openable and closable with respect to the housing, and is housed between the housing and the cover in a closed state; The printing unit includes a ribbon adjustment mechanism that is disposed at a position exposed in the closed state of the printing unit and in the open state of the cover, and that adjusts the transport state of the ink ribbon, and the closed state of the printing unit In addition, there is provided a printer configured so that the ink ribbon can be transported when the cover is open.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer that allows an operator to easily perform an ink ribbon adjustment operation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where both the cover 11 and the printing unit 30 of the printer 100 are opened. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the print unit 30 is pulled away from the cover 11 from a state where both the cover 11 and the print unit 30 of the printer 100 are opened. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cover 11 of the printer 100 is opened and the print unit 30 is closed. FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the printer 100 with the cover 11 opened and the print unit 30 closed. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the adjustment of the conveyance state of the ink ribbon R by the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation for adjusting the transport state of the ink ribbon R. FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining a modified example of the plate member 38 p in the ribbon adjusting mechanism 38.

  Hereinafter, a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where both the cover 11 and the printing unit 30 of the printer 100 are opened. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an intermediate state in which the print unit 30 is positioned between the cover 11 and the housing 10 from a state where both the cover 11 and the print unit 30 of the printer 100 are opened. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cover 11 of the printer 100 is opened and the print unit 30 is closed.

  The printer 100 is a thermal transfer type printer that performs printing by heating the ink ribbon R and transferring the ink of the ink ribbon R to the printing medium M. The print medium M is, for example, a continuous label body in which a plurality of labels are continuously attached to a belt-like mount.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 100 includes a housing 10 and a cover 11 that covers an opening of the housing 10. Here, the housing 10 includes a part of an internal structure constituting the main body of the printer 100.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print medium M is held on the medium supply shaft 12 while being wound in a roll shape. As the printing medium M, a label without a mount or a fanfold type medium can be used.

  The cover 11 is supported by a support shaft 13 provided in the housing 10 so that the end on one end side thereof is swingable. The cover 11 can be opened and closed with respect to the housing 10 by swinging around the support shaft 13. That is, it is possible to switch between a closed state (see FIG. 2) for closing the opening of the housing 10 and an open state (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) for opening.

  The housing 10 is provided with a lock mechanism (not shown) that maintains the cover 11 in a closed state. The lock mechanism is released by operating the lever 14 shown in FIG.

  A discharge port 16 through which the print medium M printed by the print unit 15 shown in FIG. 2 is discharged from the printer 100 is formed between the end of the cover 11 on the other end side and the housing 10.

  A cutter 17 facing the discharge port 16 is attached to the cover 11 of the present embodiment. Thereby, the printed print medium M discharged from the discharge port 16 can be cut. Note that various other units such as a peeling unit and a verification machine can be attached to the cover 11 instead of the cutter 17.

  The cover 11 is provided with an operation unit 19 for operating the printer 100. The operation unit 19 includes various operation buttons, a display, a short-range wireless communication module, an LED, and the like. The display may be a touch panel.

  Inside the printer 100 are housed a printing unit 30 for printing on the printing medium M, a controller 40 for controlling the operation of the printer 100, and the like.

  The printing unit 30 includes a main body 31 that is supported at one end by a support shaft 13 in a swingable manner, and a thermal head 32 that is attached to the main body 31.

  The printing unit 30 is supported by a support shaft 13 provided in the housing 10 so that an end portion on one end side thereof is swingable. The printing unit 30 can be opened and closed with respect to the housing 10 by swinging around the support shaft 13. That is, the closed state shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 and the open state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be switched.

  That is, in the printer 100, the cover 11 and the print unit 30 are both closed with respect to the housing 10 (the state shown in FIG. 2), and the cover 11 and the print unit 30 are both attached to the housing 10. A state in which the printing unit 30 is positioned inside the cover 11 (the state shown in FIG. 3), and a state in which the cover 11 is opened with respect to the housing 10 and the printing unit 30 is closed. 5 (the state shown in FIG. 5) and the intermediate state (shown in FIG. 4) in which the cover 11 is opened with respect to the housing 10 and the printing unit 30 is located between the cover 11 and the housing 10. State).

  The state shown in FIG. 2 is a state in which the printer 100 can perform a printing operation. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the print medium M is exchanged.

  In the state shown in FIG. 4, the ink ribbon R is exchanged. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the transport operation of the ink ribbon R is performed while confirming the transport state of the ink ribbon R.

  In the printing unit 30, the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 20 provided in the housing 10 constitute a printing unit 15 that performs printing on the printing medium M.

  The printing unit 30 also includes a ribbon supply shaft 33 that holds the ink ribbon R supplied to the printing unit 15 in a roll shape, a ribbon take-up shaft 34 that winds up the used ink ribbon R, an ink ribbon R, and printing. A partition member 35 that partitions the medium M, a guide shaft 36 that defines a transport path of the ink ribbon R from the ribbon supply shaft 33 to the printing unit 15, and an ink ribbon R from the printing unit 15 to the ribbon take-up shaft 34. And a guide shaft 37 that defines the conveyance path. The ribbon supply shaft 33 is detachably attached to the partition member 35. Note that the ink ribbon R of the present embodiment is a front-wrapped ink ribbon having an ink-coated surface on the outside.

  The print medium M is supplied from the medium supply shaft 12 to the print unit 15 and is sandwiched between the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 20 together with the ink ribbon R.

  Further, the printing unit 30 includes a ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 for adjusting the conveyance state of the ink ribbon R between the guide shaft 37 and the thermal head 32. Details of the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 will be described later.

  When the heating element of the thermal head 32 is energized while the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are sandwiched between the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 20, the ink on the ink ribbon R is printed by the heat of the heating element. The image is transferred to the medium M, and printing on the print medium M is performed.

  When the platen roller 20 is rotated forward by a platen drive motor (not shown), the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are conveyed downstream in the conveying direction, and the printing medium M is discharged from the discharge port 16 to the outside of the printer 100. Discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 100 includes a reflection sensor 21. The reflection sensor 21 is a sensor that detects an eye mark printed in advance at a predetermined interval on a surface opposite to the surface on which the printing of the printing medium M is performed. As a result, the position of the print medium M in the transport direction can be detected.

  The printer 100 includes a transmission sensor 22 that detects the position of the print medium M in the transport direction.

  The transmission sensor 22 receives a light emitting unit 22a as a light emitting unit that emits predetermined light and a light receiving unit that receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22a and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the received light. And a unit 22b.

  For example, when the printing medium M is a continuous label body in which a plurality of labels are temporarily attached to a belt-like mount at a predetermined interval, there is only a portion of the mount between two adjacent labels. To do.

  Since the transmission amount of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22a is different between the portion where the label is present and the portion of the mount alone, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit 22b changes. Thereby, the transmission sensor 22 can detect the position of the print medium M in the transport direction.

  The printer 100 also includes a photosensor 23 as a detection unit that detects the open / closed state of the print unit 30. In the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the photosensor 23 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and is provided on the housing 10 side. In the closed state, a convex portion (not shown) provided on the printing unit 30 side blocks the gap between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, so that the closed state is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the partition member 35 includes a base portion 35a, a shaft portion 35b provided on one end side of the base portion 35a, and a support portion that supports the ribbon supply shaft 33 in parallel and rotatably with the shaft portion 35b. 35d and an engaging portion 35e formed at the center of the shaft portion 35b.

  The partition member 35 is swingably supported by the main body portion 31 by the shaft portion 35b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the base portion 35 a of the partition member 35 extends to a position facing the reflection sensor 21 provided in the housing 10. As a result, a conveyance path for the print medium M is formed between the reflection sensor 21 and the portion of the partition member 35 facing the reflection sensor 21.

  The reflection sensor 21 is a sensor that detects an eye mark printed in advance at a predetermined interval on a surface opposite to the surface on which the printing of the printing medium M is performed. As a result, the position of the print medium M in the transport direction can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the engaging portion 35 e is configured to engage with an engaged portion 11 a provided on the cover 11. When the partition member 35 is brought into a position (closed position) where the engaging portion 35e engages with the engaged portion 11a, the ribbon supply shaft 33 is accommodated in the main body portion 31. As a result, the ribbon supply shaft 33 becomes a ribbon supply position for supplying the ink ribbon R to the printing unit 15.

  When printing is performed by the printer 100, the cover 11 is closed, and the engaging portion 35 e of the partition member 35 is engaged with the engaged portion 11 a of the cover 11.

  In the present embodiment, the partition member 35 guides the print medium M, so that the print medium M is stably conveyed within a certain distance from the reflection sensor 21. Thereby, the detection accuracy of the reflection sensor 21 can be improved.

  When the printer 100 is in a printable state, that is, in the state shown in FIG. 2, the partition member 35 is in a state of guiding the print medium M.

  As described above, since the print medium M is guided by the partition member 35, it is not necessary to separately provide a guide member for transporting the print medium M within a certain distance from the reflection sensor 21. The operation of inserting the print medium M is also unnecessary.

  Further, since the printer 100 includes the engaging portion 35e that engages the cover 11 and the print unit 30 so that the print unit 30 is shifted to the open state in conjunction with the cover 11 being shifted to the open state. When the cover 11 is opened from the closed state, the print unit 30 swings integrally with the cover 11 and the opening of the housing 10 is opened.

  Thereby, the setting of the printing medium M to the printer 100 and the maintenance of each part in the housing 10 can be performed.

  Further, when the engagement between the engaging portion 35e and the engaged portion 11a is released from the state in which the opening of the housing 10 is opened and the partition member 35 is swung toward the housing 10 side, the partition member 35 is removed. Is opened with respect to the printing unit 30 and, as shown in FIG. 4, the printing unit 30 is moved from the cover 11 in the opened state so as to be positioned between the cover 11 and the housing 10, and the intermediate Can be in a state.

  As the partition member 35 is moved to the open position, the ribbon supply shaft 33 and the roll-shaped ink ribbon R held on the ribbon supply shaft 33 move relative to the ribbon take-up shaft 34, and the print medium M It is exposed to the discharge port 16 side.

  As a result, the ribbon supply shaft 33 becomes a ribbon replacement position that can be detached from the printer 100, and the ink ribbon R can be replaced.

  Further, when the ink ribbon R is exchanged, the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 is adjusted by the operator so that the ink ribbon R is conveyed in parallel with the heat generating element of the thermal head 32. Details of the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 will be described later.

  The controller 40 includes a microprocessor, a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, an input / output interface, and a bus for connecting them. Print data from an external computer, a signal from the transmission sensor 18, a signal from the reflection sensor 21, and the like are input to the controller 40 via an input / output interface.

  The controller 40 executes a print control program stored in the storage device by the microprocessor, and controls energization to the heating elements of the thermal head 32, energization to the platen drive motor, and the like.

  Further, the controller 40 controls the execution of the ink ribbon R transport operation according to the open / closed state of the printing unit 30 and the cover 11. As an example, the controller 40 is configured to execute the transport operation of the ink ribbon R in a state where the printing unit 30 is closed and the cover 11 is opened.

[Description of ribbon adjustment mechanism]
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the printer 100 with the cover 11 opened and the print unit 30 closed. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the adjustment of the conveyance state of the ink ribbon R by the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38.

  The ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 is in a state where the cover 11 and the print unit 30 are both opened with respect to the housing 10 and the print unit 30 is located inside the cover 11 as shown in FIG. It is arranged at a position covered by the cover 11. The ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 is formed so as to be exposed to the front side of the printer 100 in the intermediate state shown in FIG. 4 or only the cover 11 shown in FIG. 6 is opened.

  In FIG. 6, the ink ribbon R and the guide shaft 37 are not shown for convenience of explanation.

  In a state where the ink ribbon R is mounted on the printing unit 30, the ink ribbon R is conveyed through the outside of the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 (the front side of the printer in FIG. 6).

  The ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 includes a plate member 38p and a locking member 38r for locking the plate member 38p to the printing unit 30. The plate member 38p is disposed such that one long side end 38e abuts over the width direction of the ink ribbon R. Since the ink ribbon R is conveyed from the printing unit 15 through the outside of the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 (the front side of the printer), the end 38e of the plate member 38p contacts the ink ribbon R. A long hole 38h is formed at a predetermined position of the plate member 38p. The locking member 38r is configured to be inserted into the long hole 38h to lock the plate member 38p to the printing unit 30.

  In the present embodiment, a pair of elongated holes 38h are formed at both ends in the width direction of the plate member 38p, and screws are used as the locking members 38r.

  The long axis length of the long hole 38h is formed larger than the diameter of the threaded portion (not shown) of the locking member 38r. The short axis length of the long hole 38h is narrower than the screw head 38a of the locking member 38r and slightly larger than the diameter of the screw portion. For this reason, the plate member 38p can be moved within the opening range of the long hole 38h, and can be locked to the printing unit 30 at a predetermined position.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the plate member 38 p has a major axis direction and a minor axis direction of the long hole 38 h (up and down direction in FIG. 7) in a state where the locking member 38 r is inserted into the long hole 38 h. (Corresponding to the left-right direction).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact angle of the end 38e of the plate member 38p with the surface of the ink ribbon R can be adjusted.

  Since the ink ribbon R is a thin sheet, the tension applied to the ink ribbon R can be changed according to the angle at which the end 38e of the plate member 38p contacts the ink ribbon R. Thereby, the conveyance state of the ink ribbon R can be adjusted.

  The ink ribbon R is adjusted by the ribbon adjusting mechanism 38 so as to be conveyed in parallel to the thermal head 32.

[Description of operation for adjusting the transport state of the ink ribbon R]
The printer 100 according to the present embodiment can execute an operation for adjusting the transport state of the ink ribbon R after the ink ribbon R is replaced. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation for adjusting the transport state of the ink ribbon R.

  In step S1, the controller 40 determines whether or not the printing unit 30 is in a closed state. If the printing unit 30 is in the closed state, the controller 40 shifts to the standby state in step S2.

  In step S <b> 3, the controller 40 determines whether execution of a test operation has been input.

  When the test operation is input, the process proceeds to step S4 and the test operation is executed. In the test operation, the controller 40 rotates the platen roller 20 without energizing the heat generating elements of the thermal head 32, thereby causing the ink ribbon R sandwiched between the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 20 and The printing medium M is conveyed.

  On the other hand, if execution of the test operation is not input in step S3, the process proceeds to step S5, and the controller 40 determines whether or not a printing operation is input.

  When the printing operation is input, the process proceeds to step S6, and the normal printing operation is executed. In the printing operation, the controller 40 energizes the heating elements of the thermal head 32 and rotates the platen roller 20 to thereby rotate the ink ribbon R and the printing medium M sandwiched between the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 20. Transport. The ink on the ink ribbon R is transferred to the print medium M by the heat of the heating element.

  While executing step S4 or S6, the controller 40 determines whether or not there is a stop operation as step S7. If there is a stop operation, the controller 40 returns to the standby state of step S2. On the other hand, if there is no stop operation, the test operation or the printing operation is terminated.

[effect]
The printer 100 according to the present embodiment includes a printing unit 30 that holds the ink ribbon R, and a ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 that adjusts the conveyance state of the ink ribbon R. The ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 closes the printing unit 30. In the state where the cover 11 is open, the print unit 30 is disposed so as to be exposed. As a result, the operator can check the state of the ink ribbon R conveyed with the print medium M by opening the cover 11.

  Further, in the printer 100, the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 is used when the user of the printer 100 performs an operation of replacing the ink ribbon R, or an operator who can perform a maintenance operation of the printer 100 can convey the ink ribbon R. It is exposed when performing the work of adjusting. For this reason, among the operations performed with the cover 11 of the printer 100 and the printing unit 30 opened, the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 is not exposed during the replacement operation of the printing medium M, which is a frequent operation. .

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ribbon adjusting mechanism 38 from being touched unexpectedly when the printing medium M is frequently replaced.

  In addition, the printer 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to perform the ink ribbon R transport operation when the printing unit 30 is closed and the cover 11 is open.

  For this reason, according to the printer 100, after confirming the ink ribbon conveyance state, which is conventionally performed when an operator adjusts the ink ribbon conveyance state, the exterior cover is closed, and test printing is performed. After confirming the printing state, in the series of operations of opening the exterior cover again, adjusting the ink ribbon, closing the exterior cover, and performing test printing again to confirm the printing state, the cover 11 The ink ribbon R can be transported without closing.

  Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the adjustment operation of the ink ribbon conveyance state.

  In the above-described operation for adjusting the conveyance of the ink ribbon R, when the print unit 30 is closed and the cover 11 is open, the heating element of the thermal head 32 is not energized in step S4. A test operation for conveying the ink ribbon R and the print medium M is executed. Thereby, the operator can confirm the conveyance state of the ink ribbon R conveyed with the printing medium M.

  In step S6, in a closed state of the printing unit 30 and an open state of the cover 11, a printing operation for carrying the ink ribbon R and the printing medium M by energizing the heating elements of the thermal head 32 is executed. . According to this operation, since printing is actually performed on the printing medium M, the operator can easily check the presence or absence of wrinkles on the ink ribbon R.

  The printer 100 also includes a photosensor 23 for detecting the open / closed state of the print unit 30 with respect to the housing 10. When the photosensor 23 detects that the print unit 30 is closed, the ink ribbon The conveyance operation of R can be executed.

  According to the printer 100, since the closed state of the print unit 30 is detected by the photosensor 23, for example, the cover 11 is open as in the intermediate state shown in FIG. It is possible to prevent a malfunction in which the ink ribbon R is transported in a state where it is not in the body 10.

  Further, since the printer 100 includes the engaging portion 35e that engages the cover 11 and the print unit 30 so that the print unit 30 is shifted to the open state in conjunction with the cover 11 being shifted to the open state. When the cover 11 is opened from the closed state, the printing unit 30 swings integrally with the cover 11 and the opening of the housing 10 can be opened.

  Thereby, since the user and the operator can open the cover 11 and the printing unit 30 with one action, the inside of the housing 10 can be easily accessed. In addition, it is possible to easily replace the printing medium M in the printer 100 and maintain each part in the housing 10.

  In the printer 100, the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 is in contact with the ink ribbon R, and is inserted into the plate member 38p having a long hole 38h formed in a part thereof, and the long hole 38h of the plate member 38p, and is locked to the printing unit 30. The plate member 38p can be moved relative to the printing unit 30 within the opening range of the long hole 38h, and can be locked at a predetermined position.

  Thus, the operator can easily operate the ribbon adjustment mechanism 38 for adjusting the conveyance state of the ink ribbon R.

[Other Embodiments]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the above embodiment is merely one example of application of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limited to the specific configuration of the above embodiment. is not.

  In the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the detection unit that detects the open / closed state of the print unit 30 may be a microswitch sensor or the like in addition to the photosensor 23. Any detector that can detect the opening and closing of the printing unit 30 can be used.

  In the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, a screw is used as the locking member 38r for locking the plate member 38p to the printing unit 30. A locking member other than a screw may be used. It is preferable that a general user cannot easily operate.

  In the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the plate member 38p may take another form. FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining a modification of the plate member 38p used in the ribbon adjusting mechanism 38. FIG.

  A plate member 39p shown as a modified example of the plate member 38p has a concave portion 39c for curving the central portion in the width direction of the ink ribbon R from the front side of the printer toward the back side of the printer on one end 39e side. Is formed.

  According to the plate member 39p, the transport direction of the ink ribbon R is changed from the front side of the printer toward the back side of the printer at the end 39e in a state where the ink ribbon R is curved along the concave portion 39c. As a result, the central portion of the ink ribbon R is less likely to be bent at the end 39e of the plate member 39p, and an effect of favorably maintaining the transport state of the ink ribbon R is obtained.

  In step S4, when the printing unit 30 is not in the closed state, a step of displaying a message for prompting the operator to close the printing unit 30 or notifying by voice may be prepared.

  In the transport operation of the ink ribbon R of the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, a ribbon adjustment mode for adjusting the ink ribbon R may be prepared. In this case, for example, the printer 100 receives an input for mode switching from an operator and executes the ribbon adjustment mode.

  The ribbon adjustment mode may be, for example, a mode in which test printing is performed for a predetermined distance as the printing operation described in step S6 illustrated in FIG.

  Thereby, it is not necessary to print the printing contents actually used. Also, by preparing print contents that make it easy to find wrinkles as test print data, it becomes easier for the operator to determine the state of the ink ribbon R, and convenience is enhanced.

  Further, as an example of the test print data, black solid print is performed for a predetermined distance. Since the wrinkles of the ink ribbon R often appear as white streaks on the print medium after printing, the white streaks due to wrinkles of the ink ribbon R are further discovered by performing black solid printing. There is an effect that it becomes easy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Case 11 Cover 11a Engagement part 12 Medium supply shaft 13 Support shaft 14 Lever 15 Printing part 16 Ejection port 17 Cutter 18 Transmission sensor 19 Operation unit 20 Platen roller 21 Reflection sensor 22 Transmission sensor 22a Light emission unit 22b Light reception unit 23 Photo Sensor 23a Light emitting unit 23b Light receiving unit 30 Printing unit 31 Main body 32 Thermal head 33 Ribbon supply shaft 34 Ribbon take-up shaft 35 Partition member 35a Base portion 35b Shaft portion 35d Support portion 35e Engaging portion 36 Guide shaft 37 Guide shaft 38 Ribbon adjustment Mechanism 38a Screw head 38e End 38h Slot 38p Plate member 38r Locking member 39p Plate member 39c Recess 39e End 40 Controller 100 Printer

Claims (5)

A printer that performs printing by thermal transfer,
A housing,
A cover that covers a part of the housing and is attached to one side of the housing so as to be openable and closable with respect to the housing;
A printing unit that holds an ink ribbon, is attached to the one side of the casing so as to be openable and closable with respect to the casing, and is housed between the casing and the cover in a closed state;
In the printing unit, a ribbon adjusting mechanism that is disposed at a position exposed in the closed state of the printing unit and in the open state of the cover, and for adjusting the transport state of the ink ribbon;
With
In the closed state of the printing unit and the open state of the cover, the ink ribbon can be transported.
Printer. The printer according to claim 1,
The ribbon adjustment mechanism is disposed at a position covered by the cover in the printing unit when both the cover and the printing unit are in an open state.
Printer. The printer according to claim 1 or 2,
A detection unit that detects an open / closed state of the printing unit with respect to the housing;
When the detection unit detects that the printing unit is in a closed state, the ink ribbon transport operation can be executed.
Printer. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the cover is shifted to the open state, an engagement portion that engages the cover and the print unit so as to shift to the open state in conjunction with the print unit is provided.
Printer. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The ribbon adjusting mechanism is
A plate member that abuts the ink ribbon and has a long hole formed in part;
A locking member inserted into the long hole of the plate member and locked to the printing unit;
The printer is configured such that the plate member can be locked to the printing unit at a predetermined position within an opening range of the long hole.

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