JP2536344C - - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device such as a label printer used for printing a desired character string on a band-shaped label with an adhesive, for example. 2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a device for creating an index label for a cassette tape or an index label for a video tape, a label printer that prints out character string data arbitrarily input by a key on a strip label with an adhesive is known. It is considered. A label with an adhesive used in this label printer is wound around a cartridge and stored in a cartridge, and is used by cutting out a portion fed out according to the printing length. For example, since the label width is different between a cassette tape and a video tape according to the purpose of use, a plurality of cartridges having labels of different widths are prepared in advance. Here, a thermal transfer type printing section is generally used for a label printer, and its ink ribbon has substantially the same width as that of the above-mentioned label with an adhesive, and is preliminarily aligned with the label at the transfer section of the cartridge. It is arranged and stored. In other words, it is necessary to interchange a cartridge having a narrow label and a cartridge having a wide label according to the set print width of a character string to be printed. However, for example, when a cartridge having a label having a narrow width is mounted, a printing medium including an ink ribbon and a label with an adhesive is applied to a thermal print head in a printing unit. When a heat generating element of the thermal print head corresponding to the print medium non-existent part generates heat, the heat generating element loses its heat radiation target and becomes abnormally hot, thereby shortening the life of the thermal print head. There is fear. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. For example, when a cartridge having a label having a narrow width is mounted, the heat generating element in a portion where the label does not exist does not generate heat, and the thermal print head does not operate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device capable of preventing the service life from being impaired. That is, a printing apparatus according to the present invention selectively mounts a plurality of types of cartridges containing one of a plurality of print-receiving media having different width sizes. , This cart
The printing apparatus for printing in a longitudinal direction of the printing medium the printing data by driving the print head provided with a plurality of heating elements in a width direction of Tsu the print medium stored in di, mounted on the printing apparatus Width detection position corresponding to the selected cartridge width size
To a voltage signal, and a voltage signal output from the variable resistor
An A / D conversion unit that converts the signal into a digital value signal and outputs the signal;
Based on a binary signal obtained by converting a digital value signal to be input through a decoder.
Width detecting means for obtaining information on a width size of a print-receiving medium accommodated in the cartridge mounted on a printing apparatus; and, during printing, the width detecting means among a plurality of heating elements provided on the print head. And a print head drive control means for driving a heating element within a range corresponding to the information on the width size of the print-receiving medium obtained in (1). In other words, when the cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the cartridge is controlled by the variable resistor.
The width detection position corresponding to the width of the bridge is converted to a voltage signal,
The output voltage signal is converted to a digital signal by an A / D converter.
Based on a binary signal obtained by converting a digital value signal via a decoder,
Information on the width size of the print-receiving medium contained in the cartridge mounted on the printing device.
Information is obtained. The print head drive control means is provided on the print head.
Among the plurality of heating elements, the information on the width size information of the print target medium obtained by the width detecting means is not included.
Heating elements within a corresponding range can be driven. Printing with narrow width by width detection means
When the medium width size information is obtained, the driving of the heating element of the print head corresponding to the portion where the print medium does not exist is prevented. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a label printer equipped with a printing device of the present invention. A main body case 11 is formed of, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped casing that can be gripped by an adult's hand.
A key input unit 12 and a display unit 13 are provided on a surface of the main body case 11.
A power switch 14 is provided on the right side surface. A key input unit 12 includes a character input key, a kana / kanji conversion key, a next candidate key, and a character magnification according to a word processor function for creating character string data such as a name, a heading, and an index for label printing. In addition to a setting key and an execution key, a line feed key, a "stop" key for delimiting a boundary of each character string data for one label, a mode switching key for switching between a character input mode and a printing mode, and starting a printing operation. For example, a print start key or the like is provided for the user. The display unit 13 displays character string data, message data, and the like obtained by the key input operation in accordance with the corresponding processes. A label discharge port 15 for discharging a label (not shown) after printing the character string data and a label for cutting out the label discharged to the label discharge port 15 are provided on the lower side surface of the main body case 11. A cutter button 16 is provided. That is, after turning on the power switch 14, arbitrary character string data is created using the key input unit 12 and the display unit 13, a print mode is set, and the printing process is started. The print target character string is printed on the label and is sequentially discharged from the label discharge port 15. In this case, according to the set print width of the character string to be printed,
Labels of different widths will be used interchangeably. The character string to be printed is printed on a label (not shown) and
When the label is discharged from the printer, the label is cut and used by sliding the label cutter 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow x. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the printing unit 21 of the label printer. The printing unit 21 is used with an ink tape cartridge 22 mounted thereon. The ink tape cartridge 22 has a label (a label on which the character string to be printed is printed).
An adhesive tape 23 and an ink ribbon 24 for printing on the label 23 are provided, and the label 23 is configured to be in parallel contact with the ink ribbon 24 in the transfer section 25 and to proceed simultaneously, and to be discharged from the ink tape cartridge 22. . Here, as the ink tape cartridge 22, for example, a cartridge having a label 23 and an ink ribbon 24 having different widths (9 mm, 18 mm) according to a cassette tape label or a video tape label is selected and mounted. . The ink tape cartridge 22 can be attached to and detached from the printing unit 21 by opening the case lid 26 of the main body case 11 provided with the key input unit 12 and the display unit 13 in one side. A spool shaft 28 is inserted into the label feeding spool 27 of the tape cartridge 22, and a ribbon winding shaft 30 is inserted into the ribbon winding spool 29 of the ink ribbon 24. The cartridge guides 32a and the cartridge holding hooks 32b are locked in the recesses 31a and 31b, respectively, so that positioning is achieved. In this case, the platen roller 33 is connected to the transfer section 25 of the ink tape cartridge 22.
And the thermal print head 34
Is set along the ink ribbon 24 in the transfer section 25. Here, the thermal print head 34 has a printing width of, for example, 16 mm and 128 dots (8 dots / mm) in the width direction of the ink ribbon 24. That is, during the printing operation of the character string to be printed on the label 23,
The ink ribbon 24 is conveyed at the same speed in the transfer unit 25 by the rotation of the platen roller 33 and the ribbon winding shaft 30, and the label 23 and the ink ribbon are moved between the thermal print head 34 and the platen roller 33. By performing the thermal transfer operation by sandwiching the print character string 24 with the print character string 24, the character string to be printed is sequentially printed on the label 23 and fed out from the label discharge port 15. In this case, the thermal transfer driving range of the thermal print head 34 depends on the type of the ink tape cartridge 22 mounted on the printing unit 21, that is, the width of the label 23 and the ink ribbon 24 of the ink tape cartridge 22. Is controlled. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 16 a denotes a cutter that projects to the label discharge port 15 as the cutter button 16 slides to cut the label 23. On the other hand, a label width detection switch 35 is provided at one end and a cartridge detection switch 36 is provided at the other end of the upper side surface of the printing section 21 where the ink tape cartridge 22 is mounted. FIG. 3 shows a structure for detecting the label width and the cartridge in the print unit 21 of the label printer. First, the label width detection switch 35 is a guide for the ink tape cartridge 22 to be scattered upright on the print unit base 37. Pins 37a-37
d, the width detecting movable plate 35a which is pressed down by the lower edge of the side surface of the ink tape cartridge 22 when the ink tape cartridge 22 is mounted, and a variable for converting the width detecting position by the width detecting movable plate 35a into a voltage signal. It comprises a resistor 35b and a width detection signal output line 35c for deriving a voltage signal obtained by the variable resistor 35b. The voltage signal of the level corresponding to the pressing and lowering position of the width detection movable plate 35a is used for the ink tape cartridge 22. The width, that is, the width of the label (adhesive tape) 23 and the ink ribbon 24 is detected. When the ink tape cartridge 22 is attached to the print unit 21 in the same manner as described above, the cartridge detection switch 36 is pressed by the lower edge of the side surface of the ink tape cartridge 22 and moves downward. 36a, and a microswitch 36b that outputs an electric signal when the cartridge detection movable plate 36a is lowered. The ink signal from the microswitch 36b causes the ink tape cartridge 22 to be mounted on the print unit 21, that is, The completion of the mounting of the label 23 and the ink ribbon 24 serving as the print medium is detected. FIG. 4 shows the detection state of the label width and the cartridge in the printing unit 21 of the label printer. FIG. 4A shows the detection state of the ink tape cartridge 22 in which a label 23 having a width of, for example, 9 mm is stored. 4B shows a detection state of the ink tape cartridge 22 in which a label 23 having a width of, for example, 18 mm is stored. In this case, the mounting height of each ink tape cartridge 22 with respect to the printing unit 21 is regulated by guide pins 37 a to 37 d erected on the printing unit base 37, and the top plate is always set to the same height. As shown in FIG. 4A,
When the descending amount of the width detection movable plate 35a is small, it means that the ink tape cartridge 22 having the label 23 having a width of 9 mm is mounted, and as shown in FIG. When the descending amount is large, the ink tape cartridge 22 having the label 23 having a width of 18 mm is mounted. On the other hand, in the cartridge detection switch 36, the cartridge detection movable plate 3
In the state where 6a moves downward, it means that the ink tape cartridge 22 is mounted regardless of the descending amount. FIG. 5 shows a configuration of an electronic circuit in the label printer. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 41 denotes a control unit which controls the operation of each unit of the circuit, and the control unit 41 includes the key input unit 12 and the key input unit 12. In addition to the display unit 13, a print data memory 42 for storing the created character string to be printed is connected, and a printing unit 43 having a print drive circuit is connected. The print data memory 42 stores print character strings corresponding to each label, separated by a stop code, and the print character strings are sequentially controlled by setting a print mode. The data is read out by the unit 41 and displayed on the display unit 13. On the other hand, in the tape detecting section 44 having the label width detecting switch 35 and the cartridge detecting switch 36, the label width detecting signal is outputted to the control section 41 and the printing section 43, and the cartridge detecting signal is printed. The output is output to a unit 43 and to a tape feed motor 45 for rotating the platen roller 33. The transport speed of the label 23 and the ink ribbon 24 by the tape feed motor 45 is controlled according to the print drive timing of the thermal print head 34 in the print unit 43. The printing unit 43 controls the printing operation of the thermal print head 34 so as to perform a printing process of a character string to be printed sequentially read from the printing data storage unit 42 in accordance with predetermined printing format information. At the same time, the printing unit 43 controls the rotation of the ribbon take-up shaft 30 and the platen roller 33. In the printing unit 43, the thermal print head 34 is controlled in accordance with the label width detection signal and the cartridge detection signal from the tape detection unit 44. Is controlled. FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a printing drive circuit in the printing section 43 of the label printer. The thermal print head 34 includes heating elements 341 to 34128 having a width of 16 mm and 128 dots (8 dots / mm). The respective heating elements 341 to 34128 are driven to generate heat through corresponding drivers 461 to 46128, respectively. Each of the drivers 461 to 46128 corresponds to each of the drivers 461 to 46128 when a dot drive signal corresponding to the character pattern of the data to be printed is provided in a state where a print enable signal is provided by the print control gate G1 or G2. The print control gate G1 drives the heating elements 341 to 34128 to generate heat.
A print enable signal is supplied to the drivers 4633 to 4696 of the heating elements 3433 to 3496 corresponding to the printing range of the width. Excluding the heating elements 341 to 3432, 3497 to 3 corresponding to the printing range of 16 mm width for the label 23 of 18 mm width except
A print permission signal is supplied to the 4128 drivers 461 to 4632 and 4697 to 46128. On the other hand, in the tape detecting section 44, after the label width detection signal output from the label width detecting switch 35 is converted into a digital value through the A / D conversion section 35 d,
Further, the signal is converted into a binary signal “0” when a 9 mm wide label is detected and “1” when a 18 mm wide label is detected via the decoder 35 e.
5e is a label width detection signal obtained as a binary signal.
Output to 2. A cartridge detection signal from the cartridge detection switch 36 is output to each of the print control gates G 1 and G 2 and is output to the tape feed motor 45 as a rotation permission signal. The print signal output from the control unit 41 in response to the operation of the print start key of the key input unit 12 is output to each of the print control gates G1 and G2. That is, the print control gate G 1 outputs the above-described print permission signal when a print signal is supplied from the control unit 41 in a state where the cartridge detection signal is supplied from the cartridge detection switch 36. G2 is a state in which a cartridge detection signal is supplied from the cartridge detection switch 36 and a detection signal of an 18 mm wide label is supplied from the label width detection switch 35, and the print enable signal is supplied when a print signal is supplied from the control unit 41. Will be output. Next, the printing operation of the label printer having the above configuration will be described. That is, the data to be printed stored in the print data memory 42 is
In response to the operation of the print start key in step 2, the data is read out to the control unit 41, converted into a character pattern, and sequentially transferred to the printing unit 43 one dot line at a predetermined printing timing. Here, when an ink tape cartridge 22 having a label 23 with a width of 18 mm is attached to the print unit 21, a label width detection switch 35 of the tape detection unit 44 detects a detection signal of an 18 mm width label. “1” is output, a cartridge detection signal is output from the cartridge detection switch 36, and the control unit 41
Output a print signal from each of the print control gates G in the print unit 43.
1 and G2, a print permission signal is supplied to each of the heating element drivers 461 to 46128. In this case, the heating elements 341 to 34128 corresponding to the entire printing range of 16 mm width of the thermal print head 34 are in a heating standby state, whereby the ink tape cartridge 22 attached to the printing section 21 18mm width label 23
Then, a print output of 16 mm width is performed corresponding to a 128 dot drive signal corresponding to the character pattern of the data to be printed. When the print start key in the key input unit 12 is operated, the print unit 2
On the other hand, when the ink tape cartridge 22 having the label 23 having a width of 9 mm is mounted, the label width detection switch 35 of the tape detection section 44 outputs a detection signal “0” of the label having a width of 9 mm, Since a cartridge detection signal is output from the detection switch 36 and a print signal is output from the control unit 41, in the print unit 43, only one of the print control gates G1 is sent to the heating element drivers 4633 to 4696. On the other hand, a print permission signal is supplied. In this case, the heating element 3 corresponding to the 8 mm wide printing range of the thermal print head 34
Only the 433 to 3496 are in the heat standby state, so that the 9-mm wide label 23 of the ink tape cartridge 22 mounted on the printing unit 21 has a 64-dot drive signal corresponding to the character pattern of the data to be printed. , A print output of 8 mm width is performed. Here, when the ink tape cartridge 22 having the 9 mm width label 23 is mounted, the print control signal is not output from the print control gate G2, and the heating elements 341 to 3432, 3497 to 3497 outside the 8 mm width print range are output. 34128, the heat printing operation is prevented, so that unnecessary heat generation at the head portion of the thermal print head 34 where the label 23 and the ink ribbon 24 are not in contact is prevented, and damage to the thermal print head 34 due to abnormal heat generation is prevented. become. When the ink tape cartridge 22 is not attached to the print unit 21, no detection signal is output from the cartridge detection switch 36, and no print permission signal is output from the print control gates G 1 and G 2. In this case, the printing operation of all the heating elements 341 to 34128 with respect to the thermal print head 34 is prevented, and the rotating operation of the tape feed motor 45 is also prevented. The heat generation of the thermal print head 34 that does not come into contact with the thermal print head 34 is prevented, so that the thermal print head 34 is not only damaged, but also the head surface wear due to friction with the platen roller 33 is prevented.
Life can be extended. Therefore, according to the label printer having the above configuration, when the cartridge detecting switch 36 of the tape detecting section 44 detects that the ink tape cartridge is not stored in the printing section, the print control gates G 1 and G 2 are provided. To prevent the heating elements 341 to 34128 of the entire thermal print head 34 from generating heat,
When a label having a width of 9 mm smaller than the thermal print head 34 is detected by the label width detection switch 35 while the ink tape cartridge is housed in the print section, the label does not exist through the print control gate G2. Heating elements 341-1343, 3497- of the thermal print head 34 corresponding only to the portions
34128, the thermal print head 34
In contrast, abnormal heat generation can be prevented at a portion where the label 23 and the ink ribbon 24 do not come into contact, and the life of the portion can be extended. As described above, according to the present invention, one of a plurality of print-receiving media having different width sizes is provided.
A plurality of types of cartridges each of which contains one of the cartridges , and drives a print head provided with a plurality of heating elements in a width direction of the print-receiving medium accommodated in the cartridge to print data from the print-receiving medium. the printing apparatus for printing of the length, the printing
A voltage signal indicates a width detection position corresponding to the width size of the cartridge mounted on the apparatus.
And a voltage signal output from the variable resistor to a digital value.
An A / D conversion unit that converts the signal into a signal and outputs the signal.
Digital signal based on a binary signal obtained by converting the digital value signal through a decoder.
A width detection unit that obtains information on a width size of a print-receiving medium accommodated in the mounted cartridge; and a width detection unit that is obtained by the width detection unit among a plurality of heating elements provided in the print head during printing. Print head drive control means for driving a heating element within a range corresponding to the information on the width size of the print-receiving medium, so that printing is performed on a print-receiving medium narrower than the print head. In this case, it is possible to prevent the life of the thermal print head from being impaired without causing the heating elements in the portion where the print medium does not exist to perform the heat generation operation. In this case, a voltage signal corresponding to the width size of the cartridge is obtained by the variable resistor.
The voltage signal is digitized and binarized based on the binarized signal.
Since the information on the width size of the print medium accommodated in the ridge is obtained, it is not necessary to provide a specific detection unit in the cartridge or to provide a plurality of sensors corresponding to the type of the cartridge. , Very simple configuration, accommodated in multiple types of cartridges
It is possible to detect the different printing medium each of width sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing an external configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing unit of the label printer. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure for detecting a label width and a cartridge in a printing unit of the label printer. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detection state of a label width and a cartridge in a printing unit of the label printer. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit in the label printer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing drive circuit in a printing section of the label printer. [Description of Signs] 11: body case, 12: key input unit, 13: display unit, 14: power switch, 1
5: label outlet, 16: cutter button, 16a: cutter, 21: printing unit,
22 ... ink tape cartridge, 23 ... label, 24 ... ink ribbon, 25 ...
Transfer unit, 26: Case lid, 27: Label feeding spool, 28: Spool shaft, 2
9: ribbon take-up spool, 30: ribbon take-up shaft, 31a, 1b: cartridge dent, 32a: cartridge guide, 32b: cartridge holding hook,
33: platen roller, 34: thermal print head, 341-34128: heating element, 35: label width detection switch, 35a: width detection movable plate, 35b: variable resistor, 35c: width detection signal output line, 35d: A / D converter, 35e ... decoder, 36
... Cartridge detection switch, 36a ... Cartridge detection movable plate, 36b ... Micro switch, 37 ... Print section base, 37a-37d ... Guide pin, 41 ... Control section, 42 ... Print data memory, 43 ... Print section, 44 ... Tape detection Unit, 45: tape feed motor, 461 to 46128: driver, G1, G2: print control gate.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A plurality of cartridges accommodating one of a plurality of print media having different widths are selectively mounted, and the print media contained in the cartridge are mounted on the cartridge . In a printing device that drives a print head provided with a plurality of heating elements in a width direction and prints print data in a length direction of the print-receiving medium, the printing device corresponds to a width size of the cartridge mounted on the printing device. Width detection position
To a voltage signal, and the voltage signal output from the variable resistor is converted to a digital value signal and output.
And an A / D converter for converting a digital value signal output from the A / D converter via a decoder.
Width detecting means for obtaining information on a width size of a print-receiving medium contained in the cartridge mounted on the printing apparatus based on the binary signal obtained from the printing apparatus; Print head drive control means for driving a heating element within a range corresponding to the information on the width size of the print target medium obtained by the width detection means among the plurality of heating elements. Characteristic printing device.