JP2755310B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that winds a multicolor ink ribbon in conjunction with intermittent driving of a ribbon carrier.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of ribbon forms one cycle by sequentially arranging colors of a predetermined length on one film in order to determine how many colors are applied at the head of each color. Is provided. Then, a bar code sensor is provided in a part of the ribbon path, and the bar code sensor detects a target color bar code while winding the ribbon by moving the ribbon carrier.

By the way, the ribbon takes up slack near the ribbon winding start or stop operation, so that the ribbon winding operation is not stable. For this reason, if the bar code comes to the sensor portion near the ribbon winding start or stop operation, the possibility of erroneous bar code detection increases.

Therefore, conventionally, an area (ineffective area) in which a sensor detects a barcode but ignores the barcode is provided until the winding operation of the ribbon is stabilized.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when a bar code of a target color happens to come to an invalid area, the bar code is ignored, so that a ribbon for one cycle including other colors is included. To further detect the bar code in the next cycle. That is, the ribbon for one cycle is wound up without being used for printing, and is wasted.

Also, depending on the nature of the print information, the amount of use of a ribbon of a certain color often becomes constant. Therefore, once the barcode comes to the invalid area, the barcode may come to the invalid area regularly thereafter.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to propose a printing apparatus that does not cause waste of the ribbon.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object, a printing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, in a printing apparatus that winds the multicolor ink ribbon in conjunction with the movement of a carrier on which a multicolor ink ribbon holding a plurality of colors of ink is sequentially and repeatedly held in a longitudinal direction, a predetermined amount is set within a movement range of the carrier. A carrier driving unit that performs unit movement of the carrier for winding the multicolor ink ribbon, and detects a color marker provided on the multicolor ink ribbon to identify the color of the ink of the multicolor ink ribbon. Determining whether the detection of the color marker by the sensor is detected in a winding start area or a stop operation area of the carrier in which the winding operation of the multicolor ink ribbon is not stable. Means,
The amount of unit movement of the carrier is controlled by controlling the amount of unit movement of the carrier such that the detection of the color marker by the sensor is not performed in the winding start area or the stop operation area of the carrier in accordance with the determination result of the determination means. Control means for controlling winding of the color ink ribbon.

With the above configuration, it is determined whether or not the color mark provided on the multicolor ink ribbon is detected in the winding start area or the stop operation area of the carrier in which the winding operation of the multicolor ink ribbon is not stable. In accordance with the determination result, the amount of unit movement of the carrier is controlled to take up the multicolor ink ribbon so that the detection of the color mark by the sensor is not performed in the carrier take-up start area or the carrier take-up operation area. Operate to control.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus that winds the multicolor ink ribbon in conjunction with the movement of a carrier on which a multicolor ink ribbon holding a plurality of color inks sequentially and repeatedly held in a longitudinal direction, Carrier driving means for performing unit movement of the carrier for winding up a predetermined amount of the multicolor ink ribbon within a moving range, and provided on the multicolor ink ribbon for identifying the ink color of the multicolor ink ribbon A sensor for detecting the detected color mark, a detecting means for detecting the use length of the multicolor ink ribbon in response to the color mark detection by the sensor, and a next color mark depending on the use length of the ribbon detected by the detection means. Calculating means for calculating the ribbon length of the carrier, and determining that the ribbon length obtained by the calculating means corresponds to an integral multiple of the ribbon length corresponding to the amount of unit movement of the carrier. By controlling the amount of unit movement of the carrier and control means for controlling the winding of the multi-color ink ribbon.

With the above configuration, the use length of the multicolor ink ribbon is detected in accordance with the detection of the color marker, the ribbon length to the next color marker is obtained using the detected use length, and the ribbon length is moved by the unit of the carrier. When the length of the ribbon corresponds to an integral multiple of the ribbon length corresponding to the amount of the ink, the operation of controlling the unit movement of the carrier to control the winding of the multicolor ink ribbon is performed.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus for winding a multicolor ink ribbon in conjunction with movement of a carrier on which a multicolor ink ribbon holding a plurality of colors of ink sequentially and repeatedly held in a longitudinal direction, Carrier driving means for performing unit movement of the carrier for winding up a predetermined amount of the multicolor ink ribbon within a moving range, and provided on the multicolor ink ribbon for identifying the ink color of the multicolor ink ribbon A sensor for detecting the detected color mark, a detecting means for detecting the winding length of the ribbon in accordance with the detection of the color mark by the sensor, and a detecting means for detecting when the winding length of the ribbon detected by the detecting means exceeds a predetermined length. Control means for controlling the amount of unit movement of the carrier to control winding of the multicolor ink ribbon.

With the above configuration, the winding length of the ribbon is detected in accordance with the detection of the color mark provided on the multicolor ink ribbon, and when the winding length of the ribbon exceeds a predetermined value, the amount of unit movement of the carrier is controlled. It operates to control the winding of the multicolor ink ribbon.

[Description of Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a printing mechanism of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. In the figure, a recording sheet 4 is pressed against a rubber portion of a sheet feed roller 6 by a pinch roller (not shown) while being backed up on a platen 5. A gear 7 is attached to a shaft 6a of the sheet feed roller 6, and a reduction gear 7a
The recording sheet 4 is conveyed by rotating the sheet feed roller 6 by rotation of the sheet feed motor M1. Therefore, when the thermal head 18 contacts the recording sheet 4 to perform recording, the platen 5 maintains the position of the recording sheet 4.

On the front side of the platen 5, a shaft 12 is fixed in parallel with the platen 5, and on the opposite side of the carriage 14, a rack 13 is fixed. On the guide surfaces on the upper surfaces of the shaft 12 and the rack 13, the carriage 14 is indicated by an arrow. It is guided and supported movably in the B direction. That is, the carriage 14 is the recording sheet 4
Can be reciprocated in a direction perpendicular to the transfer path A.

A part of the belt 11 is fixed to the carriage 14 and is stretched by the pulley gear 9 and the pulley 10. The pulley gear 9 is connected to a carriage motor M2 via reduction gears 8a and 8b. The rotation of the carriage motor M2 rotates the pulley gear 9 and the pulley 10, whereby the belt 11 is driven, and the carriage 14 is moved to the shaft 12 Reciprocate in the direction of arrow B along the arrow.

Further, the carriage 14 is provided with a carriage table 35 for mounting the ink ribbon cassettes 40 (FIGS. 7 and 8) in a two-stage stack. This carriage table
35 is provided with a color detecting means (color sensor) S3 for identifying the color of the multicolor ribbon 50 (FIG. 9).
Presence or absence of an ink ribbon cassette 40 in the carriage 14,
A ribbon sensor S2 for detecting the type and the end of the ink ribbon 49 is provided.

Next, place the ink ribbon cassette on the carriage table 35.
A case in which 40 is detachably loaded will be described.

The carriage table 35 can be loaded with ink ribbon cassettes 40 in two upper and lower stages, and pins 35a and 35b and hooks 35c, 35d and 35e are provided on the upper surface of the carriage table 35. .

First, when the lower part of the ink ribbon cassette 40 is loaded, the ink ribbon cassette 40 described later (FIGS.
(Fig.) Openings 41a, provided in the upper case and the lower case, respectively.
41b, 42i, 42j are fitted into the pins 35a, 35b, and the hook 35c is elastically engaged with the locking portion 42k of the lower case, so that the ink ribbon cassette 40 is detachably mounted on the carriage table. 35 can be loaded. Similarly, when loading the ink ribbon cassette 40 in the upper stage,
The openings 41a, 41b, 42i, 42j are fitted into the pins 35a, 35b,
The hooks 35d, 35e are elastically engaged with the locking portions 42l, 42m of the lower case, so that the ink ribbon cassette 40 is formed.
Can be removably loaded into the carriage table 35.

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view of the ink ribbon cassette, and FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette. In the figure, an ink ribbon cassette 40 is formed by an upper case 41 and a lower case 42, and an ink ribbon cassette is provided in the cassette 4.
It is removably mounted on the carriage table 35 with the 49 stored.

The ink ribbon 49 is wound around the supply core 43, and once exposed outside the cassette 40 at an opening 42c of the lower case via a roller 48 rotatably attached to the protrusions 42a and 42b of the lower case 42. Again, the cassette 40 from the lower case opening 42d
After being exposed to the outside of the cassette 40 again through the lower case opening 42e, the lower case opening 42f reenters the cassette 40, and is rotated by the take-up spool 23 shown in FIG. Where it is to be taken up, it is wound up by the winding core 44.

When the cassette 40 is loaded at a predetermined position on the carriage table 35, the ink ribbon 49 exposed from the openings 42c and 42d of the cassette 40 faces the head 18 on the main body side.
The ink ribbon 49 can be heated by the thermal head 18 that generates heat according to the recording information.
Further, the ink ribbon 49 is urged by the press contact springs 45, 46 provided on the lower case 42 to the projecting portions 42g, 42h of the lower case 42, respectively. In addition, felt 45
a and 46a are respectively attached to prevent the ink ribbon 49 from being damaged by pressure contact.

Further, the tension spring 47 urges the ink ribbon 49 upward at the portion k, and removes the slack of the ink ribbon 49 in cooperation with the pressure contact springs 45 and 46.

Further, a part of the ink ribbon 49 is exposed from the opening 42n of the lower case 42, and when the cassette 40 is loaded at a predetermined position of the carriage table 35, the ribbon sensor S2 on the main body side detects the cassette. The ribbon sensor S2 is located at the opening 42n of the 40 and detects the ribbon end of the ink ribbon 49. Further, the color sensor S3 on the main body side faces the position of the ink ribbon 49 exposed from the openings 42e and 42f of the lower case 42, and detects the barcode of the multi-ribbon 50.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a multi-ribbon (multi-color ink sheet). The ribbon shown is an example of the multi-ribbon 50, and the multi-ribbon 50 has multiple colors (A color, B color, C color).
Are painted dandara via the barcodes 50a, 50b, 50c. This multi-ribbon 50 is also housed in the ink ribbon cassette 40 in the same manner as the ink ribbon 49 described above. As described above, when the ribbon cassette 40 is loaded at a predetermined position of the carriage table 35, the color sensor S3 on the main body side is set.
Faces the position of the multi-ribbon 50 exposed from the openings 42e and 42f of the lower case 42. When the multi-ribbon 50 is wound around the winding core 44, the barcodes 50a, 50b, 50c on the multi-ribbon 50 are detected by the color sensor S3, and the color applied next to the barcode is identified.

The bar code may be identified by the difference in the number of black lines as shown in FIG. 9 or may be identified by the difference in the width of the black line. Therefore, the form of the barcode does not matter. Also,
The desired number of colors may be provided instead of the three colors A, B, and C.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the ribbon cueing process.
Next, cueing for color matching of a multi-ribbon (multi-color dandara-coated ink sheet) will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, in step S501, a head motor (not shown) is driven to shift a ribbon winding mechanism (not shown) to an ON position. In step S502, whether the ribbon is at the end or not is determined by the ribbon sensor S2.

If it is the ribbon end, the flow advances to step S503 to drive the head motor to shift the ribbon winding mechanism to the off position. In step S504, a ribbon end error is displayed.

If it is not the ribbon end in step S502, the flow advances to step S505 to determine whether or not a bar code is detected by the color sensor S3.

If the bar code is not detected (NO) in step S505, the process proceeds to step S506, in which the carriage motor M2 is driven to move the carriage 14 in the printing (arrow B1) direction.
Take up 50. Next, the process proceeds to step S507, where it is determined whether or not the ribbon winding amount has exceeded the predetermined winding length l. If not, the process returns to step S502, and the ribbon winding and the color sensor detection are repeated.

If YES (exceeding) in step S507, the ink ribbon is regarded as the single-color ink ribbon 49 instead of the multi-ink ribbon 50, and the process proceeds to step S508 to drive the head motor to shift to the ribbon winding off position. Then, the process proceeds to step S509 to display a cassette set error.

If a bar code is detected by the color sensor S3 in step S505 (if YES), step S51 is executed.
Go to 0 and set the multi-ribbon set color (MRS) to a color according to the barcode. Next, in step S511
It is determined whether or not the MRS is the designated color for which cueing is to be performed. If not (NO), the process returns to step S406 (not shown). In other words, if the MRS is undecided after the power is turned on, it is impossible to determine how many colors will come when cueing is performed.
This is an undoing process.

If YES in step 511, the flow advances to step S512 to drive the head motor to shift to the position where the ribbon winding is turned off, thereby ending the ribbon cueing of the designated color.

Therefore. With the above processing, the multi-ink ribbon can be efficiently caught without being caught wastefully, and an error when a different ink ribbon is inserted can be detected.

 Hereinafter, the winding control of the ribbon according to the present invention will be described.

1 (A) and 1 (B) are conceptual diagrams of a winding mechanism for a multicolor ink ribbon. In the drawing, reference numeral 35 denotes a carriage table (also referred to as a ribbon carrier) for supporting a cassette 40, and reference numeral 23 denotes a ribbon winding. Spool for taking, 300 is spool 23
The reference numeral 400 denotes a planetary spur gear that meshes with the spur gear 300, and 13 denotes a part of a rack provided on the wall surface of the printer.

The winding of the ribbon is performed by engaging the planetary spur gear 400 with the rack 13. That is, in the state of FIG. 1A, when the carriage table 35 is moved in the direction of arrow C, the planetary spur gear 400 rotates in the direction of arrow D, the spur gear 300 rotates in the direction of arrow E, and the spool 23 moves in the direction of arrow E. Wind up the ribbon. On the other hand, when the ribbon is not wound, the planetary spur gear 400 is prevented from meshing with the rack 13. In other words, even if the carriage table 35 is moved in the state of FIG.
0 does not rotate, and the spool 23 does not take up the ribbon.

By the way, the range of movement of the carriage table 35 is naturally limited. Therefore, one carriage table 35
Is taken as L1 by the movement of the ribbon.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a three-color color ribbon. In the figure, 50a is a bar code for detecting yellow, 6
0a is a coated surface of yellow (Y) ink, 50b is a barcode for magenta detection, 60b is a coated surface of magenta (M) ink, 50c is a barcode for cyan detection, and 60c is a coated surface of cyan (C) ink. It is. This constitutes one cycle of color, followed by the same cycle.

_CY is the length of the ribbon used from the detection of the yellow barcode (Y code) to the completion of printing with yellow ink. l _Y is the rest, the length of the ribbon from the distance of C _Y to the next magenta bar code (M code). S _M is the length of one cycle of the ribbon, ie, for example, the length from the M code to the M code in the next cycle.

Now, consider the case of printing in the order of Y and M. When the printing with the yellow ink is completed after detecting the Y code 50a,
Yellow ink is used only C _Y. At this time, the distance to the detection of the next M code 50b is l _Y. Assuming that the amount of ink taken up by one carrier movement is L1, n is an integer and
When the relationship l _Y = L1 × n is satisfied, that is, when l _Y is an integral multiple of L1, the M code 50b comes to an invalid area of the (n + 1) -th ink winding operation. Slave connexion, remains conventional This M code 50b is will be ignored, taken up without using a further printing ink length S _M of M to code 50b 'after one cycle, resulting in waste.

Considering the case where full-color image printing is performed by applying three colors Y, M, and C, for example, if the image is rectangular, ink is used at a similar rate for each line for printing. . Thus, if the relationship l _Y = L1 × n is satisfied, this relationship is satisfied each time due to the periodicity of the image,
A considerable amount of ink is wasted.

 Hereinafter, this problem will be solved by various methods.

[First Embodiment] The first embodiment relates to control for avoiding repeated invalid detection by determining whether or not a detected barcode is detected in an invalid area.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for controlling the carrier movement amount according to the first embodiment. Note that the carrier 35 moves by the contents of the register L by one drive. In step SS1, the default value L1 is set in the register L. Carrier 35 in step S2
Is driven to detect a bar code of a desired color, and when the bar code is normally detected, printing with the ink of the color is performed. Then, at this time, if printing of one image is completed, the processing exits. If printing of one image has not been completed,
Proceeding to S3, it is determined whether or not the barcode has appeared in the invalid area during the previous barcode detection. If it does not appear, it is a normal barcode detection, and the process returns to step S2. If it appears, the process proceeds to step S4, where it is determined whether L = L1. If L = L1, the bar code and the invalid area overlap at L1, and the register L is set at step S5.
Set L2 (≠ L1). If L is not L1, it means that the bar code overlaps the invalid area in the other L2, so L1 is set to L in step S6. As a result, it is possible to prevent the barcode and the invalid area from being repeated periodically thereafter.

[Second Embodiment] The second embodiment relates to control for avoiding the overlap between the next barcode and the invalid area in advance by obtaining the remaining amount of the used ribbon. In the second embodiment, a pulse motor is used as a driving means of the carrier 35.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for controlling the carrier movement amount according to the second embodiment. In step S11, a default value L1 is set in the register L. In step S12, the carrier 35 is driven to detect a bar code of a desired color, and when the bar code is properly detected, printing is performed with the ink of the color. Then, at this time, if printing of one image is completed, the processing exits. Also calculate the amount l _C of the ink of the colors in step S13 if not print end for one image. l _C can be easily calculated by counting the rotation angle (= the number of steps) of the pulse motor. In step S14, a distance 1 to the next bar code is obtained. Normally, since it is known bar code interval of the ink, when the distance between l _B, the distance l is determined by l = l _B -l _C. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the distance 1 is an integral multiple of the distance L (the ink winding length corresponding to the unit movement amount of the carrier 35). If it is not an integral multiple, the process returns to step S12 because there is no possibility that the next barcode is detected in the invalid area. If it is an integer multiple, the next bar code may be detected in the invalid area, so it is determined in step S16 whether L = L1. If if L = L1, since it is of been filed in relation l = L1 × n _1, to excisional the L2 (≠ L1) at step S17 in the register L. Also unless L = L1, since it is of been filed in relation l = L2 × n _2, for excisional the L1 in step S18 in the register L. As a result, it is possible to prevent the detection of the barcode from coming to the invalid area.

The ink take-up length corresponding to the unit movement amount of the carrier 35 is slightly shifted according to the ribbon take-up diameter, but may be considered to be substantially constant within a certain section. In addition, the conversion ratio of the ink take-up length corresponding to the unit movement amount for the entire ink may be appropriately corrected.

[Third Embodiment] A third embodiment relates to a system in which when the ribbon is wound over a predetermined distance for the detection of a legitimate bar code, the bar code and the invalid area are overlapped and the carrier movement amount is controlled. .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for controlling the carrier movement amount according to the third embodiment. In step S21, a default value L1 is set in the register L. In step S22, the carrier 35 is driven to detect a bar code of a desired color, and when the bar code is properly detected, printing is performed with ink of the color. Then, at this time, if printing of one image is completed, the processing exits. Also it is determined whether or not satisfied l _A> l _S in barcode detection during the printing in step S23 if not print end for one image. Here, l _A is the winding length of the ribbon in detecting a desired bar code, and l _S is a predetermined length (for example, bar code interval,
Or one cycle length). If you return to the l _A> l _S unless the step S22. When l _A > l _S , it is considered that the desired bar code was detected in the invalid area and ignored.
Therefore, it is determined in step S24 whether L = L1. If L = L1, L2 (≠ L1) is set in the register L in step S25. If L = L1, L1 is set in the register L in step S26. Thus, it is possible to prevent the barcode from continuously coming to the invalid area.

In the third embodiment, if the carrier 35 moves
if by counting n _C, without seeking _{l A, l A = (L} ×
The value of L can be changed with n _C )> l _S.

In each of the above embodiments, the value of the register L is L1 or L2.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. Obviously, three or more values such as L1 to L3 may be used.

Further, it is apparent that the present invention can be applied even if a means other than a barcode is used as the color discriminating means of the multicolor ink ribbon.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, for example, it is possible to prevent a large amount of ink ribbon from being wasted due to a color mark such as a bar code being detected in an invalid area. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (A) and 1 (B) are diagrams for explaining a winding mechanism of a multi-color ink ribbon, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a three-color ink, and FIG. 3 is a carrier of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the carrier moving amount control of the second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the carrier moving amount control of the third embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a printing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view of an ink ribbon cassette, FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette, FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a multi-ribbon (multi-color ink sheet). FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the ribbon cueing process. In the figure, 35 is a ribbon carrier, 23 is a spool for winding the ribbon, 300 is a spur gear, 400 is a planetary spur gear, and 13 is a part of a rack.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for winding a multicolor ink ribbon in conjunction with movement of a carrier on which a multicolor ink ribbon holding inks of a plurality of colors sequentially and repeatedly in a longitudinal direction, wherein the carrier is within a moving range of the carrier. A carrier driving unit that performs unit movement of the carrier for winding up a predetermined amount of the multicolor ink ribbon, and a color provided on the multicolor ink ribbon to identify an ink color of the multicolor ink ribbon. A sensor for detecting a sign, and whether or not the detection of the color mark by the sensor is detected in a winding start area or a stop operation area of the carrier in which the winding operation of the multicolor ink ribbon is not stable. Discriminating means for discriminating, and detecting the color marker by the sensor according to a discrimination result of the discriminating means, the carrier winding start area or the stop operation area Control means for controlling the amount of unit movement of the carrier so as to control the winding of the multicolor ink ribbon. 2. A printing apparatus for winding a multicolor ink ribbon in conjunction with movement of a carrier on which a multicolor ink ribbon holding a plurality of color inks in a longitudinal direction is sequentially repeated. A carrier driving unit that performs unit movement of the carrier for winding up a predetermined amount of the multicolor ink ribbon, and a color provided on the multicolor ink ribbon to identify an ink color of the multicolor ink ribbon. A sensor for detecting a sign; detecting means for detecting the use length of the multicolor ink ribbon in response to the color mark detection by the sensor; and a ribbon length until the next color mark based on the use length of the ribbon detected by the detection means. Calculation means for calculating the length of the ribbon, and when the ribbon length obtained by the calculation means corresponds to an integral multiple of the ribbon length corresponding to the amount of unit movement of the carrier, Printing apparatus characterized by a control means for controlling the winding of the amount of control to the multi-color ink ribbon unit movement of A. 3. A printing apparatus for winding a multi-color ink ribbon in conjunction with a movement of a carrier on which a multi-color ink ribbon holding a plurality of color inks is sequentially and repeatedly held in a longitudinal direction. A carrier driving unit that performs unit movement of the carrier for winding up a predetermined amount of the multicolor ink ribbon, and a color provided on the multicolor ink ribbon to identify an ink color of the multicolor ink ribbon. A sensor for detecting a sign; detecting means for detecting a winding length of the ribbon in accordance with the detection of the color mark by the sensor; and a unit of the carrier when the winding length of the ribbon detected by the detecting means exceeds a predetermined value. Control means for controlling the amount of movement to control winding of the multicolor ink ribbon.