JP3112391B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an ink ribbon cassette automatic changer printer system that includes a cassette changer type printer and automatically performs printing by exchanging a plurality of ink ribbon cassettes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional printer system of this type, a thermal transfer printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-253578 and a printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-65279 are known.

In order to perform color printing with a conventional thermal transfer printer having no cassette changer, as described in JP-A-60-253578, Y (yellow) is a basic color necessary for printing. , M (magenta),
The application area of C (cyan) and B (black) needs to be overprinted with an ink ribbon divided by “gradual painting” as shown in FIG. 18 or “stripe painting” as shown in FIG. .

However, in this method, since the color usage rate differs depending on the characters and illustrations to be printed, there is a problem in that the area of the ink ribbon to which the unused color is applied is skipped and wasted. For this reason, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
In the thermal transfer printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 0-253578, a method is used in which a plurality of ink ribbon cassettes are arranged in the same direction as the moving direction of the carriage and held on a cassette holding member, and a necessary ink ribbon cassette is mounted on the carriage and printing is performed. Is adopted.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are views for explaining this printing method. 21 (a) and FIG.
FIG. 21B is a diagram of the carriage in FIG. 20 viewed from the left side.

In FIGS. 20 and 21, the carriage 100 is moved in a direction parallel to a platen 110 (not shown in FIG. 20) by a timing belt 107 and a carriage drive motor 108 (not shown in FIG. 21). It is configured to be possible. Also, the stocker 105
Has a structure capable of holding a plurality of ink ribbon cassettes 101 to 104 in a direction parallel to the platen 110.

[0007] In the state shown in FIG.
Holds the ribbon cassette 103, and therefore, printing can be performed by the print head 109 using the ribbon cassette 103. Also, other ribbon cassettes,
For example, when printing is performed using the ribbon cassette 101, the carriage 100 returns the ribbon cassette 103 to an empty position of the stocker 105, and
They are going to get one.

In FIGS. 21 (a) and 21 (b), the printing paper feed roller 112 conveys the printing paper 111 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. When the printing paper 111 is inserted, the output of the printing paper sensor 113 for detecting the presence or absence of the printing paper is turned ON.

Incidentally, the carriage 100 and the stocker 1
The configuration for delivery of the ribbon cassette during 05
The structure in which the carriage 100 moves without moving the stocker 105 to retrieve any of the necessary ribbon cassettes 101 to 104, or the case where the stocker itself moves to
21 (a) and 21 (b) shows the latter configuration, that is, the one in which the stocker 105 moves. Although not shown here, the stocker 105 is connected to a drive mechanism for moving the stocker 105 up and down and left and right, and this drive mechanism constitutes a changer for attaching and detaching the ink ribbon cassette to and from the carriage. ing. FIG. 21A shows a state in which the stocker is lifted and the stocker and the carriage are separated from each other, and FIG.
Shows a state where the stocker is lowered and the stocker and the carriage are close to each other. In this state, the ribbon cassette is held by the carriage.

[0010] In the above-described conventional printer configuration, it is a problem to reduce the noise generated when the ribbon is replaced, that is, the noise accompanying the operation of the changer.

[0011]

However, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
In the ink ribbon cassette automatic changer printer as described in JP-A-253578, when the ink ribbon cassette is attached to or detached from the carriage, the changer raises or lowers the stocker and lowers the stocker between the carriage and the carriage. Transfer the ink ribbon cassette.

When the ink ribbon cassette is transferred as described above, the noise is generated by the driving noise of a motor mounted on the changer for raising and lowering the stocker, and the nails and permanent magnets of the carriage and the stocker for holding the ribbon cassette. The impact sound when attaching and detaching becomes a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a printer device which can reduce noise generated by driving a changer when an ink ribbon cassette is attached to or detached from a carriage. That is the object of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device capable of effectively reducing noise generated by driving a changer while suppressing the time required for the entire printing process from becoming longer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of reducing the noise caused by driving a changer only when the noise is felt.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer apparatus including a plurality of ink ribbon cassettes.
Stockers stored in a state arranged along a fixed direction
And a print head, and one ink ribbon cassette
Hold and move along the stocker
And a drive motor, and the stocker and the carriage are rotated by the rotational force of the drive motor.
Relatively close to and away from each other
Mounting and removing the cassette from the carriage.
An elevating type cassette attaching / detaching mechanism to be performed, an elevating position for detecting a proximity state where the stocker and the carriage are closest, a separation state where the stocker and the carriage are farthest, and an intermediate state between the proximity state and the separation state. Detecting means for controlling a rotation speed of the drive motor based on an output of the detecting means;
And a motor control means for controlling the motor , thereby achieving the above object.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer device according to the first aspect, the driving motor is driven in a motor driving state in which relative movement between the stocker and the carriage is performed by rotation of the driving motor. Storage means for storing information on a braking time during which a braking force is applied to the motor and information on a non-braking time during which no braking force is applied to the drive motor in the motor driving state; and The braking force is applied to the drive motor during the braking time for each non-braking time based on the information on the braking time and the information on the non-braking time stored in the drive motor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer device according to the first aspect, a speed management table for managing a rotation speed of the drive motor in one cycle of approaching and separating the stocker and the carriage. Is stored, and the motor control means controls the rotation speed of the drive motor based on the motor speed managed by the speed management table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printer device of the first aspect, there is provided a counting means for counting the number of rotations of mounting and dismounting the ink ribbon cassette on and from the carriage after execution of a print start command, and A number detecting means for detecting that the number of times of mounting and dismounting is a preset number of times, the motor control means, based on a detection output of the number of times detecting means,
The rotation speed of the drive motor is controlled.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer device according to the first aspect, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the printing is immediately before the end of printing after execution of the print start command. The rotation speed of the drive motor is controlled based on the determination output of the determination means.

[0021]

According to the present invention (claim 1), a proximity state where the stocker and the carriage are closest, a separation state where the stocker and the carriage are farthest, and an intermediate state between the proximity state and the separation state are detected. The rotation speed of the drive motor of the cassette attachment / detachment mechanism is controlled so that the relative speed between the stocker and the carriage is changed based on the output from the detection unit. When the ink ribbon cassette is attached to or detached from the carriage, noise generated by driving the cassette attaching / detaching mechanism (changer) can be reduced.

According to the present invention (claim 2), when the relative movement between the stocker and the carriage is performed by the rotation of the drive motor, the operation of braking the drive motor for a fixed time is performed at fixed time intervals. Since the repetition is performed, the sound generated when the ribbon cassette is mounted or removed by the changer can be dispersed, thereby avoiding generation of loud noise.

In the present invention (claim 3), a speed management table for managing the rotation speed of the drive motor of the cassette attaching / detaching mechanism in one cycle of approaching and separating the stocker and the carriage is used. Since the rotation speed of the drive motor is controlled based on the motor speed of
By setting the rotation speed of the drive motor to be low at the vertical position of the stocker where the noise increases during the cycle, the time required for the entire printing process is suppressed and the time required for the entire printing process is reduced Noise generated can be effectively reduced. That is, it is possible to reduce the noise by selecting a position where the noise is particularly large during the operation of attaching and detaching the ribbon cassette by the changer.

In the present invention (claim 4), when the number of times of mounting and removing the ink ribbon cassette to and from the carriage after the execution of the print start command reaches a preset number, the rotation speed of the motor is controlled. Since the noise is generated when the changer is driven when the ink ribbon cassette is attached or detached for the first time after the execution of the print start command, the noise generated when the changer is driven can be reduced. In this case, the rise of the noise can be gradual, and the annoyance due to the noise can be reduced.

In the present invention (claim 5), since the rotation speed of the motor is controlled based on the output of judging whether the printing is immediately before the end of the printing, the ribbon cassette is stored in the stocker after the printing is completed. The noise during operation can be reduced, and the noise is gradually reduced at the end of printing.
As a result, annoyance due to noise can be reduced.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The basic principle of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a basic configuration of the present invention, and shows a system (printer apparatus) 10 for automatically changing an ink ribbon cassette using a cassette changer type printer.

This system 10 has a print head,
A carriage 11 that holds and moves the ink ribbon cassette, a stocker 12 that removably stores the ink ribbon cassette, and a stocker elevation mechanism that moves the stocker 12 and the carriage 11 relatively to mount and remove the ink ribbon cassette. 13 is provided.
Here, the stocker elevating mechanism 13 constitutes a changer 13a for attaching and detaching the ink ribbon cassette to and from the carriage. The changer 13a includes a drive motor 13b for driving the stocker elevating mechanism 13 and a stocker 1
2 and a changer detecting means 14 for detecting whether the away what is close to the carriage 11.
The system 10 includes a motor control means 15 for controlling the speed of a motor 13b for mounting and removing the ribbon cassette by the changer 13a.

Here, the print head provided on the carriage 11 is preferably a thermal head in terms of miniaturization, but a needle dot impact type print head can also be used.

The stocker 12 has a plurality of colors, preferably Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), B
It is preferable that the ink ribbon cassettes of the four colors (black) can be stored so that they can be taken out. A horizontal type in which the ink ribbon cassettes are stored in parallel and a vertical type in which the ink ribbon cassettes are stacked vertically and stored can be used.
The changer 13a has a cam that is rotated by the rotational force of a motor 13b, and the rotation of the cam causes the stocker 12 and the carriage 11 to move relatively close to or away from each other, so that the ribbon is transferred to the carriage 11. It is preferable to use a structure in which attachment and detachment are performed.
Another drive mechanism can be used as the drive mechanism 13 for causing the relative movement between the carriage 2 and the carriage 11.

As the control means 15, it is convenient to use a microprocessor which can freely generate start (start) and braking (brake) commands for a motor for operating the changer 13a based on predetermined conditions. It is.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a system using a cassette changer type printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an ink ribbon cassette automatic changer printer system according to the present embodiment, which is constructed so that printing can be performed by automatically exchanging four ink ribbon cassettes mounted on the printing apparatus 5. . The system 10 includes a control / arithmetic unit (CPU-Centra) for controlling the operation of each unit and performing arithmetic.
lProcessing Unit) 1.

The control / arithmetic device 1 is directly connected to the storage device 3, and is connected to the input device 2, the display device 4, and the printing device 5 via the I / O port 6. Here, as the storage device 3, a RAM (Random AccessMe) for reading and writing writable document data, image data, various variable data, and the like.
ROM) and a ROM (Read) in which a control program for operating the control / arithmetic device 1 is stored.
Only Memory).

The input device 2 has a configuration in which a keyboard for inputting document data and instructions from a user (user) is connected to the I / O port 6 via a key interface.

The display device 4 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying document data, image data, messages for the user, and the like.
ay) to the I / O port 6 via the LCD controller
It is configured to be connected to

Further, as the printing apparatus 5, a printing apparatus (ink ribbon cassette auto changer printer) for printing document data, image data, and the like is used.

This printing apparatus 5 has a thermal head, can hold one ink ribbon cassette,
The carriage 53 includes a carriage 53 that can move in a direction parallel to the platen 510 (see FIG. 3), and a stocker 51 that can hold four ink ribbon cassettes arranged above the carriage 53 in parallel with the movement direction of the carriage 53. Further, the printing apparatus 5 has a changer 52 for exchanging the ink ribbon cassette and a paper feeder 54 for feeding the paper. The changer 52 is used to change the ink ribbon cassette held at an arbitrary position of the stocker 51. The ink ribbon cassette held on the carriage 53 can be detached and attached, or the ink ribbon cassette held by the carriage 53 can be detached and attached to any position of the stocker 51 where the ink ribbon cassette is not held.

The stocker 51 has four stocker cassette holding sensors for detecting whether or not each of the four ink ribbon cassettes is held, and the stocker 51 is opened so that the user can easily replace the ink ribbon cassette. And a stocker closing sensor 515 (see FIG. 3) for detecting whether or not the tray is closed.

The changer 52 includes one changer upper sensor for determining whether the stocker 51 is in the raised state and one changer lower sensor for determining whether the stocker 51 is in the lowered state. Have each. Further, it has one motor for vertically moving the changer 52 and one driver for driving the motor.

The carriage 53 is
One carriage cassette holding sensor for detecting whether or not the ink ribbon cassette is held above,
It has one ink ribbon end sensor for detecting the end of the ink ribbon during printing. The carriage 53 includes a print head for printing and one driver for applying a voltage to the print head.
, A motor that brings the print head into close contact with the paper or winds the ink ribbon, and a driver that drives those motors.

The paper feeder 54 has one paper sensor for determining whether or not paper is set.
It has one motor for feeding paper and one driver for driving those motors.

The output of each sensor is input to the control / arithmetic device 1 via the I / O port 6, and each driver is supplied from the control / arithmetic device 1 via the I / O port. Driven by a drive signal.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are detailed illustrations of the printing apparatus (ink ribbon cassette automatic changer printer) 5. FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a main part of the structure of the printing apparatus 5. Here, 51 is an ink ribbon cassette 55 to 5
8 is a stocker that is configured to be able to hold, scan for each ink ribbon cassette is to determine dolphin not held stocker cassette holding sensor 511 to 514
have.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a carriage guide shaft 59.
The print head 532 is a carriage slidably attached to and capable of holding and moving the ink ribbon cassette. The carriage 53 is provided with a projection 531 for positioning the ink ribbon cassette and a fixing tool 533 for engaging with a part of the cassette and fixing the cassette.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a changer for attaching and detaching the ink ribbon cassette to and from the carriage. The changer 50 includes a support portion 50a for supporting the stocker 51.
A stocker raising / lowering mechanism 50b for driving the support portion 50a to raise / lower the stocker;
And a drive motor 50c for driving the motor. here,
The stocker elevating mechanism 50b includes a cam 5 as shown in FIG.
21. The stocker elevating mechanism 50b is provided with a changer upper end sensor 522 and a changer lower end sensor 522 as changer detecting means for detecting whether the stocker 12 is close to or away from the carriage 11. Sensor 5
22 and 523 have projecting pieces 522a and 523a that project and enter along the unevenness of the surface of the cam 521.
The motor 50c is connected to the motor control means 15
The rotation speed control is performed by the control / arithmetic device 1 including. 515 is the stocker 51
When the output of the stocker close sensor 515 indicates an open state, the printing apparatus 5 is in a print disabled state.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory views of the operation principle of the changer upper end sensor 522 and the changer lower end sensor 523. As shown in these figures, the cam 521 rotates in the direction of the arrow in synchronization with the operation of the changer 52. That is, when the stocker 51 operates from the upper end position to the lower end position, the cam 521 rotates 180 degrees.

When the stocker 51 is at the upper end position (cam rotation angle 0
4A, the protruding piece 522a of the changer upper end sensor 522 is immersed, the output of the sensor 522 is turned on, and the protruding piece 523a of the changer lower end sensor 523 protrudes as shown in FIG. The output of the sensor 523 is turned off.

When the stocker 51 is at the lower end position (cam rotation angle 180 °), as shown in FIG.
The protruding piece 522a of the changer upper end sensor 522 protrudes, the output of the sensor 522 is turned off, the protruding piece 523a of the changer lower end sensor 523 enters,
The output of the sensor 523 is turned on.

4 (b) and 4 (d), that is, when the output of the changer upper end sensor 522 and the output of the changer lower end sensor 523 are both ON or both OFF, the stocker 51 has the upper end and the lower end. Indicates a state in the middle of.

FIG. 5 shows a changer upper end sensor 522.
The table also shows the relationship between the ON / OFF output of the changer lower end sensor 523, the angle of the cam 521, and the vertical position of the stocker 51.

For example, the changer upper end sensor 522
Is ON and the output of the changer lower end sensor 523 is OFF, the rotation angle of the cam 521 is 0 ° and the stocker 51 is at the upper end.

FIG. 6 shows a state where the changer 50 raises the stocker 51. The carriage 53 is configured to be movable in a direction parallel to the platen 510 only when the stocker 51 is at the upper end.

In FIG. 6, a stocker 51 holds ink ribbon cassettes 55 to 58 and a carriage 53.
Does not hold the ink ribbon cassette. Here, in order to mount the ink ribbon cassette 57 on the carriage 53, the carriage 53 is moved directly below the ink ribbon cassette 57 as shown in FIG. 7, and the stocker 51 is lowered by the changer 50 so that the carriage 53 holds the ink ribbon cassette 57. After that, the stocker 51 needs to be raised.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a first motor drive signal CMOT1 and a second motor drive signal CMOT.
FIG. 6 is a time chart when the changer 50 is driven by using DC motors that rotate in different rotation directions according to T2, and shows the ON and OFF levels of the first and second motor drive signals and the upper and lower sensors. Indicates the output on and off levels.

FIG. 8 (a) shows the drive signal of the changer motor and ON / OFF of each sensor when the cam is driven so that the rotation angle becomes 0 ° → 90 ° → 180 ° → 270 ° → 0 °. The output is shown.

FIG. 8B shows a driving signal of the changer motor and a signal of each sensor when the cam is driven so that its rotation angle changes from 0 ° → 270 ° → 180 ° → 90 ° → 0 °. The output is shown.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the rotation direction of the motor is controlled by ON / OFF of the first and second motor drive signals CMOT1 and CMOT2. , The two drive signals CMOT1 and CM
This is performed by simultaneously turning on both OT2s.

Next, the operation will be described.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a case where the rotation speed of the drive motor of the changer is reduced by periodically applying a brake to the drive motor during the operation of mounting the ink ribbon cassette by the changer. .

FIG. 10 is a flowchart in the case where the CPU 1 controls the rotation speed of the drive motor. In the present embodiment, the motor control means of the CPU 1 controls the movement of the stocker elevating mechanism during the lowering operation and the raising operation during the mounting operation.
The drive motor of the changer 53 is configured to periodically apply a brake (braking).

That is, for example, when the operation of mounting the ink ribbon cassette on the carriage is started, step S is executed.
At 1, the second motor drive signal CMOT2 is turned on, and the drive motor 50c starts. Thus, the changer 50 is driven, and the stocker 51 descends. Next, in step S2, the time until the start of the braking process of the motor 50c, that is, the time until the descending movement of the stocker 51 is braked, is a counter unit CONT1 in the CPU1.
Is set to

Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the operation of mounting the ink ribbon cassette on the carriage 53 has been completed based on the outputs of the changer upper end sensor 522 and the changer lower end sensor 523. When this mounting operation has been completed, both the first and second motor drive signals CMOT1 and CMOT2 are turned on,
The drive motor stops, and the mounting process of the ink ribbon cassette ends.

On the other hand, if the mounting operation of the ink ribbon cassette has not been completed, it is determined in step S4 whether or not the remaining time until the start of the braking process is zero. The processing of the CPU returns to step S2. If the remaining time is 0, the first motor drive signal CMOT1 is turned on in step S5, and the lowering movement of the stocker 51 is braked. Then, in the subsequent step S6, the time until the operation of the brake is completed is counted by the counter unit CO of the CPU 1.
Set to NT2.

Next, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the operation of mounting the ink ribbon cassette on the carriage 53 has been completed based on the outputs of the changer upper end sensor 522 and the changer lower end sensor 523. When the mounting operation has been completed, the mounting process of the ink ribbon cassette is completed in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, if the mounting operation of the ink ribbon cassette has not been completed, it is determined in step S8 whether or not the remaining time until the end of the braking process is zero. The processing of the CPU 1 returns to the step S7. If the remaining time is 0, the first motor drive signal CMOT1 is turned off in step S9, and the brake against the downward movement of the stocker 51 is released.

By the processing in steps S1 to S9, the changer motor is controlled as shown in FIG. 9, and the speed of the vertical movement of the stocker in the mounting operation of the ink ribbon cassette by the changer is controlled.
When the ink ribbon cassette is removed from the carriage, the changer is driven by the processing in steps S1 to S9 as described above.

FIG. 11 schematically shows the state of noise generation when such vertical control of the stocker is not performed. FIG. 12 shows the case where the vertical control of the stocker is performed. 1 schematically shows the state of noise generation.

As can be seen from these figures, in this embodiment, the noise generated when the ink ribbon cassette is mounted is reduced.

As described above, in this embodiment, the proximity state where the stocker 51 and the carriage 53 are closest, the separation state where the stocker 51 and the carriage 53 are farthest,
A changer upper sensor 522 and a changer lower sensor 523 are provided as detection means for detecting an intermediate state between the close state and the separated state, and the drive motor of the changer is braked as required based on the output of the sensors. Accordingly, noise generated when the changer is driven when the ink ribbon cassette is attached to or detached from the carriage 53 can be reduced.

Further, when the stocker 51 is moved up and down by the changer 50 by the rotation of the motor, the operation of braking the motor for a certain time is repeated at a certain time interval.
, The noise generated when the ink ribbon cassette is attached and detached can be dispersed, so that the generation of loud noise can be avoided.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 13 and 14 are views for explaining a cassette changer type printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the carriage and the stocker approach each other in the mounting operation by the changer, that is, the rotation angle of the cam of the changer is 18 degrees.
9 shows a time chart and a speed control management table in a case where a brake is applied to the rotation of the drive motor of the changer only when it comes to a position that is about 0 °. FIG. 14 is a flowchart in the case where the rotation speed of the drive motor is controlled as described above.

In this embodiment, the speed control management table is stored in the storage device 3 and the motor control means 1
Numeral 5 controls the rotation speed of the motor based on the information of the speed control management table, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The operation will be described below.

For example, when the mounting operation of the ink ribbon cassette to the carriage is started, in step S11,
The pointer of the speed management table is initialized. The speed management table displays, for each predetermined range of the rotation angle of the cam 521 of the changer 50, braking information indicating whether or not to brake the drive motor. The pointer indicates the rotation angle of the cam 521. With the change, the braking information at the rotation angle is indicated, that is, updated.

Next, at step S12, the second motor drive signal CMOT2 is turned on, and the drive motor is started, whereby the changer 50 is driven and the stocker 5
1 falls.

Next, in step S13, the time until the pointer is updated is set in the counter CONT of the CPU 1.

Next, in step S14, whether or not the operation of mounting the ink ribbon cassette on the carriage 53 has been completed is determined based on the outputs of the changer upper end sensor 522 and the changer lower end sensor 523.
When the mounting operation has been completed, the drive motor stops as described in the first embodiment, and the mounting process of the ink ribbon cassette ends.

On the other hand, if the mounting operation of the ink ribbon cassette has not been completed, it is determined in step S15 whether or not the remaining time until the pointer is updated is zero. For example, the processing of the CPU 1 returns to step S14. If the remaining time is 0,
In step S16, the pointer indicated by the updated pointer
The content (braking information) of the speed management table is referred to.

Then, in step S17, it is determined whether or not to perform the braking process based on the contents referred to above. In the case of performing the braking process, step S18
Then, the state in which the first motor drive signal CMOT1 is at the on-level and the lowering movement of the stocker 51 is braked is maintained over a predetermined angular range of the cam, and the process returns to step S13. On the other hand, when the braking process is not performed, the first motor drive signal CMO
The OFF state of T1 is maintained, and the process returns to step S13.

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing a state of generation of noise when the rotation speed of the cam of this embodiment is controlled.

As can be seen from this figure, in this embodiment,
The noise generated when the ink ribbon cassette is mounted is reduced as compared with the case where the cam rotation speed control is not performed (see FIG. 11).

As described above, in this embodiment, the speed management table for managing the rotation speed of the motor of the changer 50 in one cycle of lowering and raising the stocker 51 is used, and based on the motor speed in the speed management table. Since the rotation speed of the motor is controlled,
By setting the speed management table so that the rotation speed of the motor is reduced at the position where the noise rises and rises in the stocker during the one cycle, the time required for the entire printing process is suppressed from becoming longer, and the change of the changer is prevented. Noise generated during driving can be effectively reduced.

In addition, since the motor speed control for noise reduction in the first embodiment is to reduce the motor speed when the changer is driven, the time required for the entire printing process becomes longer. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the rotation speed of the motor for noise reduction is controlled in the range of the cam rotation angle at which the noise increases, so that the entire printing process is performed. It is possible to suppress an increase in time.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 16 shows an operation flow for explaining a cassette changer type printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the drive motor of the changer is controlled only when performing the first ink ribbon cassette mounting process after the CPU 1 executes the print start command and when performing the storing process of the ink ribbon cassette at the end of printing. I am trying to do it. FIG.
FIG. 16 schematically shows a state of generation of noise when the rotation speed of the motor of the changer is controlled based on the flow of FIG.

That is, in this embodiment, the CPU 1
Is a counting means for counting the number of rotations of the ink ribbon cassette to the carriage after the execution of the printing start command, and the number of times of mounting and removing the ink ribbon cassette is a preset number, here the first time. And a determination means for determining whether or not the printing is immediately before the end of printing after execution of the printing start command. And the motor control means 15
Is configured to control the rotation speed of the motor based on the judgment output of the number-of-times detecting means and the judging means. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described.

In this embodiment, after the start of the printing operation, the first mounting operation of the ink ribbon cassette is performed while controlling the rotation speed of the motor of the changer (step S).
21).

Thereafter, the carriage is moved and returned to perform printing with the ink ribbon cassette attached thereto, and the ink ribbon cassette is replaced if necessary (step S22). Thereafter, it is determined whether the printing is immediately before the end of the printing (step S23). At this time,
If it is not immediately before the end of printing, the process of the CPU 1 returns to step S22, and if it is just before the end of printing, the ink ribbon cassette is stored in the stocker 51. At this time, the raising operation of the stocker by the changer is performed while braking the motor of the changer (step S24).

As described above, in this embodiment, the rotation speed of the cam of the changer is suppressed only at the time of mounting the first ink ribbon cassette after the start of printing and at the time of storing the ink ribbon cassette at the end of printing. At the start of printing when noise is felt, the ink ribbon cassette can be mounted on the carriage with low noise. In addition, since the rotation speed of the drive motor is reduced at the time of rise and fall of the noise due to the installation and removal of the ribbon cassette by the changer, the change in the noise level at the start and end of printing can be made gentle, and the noise can be reduced. The annoyance can be relieved.

Further, since the period during which the rotation speed of the drive motor of the changer is suppressed is limited only to the start and end of printing, the operation speed of the changer during printing does not decrease, and the time required for the printing process does not decrease. Can be suppressed as much as possible.

[0094]

As described above, according to the printer of the present invention (claim 1), the proximity state where the stocker and the carriage are closest, the separation state where the stocker and the carriage are farthest, And detecting means for detecting an intermediate state between the close state and the separated state, and controlling the drive motor of the cassette attaching / detaching mechanism so that the relative speed between the stocker and the carriage changes based on the output from the detecting means. Therefore, when the ink ribbon cassette is attached to and detached from the carriage, it is possible to reduce noise generated due to driving of the cassette attaching / detaching mechanism (changer).

According to the present invention (claim 2), in the above-described printer device, when the relative movement between the stocker and the carriage is being performed by the rotation of the drive motor, the operation of braking the motor for a certain period of time. Is repeated at regular time intervals, so that the sound generated when the ribbon cassette is mounted or removed by the changer can be dispersed, thereby producing an effect of avoiding generation of loud noise.

According to the present invention (claim 3), in the above-mentioned printer device, a speed management table for managing the rotation speed of the motor of the cassette attaching / detaching mechanism in one cycle of approaching and separating the stocker and the carriage is used. Since the rotation speed of the motor is controlled based on the motor speed in the speed management table, it is possible to reduce a noise by selecting a position where noise is particularly large during the operation of mounting and removing the ribbon cassette by the changer. There is an effect that can be.

According to the present invention (claim 4), in the above-mentioned printer device, when the number of times of mounting and removing the ink ribbon cassette to and from the carriage after the execution of the print start command reaches a preset number, Since the rotation speed of the motor is controlled, the noise generated by driving the changer can be reduced when the noise caused by driving the changer is felt large.

According to the present invention (claim 5), in the printer device, the rotational speed of the motor is controlled based on the output of judging whether or not the printing has just been completed. It is possible to reduce the noise when the cassette is stored in the stocker, and it is possible to reduce the noise at the end of printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a system using a cassette changer type printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system (printer device) using the cassette changer type printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an ink ribbon cassette, a stocker and a carriage of the ink ribbon cassette which constitute the printer of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining operations of a changer upper end sensor and a changer lower end sensor in the printer of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of determining the vertical position of the stocker from the ON / OFF state of the changer upper sensor and the changer lower sensor.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the stocker in the printer of the first embodiment is at an upper end position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where the stocker in the printer of the first embodiment is at a lower end position.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing changes in the drive signal of the motor and the outputs of the changer upper end sensor and the changer lower end sensor when the changer of the printer of the first embodiment is driven.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing changes in the drive signal of the motor and the outputs of the changer upper end sensor and the changer lower end sensor when the rotation speed of the changer motor is controlled in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the CPU when controlling the rotation speed of the motor of the changer in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a noise state when the rotation speed control of the motor of the changer is not performed.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a noise state when the rotation speed of the motor of the changer is controlled in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a time chart showing changes in the motor drive signal and the outputs of the changer upper end sensor and the changer lower end sensor when the rotation speed of the changer motor is controlled in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by a CPU when controlling the rotation speed of the motor of the changer in the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing a noise state when the rotation speed of the motor of the changer of the second embodiment is controlled.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a cassette changer type printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a first ribbon cassette mounting process after the start of printing and a ribbon cassette storing process at the end of printing; The flow of the operation of controlling the rotation speed of the drive motor of the changer only when the operation is performed is shown.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing a noise generation state when the rotation speed of the cam of the changer is controlled based on the flow of FIG.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional color ink ribbon.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a conventional color ink ribbon.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional ink ribbon cassette auto changer printer.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing a conventional ink ribbon cassette automatic changer printer.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a noise state when a cassette is mounted in a conventional ink ribbon cassette automatic changer printer by a change in noise with respect to a rotation angle of a cam of the changer.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing the transition of noise during printing in a conventional ink ribbon cassette automatic changer printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 control / arithmetic device 2 input device 3 storage device 4 display device 5 printing device 10 printer device 51 stocker 52 changer 53 carriage 54 paper feeder 55, 56, 57, 58 ink ribbon cassette 59 carriage guide shaft 510 platen

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of ink ribbon cassettes arranged in a predetermined direction;
Holds a single ink ribbon cassette with a stocker stored in a state arranged along
To move along the stocker
A carriage disposed below and a drive motor , and driving the stocker and the carriage;
Move relatively close to and away from each other by the rotational force of the motor.
Attach a fixed ink ribbon cassette to the carriage
A cassette attachment / detachment mechanism for lifting and removing, a proximity state in which the stocker and the carriage are closest, a separation state in which the stocker and carriage are farthest, and an intermediate state between the proximity state and the separation state. Rising
Descending position detecting means, and a rotation speed of the drive motor based on an output of the detecting means.
Printer device provided with a motor control means for controlling the printer. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a braking force is applied to the drive motor in a motor drive state in which the stocker and the carriage are relatively moved by the rotation of the drive motor. Storage means for storing information on time and information on non-braking time during which no braking force is applied to the drive motor in the motor driving state, wherein the motor control means stores the braking time stored in the storage means. A braking force is applied to the drive motor during the braking time for each of the non-braking times, based on the information of the non-braking time. 3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit storing a speed management table for managing a rotation speed of the drive motor in one cycle of approaching and separating the stocker and the carriage. A printer device, wherein the motor control means controls the rotation speed of the drive motor based on the motor speed managed by the speed management table. 4. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein: counting means for counting the number of rotations of the ink ribbon cassette to and from the carriage after execution of a print start command; A printer device comprising: a number-of-times detecting means for detecting that the number of times is a preset number; and wherein the motor control means controls the rotation speed of the drive motor based on a detection output of the number-of-times detecting means. . 5. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the printing is immediately before the end of printing after execution of the print start command, and wherein the motor control unit outputs the determination output of the determination unit. A printer device configured to control the rotation speed of the drive motor based on the control signal.