JP6845428B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printer capable of printing on a predetermined sheet of paper.

Conventionally, various types of printers capable of printing on a predetermined paper are known.

In addition to the printing operation, these printers can usually perform special operations such as checking the state of the operation of loading essential equipment and confirming whether the printing operation itself is normal or not. It is set. A display device configured so that such an operating state can be suitably visually recognized by the user, a dedicated button for controlling the operation, and the like are provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

The one described in Patent Document 1 is, for example, a light emitting diode provided on a dedicated panel arranged at a position that can be visually recognized by a user when a resource-saving printing mode performed only when recycled paper is used is executed. It has a function of blinking an LED. The one described in Patent Document 2 relates to the operating state in addition to notifying the user of the operating state by appropriately turning on, blinking, or changing the emission color of an LED provided at a position that can be visually recognized by the user. It also has a function to print information separately.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-264453 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-352924

However, in the case of those described in the patent documents as described above, the more surely the user is informed of the operating state, the more the display portion, the button, etc., which are specially provided only for the purpose concerned, are provided. As a result, the number of parts had to be increased.

That is, the current situation is that a printer having a simpler configuration is required by reducing the number of parts while having a function of accurately and surely notifying the user of the operating state.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a point, and a main object thereof is to reduce the number of parts while having a function of allowing a user to accurately and surely grasp an operating state. The purpose is to provide a printer having a simple configuration.

In view of the above problems, the present invention has taken the following measures.

That is, the printer of the present invention has a housing, a lid that can operate between an open posture that exposes the inside of the housing to the outside, and a closed posture that closes the inside of the housing from the outside, and the above. A lock sensor provided on either the housing or the lid body is configured to detect whether or not the lid body is in the closed posture and to operate in the open posture, and the lid body is in the open posture. The lock sensor is provided with a control device for controlling the lock sensor so as to be in a predetermined operating state when the lock sensor is operated, and further provided with a light emitting unit for a sensor for detecting the position of the ink ribbon. The sensor light emitting unit is controlled so as to emit light according to the operating state .

If it is such a thing, the operation can be performed to control the printer without providing a special operation part such as a button for operating the printer. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer having a simpler configuration by reducing the number of parts while having a function of allowing the user to accurately and surely grasp the operating state.
In particular, the user can more easily check the operating status.

The printer of the present invention has a housing, a lid that can operate between an open posture that exposes the inside of the housing to the outside, and a closed posture that closes the inside of the housing from the outside, and the housing. A lock sensor provided on any of the lids and configured to detect whether or not the lid is in the closed posture and to be able to operate in the open posture, and the lid is in the open posture. A control device for controlling the lock sensor to be in a predetermined operating state by operating the lock sensor is provided, and at least two or more of the lock sensors are provided in the housing, and the predetermined operating state is provided. Is possible to execute a plurality of types, and one of the predetermined operating states can be selected according to the order in which the operation of two or more of the lock sensors is detected.
If it is such a thing, the operation can be performed to control the printer without providing a special operation part such as a button for operating the printer. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer having a simpler configuration by reducing the number of parts while having a function of allowing the user to accurately and surely grasp the operating state.
It can be easily operated by the user and can execute more operating states.

Further, various operations in the printer can be easily performed on the one provided with a plurality of lock sensors .

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a printer having a simpler configuration by reducing the number of parts while having a function of allowing the user to accurately and surely grasp the operating state. Become.

The external view which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The same front view. A schematic view of the printer according to the same embodiment as viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is a schematic operation explanatory diagram according to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged view showing a main part according to FIG. The operation explanatory view which concerns on FIG. The operation explanatory view which concerns on FIG. Same as above. The functional block diagram which concerns on the same embodiment. The figure which shows the operation which concerns on this embodiment as a table. The figure which shows the correspondence between the operation which concerns on this embodiment and the behavior of LED as a table. The flow chart which concerns on the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the printer according to the present embodiment is configured as a melting type or sublimation type thermal transfer printer using a so-called ink ribbon R. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the printer, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the structure of the printer, and FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view based on FIG. Note that FIG. 4 omits the illustration of the latch claw 22 provided on the lid 2.

The printer is between a housing 1 having a substantially rectangular box shape, an open posture (O) that exposes the inside of the housing 1 to the outside, and a closing posture (C) that closes the inside of the housing 1 from the outside. The outer shape is mainly composed of the lid 2 that can operate in the above. Inside the housing 1, each mechanical component constituting the printer, the ink ribbon R, and the paper P are arranged.

As the mechanical components, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, this printer includes a lock sensor 3 provided on the housing 1 side for detecting the opening and closing of the lid 2, and a paper holder for operably holding the paper P. The device 4, the ink ribbon holding device 5 that operably holds the ink ribbon R, the color sensor 7 for detecting the position of the ink ribbon R held by the ink ribbon holding device 5 of the ink ribbon R, and the paper P. A thermal head 6 that prints by contacting the ink ribbon R stacked on the paper P, a cutter 8 for cutting when the printed paper P is ejected, and a platen roller for transporting the paper P and the ink ribbon R. , A plurality of rollers including a transfer roller, and a control device 9 (FIG. 9) for controlling these mechanical parts. In the description of the present embodiment, the rollers involved in printing in contact with the paper P or the ink ribbon R and the rollers involved in the transfer while determining the pass line are all referred to as rollers, and are specifically illustrated and described. Is omitted.

The housing 1 is provided in pairs on both sides of the box body 11 constituting the outer shape and the inner surface side of the box body 11, specifically, the vicinity of the upper end in the vicinity of the opening portion, and is engaged with the lid body 2 side. And have. In the present embodiment, the lock pin 12 has a shape protruding inward in a substantially cylindrical shape from the inner surfaces on both sides of the box body 11.

The lid 2 has a discharge port 21 for discharging the printed paper P to the outside, and a latch claw 22 shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 which is engaged with the housing 1 side, that is, the lock pin 12 described above. There is. In the present embodiment, the latch claws 22 are rotatably arranged in pairs on both sides near the upper end of the lid 2. The latch claw 22 is formed by denting the upper surface side near the tip so that the engaging surface 26 that engages with the lock pin 12 when the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C) and the engaging surface 26 are formed. It has a pressing surface 25 for pressing the lock sensor 3 side when engaged with the lock pin 12 to cause the lock sensor 3 to detect the closing posture (C). Here, the printer according to the present embodiment is not provided with a display device such as a display for displaying the operating state of the printer, which can changeably display arbitrary characters and symbols. However, although not directly shown on the lid 2, the lid 2 further has a power lamp 23 that lights up when the power is turned on and an error lamp 24 (FIG. 9) that lights up when some error occurs. ing.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the inner surface side of the lid body 2 faces upward due to the operation of rotating the tip of the lid body 2 downward from the closed posture (C). It is configured so that it can operate in the open posture (O). When the lid 2 is in the open posture (O), the ink ribbon R and the paper P are pulled out from the housing 1 together with the lid 2, and replacement work and the like can be easily performed.

The paper holding device 4 is capable of operating the paper P by driving the paper transport motor 41 while pivotally supporting the paper P held by winding.

The ink ribbon holding device 5 is capable of operating the ink ribbon R by driving the ribbon motor 51 while pivotally supporting the wound and held ink ribbon R. In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon holding device 5 holds the ink ribbon R to be used, which has a portion having an overcoat layer in addition to a portion displaying blue or cyan, yellow or yellow and red or magenta. There is.

The color sensor 7 has a light emitting diode capable of emitting light in red, blue, and green, that is, a color LED, thereby emitting light in a plurality of colors. The sensor LED 71 is a light emitting unit for the sensor, and an ink ribbon emitted from the sensor LED 71. It has a sensor light receiving unit 72 for detecting the light transmitted through R. The sensor LED 71 emits light so that its emission color corresponds to the color of the ink ribbon R. Specifically, the sensor LED 71 emits light in a color that is complementary to the above three colors of the ink ribbon R. The color emitted by the sensor LED 71 is not limited to the above-described mode as long as it emits two or more colors.

In the present embodiment, the sensor light receiving unit 72 is arranged on the housing 1 side. Specifically, it is operably arranged on the lower surface side of the top wall of the box body 11 in the housing 1 together with the thermal head 6 up to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. As a result, there is an effective problem that the paper P and the paper holding device 4 interfere with the sensor light receiving unit 72 and the thermal head 6 when the lid body 2 is opened and closed, which operates together with the lid body 2. It has been avoided.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensor LED 71 is arranged on the upper surface side of the lid 2 in the open posture (O), in other words, on the inner surface side of the lid 2 in the closed posture (C). There is. That is, when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O), the sensor LED 71 is arranged at a position where the sensor LED 71 can be suitably seen by the user. Further, the sensor LED 71 can be suitably visually recognized by the user even through the ink ribbon R as long as there is no paper P on the upper side.

In this embodiment, the sensor LED 71 is positioned on the lower side and the sensor light receiving unit 72 is positioned on the upper side. Of course, the sensor LED 71 and the sensor light receiving unit 72 may be arranged upside down. ..

Then, in the printer according to the present embodiment, normally, the paper P in the wound state held by the paper holding device 4 is unwound inside the housing 1 in which the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C), and the unwound paper is unwound. Printing is performed by applying heat to P with the ink ribbon R stacked on top of each other by the thermal head 6 to fix the ink on the surface of the ink ribbon R on the paper P, and the printed paper P covers the paper P. It is designed to be discharged to the outside from the discharge port 21 of the body 2.

Here, the printer according to the present embodiment is provided on the lid 2 in the present embodiment, detects whether or not the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C), and can operate in the open posture (O). The lock sensor 3 is provided with a control device 9 for controlling the lock sensor 3 so that the lock sensor 3 operates when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O) so as to be in a predetermined operating state. ..

Hereinafter, the specific configuration of the lock sensor 3 and the mode of the control device 9 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 in which the vicinity of the lock sensor 3 in FIG. 4 is enlarged and FIG. 6 showing the operation from FIG.

In the present embodiment, the lock sensor 3 is positioned in the vicinity of the lock pin 12, that is, at both ends of the housing 1, that is, in pairs on the left and right sides. The lock sensor 3 includes a lever body 31 rotatably supported between a normal posture (N) and an operable posture (M), and a spring that elastically biases the lever body 31 into the normal posture (N). By detecting the relative position between the 32 and the lever body 31, the lever sensor 33 for determining whether the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C) or the open posture (O) in a normal use state is provided. Have. The lever body 31 has a pressure receiving surface 35 that can be pressed by the pressing surface 25 of the latch claw 22 described above on one end side, and a lever sensor in a normal posture (N) corresponding to the closing posture (C) on the lid 2 on the other end side. It has a translucent hole 34, which is an opening arranged so as to be close to 33. The spring 32 is a so-called tension coil spring that elastically biases the lever body 31 into an operable posture (M) by elastically biasing the lever body 31, but of course, the lever body 31 is moved in the same direction. Various existing elastic means can be applied as long as they are elastic means that can be elastically biased. Then, the lever sensor 33 optically detects the posture of the lever body 31 by bringing the light-transmitting holes 34 into contact with each other, thereby determining whether the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C) or the open posture (O). It is indirectly detected.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C), the engaging surface 26 of the latch claw 22 engages with the lock pin 12, and at the same time, the pressing surface 25 of the latch claw 22 is the lever body 31. Press the pressure receiving surface 35. At this time, as shown in the figure, the lever body 31 is in a normal posture (N) in which one end side is raised against the elastic urging force of the spring 32 and the lower end side is lowered. At the same time, when the light transmitting hole 34 is close to the lever sensor 33, the light is transmitted through the light transmitting hole 34, so that the lever sensor 33 detects that the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C).

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the engagement between the latch claw 22 and the lock pin 12 is released, the other end side of the lever body 31 is raised by the elastic urging force of the spring 32, and the lever body 31 is in an operable posture ( Take M). At this time, the light transmitting hole 34 is separated from the lever sensor 33. As a result, the lever sensor 33 detects that the lid 2 is in the open posture (O).

In this embodiment, as described above, a plurality of lock sensors 3 are provided. Specifically, the lock sensors 3 are arranged in pairs on both sides in the vicinity of the opening edge of the housing 1. That is, the lock sensor 3 in which the lid 2 is in the open posture (O) is arranged and configured so that it can be operated from the outside by the user's fingers or the like.

That is, when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O), as shown in FIG. 7, the lever body 31, particularly the pressure receiving surface 35 and its vicinity can be easily accessed by, for example, fingers. Further, at this time, the user touches the lock pin 12 with his / her fingers, but as described above, since the lock pin 12 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, it does not give excessive stimulation to the fingers. On the contrary, the user can comfortably and accurately access the lever body 31 using the lock pin 12 as a clue.

If the user moves his / her fingers upward from the state shown in FIG. 7, the lever body 31 can be in the same normal posture (N) as in FIG. 6 without using the latch claw 22 as shown in FIG. Further, the user can set only the left or right lever body 31 in the normal posture (N).

Then, in the present embodiment, the control device 9 controls the control in the normal mode in which normal printing is performed, while the lock sensor 3 operates when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O) to enter a predetermined operating state. It has a function to control such as.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing a part of the functions of the control device 9. The control device 9 is provided at any position (not shown) inside the housing 1, and is electrically connected to a processor that performs arithmetic processing, a memory that can store various data, and other components. It is a normal microcomputer equipped with an interface to connect to.

As shown in the figure, when the control device 9 receives a signal from the lock sensor 3, specifically the lever sensor 33, the sensor LED 71, the ribbon motor 51, the cutter 8, the thermal head 6, the power lamp 23, and the error lamp It has a function capable of controlling at least 24. As a result, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are appropriately operated, the control device 9 executes various maintenance-related operations.

The printer according to the present embodiment cannot be in a maintenance mode capable of performing various maintenance-related operations even when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O) when the power is turned on. In the printer, for example, when the power is turned on when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O), or after the printer is put in the open posture (O) after the power is turned on, the left and right lock sensors 3 are alternately arranged. Alternatively, the maintenance mode can be set so that various operations related to maintenance can be performed when a predetermined operation such as when the operation is performed a plurality of times is performed.

Further, the control device 9 determines whether or not one of the left and right lock sensors 3 has been operated once by detecting the operation of the lever body 31 in the lock sensor 3, in other words, detecting the operation of the lock sensor 3. Has the function of As an example of the determination, when the lever body 31 in the operable posture (M) is in the normal posture (N) for a predetermined time such as 0.5 seconds or more and is again in the operable posture (M), The operation of the lock sensor 3 may be detected once. Further, it is set so that the next operation of the lock sensor 3 can be accepted when the lever body 31 is in the operable posture (M) for a predetermined time such as 0.5 seconds or more after the lock sensor 3 is operated once. You may. In addition, if the left and right lever bodies 31 are in the normal posture (N) at the same time and there is no change for a certain period of time, it may not be determined that the operation of the lock sensor 3 has been detected.

In addition, the fact that the left and right lever bodies 31 are in the normal posture (N) at the same time is the same as the state in which the lid 2 is in the closed posture (C), but the control device 9 is in addition to the input from the lock sensor 3. By also receiving the input from the light receiving unit 72 of the color sensor 7, it is possible to effectively avoid the problem that the lid 2 is erroneously determined to be in the closed posture (C) even if it is in the open posture (O). can do.

Subsequently, an example of correspondence between the operation order of the lock sensor 3 for the printer in the maintenance mode and the diagnostic operation of the printer, that is, the operation test in a predetermined operation state related to maintenance in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. ..

In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, any operation test can be executed when either the left or right lock sensor 3 is operated four times. Further, the portion surrounded by a small rectangular frame in the figure indicates a portion where either the left or right lock sensor 3 is operated twice in succession. That is, in the present embodiment, unless there is an operation performed on the same lock sensor 3 twice in succession in the first to third operations out of the four operations of the lock sensor 3, the control device 9 is subjected to any operation test. Is set not to issue a command to execute.

Of course, although not shown in the figure, the operation test may be performed with less than three operations on the lock sensor 3. Further, the required operation test may be selected simply by the number of operations on the lock sensor 3. In any case, the operation and operation test of the lock sensor 3 so as to eliminate the problem that another operation test is mistakenly executed when the lock sensor 3 is operated a plurality of times in order to perform the required operation test. You just have to set the relationship with.

Next, regarding the operation order of the operations of the left and right lock sensors 3 shown in FIG. 10 and the diagnostic operation of the printer, that is, the operation test in the maintenance mode, the operation No. 1-No. 12 will be described in order.

Operation No. As the control according to 1, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of "left → left → right → right", the control device 9 is an operation test in which the ribbon motor 51 is rotated forward as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The ribbon motor 51 is controlled to execute the above. In the present embodiment, the direction of normal rotation is, for example, the direction in which the paper P is ejected and the direction along the direction in the present embodiment. Further, the reverse direction is the opposite direction to the forward rotation direction described above.

Operation No. As the control according to 2, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of "left → left → right → left", the control device 9 performs an operation test of reversing the ribbon motor 51 as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The ribbon motor 51 is controlled to execute.

Operation No. As the control according to 3, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of "left → right → right → right", the control device 9 rotates the paper transport motor 41 in the normal direction as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The paper transfer motor 41 is controlled to execute the test.

Operation No. As the control according to 4, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of "left → right → right → left", the control device 9 reverses the paper transport motor 41 as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The paper transport motor 41 is controlled to execute the above.

Operation No. As the control according to 5, the control device 9 executes an operation test for driving the cutter 8 as a diagnostic operation of the printer when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of “left → left → left → right”. Control the cutter 8 as much as possible.

Operation No. As the control according to 6, the control device 9 performs an operation test for driving the thermal head 6 as a diagnostic operation of the printer when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of “left → left → left → left”. The thermal head 6 is controlled to execute.

Operation No. As the control according to 7, the control device 9 performs an operation test of blinking the power lamp 23 as a diagnostic operation of the printer when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of “right → left → left → left”. The power lamp 23 is controlled to execute.

Operation No. As the control according to 8, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of "right → left → left → right", the control device 9 performs an operation test of blinking the error lamp 24 as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The error lamp 24 is controlled to execute.

Operation No. As the control according to 9, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of “right → right → left → left”, the control device 9 blinks the sensor LED 71 in red as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The sensor LED 71 is controlled to perform the test.

Operation No. As the control according to 10, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of "right → right → left → right", the control device 9 blinks the sensor LED 71 in green as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The sensor LED 71 is controlled to perform the test.

Operation No. As the control according to 11, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of “right → right → right → left”, the control device 9 blinks the sensor LED 71 in blue as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The sensor LED 71 is controlled to perform the test.

Operation No. As the control according to 12, when the left and right lock sensors 3 are operated four times in the order of “right → right → right → right”, the control device 9 blinks the sensor LED 71 in white as a diagnostic operation of the printer. The sensor LED 71 is controlled to perform the test.

Then, as described above, in the printer according to the present embodiment, if the lid 2 is in the open posture (O) and the paper P is retracted from the sensor LED 71, the user can easily visually recognize the sensor LED 71. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown as an example in FIG. 11, one or a plurality of the three color LEDs constituting the sensor LED 71 are lit or blinked according to the operating state of the printer in the maintenance mode. This makes it possible to accurately notify the user of the printer status.

Next, FIG. 11 shows the display No. in which the sensor LED 71 lights up or blinks. 1-No. The correspondence between 7 and the operating state in the maintenance mode of the printer is shown. Hereinafter, the display No. 1-No. 7 will be described in order.

Display No. As the control according to 1, the control device 9 notifies the user that the printer is in a paper jam state by controlling the red color LED constituting the sensor LED 71 to blink. At this time, the control device 9 can notify the user of the location where the paper jam is occurring by controlling the sensor LED 71 so as to appropriately change the number of times the color LED is blinked and the time interval.

Display No. As the control according to 2, the control device 9 controls to blink the green color LED constituting the sensor LED 71, so that the printer state can accept the operation test as shown in FIG. 10 in the maintenance mode. Notify the user that it is in. At this time, the control device 9 controls the sensor LED 71 so as to continuously blink the color LED from the start of the input, that is, the start of the maintenance mode, until some operation is performed.

Display No. As the control according to 3, the control device 9 controls to blink the blue color LED constituting the sensor LED 71, thereby notifying the user that the printer state is in the ERR state, that is, in a state in which some error has occurred. To do. At this time, the control device 9 can notify the user of the cause of the error by controlling the sensor LED 71 so as to appropriately change the number of times the color LED is blinked and the time interval.

Display No. As the control according to 4, the control device 9 blinks the red and green color LEDs constituting the sensor LED 71 to blink the sensor LED 71 in orange, and the state of the printer is a diagnostic operation, that is, an operation test is in progress. Notify the user that the error has occurred. At this time, the control device 9 can notify the user of the cause of the error by controlling the sensor LED 71 so as to appropriately change the number of times the color LED is blinked and the time interval.

Display No. As the control according to 5, the control device 9 turns on the sensor LED 71 in orange by controlling to turn on the red and green color LEDs constituting the sensor LED 71, and the printer state is in progress. Notify the user that is complete. Examples of the completed operation of notifying the user at this time include the completion of setting the paper P on the paper holding device 4 and the completion of setting the ink ribbon R on the ink ribbon holding device 5.

Display No. As the control according to 6, the control device 9 lights the sensor LED 71 in light blue by controlling to light the green and blue color LEDs constituting the sensor LED 71, and the state of the printer is shown in FIG. 10, for example. Notify the user that one of the operation tests is in progress.

Display No. As the control according to 7, the control device 9 turns on the sensor LED 71 in purple by controlling to turn on the red and blue color LEDs constituting the sensor LED 71, and the state of the printer is data transmission / reception or data check. Notify the user that it is inside.

Subsequently, an example of the procedure executed by the control device 9 in the maintenance mode will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. In the present embodiment, as described above, when the power is turned on when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O), or when the power is turned on, the lid 2 is operated to the open posture (O). The control device 9 is set so that the printer enters the maintenance mode when a predetermined operation such as the left and right lock sensors 3 being operated alternately is performed later.

<Step ST1>
In step ST1, the control device 9 executes control for confirming whether or not any error has already occurred prior to executing each operation mode as illustrated in FIG. For example, it is determined whether or not there is an error based on the signal input from each sensor to which the control device 9 is connected. At this time, since the control device 9 is in the process of transmitting / receiving data and checking the data, the sensor LED 71 also displays the display No. 1 shown in FIG. The sensor LED 71 is controlled so as to be in the state of 7, that is, the state of being lit in purple. When the control device 9 detects some kind of error, for example, the sensor LED 71 is displayed as a display No. 1 and display No. The process proceeds to step ST5 while displaying the state of 3 individually or alternately. When the control device 9 does not detect any error at this point, for example, the sensor LED 71 is displayed as a display No. The process proceeds to step ST2 while displaying the state of 2.

<Step ST2>

In step ST2, the control device 9 displays, for example, the sensor LED 71. While displaying in the state of 2, it is determined whether or not one of the left and right lock sensors 3 is operated twice in a row, such as right → right or left → left. If the control device 9 determines that the lock sensor 3 has obtained an input indicating that one of the left and right lock sensors 3 has been operated twice in succession, the control device 9 proceeds to step ST3. Further, the control device 9 terminates the maintenance mode if it does not determine that the lock sensor 3 has obtained an input indicating that either the left or right lock sensor 3 has been operated twice in succession. Here, various modes can be set as the mode for terminating the maintenance mode. For example, the control device 9 terminates the maintenance mode when it is determined that the lock sensor 3 has not been operated for a certain period of time or longer, or when it is determined that the left and right lock sensors 3 have been operated at the same time for 3 to 5 seconds. You may.

<Step ST3>

In step ST3, the control device 9 has the operation No. illustrated in FIG. 1-No. Execute any of the operation tests according to 12. At this time, the control device 9 displays the sensor LED 71 and displays No. Control to display in the state of 6 is also performed. After that, when the operation test is completed, the control device 9 displays the sensor LED 71 and displays No. Control is performed to display in the state of 5, and the process proceeds to step ST4.

<Step ST4>

In step ST4, the control device 9 controls to determine whether or not an error has occurred in the operation test according to step ST3. When the control device 9 determines that an error has occurred in the operation test in step ST3, for example, the sensor LED 71 is displayed as a display No. 3, No. 4 In some cases, No. The process proceeds to step ST5 while alternately displaying any one of the states of 1 or a plurality of states. When the control device 9 determines that no error has occurred, for example, the sensor LED 71 is displayed as a display No. The process proceeds to step ST6 while displaying the state of 2.

<Step ST5>

In step ST5, the control device 9 executes the control related to the preset error improvement work according to the type of the error currently occurring. At the same time, the control device 9 displays, for example, the sensor LED 71. In the state of 3, in some cases, the display No. 3 and No. The state of 4 is alternated, and in some cases, No. 1, No. 3 and No. It is controlled so that the states of 4 are displayed alternately. Then, when the error improvement work is completed, the control device 9 displays the sensor LED 71 and displays No. The process proceeds to step ST6 while controlling the display in the state of 5.

<Step ST6>

In step ST6, the control device 9 performs the same processing as in step ST2. That is, the control device 9 displays, for example, the sensor LED 71. While displaying in the state of 2, it is determined whether or not one of the left and right lock sensors 3 has been operated twice in a row. If the control device 9 determines that the lock sensor 3 has obtained an input indicating that either the left or right lock sensor 3 has been operated twice in succession, the control device 9 proceeds to step ST3. Further, the control device 9 terminates the maintenance mode if it does not determine that the lock sensor 3 has obtained an input indicating that either the left or right lock sensor 3 has been operated twice in succession. Further, it goes without saying that in step ST6 as in step ST2, various modes can be set as the mode for terminating the maintenance mode.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, an operation means such as a button is separately provided for the purpose of only accepting operations related to maintenance without providing a device such as a dedicated display that shows the operation state of the printer by arbitrary characters or images. The maintenance mode can be easily and surely executed even if it is not provided.

As described above, the printer according to the present embodiment includes a control device 9 that controls the lock sensor 3 to operate to obtain a predetermined operating state when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O). It is characterized by that.

With such a configuration, the printer according to the present embodiment can be operated to control the printer without providing a special operation portion such as a button. As a result, a printer having a simpler configuration has been realized.

In this embodiment, a plurality of lock sensors 3 are provided so that the user can easily perform the operation and can handle more operating states. More specifically, the lock sensors 3 are provided in pairs on both side ends of the housing 1.

In order to facilitate various operations in the printer, one of the predetermined operation states can be selected according to the number of times the left and right lock sensors 3 are pressed, that is, the operations are detected.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the operation state can be selected in consideration of the operation order of the left and right lock sensors 3, so that more operation tests can be supported. In addition, in the present embodiment, the control device 9 is made to accurately execute the required operation test by utilizing the order in which the operations of the left and right lock sensors 3 are detected.

Further, in this embodiment, the lock sensor is operated for the maintenance mode when the lid 2 is in the open posture (O) so as not only to be easy for the user to use but also to avoid a problem of erroneous operation during normal printing. The operation according to 3 can be performed.

In particular, in order to make it easier for the user to check the operating state, in the present embodiment, the sensor LED 71 for detecting the position of the ink ribbon R emits light corresponding to each operating state in the maintenance mode. I have to.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a thermal transfer printer in which an ink ribbon is attached, but of course, it may be any one provided with a lock sensor capable of detecting the opening and closing of the lid with respect to the housing. That is, the present invention can be applied to printers having various aspects such as an inkjet printer and a laser printer as long as they are provided with a lock sensor. Further, in the above embodiment, only the operation related to the maintenance of the printer is disclosed as the operation realized by the operation of the lock sensor, but of course, normal printing can be performed depending on the position of the lid and the arrangement of each mechanical component. is there.

Further, various modes such as a specific configuration and arrangement of the lock sensor can be applied.

Other configurations can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 ... Housing 2 ... Lid 3 ... Lock sensor 9 ... Control device C ... Open posture O ... Closed posture

Claims (2)

A lid that can operate between the housing, an open posture that exposes the inside of the housing to the outside, and a closed posture that closes the inside of the housing from the outside.
A lock sensor provided in either the housing or the lid body, which detects whether or not the lid body is in the closed posture and is configured to be able to operate in the open posture.
It is provided with a control device for controlling the lock sensor so as to be in a predetermined operating state by operating the lock sensor when the lid is in the open posture.
Further equipped with a light emitting part for a sensor for detecting the position of the ink ribbon,
A printer characterized in that the control device controls the light emitting unit for a sensor so as to emit light according to an operating state. A lid that can operate between the housing, an open posture that exposes the inside of the housing to the outside, and a closed posture that closes the inside of the housing from the outside.
A lock sensor provided in either the housing or the lid body, which detects whether or not the lid body is in the closed posture and is configured to be able to operate in the open posture.
It is provided with a control device for controlling the lock sensor so as to be in a predetermined operating state by operating the lock sensor when the lid is in the open posture.
At least two or more of the lock sensors are provided in the housing.
It is possible to execute a plurality of types of the predetermined operating states, and it is possible to select one of the predetermined operating states according to the order in which the operations of two or more of the lock sensors are detected. A featured printer.

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