JP7134374B1 - thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

A thermal printer is provided in which the previously used area and the next used area of an ink ribbon do not overlap.
A thermal printer (1) is arranged between a thermal head (21) for printing on an object to be printed (F) moved at a predetermined speed, and between the thermal head (21) and the printing surface of the object to be printed (F). The ink ribbon R that transfers the ink to the printing material F when printing on F, the ribbon drive unit 321 that moves the ink ribbon R, the moving speed Vf of the printing material F, and the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R and a ribbon control unit 112 for controlling the ribbon drive unit 321 to move the ink ribbon R so that the moving speed is the same. The area is monitored, and the ribbon driving section 321 is controlled so that the previously used area and the next used area do not overlap.
[Selection drawing] Fig. 6

Description

The present invention relates to thermal printers.

Conventionally, a thermal head that prints on a long film (printing material) such as a packaging film that moves at a predetermined speed, and an ink ribbon that transfers ink to the long film when printing on the long film with the thermal head. , a ribbon driving section for moving the ink ribbon, and a ribbon control section for controlling the movement of the ink ribbon (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In such a thermal printer, the ink ribbon is controlled by the ribbon controller so as to have the same moving speed as the long film that is continuously moved by the packaging machine or the like during printing in order to ensure the printing quality. be done.

JP-A-8-216478

In a thermal printer controlled so that the ink ribbon moves at the same speed as the long film during printing, the ink ribbon is accelerated at a predetermined acceleration until it reaches the same speed as the long film. Therefore, when the moving speed of the long film is different, the acceleration time of the ink ribbon is different. If the acceleration time of the ink ribbon is different, the moving distance of the long film will be different from when the ribbon control section receives the print signal until the ink ribbon reaches the same moving speed as the long film.

Also, if the acceleration time of the ink ribbon differs, the moving distance of the ink ribbon will differ from when the ribbon control unit receives the print signal until the ink ribbon reaches the same moving speed as the long film, resulting in printing. Even if a signal is input at a predetermined timing, the ink ribbon usage area may not be at a fixed position. In this case, the area used for the previous ink ribbon and the area used for the next ink ribbon may overlap. Therefore, a thermal printer is desired in which the previously used area and the next used area of the ink ribbon do not overlap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal printer in which the previously used area and the next used area of an ink ribbon do not overlap.

The present invention provides a thermal head for printing on an object to be printed that is moved at a predetermined speed, and a thermal head that is arranged between the thermal head and the printing surface of the object to be printed. an ink ribbon from which ink is transferred to the substrate; a ribbon driving unit for moving the ink ribbon; and a ribbon control unit for controlling the ribbon drive unit to move the ribbon control unit, the ribbon control unit monitoring the previously used area and the next used area of the ink ribbon, and The present invention relates to a thermal printer that controls the ribbon driving section so that the area to be used next time does not overlap.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermal printer in which the previously used area and the next used area of the ink ribbon do not overlap.

It is a figure explaining the whole thermal printer composition concerning a 1st embodiment. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a thermal printer; FIG. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation of the ink ribbon, showing the case where the long film moves at the moving speed Vf when the printing reference speed Vk is set to the printing reference speed Va. 4 is a timing chart showing movement control of the ink ribbon when the movement speed of the long film does not change. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ink ribbon when the moving speed of the long film does not change; 4 is a timing chart showing movement control of the ink ribbon when the moving speed of the long film increases from the middle. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ink ribbon when the moving speed of the long film increases from the middle; 4 is a timing chart showing movement control of the ink ribbon when the moving speed of the long film is lowered halfway; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ink ribbon when the moving speed of the long film is lowered halfway; 5 is a timing chart showing ink ribbon movement control when the ink ribbon feeding operation is prioritized when the moving speed of the long film drops halfway. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the ink ribbon when the feeding movement of the ink ribbon is prioritized when the moving speed of the long film drops halfway; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the thermal printer of the second embodiment when printing a plurality of long character strings in the direction of flow of the long film; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the ribbon save function in the thermal printer of the second embodiment; 4 is a timing chart showing ink ribbon movement control when the long film movement speed increases in the middle of a thermal printer having a ribbon save function. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an ink ribbon when the moving speed of a long film increases in the middle of a thermal printer having a ribbon save function; 4 is a timing chart showing movement control of an ink ribbon when the movement speed of a long film does not change in a thermal printer having a ribbon save function. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an ink ribbon in a thermal printer having a ribbon save function when the moving speed of the long film does not change; 4 is a timing chart showing ink ribbon movement control when the long film movement speed increases in the middle of a thermal printer having a ribbon save function. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an ink ribbon when the moving speed of a long film increases in the middle of a thermal printer having a ribbon save function; 4 is a timing chart showing movement control of an ink ribbon in a thermal printer having a ribbon save function when the movement speed of a long film is lowered halfway. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an ink ribbon in a thermal printer having a ribbon save function when the moving speed of a long film is lowered halfway;

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a thermal printer 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

The thermal printer 1 of the present embodiment prints, for example, on a long film F (printing material) such as a packaging film that is continuously moved by a packaging machine (not shown) or the like. The long film F is formed by a long film. The long film F is, for example, a packaging film that is moved by a packaging machine (not shown) or the like.

The thermal printer 1 includes a printer body 2, a platen roller 4, an upstream guide roller 61, a downstream guide roller 62, a rotary encoder 7, and a mark detection sensor 8, as shown in FIG.

The printer main body 2 is arranged on the upper side with respect to the moving path of the long film F in the middle of the moving path of the long film F. As shown in FIG. The printer main body 2 is held by the support portion 23 .

The support portion 23 has a support shaft portion 24 , a moving member 25 and a holding member 26 . The support shaft portion 24 is held by a holding member 26 . The moving member 25 is supported by the support shaft portion 24 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the support shaft portion 24 (the direction penetrating through the plane of FIG. 1). The printer body 2 is fixed to the moving member 25 . The printer body 2 can move in the axial direction of the support shaft portion 24 by moving the moving member 25 in the axial direction of the support shaft portion 24 .

The printer main body 2 includes an ink ribbon R, a ribbon transport mechanism 3 , a thermal head 21 and a holding frame 22 . The holding frame 22 holds the ribbon transport mechanism 3 and the thermal head 21 .

The thermal head 21 is arranged to face the platen roller 4 with the ink ribbon R and the long film F interposed therebetween. The thermal head 21 is arranged so that the tip portion 21a side protrudes toward the platen roller 4 side. The thermal head 21 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. The thermal head 21 prints a print pattern (not shown) on the long film F moving from upstream to downstream.

The thermal head 21 is arranged to face the long film F moving in the moving direction P at a predetermined moving speed. The thermal head 21 is configured to be movable with respect to the platen roller 4 to a standby position (see FIG. 1) away from the platen roller 4 or a pressing position (not shown) to press the platen roller 4 .

The thermal head 21 has a plurality of heating elements at its tip portion 21a. In the thermal head 21, the heating elements generate heat when the thermal head 21 is energized.

The ink ribbon R is arranged between the thermal head 21 and the printing surface of the long film F. As shown in FIG. From the ink ribbon R, ink is transferred to the long film F when printing is performed on the long film F by the thermal head 21 . The ink ribbon R is transported (moved) by the ribbon transport mechanism 3 .

The ribbon conveying mechanism 3 includes an original side ribbon holder 31 that holds a wound unused ink ribbon R, a winding side ribbon holder 32 that winds up the ink ribbon R, and a plurality of guide rollers 33 , 34 , 35 . , 36 and a ribbon drive motor 321 as a ribbon drive unit. The ribbon transport mechanism 3 is driven by the ribbon drive motor 321 to rewind the unused ink ribbon R wound around the original side ribbon holder 31 toward the thermal head 21 and to rewind the ink used in the thermal head 21 . The ribbon R is wound around the ribbon holder 32 on the winding side.

The ribbon drive motor 321 moves the ink ribbon R. The ribbon drive motor 321 rotationally drives the winding-side ribbon holder 32 in both the direction of rewinding the ink ribbon R and the direction of winding the ink ribbon R. As shown in FIG. The ribbon drive motor 321 conveys the ink ribbon R toward the thermal head 21 at the same moving speed as the long film F such as the packaging film continuously moved by the packaging machine or the like.
The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by the ribbon control section 112, which will be described later.

A plurality of guide rollers 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 guide the ink ribbon R conveyed from the original ribbon holder 31 toward the take-up ribbon holder 32 , or guide the original web from the take-up ribbon holder 32 . It is a roller that guides the ink ribbon R conveyed toward the side ribbon holder 31 .

The platen roller 4, the upstream guide roller 61 and the downstream guide roller 62 are held by the side plate 10 or the like. The platen roller 4, the upstream guide roller 61, and the downstream guide roller 62 guide the movement of the long film F in the movement direction P. As shown in FIG.

The platen roller 4 is arranged to face the thermal head 21 with the ink ribbon R and the long film F interposed therebetween, as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the platen roller 4 is arranged below the thermal head 21 .

The platen roller 4 can rotate while winding at least part of the long film F around its peripheral surface in a state in which the long film F is arranged between the platen roller 4 and the thermal head 21 . The platen roller 4 is a cylindrical roller having a predetermined outer diameter and having an elastic layer made of a material having predetermined elasticity such as silicone rubber formed on the peripheral surface of a metal core bar having a predetermined diameter. The platen roller 4 has a platen roller body 41 and a platen shaft member 42 . The platen shaft member 42 is rotatably supported by the side plate 10 via a bearing (not shown).

The rotary encoder 7 is arranged to face the platen roller 4 with the long film F therebetween. The rotary encoder 7 rotates as the long film F moves, detects the amount of movement of the long film F as the amount of rotation, and outputs it as a pulse signal. Thereby, the control unit 110 (described later) calculates the position in the moving direction P of the long film F from the reference position. The reference positions are, for example, a plurality of marks printed on the long film F at predetermined intervals.

A pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 7 is input to a control section 110 (described later). As a result, the controller 110 can calculate the speed of the long film F by converting the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 7 into the speed of the long film F. FIG.

The upstream guide roller 61 is arranged upstream of the platen roller 4 in the moving direction P of the long film F. As shown in FIG. The upstream guide roller 61 guides the long film F on the upstream side of the platen roller 4 .

The mark detection sensor 8 is arranged on the moving path of the long film F on the upstream side of the upstream guide roller 61 . Note that the mark detection sensor 8 may be provided downstream of the downstream guide roller 62 (described later). The mark detection sensor 8 has a sensor light emitting portion 8a and a sensor light receiving portion 8b. The sensor light-emitting portion 8a and the sensor light-receiving portion 8b are arranged to face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. The mark detection sensor 8 has a plurality of marks M (reference positions) (see FIG. 5, etc.) printed on the long film F at predetermined intervals between the sensor light emitting portion 8a and the sensor light receiving portion 8b. A detection signal indicating that the mark M has been detected is output. A detection signal output from the mark detection sensor 8 is input to a control section 110 (described later).

The downstream guide roller 62 is arranged downstream of the platen roller 4 in the moving direction P of the long film F. As shown in FIG. The downstream guide roller 62 guides the long film F on the downstream side of the platen roller 4 .

By configuring the upstream guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, and the downstream guide roller 62 in this way, the long film F is moved in the order of the upstream guide roller 61, the platen roller 4, and the downstream guide roller 62. be. The long film F is, for example, a packaging film that is moved by a packaging machine (not shown) or the like, and is moved in the movement direction P by a film moving mechanism or the like of the packaging machine. The moving speed of the long film F can be changed by a speed changer (not shown) of the packaging machine.

The thermal printer 1 configured as described above moves the thermal head 21 from the waiting position (see FIG. 1) toward the pressing position (not shown), thereby transferring the ink ribbon R to the long film. F and the platen roller 4 side are pressed. As the long film F is moved along the movement path, the ink ribbon R, which is in contact with the desired heating elements that generate heat on the surface of the platen roller 4, is moved while being in contact with the long film F. As a result, the thermal printer 1 transfers the ink applied to the ink ribbon R to the long film F, and prints a printing portion (not shown) on the long film F that is moved at the moving speed Vf.

Next, the functional configuration of the thermal printer 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the thermal printer 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the operation of the ink ribbon R, showing the case where the long film F moves at the moving speed Vf when the printing reference speed Vk is set to the printing reference speed Va.

In addition to the components described above, the thermal printer 1 further includes an operation unit 9 and a control device 100 as shown in FIG. The control device 100 has a control section 110 and a storage section 120 .

The operation unit 9 includes a touch panel (not shown), a numeric keypad (not shown), and the like. The operation unit 9 is used to perform an operation to start a printing operation, an operation to input numbers such as the number of times of printing, an operation to change the setting of a printing reference speed Vk (described later), and various values. manipulated. The operation unit 9 controls a signal indicating that a touch panel (not shown), a numeric keypad (not shown), or the like is operated by operating a touch panel (not shown), a numeric keypad (not shown), or the like. Output to unit 110 .

The storage unit 120 is composed of a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like. The storage unit 120 stores a control program used in the control unit 110 of the thermal printer 1, data used by the control program, and the like.

The control unit 110 controls the thermal head 21, the ribbon driving motor 321, and the like. The controller 110 has a thermal head controller 111 , a ribbon controller 112 , and a speed setting changer 113 .

A thermal head control unit 111 controls the operation of the thermal head 21 . The thermal head control unit 111 moves the thermal head 21 with respect to the platen roller 4 to a standby position (see FIG. 1) away from the platen roller 4 or a pressing position (not shown) to press the platen roller 4. to control. The thermal head control unit 111 controls to energize the thermal head 21 so that desired heating elements of the thermal head 21 generate heat.

The ribbon control unit 112 controls the movement of the ink ribbon R in the printing operation. The ribbon control unit 112 sequentially executes a delay process, a print preparation process, a printing process, a deceleration process, a standby process, and a rewinding process (reverse movement process) in one cycle of printing operation. , controls the ribbon drive motor 321 .

The ink ribbon R moves forward from the original side ribbon holder 31 to the take-up side ribbon holder 32 in the print preparation process, the printing process, and the deceleration process.
In the rewinding process (reverse moving process), the ink ribbon R moves in the opposite direction to the forward direction in which the ink ribbon R moves in the print preparation process, the printing process, and the decelerating process, and moves from the winding-side ribbon holder 32. It moves in the opposite direction toward the original fabric side ribbon holder 31 .

In the following description, when describing the direction in which the ink ribbon R moves as "forward direction", it means the direction in which the ink ribbon R moves from the original side ribbon holder 31 to the take-up side ribbon holder 32. do. In addition, when describing the direction in which the ink ribbon R moves as “reverse direction”, it means the direction in which the ink ribbon R moves from the take-up side ribbon holder 32 to the original side ribbon holder 31 .

FIG. 3 shows a timing chart mainly showing the operations of the long film F and the ink ribbon R in these steps. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a printing reference speed Vk (described later) is set to a printing reference speed Va (for example, 30 m/min), and the long film F moves at a moving speed Vf (for example, It is moving at a moving speed Vb=20 m/min).

The delaying step is, as shown in FIG. 3, a step of delaying the start of movement of the ink ribbon R at a delay time Ta. The delay time Ta is the time from when the ribbon controller 112 receives the print signal to when the ink ribbon R starts to move. The timing at which the ribbon control unit 112 receives the print signal is timing t11. The delay time Ta is the time from timing t11 to t12. In the delay step, the ink ribbon R stops without moving during the delay time Ta.

The print preparation process is a process of preparing for printing on the long film F during the print preparation time Tb after the delay process (delay time Ta). The print preparation time Tb is the time from when the movement of the ink ribbon R is started after the delay step (delay time Ta) until when the preparation for printing on the long film F is completed. The print preparation time Tb is the time from timing t12 to t14.

The print preparation process includes an acceleration process for accelerating the ink ribbon R and a ribbon feed adjustment process for adjusting the feeding amount of the ink ribbon R. The print preparation time Tb has an acceleration time Tc and a ribbon feeding adjustment time Td. The acceleration time Tc is the time to accelerate the ink ribbon R and is the time to perform the acceleration process. The ribbon feed adjustment time Td is the time for adjusting the feed amount of the ink ribbon R after the acceleration time Tc, and is the time for executing the ribbon feed adjustment process.

The acceleration time Tc is the time from timing t12 to t13. In the acceleration step, during the acceleration time Tc, the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R rises to a predetermined initial speed, accelerates from the predetermined initial speed at a predetermined constant acceleration, and becomes the same as the moving speed Vf of the long film F. For example, the movement speed Vb (=20 m/min) is reached.

In this embodiment, the predetermined constant acceleration in the acceleration step is set when the movement speed Vf of the long film F differs when controlling the operation of the ink ribbon R (for example, as in this embodiment, the movement speed Vb = 20 m/min, for example, moving speed Vb = 30 m/min, 10 m/min), or even when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes in the middle, the same constant acceleration be. The predetermined constant acceleration is appropriately set based on the specifications of the ribbon drive motor 321, for example. In addition, in the present embodiment, the same acceleration is used for all the acceleration steps, but the present invention is not limited to this. The acceleration may be a varying acceleration.

The moving distance of the ink ribbon R is shown as an area in a timing chart in which the vertical axis is the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R and the horizontal axis is the time t. As shown in FIG. 3, the moving distance of the ink ribbon R during the acceleration time Tc is the moving distance Lra.

The ribbon feeding adjustment time Td is the time from timing t13 to t14. In the ribbon feed adjusting process, the ink ribbon R is moved at the moving speed Vr that has reached the moving speed Vf of the long film F during the ribbon feeding adjusting time Td, and the ink ribbon R is moved at the moving speed during the ribbon feeding adjusting time Td. Let The movement distance of the ink ribbon R during the ribbon feeding adjustment time Td is the movement distance Lrb.

The printing process is, as shown in FIG. 3, a process of printing on the long film F during the printing time Te after the printing preparation process (printing preparation time Tb). The printing time Te is the time during which the long film F is printed. The printing time Te is the time from timing t14 to t15. That is, the printing process starts at timing t14 and ends at timing t15.

In the printing process, the ink ribbon R is moved at the same moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R as the moving speed Vf of the long film F during the printing time Te. The moving distance of the ink ribbon R during the printing time Te is the moving distance Lrp. Even when the moving speed Vf of the long film F is different (for example, moving speed Vb = 30 m/min, 20 m/min, 10 m/min), or when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes in the middle are the same movement distance.

The deceleration process is a process of decelerating the ink ribbon R during the deceleration time Tf after the printing process (printing time Te). The deceleration time Tf is the time for decelerating the ink ribbon R after the printing process is completed. The deceleration time Tf is the time from timing t15 to t16.

In the deceleration process, the ink ribbon R is decelerated from the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R in the printing process at a predetermined uniform acceleration during the deceleration time Tf, and is stopped after reaching a predetermined terminal speed. The moving distance of the ink ribbon R during the deceleration time Tf is the backrun distance Lrd.

The standby process is a process of waiting for execution of the rewinding process (reverse movement process) during a standby time Tg after the deceleration process (deceleration time Tf). The waiting time Tg is the time from the end of the deceleration process to the start of execution of the rewinding process (reverse movement process). The standby time Tg is the time from timing t16 to t17. In the standby process, the ink ribbon R is stopped without being moved during the standby time Tg, and is on standby until the execution of the rewinding process (reverse movement process) is started.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rewinding process (reverse movement process) is performed after the printing process (printing time Te) and after the deceleration process (deceleration time Tf) and the waiting process (waiting time Tg). At time Th, this is a step of rewinding the ink ribbon R in the reverse direction. The rewinding time Th is the time for rewinding the ink ribbon R. FIG.

The rewinding time Th is the time from timing t17 to t19 via t18. In the rewinding step (reverse movement step), the ink ribbon R is accelerated from a predetermined initial speed in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) at a predetermined uniform acceleration during the rewinding time Th to move the ink ribbon R in the rewinding direction (reverse direction). ), the film is decelerated at a predetermined uniform acceleration, and stopped after reaching a predetermined terminal speed in the rewinding direction (reverse direction). In the rewinding process (reverse movement process), the deceleration timing t18 is determined so that a predetermined rewinding amount is achieved when the rewinding process is completed and the film reaches a predetermined terminal speed and then stops. In this embodiment, the rewinding movement distance of the ink ribbon R in the rewinding time Th is a predetermined rewinding movement distance Lrr in the rewinding direction (reverse direction).

In addition, the rewinding movement distance Lrr of the ink ribbon R in the reverse direction during the rewinding time Th is the backward movement of the ink ribbon R by the backrun distance Lrd moved in the forward direction in the deceleration process (deceleration time Tf). It is the total distance of the distance to be rewound and moved, the distance to be rewound and moved in the reverse direction by the print start movement distance Lx, and the distance to be moved in the forward direction by the ribbon feed amount Lfm between texts. Therefore, if the print start movement distance Lx is the sum of the movement distance Lra in the acceleration process (acceleration time Tc) and the movement distance Lrb in the ribbon feed adjustment process (ribbon feed adjustment time Td), the opposite direction is positive. If the forward direction is negative, the rewind movement distance is Lrr (=Lx+Lrd−Lfm). By positioning the ink ribbon R in the forward direction (downstream) by the amount of the ribbon feeding distance Lfm between texts, the rearmost end portion of the ink ribbon R use area is positioned in the predetermined transport direction of the ink ribbon R (details will be described later). Control is executed to rewind the ink ribbon R so that it is positioned at the position.

The ribbon control unit 112 drives the ribbon so as to move the ink ribbon R such that the moving speed Vf of the long film F and the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R are the same during the printing process in the printing operation. It controls the motor 321 .

In accordance with the moving speed Vf of the long film F, the ribbon control unit 112 adjusts the distance that the long film F moves during the pre-printing stage time Tx, and the long film F moves at the printing reference speed Vk ( 3), and the distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the printing reference speed Vk during the print preparation time Tb. The ribbon driving motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that

The pre-printing stage time Tx is the time from when the ribbon control unit 112 receives the print signal to when preparations for printing on the long film F are made, and is the sum of the delay time Ta and the print preparation time Tb. is. The pre-printing stage time Tx is the time from timing t11 to t14.

The printing reference speed Vk is the reference moving speed of the long film F and the ink ribbon R. As shown in FIG. As the printing reference speed Vk, the moving speed Vf of the long film F assumed to be the highest speed among the moving speeds Vf of the long film F is set.

The "moving speed Vf of the long film F assumed to be the maximum speed" will be described.
The moving speed Vf of the long film F can be changed, for example, depending on the size of the product to be packaged by the packaging machine (not shown). Therefore, the moving speed Vf of the long film F, which is assumed to be the maximum speed, is the moving speed of the long film F set based on, for example, the size of the product to be packaged by a packaging machine (not shown). Among them, it is the upper limit value of the moving speed Vf of the long film F whose setting may be changed.
Therefore, the moving speed Vf of the long film F is a speed equal to or lower than the printing reference speed Vk. The printing reference speed Vk can be changed by the speed setting changing unit 113 .

In this embodiment, by setting the printing reference speed Vk to the printing reference speed Va (for example, 30 m/min), when the moving speed Vf of the long film F is different (for example, moving speed Vb=30 m/min, 20 m/min, 10 m/min) or when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes, the ribbon control unit 112 controls the speed Vf when the moving speed Vf of the long film F is the printing reference speed Vk. The delay time Ta is changed so that the movement distance is the same as the movement distance, and control is performed so that the movement distance of the long film F during the pre-printing stage time Tx (delay time Ta and print preparation time Tb) is the same. . The delay time Ta may be calculated under the control of the ribbon control section 112, or may be stored in the storage section 120 as a storage table.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the maximum speed of the moving speed Vf of the long film F is assumed to be the printing reference speed Va, the printing reference speed Vk is set to the printing reference speed Va (for example, 30 m/min). set. In this case, even if the moving speed Vf of the long film F is different (for example, moving speed Vb = 30 m/min, 20 m/min, 10 m/min) or changes, the pre-printing stage time Tx (=delay time (Ta + print preparation time Tb), the ribbon control unit 112 delays the distance that the long film F moves so that the distance that the long film F moves is the same as the distance that the long film F moves at the printing reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). Adjust the time Ta.

Here, the moving distance of the long film F in the pre-printing stage time Tx (=delay time Ta+printing preparation time Tb) is defined as the moving distance of the long film F moved per unit time by the pre-printing stage time Tx (= It is integrated over delay time Ta+print preparation time Tb). In FIG. 3, the moving distance of the long film F corresponds to the area in the pre-printing stage time Tx (=delay time Ta+printing preparation time Tb). The moving distance of the long film F is the moving distance Lf.

Here, in the pre-printing stage time Tx (=delay time Ta+print preparation time Tb), "the distance that the long film F moves is the same as the distance that the long film F moves at the printing reference speed Vk" When the printing reference speed Vk is set to the printing reference speed Va (for example, 30 m/min), the moving distance of the long film F is such that the moving speed Vf of the long film F is the same moving speed as the printing reference speed Va. It means that it is the same as the moving distance when . Specifically, in the present embodiment, the ribbon control unit 112 controls any of the moving speeds Vf of the long film F (eg, moving speed Vb=30 m/min, 20 m/min, 10 m/min). In this case, the delay time Ta is adjusted so that the moving distance Lf of the long film F becomes the same as the moving distance when the printing reference speed Vk is set to the printing reference speed Va.

By setting the printing reference speed Vk and adjusting the delay time Ta in this way, the distance of the long film F moved during the pre-printing stage time Tx (=delay time Ta+print preparation time Tb) can be kept constant. can be As a result, the moving distance from the position of the ink ribbon R at which the ribbon controller 112 receives the print signal to the position at which printing is started on the long film F can be made constant. Therefore, the printing position on the long film F can be kept constant even when the moving speed Vf of the long film F is different or changed.

Further, during the print preparation time Tb, the ribbon control unit 112 adjusts the delay time Ta so that the distance over which the ink ribbon R moves is the same as the distance over which the ink ribbon R moves at the printing reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). and adjust the ribbon feeding adjustment time Td. The delay time Ta and the ribbon feeding adjustment time Td may be calculated under the control of the ribbon control section 112, or may be stored in the storage section 120 as a storage table.

Here, the movement distance of the ink ribbon R during the print preparation time Tb is obtained by integrating the movement distance of the ink ribbon R per unit time over the print preparation time Tb. In FIG. 3, the ink ribbon R corresponds to the area during the print preparation time Tb. The moving distance of the ink ribbon R is a printing start moving distance Lx (=Lra+Lrb) which is the sum of the moving distance Lra in the acceleration time Tc and the moving distance Lrb in the ribbon feeding adjustment time Td.

Here, in the print preparation time Tb, "the distance over which the ink ribbon R moves is the same as the distance over which the ink ribbon R moves at the reference printing speed Vk" means that, as shown in FIG. When the reference speed Va is set, it means that the moving distance of the ink ribbon R is the same as the moving distance when the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R is the same moving speed as the printing reference speed Va. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ribbon control unit 112 controls when the moving speed Vf of the long film F is different (for example, moving speed Vb=30 m/min, 20 m/min, 10 m/min) or changes. , the delay time Ta and the ribbon feeding adjustment time Td are adjusted so that the printing start moving distance Lx (=Lra+Lrb) of the ink ribbon R becomes the same as the moving distance when the printing reference speed Vk is set to the printing reference speed Va. do.

In this way, by setting the printing reference speed Vk and adjusting the delay time Ta and the ribbon feeding adjustment time Td, the distance of the ink ribbon R moved during the print preparation time Tb can be made constant. As a result, the moving distance from the position on the ink ribbon R at which the ribbon control unit 112 receives the print signal to the position on the ink ribbon R at which transfer is started can be made constant. Therefore, even if the moving speed Vf of the long film F is different or changes, the transfer position on the ink ribbon R can be kept constant.

Next, in the printing control performed as described above, when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes in the middle, conventionally, the previous use area and the next use area of the ink ribbon overlap each other. was there. The present invention solves such problems. 4 to 11, the details of the control for not overlapping the ink ribbon R usage areas, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described below.

In addition to the functions described above, the ribbon control unit 112 can also perform control so that the ink ribbon R does not overlap with its usage area. Specifically, the ribbon control unit 112 monitors the previous use area and the next use area of the ink ribbon R, and controls the ribbon driving motor 321 so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap. to control. Specifically, the ribbon control unit 112 monitors the rearmost end of the previous used area and controls the ribbon drive motor 321 so that the previous used area and the next used area do not overlap.

In a thermal printer that prints character strings arranged along the width direction of a long film F at predetermined intervals, the use area of the ink ribbon R varies depending on whether the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change or changes. The detailed operation of the non-overlapping control will now be described. In the ink ribbon control of this embodiment, as described above, the printing operation is controlled by the ribbon control unit 112 to perform the delay process, the print preparation process, the printing process, and the deceleration process in one cycle of the printing operation. , a standby process, and a rewinding process (reverse movement process) are sequentially performed.

First, the case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, under the control of the ribbon control unit 112, when the print signal is received at timing t21, it is delayed until timing t22, and the acceleration step at timings t22 to t23 and the ribbon feeding adjustment step at timings t23 to t24 are performed. After that, at timing t24, the printing in the printing process is controlled to start.

In this case, at timing t21, as shown in FIG. 5A, the next use area Rs of the ink ribbon R is rewound (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. ). The area Rs to be used next time is an area located in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx calculated by the control of the ribbon control unit 112 with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. Means the area of use that is to be used. The thermal head heater line HL is a line in which heater portions of the thermal head 21 are arranged along the width direction of the ink ribbon R in the transport direction of the ink ribbon R. That is, the thermal head 21 performs printing using the ink ribbon R that is moved in the transport direction in the thermal head heater line HL.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the ribbon control unit 112 adjusts the distance by which the long film F moves during the pre-printing stage time Tx according to the moving speed Vf of the long film F. The distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is set so that F is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the print reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that it becomes the same as the distance moved by Vk.

As shown in FIG. 4, since the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change, the ink ribbon R is adjusted by the delay time Ta and moved by a precalculated print start moving distance Lx. , printing can be performed using the next use area Rs at the intended position on the ink ribbon R. As shown in FIG. 5A, the ribbon feed amount Lfm between texts, the print character height Lth, and the like are also set in advance.

Here, the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the trailing edge Re of the previous use area Rp of the ink ribbon R, and then, at timing t24 shown in FIG. Control is performed so that the trailing end Re of the region Rp and the next use region Rn do not overlap. The details of how the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the trailing edge Re of the previous used region Rp of the ink ribbon R will be described later.

Specifically, when the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change, the ink ribbon R is adjusted by the delay time Ta, and is moved by a precalculated print start moving distance Lx. As for the next use region Rn of the ribbon R, since printing can be performed using the next use region Rs at the planned position on the ink ribbon R, as shown in FIG. The planned use area Rs and the actual next use area Rn are at the same position. Therefore, the printing operation is executed at timing t24 without changing the printing timing. As a result, the next printing can be performed so that the previous usage region Rp and the next usage region Rn do not overlap in the usage region of the ink ribbon R.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5(c), the ink ribbon R moves in the traveling direction by a backrun distance Lrd during the deceleration time Tf in FIG. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5C, the backrun distance Lrd moved in the traveling direction during the deceleration time Tf is the distance from the thermal head heater line HL to the rearmost end Re of the previous use area Rp. It is the same distance as the distance.

At the rewinding time Th in FIG. 3, the ink ribbon R is rewound back in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) by the rewinding movement distance Lrr, as shown in FIG. 5(d). The rewind movement distance Lrr is a distance obtained by subtracting the ribbon feed amount Lfm between texts from the sum of the backrun distance Lrd and the print start movement distance Lx (=Lx+Lrd−ribbon feed amount between texts Lfm). be. Positioning in the forward direction (downstream side) by the amount of the ribbon feeding distance Lfm between texts allows the rearmost end Re of the use area Rp of the ink ribbon R to be positioned at a predetermined position in the transport direction of the ink ribbon R. , the ink ribbon R can be rewound.

Here, for ribbon control in the next printing operation, the ribbon control unit 112 sets the text trailing edge distance Le from the thermal head heater line HL to the trailing edge Re of the previous use area Rp of the ink ribbon R. is calculated. The text trailing edge distance Le is a distance obtained by subtracting the backrun distance Lrd from the rewind movement distance Lrr (Le=Lrr−Lrd). Thereby, the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the position of the rearmost end Re of the previous use area Rp of the ink ribbon R. FIG. After that, it waits until the next print signal comes.

Next, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and rises midway will be described. Note that description of the same operation as in the case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, under the control of the ribbon control unit 112, when the print signal is received at timing t31, it is delayed until timing t32, and the acceleration step at timings t32 to t33 and the ribbon feeding adjustment step at timings t33 to t34 are performed. After that, at timing t34, the printing in the printing process is controlled to start.

In this case, at timing t31, as shown in FIG. 7A, the next use area Rs of the ink ribbon R is rewound (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. ). As shown in FIG. 6, from a timing slightly after timing t32, the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ribbon control unit 112 controls the distance that the long film F moves during the pre-printing stage time Tx according to the moving speed Vf of the long film F. The distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is set so that F is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the print reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that it becomes the same as the distance moved by Vk.

As shown in FIG. 6, since the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases along the way, the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R also increases accordingly. When the ink ribbon R is adjusted by the delay time Ta and moved by the print start movement distance Lx calculated in advance, the movement speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases in the middle. Therefore, the next used area Rn overlaps the previous used area Rp.

Here, the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the trailing edge Re of the previous use region Rp as shown in FIG. At timing t34, control is performed so that the trailing end Re of the previous use area Rp and the next use area Rn do not overlap. Therefore, when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases, the timing of printing is shown in FIG. 6 so that the previous use area Rp and the next use area Rn do not overlap. At timing t34, printing is not started, and the printing operation is executed so as to start printing with a delay to timing t34a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the next printing can be performed so that the previous usage region Rp and the next usage region Rn do not overlap in the usage region of the ink ribbon R. FIG.

After that, in the same manner as the control operation when the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change, the ink ribbon R advances during the deceleration time Tf in FIG. direction by a backrun distance Lrd. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7C, the backrun distance Lrd moved in the traveling direction during the deceleration time Tf is the distance from the thermal head heater line HL to the rearmost end Re of the previous use area Rp. It is the same distance as the distance. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7D, at the rewinding time Th in FIG. 3, the ink ribbon R is rewound back in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) by the rewinding movement distance Lrr. In order to control the ribbon in the next printing operation, the ribbon control unit 112 subtracts the backrun distance Lrd from the return movement distance Lrr so that the last used region Rp of the ink ribbon R is the most recent from the thermal head heater line HL. The text trailing edge distance Le to the trailing edge Re is calculated. After that, it waits until the next print signal comes.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes from the middle and descends will be described. Note that description of the same operation as in the case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 8, under the control of the ribbon control unit 112, when the print signal is received at timing t41, it is delayed until timing t42, and the acceleration step at timings t42 to t43 and the ribbon feeding adjustment step at timings t43 to t44 are performed. After that, at timing t44, the printing in the printing process is controlled to start.

In this case, at timing t41, as shown in FIG. 9A, the next use area Rs of the ink ribbon R is rewound (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. ). As shown in FIG. 8, from a timing slightly after timing t42, the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and decreases.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ribbon control unit 112 adjusts the distance by which the long film F moves during the pre-printing stage time Tx according to the moving speed Vf of the long film F. The distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is set so that F is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the print reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that it becomes the same as the distance moved by Vk.

As shown in FIG. 8, since the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and descends midway, the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R also follows and descends. The ink ribbon R is adjusted by the delay time Ta, and is moved by a pre-calculated print start movement distance Lx. In comparison, since the next use area Rn is positioned in the rewinding direction (reverse direction), the next use area Rn is positioned with a wide gap between the previous use area Rp and the next use area Rn. It is moved toward the thermal head heater line HL. Here, the ribbon control unit 112 is in a state in which a large space is provided between the previous use region Rp and the next use region Rn, and the previous use region Rp and the next use region Rn do not overlap. Therefore, the printing operation is executed at timing t44 without changing the printing timing. As a result, the next printing can be performed so that the previous use area Rp and the next use area Rn do not overlap.

Thereafter, in the same manner as the control operation when the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change, the ink ribbon R advances during the deceleration time Tf in FIG. 3 as shown in FIG. 9C. direction by a backrun distance Lrd. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9C, the backrun distance Lrd moved in the traveling direction during the deceleration time Tf is the distance from the thermal head heater line HL to the rearmost end Re of the previous use area Rp. It is the same distance as the distance. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9D, at the rewinding time Th in FIG. 3, the ink ribbon R is rewound back in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) by the rewinding movement distance Lrr. In order to control the ribbon in the next printing operation, the ribbon control unit 112 subtracts the backrun distance Lrd from the return movement distance Lrr so that the last used region Rp of the ink ribbon R is the most recent from the thermal head heater line HL. The text trailing edge distance Le to the trailing edge Re is calculated. After that, it waits until the next print signal comes.

In addition, in FIG. 9B, in the use area of the ink ribbon R, the space between the previous use area Rp and the next use area Rn is increased compared to the case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change. The next use area Rn is moved in a wide open state, but from the viewpoint of saving the ink ribbon R, the ribbon control section 112 can also perform the following control. Since the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the trailing edge Re of the previous use area Rp, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to perform control so that printing is performed at a position spaced from the rearmost end Re of the use area Rp of the ink ribbon R by a predetermined ribbon feed amount Lfm between texts. As a result, the ink ribbon R can be saved.

According to the thermal printer 1 of the first embodiment, for example, the following effects are achieved.
The thermal printer 1 of this embodiment is arranged between a thermal head 21 that prints on the long film F that is moved at a predetermined speed, and between the thermal head 21 and the printing surface of the long film F. An ink ribbon R from which ink is transferred to the printing material F when printing on the long film F, a ribbon drive unit 321 for moving the ink ribbon R, a moving speed of the long film F and a moving speed of the ink ribbon R a ribbon control unit 112 for controlling the ribbon driving unit 321 to move the ink ribbon R so that the moving speed Vr is the same as the moving speed of the ink ribbon R; and the next use region Rn are monitored, and the ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled so that the previous use region Rp and the next use region Rn do not overlap. As a result, the previous use region Rp and the next use region Rn are controlled so as not to overlap each other. can be used so that they do not overlap.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ribbon control unit 112 monitors the rearmost end Re of the previous use area Rp, and controls the ribbon drive so that the previous use area Rp and the next use area Rn do not overlap each other. It controls the motor 321 . As a result, by monitoring the rearmost end Re of the previous use area Rp, it is possible to perform simple control so that the previous use area Rp and the next use area Rn of the ink ribbon R do not overlap.

In addition, the ribbon control unit 112 determines, according to the moving speed of the long film F, that the distance that the long film F moves during the delay time and the print preparation time is the printing reference for the long film F during the delay time and the print preparation time. The delay is such that the distance traveled by the ink ribbon R at the print ready time is the same as the distance traveled at the speed, and the distance the ink ribbon R travels at the print ready time is the same as the distance the ink ribbon R travels at the print reference speed. Control the ribbon drive motor 321 by changing the time.

Therefore, in the long film F, the movement distance from the position where the ribbon control unit 112 receives the print signal to the start of printing can be made constant. Thereby, even if the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes, the printing position on the long film F can be kept constant. Further, in the ink ribbon R, the movement distance from the position where the ribbon control unit 112 receives the print signal to the start of transfer can be made constant. As a result, even if the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes, the transfer position on the ink ribbon R can be kept constant. Therefore, the ink ribbon R can be used efficiently.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is a thermal printer 1 having a ribbon save function, in which control is applied so that the use areas of the ink ribbon R, which is a feature of the present invention, do not overlap.

Printing by the ribbon save function is performed by using the ink ribbon R having a predetermined width and effectively utilizing the area of the ink ribbon R in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 12A, in the thermal printer 1, for example, character strings such as "AAAA", "BBBB", "CCCC", "DDDD", "EEEE", and "FFFF" are printed in the feeding direction of the long film F. This control saves the ink ribbon R in a configuration in which the inks are printed in a row at predetermined intervals.

The ribbon save function for saving the ink ribbon R moves the ink ribbon R in the width direction and rewinds the ink ribbon R by a predetermined length without changing the printing position in the width direction of the long film F. This is a function of effectively utilizing the widthwise usage area of the ink ribbon R to save the usage amount of the ink ribbon R. The movement of the ink ribbon R in the width direction can be performed by moving the entire printer body 2 to which the ink ribbon R is attached, or by moving the ink ribbon R together with the main printing mechanism such as the thermal head 21. can be done.

The ribbon save function controls feeding and rewinding of the ink ribbon R in the same direction as the traveling direction of the long film F, and controls movement of the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 21 in the width direction of the ink ribbon R. In this case, the ribbon control unit 112 rewinds the ink ribbon R by the amount of movement after the ink ribbon R is sent out and printed, and the previous use area and the next use area of the ink ribbon R are aligned in the width direction. are formed at positions aligned in the width direction, and are formed at positions that do not overlap in the moving direction of the long film F.

In the ribbon save function, in the width direction of the ink ribbon R, a plurality of columns of used areas are formed. For example, in the present embodiment, the ink ribbon R is formed with four rows of use regions aligned in the width direction, and formed side by side on the long film F. As shown in FIG. For example, as shown in (i) to (iv) of FIG. 12B, the use area of the multiple columns is such that the use area of the character strings "AAAA", "BBBB", "CCCC" and "DDDD" is After being used in order from one side to the other side, as shown in (v) of FIG. are used so as to line up in the length direction of the long film F, and then line up from the other side in the width direction of the ink ribbon R to one side. This control is repeated.

Here, even in a thermal printer having a ribbon save function, the ribbon control unit 112 causes the previous use area and the next use area to be overlapped in the above-described control of the ink ribbon R for each row of a plurality of rows of use areas. In the same way as the control that does not occur, the previous and next usage areas of the ink ribbon R are monitored, and the ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled so that the previous and next usage areas do not overlap.

Specifically, for example, the plurality of rows of the ink ribbon R shown in FIG. , the ribbon control unit 112 controls the use of a plurality of rows arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon R for each of the first row, second row, third row, and fourth row. In the used area of each row of the areas, in the moving direction of the long film F, the previous used area and the next used area of the ink ribbon R are monitored, and the previous used area and the next used area are monitored. The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled so that the .

In the thermal printer 1 having the ribbon save function, the detailed operation of controlling the use area of the ink ribbon R not to overlap when the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change and when it changes will be described.

In the thermal printer 1 having the ribbon save function, the use area of the ink ribbon R is, for example, in FIG. The first row is used in order, and then the first row is used again on the downstream side of the first row in the forward direction of the flow direction of the ink ribbon R. , 2nd column, 3rd column, and 4th column are used in this order. Then, after that, the fourth row is used again downstream in the forward direction of the flow direction of the ink ribbon R, and the width direction of the ink ribbon R is expanded to the fourth row, the third row, The second column and the first column are used in that order. This is repeated.

First, regarding the use area of the first row of the ink ribbon R, a case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and rises midway will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 . In this embodiment, in the above-described control of the ink ribbon R, control is performed so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the use area of the first row of the ink ribbon R, when the print signal is received at timing t51 under the control of the ribbon control unit 112, it is delayed until timing t52, and is delayed from timing t52 to t53. , and the ribbon feeding adjustment process at timings t53 to t54, printing in the printing process is started at timing t54.

In this case, at timing t51, as shown in FIG. 14(a), with respect to the use area of the first row of the ink ribbon R, the next use area Rs1 of the ink ribbon R is located with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. , in the rewind direction (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx. As shown in FIG. 13, the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases from a timing slightly after timing t52.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ribbon control unit 112 adjusts the distance by which the long film F moves during the pre-printing stage time Tx according to the moving speed Vf of the long film F. The distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is set so that F is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the print reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that it becomes the same as the distance moved by Vk.

As shown in FIG. 13, since the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases along the way, the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R also increases accordingly. When the ink ribbon R is adjusted by the delay time Ta and moved by a pre-calculated print start movement distance Lx in the first row of the ink ribbon R use area, the movement speed Vf of the long film F is reduced to Since it has not been calculated that it changes and rises in the middle, the next use area Rn1 overlaps the previous use area Rp1.

Here, the ribbon control unit 112 recognizes the trailing edge Re1 of the previous used region Rp1 in the first row of the used region of the ink ribbon R, and then, at timing t54 shown in FIG. Control is performed so that the rear end Re1 of the region Rp1 and the next use region Rn1 do not overlap. Therefore, when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases, the timing of printing so that the previous use area Rp1 and the next use area Rn1 do not overlap is shown in FIG. Printing is not started at timing t54, but is delayed to timing t54a to start printing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, the next printing can be performed so that the previous usage region Rp1 and the next usage region Rn1 do not overlap in the usage region of the ink ribbon R. FIG.

After that, as shown in FIG. 14(c), the ink ribbon R moves in the advancing direction by a backrun distance Lrd during the deceleration time Tf in FIG. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 14(d), the ink ribbon R is rewound in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) so that the rearmost end Re2 of the previously used region Rp2 of the second row is positioned at a predetermined position. , the movement distance (text trailing edge distance Le+previous trailing edge distance Lre2). In the ribbon control unit 112, the position of the rearmost end Re2 of the previous used region Rp2 of the second row is grasped when the previous used region Rp2 of the second row is used. The previous trailing edge distance Lre2 is the most trailing edge of the previous use area Rp2 of the second row from the thermal head heater line HL at the end of the previous printing of the second row (see FIG. 14C). It is the distance to Re2. Further, the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the position of the rearmost end Re1 of the previous use region Rp1 of the first row for the next control of the first row.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, the use area of the second row of the ink ribbon R will be described, for example, when the moving speed Vf of the long film F does not change. In this embodiment, in the above-described control of the ink ribbon R, control is performed so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the area of the second row of the ink ribbon R, when the print signal is received at timing t61 under the control of the ribbon control unit 112, it is delayed until timing t62, and is delayed from timing t62 to timing t63. , and the ribbon feeding adjustment process at timings t63 to t64, printing in the printing process is started at timing t64.

In this case, at timing t61, as shown in FIG. 16(a), with respect to the use area of the second row of the ink ribbon R, the next use area Rs2 of the ink ribbon R is located with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. , in the rewind direction (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx.

As shown in FIG. 15, the ribbon control unit 112 determines that the distance traveled by the long film F during the pre-printing stage time Tx is equal to that of the long film F during the pre-printing stage time Tx according to the moving speed Vf of the long film F. The distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is set so that F is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the print reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that it becomes the same as the distance moved by Vk.

As shown in FIG. 15, since the moving speed Vf of the long film F has not changed, the ribbon control unit 112 controls the previous use region Rp2 and the next use region Rp2 in the second row use region of the ink ribbon R. Since there is no overlap with the use area Rn2, the printing operation is executed at timing t64 without changing the printing timing. As a result, the next printing can be performed so that the previous use area Rp2 and the next use area Rn2 do not overlap.

After that, as shown in FIG. 16(c), the ink ribbon R moves in the advancing direction by a backrun distance Lrd during the deceleration time Tf in FIG. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 16D, the ink ribbon R is rewound in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) so that the rearmost end Re3 of the previous use region Rp3 in the third row is positioned at a predetermined position. , the moving distance (text trailing edge distance Le+previous trailing edge distance Lre3). In the ribbon control unit 112, the position of the rearmost end Re3 of the previous use region Rp3 of the third row is grasped when the previous use region Rp3 of the third row is used. The previous trailing edge distance Lre3 is the most trailing edge of the previous use area Rp3 of the third row from the thermal head heater line HL at the end of the previous printing of the third row (see FIG. 16(c)). It is the distance to Re3. Further, the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the position of the rearmost end Re2 of the previous used region Rp2 of the second row for the next control of the second row.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, a description will be given of the use area of the third row of the ink ribbon R, for example, when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and rises midway. In this embodiment, in the above-described control of the ink ribbon R, control is performed so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the use area of the third row of the ink ribbon R, when the print signal is received at timing t71 under the control of the ribbon control unit 112, it is delayed until timing t72, and is delayed until timing t72-t73. , and the ribbon feeding adjustment process at timings t73 to t74, printing in the printing process is started at timing t74.

In this case, at timing t71, as shown in FIG. 18(a), with respect to the use area of the third row of the ink ribbon R, the next use area Rs3 of the ink ribbon R is located with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. , in the rewind direction (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx. As shown in FIG. 17, the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases from a timing slightly after timing t72.

As shown in FIG. 17, the ribbon control unit 112 controls the distance that the long film F moves during the pre-printing stage time Tx according to the moving speed Vf of the long film F. The distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is set so that F is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the print reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that it becomes the same as the distance moved by Vk.

As shown in FIG. 17, since the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases along the way, the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R also increases accordingly. When the ink ribbon R is adjusted by the delay time Ta in the use area of the third row of the ink ribbon R and is moved by a precalculated print start movement distance Lx, the movement speed Vf of the long film F becomes Since it is not calculated that it changes and rises in the middle, the next use area Rn3 overlaps the previous use area Rp3.

Here, in the used area of the third row of the ink ribbon R, the ribbon control unit 112 recognizes the trailing edge Re3 of the previous used area Rp3, and then, at timing t74 shown in FIG. Control is performed so that the trailing end Re3 of the region Rp3 and the next use region Rn3 do not overlap. Therefore, when the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and increases, the timing of printing is shown in FIG. 17 so that the previous use area Rp3 and the next use area Rn3 do not overlap. Printing is not started at timing t74, but is delayed to timing t74a to start printing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 17B, the next printing can be performed so that the previous usage region Rp3 and the next usage region Rn3 do not overlap in the usage region of the ink ribbon R. FIG.

Here, for example, in FIG. 18(b), in the use area of the third column of the ink ribbon R, the date has changed during printing, so the date printed in the previous time is "Best before date 22.12.31 ” is changed to “Best before date 23.1.1” in the next time. In this case, the length in the flow direction of the ink ribbon R in the area to be used next time is shorter than that in the area to be used last time. Even in this case, since the printed character length of the used area of the ink ribbon R can be grasped from the printed character length, the ribbon control unit 112 determines the position of the most trailing end Re3 of the previous used area Rp3 in the third row. can be grasped.

After that, as shown in FIG. 18(c), the ink ribbon R moves in the advancing direction by a backrun distance Lrd during the deceleration time Tf in FIG. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 18D, the ink ribbon R is rewound in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) so that the rearmost end Re4 of the previous use region Rp4 in the fourth row is positioned at a predetermined position. , the movement distance (text trailing edge distance Le+previous trailing edge distance Lre4). In the ribbon control unit 112, the position of the rearmost end Re4 of the previous use region Rp4 of the fourth row is grasped when the previous use region Rp4 of the fourth row is used. The previous trailing edge distance Lre4 is the most trailing edge of the previous use area Rp4 of the fourth row from the thermal head heater line HL at the end of the previous printing of the fourth row (see FIG. 18C). It is the distance to Re4. Further, the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the position of the rearmost end Re3 of the previous use region Rp3 of the third row for the next control of the third row.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, a description will be given of the use area of the fourth row of the ink ribbon R, for example, the case where the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes from the middle and descends. In this embodiment, in the above-described control of the ink ribbon R, control is performed so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the use area of the fourth row of the ink ribbon R, when a print signal is received at timing t81 under the control of the ribbon control unit 112, it is delayed until timing t82, and is delayed from timing t82 to timing t83. , and the ribbon feeding adjustment process at timings t83 to t84, printing in the printing process is started at timing t84.

In this case, at timing t81, as shown in FIG. 20(a), with respect to the use area of the fourth row of the ink ribbon R, the next use area Rs4 of the ink ribbon R is located with respect to the thermal head heater line HL. , in the rewind direction (reverse direction) by the print start movement distance Lx. As shown in FIG. 19, from a timing slightly after timing t82, the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and decreases.

As shown in FIG. 19, the ribbon control unit 112 controls the distance that the long film F moves during the pre-printing stage time Tx according to the moving speed Vf of the long film F. The distance that the ink ribbon R moves during the print preparation time Tb is set so that F is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon R moves at the print reference speed Vk (see FIG. 3). The ribbon drive motor 321 is controlled by changing the delay time Ta so that it becomes the same as the distance moved by Vk.

As shown in FIG. 19, since the moving speed Vf of the long film F changes and descends, the moving speed Vr of the ink ribbon R follows and descends. The ink ribbon R is adjusted by the delay time Ta, and is moved by a pre-calculated print start movement distance Lx. In comparison, the next use area Rn4 is moved while leaving a large gap between the previous use area Rp4 and the next use area Rn4. Here, the ribbon control unit 112 is in a state in which a large space is provided between the previous use region Rp4 and the next use region Rn4, and the previous use region Rp4 and the next use region Rn4 do not overlap. Therefore, the printing operation is executed at timing t44 without changing the printing timing. As a result, the next printing can be performed so that the previous use area Rp4 and the next use area Rn4 do not overlap.

After that, as shown in FIG. 20(c), the ink ribbon R moves in the advancing direction by a backrun distance Lrd during the deceleration time Tf in FIG. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 20(d), since this is the last of a series of printing operations, the third column, which is the rearmost part of all the used areas of the first column to the fourth column, is printed. The ink ribbon R is moved in the rewinding direction (reverse direction) by a distance (text trailing edge distance Le+previous trailing edge distance Lre3) so that the trailing edge Re3 of the previous use area Rp3 of the eye is positioned at a predetermined position. returned. In the ribbon control unit 112, the position of the rearmost end Re3 of the previous use region Rp3 of the third row is grasped when the previous use region Rp3 of the third row is used. The previous trailing edge distance Lre3 is the most trailing edge of the previous use area Rp3 of the third row from the thermal head heater line HL at the end of the previous printing of the third row (see FIG. 20(c)). It is the distance to Re3. Further, the ribbon control unit 112 grasps the position of the rearmost end Re4 of the previous use region Rp4 of the fourth row for the next control of the fourth row.

According to the thermal printer 1 of the second embodiment, for example, the following effects are achieved.
In the thermal printer 1 of the second embodiment, the ink ribbon R is fed and rewound in the same direction as the long film F, and the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 21 are arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon R. When control is performed to move the ink ribbon R, the ribbon control unit 112 feeds out the ink ribbon R and prints, and then rewinds the ink ribbon R by the amount of movement. are aligned in the width direction, and in each row of the usage regions of the plurality of rows of usage regions aligned in the width direction of the ink ribbon R, in the moving direction of the long film F monitor the previous use areas Rp1, Rp2, Rp3, Rp4 and the next use areas Rn1, Rn2, Rn3, Rn4 of the ink ribbon R so that the previous use areas and the next use areas do not overlap. , controls the ribbon drive motor 321 .

As a result, in the thermal printer 1 having the ribbon save function, the previous use area and the next use area are controlled so as not to overlap, so that the previous use area and the next use area of the ink ribbon R do not overlap. can be used as

Although preferred embodiments have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to the above-described embodiments.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the ribbon control unit 112 monitors the rearmost end of the previous used area and controls the ribbon drive motor 321 (ribbon drive motor 321) so that the previous used area and the next used area do not overlap. drive unit), but is not limited to this. The ribbon control unit 112 is configured to monitor the extreme tip of the next use area and control the ribbon drive motor 321 (ribbon drive unit) so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap. You can do it.

Reference Signs List 1 thermal printer 21 thermal head 112 ribbon control unit 321 ribbon drive motor (ribbon drive unit)
F long film (printed matter)
R Ink ribbon Ta Delay time Tb Print preparation time Tc Acceleration time Td Ribbon feeding adjustment time Vf Moving speed of long film (printing material) Vk Printing reference speed

Claims (5)

a thermal head that prints on a printed material that is moved at a predetermined speed;
an ink ribbon disposed between the thermal head and a printing surface of the material to be printed, and transferring ink to the material to be printed when the thermal head prints on the material to be printed;
a ribbon driving unit for moving the ink ribbon;
a ribbon control unit that controls the ribbon driving unit to move the ink ribbon so that the moving speed of the printing material and the moving speed of the ink ribbon are the same;
The ribbon control unit monitors the previous use area and the next use area of the ink ribbon when the moving speed of the printing material accelerates during the control of the ribbon drive unit, and monitors the previous use area and the next use area. A thermal printer that controls the ribbon driving section so that the area to be used next time does not overlap. a thermal head that prints on a printed material that is moved at a predetermined speed;
an ink ribbon disposed between the thermal head and a printing surface of the material to be printed, and transferring ink to the material to be printed when the thermal head prints on the material to be printed;
a ribbon driving unit for moving the ink ribbon;
a ribbon control unit that controls the ribbon driving unit to move the ink ribbon so that the moving speed of the printing material and the moving speed of the ink ribbon are the same;
The ribbon control unit monitors the previous use area and the next use area of the ink ribbon when the moving speed of the printing material is decelerated during the control of the ribbon drive unit. A thermal printer that controls the ribbon driving section so that the space between the areas to be used next time does not widen. The ribbon control unit monitors the rearmost end of the previous use area so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap, or the gap between the previous use area and the next use area widens. 3. A thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein said ribbon driving section is controlled so as not to The time from when the ribbon control unit receives a print signal to when the ink ribbon starts to move is called a delay time, and the acceleration time for accelerating the ink ribbon and the ribbon feed for adjusting the feed amount of the ink ribbon. The print preparation time is the time including the adjustment time and the time from when the movement of the ink ribbon is started to when the preparation for printing on the printing material is completed.
According to the moving speed of the printing material, the ribbon control unit determines that the moving distance of the printing material during the delay time and the printing preparation time is the printing reference speed of the printing material during the delay time and the printing preparation time. and the distance that the ink ribbon moves during the print preparation time is the same as the distance that the ink ribbon moves at the print reference speed during the print preparation time. 3. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the delay time is changed to control the ribbon driving section. In the case where control is performed to feed and rewind the ink ribbon in the same direction as the traveling direction of the printing material, and to move the ink ribbon and the thermal head in the width direction of the ink ribbon,
The ribbon control unit rewinds the ink ribbon by the amount of movement after the ink ribbon is sent out and printed, and the previous use area and the next use area of the ink ribbon are arranged in the width direction. Among the plurality of rows of used regions aligned in the width direction of the ink ribbon R, each row of the used regions is aligned with the previous used region of the ink ribbon R in the moving direction of the printed material. The ribbon drive unit is controlled by monitoring the next use area and the next use area so that the previous use area and the next use area do not overlap or the space between the previous use area and the next use area does not widen. 3. The thermal printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

Images