JPH01262173A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the cutting of an ink film at the time of continuous printing or printing within a reserved time, by determining the residual amount of the ink film by the rotation detecting sensor mounted to the supply shaft of the ink film, the marker provided on the ink film, and a marker sensor. CONSTITUTION:The passing number of times of the slits of a slit plate 403 passing a photointerrupter 404 are counted during a period when a marker 405 appears to pass away while the cueing of an ink film 401 is performed. When the length of the marker on the ink film is set to (x) and the winding diameter of the ink film is set to (d), the rotational quantity theta of the ink film supply shaft when the ink film is fed by (x) is expressed by theta=x/d and, when the number of slits per unit angle of a film rotation detection plate are set to (f), the number F of slits detectable during a time when the ink film is sent by (x) is expressed by F=f.theta=f.x/d and, therefore, the winding diameter (d) of the film can be calculated by d=f.x/F. The residual amount of the ink film is calculated from the winding diameter (d) of the ink film supply shaft and displayed on an ink film residual amount display apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer device using a roll-shaped ink film.

[Conventional technology]

In a printer device using a roll-shaped ink film that can produce a large number of prints with one roll, there is a strong demand for recognizing the remaining amount of ink film in advance before printing. This is to prevent the ink film from running out during continuous printing or printing with a reserved printing time, and to know as soon as possible when the ink film will be replaced next time.

With conventional ink film, the remaining amount of ink film is
This was measured by memorizing the number of prints made after a new ink film was installed, or by directly measuring the thickness of the fim wrapped around the ink film supply shaft or take-up shaft.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the first conventional method, when an ink film is used halfway and then replaced with another ink film, for example, both color film and black and white film can be used, and they can be used interchangeably. When you want to replace the film and use the necessary prints, it is conceivable to attach a partially used film. In such a case, it is not possible to store the remaining amount of ink film in the printer body. If the amount of film used is stored on the ink film side, it is possible to accurately recognize the remaining amount of each film, but the electrical storage method leads to increased costs and the ink film, which is a consumable item, becomes expensive. . Furthermore, with the method of mechanically measuring the thickness of the film wound around the supply shaft or take-up shaft, it is difficult to accurately measure the thickness of the ink film, which is generally from several μm to several tens of μm. This requires a new mechanism and sensor to measure the winding thickness of the film, which poses the problem of increasing the cost of the printer itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to detect the remaining amount of ink film using a simple mechanism.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and includes a shaft rotation detection sensor attached to an ink film supply shaft, a marker provided on the ink film, and a marker sensor for detecting the marker. The invention is characterized in that it has a means for measuring, a means for measuring the output cycle of the rotation sensor, and a means for determining the remaining amount of the ink film by the two means.

printer device.

[Example] Next, an example will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. an ink film supply shaft rotation sensor 101 that detects rotation of a slit plate attached to the ink film supply shaft;
It has means 103 for determining the remaining amount of ink film by an ink film marker sensor 102 that detects markers on the ink film, and this is displayed by an ink film remaining amount display device 104. Next, an electrical circuit diagram of an embodiment of the printer device of the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer device is made up of a microcomputer 201 and peripheral circuits.

The microcomputer shown here includes CPU, RAM,
It consists of ROM and input/output ports. The rotation of the slit plate is detected by a photointerrupter 202, which is connected to an input port of the microcomputer 201.

Further, the film marker is detected by a photo interrupter 203 and connected to the input port of the microcomputer 201. Also, the film winding motor 20
4 is connected to the output port of the microcomputer 201 through a film winding motor drive circuit 205, and winds the ink film attached to the film winding shaft. Also displays the remaining amount of ink film.
ED 206 is connected to the output port of microcomputer 201.

FIG. 3 shows an ink film according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of a multicolor ink film. The color of the ink film is Y
, M, and C, and markers are arranged on the right end of the ink film in parallel to the feeding direction. The marker is the base layer of the ink film (such as polyethylene film)
The marker sensor detects the presence or absence of the marker. 301 is Y ink, 302 is M
Ink, 303 is an area painted with C ink,
304, 305, and 306 are areas painted with markers. Marker 30 for detecting Y ink 301
4, the length of the ink film in the feeding direction is a,
Two coats are painted with a gap between them. Only one marker 305 for detecting the M ink 302 has a length a in the feeding direction of the ink fill 11. C ink 3
Only one marker 306 for detecting 03 has a length a in the feeding direction of the ink film. The length of each marker is known and is a constant value.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a printer mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. 401 is an ink film, 402 is an ink film supply shaft, 403 is a slit plate attached to the ink film supply shaft, and 404 is a photointerrupter that detects the slit on the slit plate. Reference numeral 405 denotes a marker attached to the ink film, 406 a photo ink printer for detecting the marker, and 406 an ink film winding shaft which winds up the film in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of measuring the remaining amount of ink film according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the operation will be explained based on this diagram.

While locating the beginning of the ink film, count the number of times the slit of the slit plate passes the photointerrupter from the time the marker appears until the marker passes.

The length of the marker on the ink film is x1 The winding diameter (radius) of the ink film on the current ink film supply shaft is d
Then, the amount of rotation θ of the ink film supply shaft when the ink film is fed by X is expressed as θ=-, and if f is the number of slits per unit angle of the film rotation detection plate directly connected to the ink film supply shaft, then The number F of slits that can be detected while the ink film is being fed by X is F=f·θ;f·− Therefore, the winding diameter d of the film can be determined as follows.

The remaining amount of ink film is determined from the winding diameter d of the ink film supply shaft, and this is displayed by an ink film remaining amount display device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the remaining amount of the ink film can be determined by the calyx rotation detection sensor attached to the ink film supply shaft, the marker provided on the ink film, and the marker sensor.

The ink film supply shaft rotation sensor is used to determine whether the film is being fed normally during printing.
If there is an abnormality in film feeding or the ink film ends, the output of the sensor changes, so the film status can be detected.

In addition, the marker sensor can be used to locate the beginning of each color of film, and after fulfilling its respective functions, a new function for measuring the amount of ink film remaining can be added.

By being able to measure the amount of ink film remaining, it is possible to recognize the remaining amount of ink film before printing, preventing the ink film from running out during continuous printing or printing with a reserved printing time, and determining the next time to replace the ink film. You can find out early.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an ink film according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a printer mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of measuring the remaining amount of ink film according to an embodiment of the present invention. Applicant: Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Kizobe Suzuki and 1 other person Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A shaft rotation detection sensor attached to an ink film supply shaft, a marker provided on the ink film, and a marker sensor for detecting the marker, a means for measuring the time for detecting the marker sensor, and an output cycle of the rotation sensor. A printer apparatus characterized in that it has a measuring means and a means for determining the remaining amount of ink film by the two means.