JPH02171274A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately count the number of use of a multi-strike ribbon by providing two or more switches which are actuated by loading a ribbon cassette on a carriage, a counter functioning by the ON/OFF operation of the switches, and a display means indicating the content of the counter. CONSTITUTION:A multi-strike cassette is loaded on a carriage 8 to turn ON switches 1 and 2, whereby '1', '1' are inputted to an AND circuit 5. Then, the AND circuit 5 outputs '1'. A counter 6 counts '1', and a display 7 indicates '1' as the number of use. In this state, a printing is conducted. Next, when the printing comes to the multi-strike cassette in a ribbon end state, the multi- strike cassette is once unloaded from the carriage 8 and loaded again on the carriage 8 in a reversed state. At this time, the switches 1 and 2 are turned ON. The counter 6 conducts counting in a similar action, and the display 7 indicates '2' as the number of use. In this manner, the counter 6 conducts an incremental counting every time the multi-strike cassette is reversed until it reaches the point of ribbon end.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to printers.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional printers were not equipped with a means for displaying the number of times the multi-strike cassette was used.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, multi-strike ribbon is a ribbon that can be printed multiple times, and has been recognized as a useful ribbon from the standpoint of reducing running costs, and some have been commercialized.
Efforts are still being made to put some into practical use. This multi-strike ribbon has a limit on the number of times it can be printed at the same location, and if this limit is exceeded, the print quality will be extremely poor. When printing a multi-strike cassette,
Depending on the printing pattern, etc., there are parts of the multi-strike ribbon that have been printed for the number of times they have been used, and parts that have been printed for fewer times than the number of times that they have been used. Here, the printing quality is good in the part where the number of prints is less than the number of times of use, so if the user looks at this part and determines that the multi-strike ribbon can still print, the part that has been printed for the number of times of use will be printed. If the maximum number of times it can be used is exceeded, the print quality of that area will be extremely poor6.Therefore, the user must check the number of times it has been used to avoid printing that includes areas of poor print quality. It won't happen.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that solves the above problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printer using a multi-strike cassette capable of printing multiple times.
The carriage has at least two or more switches that operate when the ribbon cassette is attached or detached, a counter that operates depending on whether the switches are turned on or off, and display means that displays the contents of the counter.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a carriage of a printer in an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer carriage, on which an ink ribbon cassette (path shown) and a print head are mounted, and moves back and forth along a platen (not shown). On the carriage 8 is a switch 1 which is turned on and off when the ink ribbon cassette is attached and detached.
and switch 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for displaying the number of times a multi-strike cassette is used in a printer according to the present invention. Switch 1. The signal of switch 2 is sent to AND circuit 5
Enter. AND circuit 5 and reset switch 3. A signal from the hold switch 4 is input to the counter 6, and the display means 7 displays the contents of the counter 6.

The ink ribbon cassettes (not shown) differ in the presence or absence of holes at the positions facing switch 1 and switch 2 depending on the type.
Depending on the installation of the cassette, switch 1.
Switch 2 is pressed down.

Table 1 It is now assumed that the multi-strike cassette is mounted on the carriage 8 with the number of uses of the multi-strike cassette being 0. In Figure 2, switch 1 and switch 2
is turned on, 11'9%11 is input to the AND circuit 5, and the AND circuit 5 outputs 'l'. counter 6
counts 11', and the display 7 shows the number of times it has been used.

Printing is executed in this state.

Next, assume that the multi-strike cassette reaches the ribbon end due to printing. The user once removes the multi-strike cassette from carriage 8.

Reverse it and mount it on the carriage 8. At this time, switch 1 again. The switch 2 is turned on, and the count is performed in the same manner, and the display 7 displays the number of times of use 2.

In this way, each time the multi-strike cassette is reversed at the ribbon end, the count of the counter 6 advances.

For one-time black color cassettes other than multi-strike cassettes, in thermal paper mode, the output of AND circuit 5 is t.
Since it is Oa, the count does not advance.

Therefore, even if multi-strike cassettes and cassettes other than multi-strike are used together, the number of times the multi-strike cassette is used can be accurately counted.

If the multi-strike cassette is removed from the carriage 8 while the ribbon is not at the end during multi-strike cassette printing and a one-time cassette or the like is used, and then the multi-strike cassette is used again, the number of uses is counted extra.

In this case, by pressing the hold switch 4 that decreases the number of counts by one, excessive counting of the number of uses is prevented.

When the multi-strike cassette is printed multiple times and the print quality deteriorates and another multi-strike cassette is used, the reset switch 3 is pressed to set the count to "0".

If the counter 6 is provided with a backup circuit (not shown), the number of uses will not be cleared even if the power is turned off.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention provides a printer with at least two or more switches that operate when a ribbon cassette is attached to and detached from a carriage, and an ON/OFF switch of the switch.
By having a counter that operates when it is turned OFF and a display means that displays the contents of the counter, it is possible to display the number of times the multi-strike cassette is used and notify the user, thereby preventing deterioration in printing quality, and also allowing the ribbon cassette to be attached and detached. Since it has at least two or more switches that operate accordingly, even if one-time cassettes and multi-strike cassettes are mixed and used alternately, the number of times the multi-strike ribbon is used can be accurately counted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a carriage of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for displaying the number of times of printing of a multi-strike cassette of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1.2... Switch 3... Reset switch 4... Hold switch 5... AND circuit 6... Counter 7... Display Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a printer that uses a multi-strike cassette capable of printing multiple times, at least two or more switches on the carriage are operated when the ribbon cassette is attached and detached, and a counter is operated by turning the switches on and off; and display means for displaying the contents of the counter.