JPH02215574A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance a cueing accuracy of a multi-color ribbon and to contrive a high-speed processing by a method wherein a motor is controlled so that the multi-color ribbon is taken up in a first frequency when a ribbon take-up reel diameter is less than a predetermined value, and in a second frequency lower than the first frequency when it becomes the predetermined value or more. CONSTITUTION:Since a ribbon take-up running speed increases in proportion to a take-up reel diameter, a motor rotating frequency phim1 is reduced to phim2 when a take-up reel diameter D increases to Dn to prevent a ribbon running speed upsilon from being more than upsilon0 even when the take-up reel diameter D reaches a maximum value Dmax. The value Dn can be easily estimated because it is inversely proportional to a pulse number Ny in feeding a Y detection mark 7a. Namely, when a count value of a counting means 2 during the detection of the detection mark by a sensor 14 is more than a specific value, a take-up reel diameter smaller than Dn is judged, and a motor rotating frequency phim1 is determined. On the contrary, when it is not more than the specific value, a take-up reel diameter of Dn or more is judged, and a motor rotating frequency phim2 is determined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer that is used as an output device for computers and word processors and is capable of performing color printing using a multicolor ribbon.

Conventional technology A conventional printer will be explained below.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multicolor ribbon sensing means of a conventional printer.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a mark detection means for detecting a detection mark provided on a multi-color ribbon, and 2 is a detection means 1.
3 is the number of feed pulses required to start the ribbon from the number of motor clock pulses counted by the counting means 2. The calculation means is composed of a conversion table for calculating the number of pulses, and the conversion table is preset with pulse number count data when the detection means 1 is detecting a detection mark and sending pulse number data corresponding to this pulse number count data. has been done. 4 is a motor control means, and 5 is a stepping motor that winds up the multicolor ribbon.

FIG. 4 is a ribbon mark configuration diagram showing the configuration of the multicolor ribbon detection mark in this embodiment. 6 is
This is the multi-color ribbon in this example, and 7a is Y
7b is an M detection mark indicating the beginning of the (yellow) ink application area, 7b is an M detection mark indicating the beginning of the M (machine) ink application area, and 7C is a C detection mark indicating the beginning of the C (cyan) ink application area. Reference numeral 17 denotes a sensor signal output from the mark detection means 1 when the multicolor ribbon 6 is wound by the ribbon winding motor 5 and moves in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the ribbon cassette in this embodiment. 10 is a ribbon cassette body, 11 is a supply reel, 12 is a take-up reel, 14 is a reflective photosensor,
15 is a thermal head, 16 is a reflection plate, and the multicolor ribbon 6 is wound onto a take-up reel 12 by a motor 5 and moved in the direction of arrow B.

The operation of the multicolor ribbon sensing means in the conventional printer configured as described above will be explained.

In FIG. 5, a multicolor ribbon 13 is wound onto a take-up reel 12 by driving a stepping motor, which is a motor 5, at a constant rotation frequency (clock period φm).

At this time, the detection mark 7 provided on the multi-color ribbon 6 is a reflective photo sensor (hereinafter referred to as a sensor).
Pass in front of 14. Here, when the sensor 14 detects the detection mark 7, the sensor signal 17 (SENSE) output from the mark detection means 1 goes high, and the ribbon winding remoter 5 starts counting the clock φ. Y detection mark 7a, M detection mark 7b, C
An end detection mark having a mark width wider than the mark width of the detection mark 7C is provided, and while the counting means 2 is counting this end detection mark, the count value Ny exceeds the preset value Nmax. This is determined to be the end mark, and winding of the ribbon 6 is stopped and an instruction to replace the ribbon is issued.

Furthermore, when this detection mark 7 passes in front of the sensor 14 and the sensor signal 17 becomes L, the counting means 2 stops counting the clock φ of the ribbon winding motor 5, and sets the count value Ny at that time to the minimum value. Compared to the value Nm1n, Ny <
If it is N5in, it is determined that the detection mark is M detection mark 7b or C detection mark 7C, and Y detection mark 7a is detected.
Winding of the ribbon 6 is continued until it is detected. Nmax≧
If Ny≧N5in, it is determined that this detection mark 7 is a Y detection mark 7a. The ribbon winding amount p per pulse at the ribbon winding diameter at that time is lp = Ly/Ny --- (1)
(Ly is the length of the Y detection mark 7a.).

Here, set the printing start position of the ribbon 6 to the thermal head 15.
The feeding amount when feeding the multi-color ribbon 6 to the printing position is the distance L! from the end of the detection mark Ly to the printing start position! (This distance L1 is secured to ensure reliable printing at all times by taking into account winding unevenness of the multicolor ribbon, etc.) and the distance L2 from the print position Ao of the thermal head 15 to the sensor position At. Since it is the sum, L = L1 + L2 --- (2) Therefore, the number of ribbon feeding pulses NL after passing the detection mark 8 is: NL = L / ip = L - Ny / Ly -
--(3).

From the above formula (3), after the Y detection mark 7a passes the front of the sensor 14 and the sensor signal 17 becomes L'', further N
By winding the multicolor ribbon 6 for only the L pulse, the Y cue can be found.

Further, the cueing for M and C in the same cycle following Y is performed by winding the multicolor ribbon 6 by NL pulses after the detection marks 7bs'lc of M and C, respectively, pass in front of the sensor 14. Can be done.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional configuration described above, when the diameter of the ribbon take-up reel increases and the load on the ribbon take-up remoter increases,
Since the ribbon winding speed also increases in proportion to the take-up reel diameter, vibrations during ribbon winding increase, making it difficult to stably locate the beginning of the multicolor ribbon.

Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, the motor rotation frequency must be selected so that the ribbon running speed υ remains below the limit value υO even if the diameter of the ribbon take-up reel reaches the maximum value Dax. There was a problem in that it was not possible to increase the speed of cueing the color ribbon.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the printer of the present invention includes a motor control means that performs operation control in the following manner in place of the conventional motor control means described above.

That is, when the ribbon take-up reel diameter is smaller than a predetermined value, the first frequency is used, and when the ribbon take-up reel diameter is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the second frequency lower than the first frequency is used. A motor control means for controlling a motor to wind a multi-colored ribbon at a frequency.

Effects The present invention, with the above configuration, can always maintain a stable ribbon feeding amount at a constant amount regardless of the size of the ribbon winding reel diameter, and improves the cueing accuracy of multi-color ribbons. It is also possible to manage the amount of remaining multicolor ribbon, and it also enables faster cueing and multicolor printing.

Embodiment A block diagram showing the configuration of a multicolor ribbon sensing means of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is almost the same as that of a conventional example, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the multicolor ribbon sensing means in the printer of this embodiment will be described below.

As before, the multicolor ribbon 6 is rotated at a constant rotation frequency (
The multicolor ribbon 13 is wound onto the take-up reel 12 by driving at a clock cycle φ-1). and,
Similarly, the number of feed pulses for the Y detection mark 7a is counted, the number of cue feed pulses is calculated, and cueing is performed.

At this time, the ribbon winding speed increases in proportion to the take-up reel diameter, so if the beginning is performed at the motor rotation frequency φ-1 as shown in Figure 1, the take-up reel diameter increases. (When this happens, the ribbon running speed υ becomes greater than υ0, and the cueing of the multicolor ribbon becomes unstable.

Therefore, when the take-up reel diameter reaches Dn, the motor rotation frequency φ-1 is decelerated to φ pass, so that the ribbon running speed υ does not exceed υ0 even if the take-up reel diameter reaches the maximum value Dsax. . Here, since Dn is inversely proportional to the number Ny of sending pulses for the Y detection mark 7a, it can be easily estimated.

In other words, if the value counted by the counting means 2 exceeds a certain value while the sensor 14 is detecting the detection mark, it is determined that the take-up reel diameter is smaller than Dn, and the dry rotation frequency is set to φ■l, and vice versa. If the diameter of the take-up reel is less than a certain value, it is determined that the diameter of the take-up reel is greater than or equal to Dn, and the motor rotation frequency is set to φ12.

Further, in this embodiment, the winding rotation frequency is switched at one point, but it may be set at a plurality of locations.

Effects of the Invention The present invention estimates the diameter of the ribbon winding reel from the number of feeding pulses counted by the counting means while the detection means is detecting the detection mark, and when the diameter exceeds a certain value, the winding rotation frequency is reduced. By lowering it, it is possible to reduce the ribbon winding speed, reduce the number of cassette shots, and always maintain a stable ribbon feed amount.

Furthermore, by appropriately providing switching points for the rotational frequency, it is possible to increase the cueing speed on average, thereby providing an excellent printer equipped with color sensing means that enables high-speed multicolor printing. be.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a characteristic diagram of ribbon running speed versus take-up reel diameter in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram of ribbon running speed versus take-up reel diameter in a conventional example, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multicolor ribbon sensing means of the printer, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the multicolor ribbon, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the ribbon cassette. 1...Mark detection means 2...Pulse counting means 3...Calculating means 4...Motor control means 5...Ribbon winding remoter 7a...Name of Y detection mark agent Patent attorney Shigetaka Kurino Others 16 Fig. 5-+) f-/4XL motor A' poor reel 4 D Takuhe reel monster

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A printer capable of mounting a multi-color ribbon in which ink of a plurality of colors is sequentially formed and equipped with detection marks corresponding to each color, the printer comprising a mark detection means for detecting the detection marks provided on the multi-color ribbon; , a ribbon winding motor for winding the multi-color ribbon; a pulse counting means for counting driving pulses of the ribbon winding motor while the mark detecting means detects the detection mark; and a counter for the pulse counting means. a calculation means for calculating the number of feed pulses necessary for cueing the multi-color ribbon according to the numerical value; a calculation means for controlling the drive of the motor based on the calculation result of the calculation means; and a count value by the counting means. If it is less than a predetermined value, the first frequency is used; if it is equal to or greater than the specific value, the first frequency is used.
A printer comprising: a motor control means for controlling the motor so as to wind the multicolor ribbon at a second frequency lower than the frequency of the printer.