JPH02276665A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control residual number of ribbons and the like, when an original type of ink ribbon is replaced with other type of ink ribbon and replaced again with the original type of ink ribbon, by storing as many counts as the number of types of ink ribbon separately into a non-volatile memory. CONSTITUTION:Upon mounting of cassette type ink ribbon, type of the ink ribbon is detected through a ribbon detector 1. Number of print ribbon for every print is counted based on the detection results and the count is stored in a memory. The count is stored in the memory through a CPU 3 upon ending or starting of printing operation. A non-volatile memory 2, connected with the CPU 3, stores the number of the print ribbon. Interior of the non-volatile memory is partitioned into ranges corresponding to the number of available ink ribbons. When one type of cassette is used, specified memory is rewritten and other memories are not concerned. When the cassette is replaced in the way, memory of the replaced cassette is selected and stored. In such a manner, the independent control is carried out for each cassette.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device that performs printing or printing using an ink ribbon.

[Prior Art] In conventional printers using ink ribbons, the ink ribbon is a consumable item that is replaced once it is used up, and the ink ribbon is endless and used repeatedly.
Furthermore, devices that change the direction of the cassette after it has been used have been put into practical use.

When the printed or stamped surface is a single color, or when there are no types of cassettes, there is no need to detect and manage the type of cassette.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the case of a color printer, there are a plurality of ink ribbons, such as a monochromatic ribbon of only black and white, a color ribbon, and a plurality of ink ribbons such as color ribbons and full color ribbons. Furthermore, there are also inks called multi-time inks that can be printed not only once but also many times. Furthermore, since the quality of printing differs depending on the quality of the paper, there are different types of ink depending on the paper. With color multi-time ink, the condition of the stamp surface may change depending on the number of times the stamp surface is used, and in order to keep the image quality constant, it is necessary to manage each number of times. Furthermore, in the case of multi-time ink, especially in the case of color, it is necessary to take measures to ensure that the ink is finished and not to damage the ribbon. It is also necessary to manage the remaining amount of ink ribbon in order to make the printer easy to use.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a mechanism for detecting the type of ink ribbon, a CPU that rewrites the contents of a non-volatile memo 18 memory that stores the number of used ink ribbons each time a stamp is made, and a plurality of types of ink ribbons can be stored in the non-volatile memory as many as the number of corresponding ink ribbons. Count values may be stored separately.

[Function] According to the present invention, the ink ribbon of the printer can be managed accurately and the usability of the printer can be improved.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on Examples.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an ink ribbon detection mechanism, 2 is a non-volatile memory for storing the remaining amount of ribbon, etc., 3 is a CPU for performing storage processing, etc., and 4 is an ink ribbon detection mechanism. A signal processing unit for the stamp face, 5 a head for stamping, 6 a mechanism for the stamp face, 7 an input signal, and 8 a mechanical control unit for controlling the mechanism.

Explain in detail. When an ink ribbon is mounted in a printer in the form of a cassette or the like, the type of ink ribbon is detected by a ribbon detection mechanism 1. Based on this detection result, the number of stamp ribbons is counted based on the stamp surface of each sheet, and the result is stored in a memory number. The storage in the memory is carried out by the CPU 3 at the end of the stamp or the start of the stamp. The nonvolatile memory 2 is connected to the CPU and stores the number of sheets and the like.

Once written into a non-volatile memory, the stored contents are retained even when the power is turned off, and when the power is turned on, the contents of this memory are read out and incremented or decremented one by one. The inside of this nonvolatile memory is divided into ranges corresponding to the number of usable ink ribbons. If one type of cassette is being used, the specified memory is rewritten and other memories are not touched. If the cassette is replaced during the process, the memory of the replaced cassette is selected and stored. In this way, each cassette is managed separately.

For the seal face, an input signal 7 given from the outside in FIG. 1 is subjected to conversion processing and the like for the stamp face in a signal processing section 4, and is transferred to the head 5 as stamp face data. Also, on the stamp side, CP
Under U control, the mechanism 6 is driven through the mechanical control section 8, and along with the operation of the mechanism, the stamping head is driven to perform stamping.

Table 1 is a table showing an example of the contents of storage types in the nonvolatile memory. In printers that can use cassettes of B/W, color, multi-B/W, etc., memory areas are designated for each cassette to store the amount of remaining ink or the number of stamps corresponding to each cassette. In addition to the remaining amount, it is also effective to store the number of ink impressions in the case of multi-time ink.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, even if the ink ribbon is replaced with another type midway, when the original ink ribbon is returned again, the remaining number of ribbons, etc. can be managed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a block diagram of a stamp device according to the present invention. 1... Ribbon detection mechanism 2...Nonvolatile memory 3...CPU that's all Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation Agent: Patent attorney Kizobe Suzuki and 1 other person Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] A printing device that can handle multiple types of ink ribbons is equipped with an ink ribbon type detection mechanism, a nonvolatile memory that stores the number of ink ribbons used, and a CPU that rewrites the contents of the memory each time a stamp is printed. A printing device characterized in that a plurality of types of count values are separately stored for each corresponding number of ink ribbons.