JPH03262678A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a fair printing using a used part or a fair printing with an unused part wound on the used side by a large amount by a method wherein after completion of a trial printing action, a control means controls a drive means on the basis of the judged result of a judging means so that the top part of an ink ribbon in an unused state is positioned on a head. CONSTITUTION:At first, an ink ribbon X that has been used once is taken up rearward and set, and a trial printing is conducted. After completion of the trial printing, while the ink ribbon X is fed forward, a sensor as a detection means 10 detects an unused part of the ink ribbon X. For example, when a light from a light emitting element 9a does not reach a light receiving element 9b, the appropriate part is judged to be unused. When the unused part of the ink ribbon X continues more than 100mm, a judging means 11 judges that the ink ribbon X comes into an unused state. Then, a control means 12 receives the judged result of the judging means 11, drives the drive means 13 so that a printing head is positioned on the top of the ink ribbon X in an unused state, and feeds the ink ribbon X rearward by 100mm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a printer that uses an ink ribbon and performs trial printing.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a printer that uses an ink ribbon to print on paper using a thermal transfer method, if a -degree ink ribbon is used, it cannot be used for fair copying, and when the used ink ribbon is used, This is a case in which so-called trial printing is performed, such as to see the edge of the printing area of paper ejected from the printer, or to read the content in a state where the image quality is poor.

That is, in this trial printing, the portion of the ink ribbon used for the -degree cleanup is used to print again.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, it is difficult to make a clean copy using a -degree ink ribbon, then perform a test print using the used part of the ink ribbon, and then use the unused part of the ink ribbon again. When performing a fair copy using a print head, the problem arises that the position of the unused portion of the ink ribbon cannot be determined due to the amount of ink ribbon used in the trial printing, and it is difficult to position the beginning of the unused portion on the print head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer in which the beginning of the unused portion of the ink ribbon is positioned on the head after trial printing is completed.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention according to claim 1 provides a printer that uses an ink ribbon and performs trial printing, including a detection means for detecting a change in the state of the surface of the ink ribbon, and a detection means for detecting a change in the state of the surface of the ink ribbon. determining means for determining whether the ink ribbon is in an unused state based on the result; a driving means for advancing or retracting the ink ribbon; and performing the trial printing by retracting the ink ribbon by the driving means, and after the operation is completed. and a control means for controlling the drive means so that the unused leading portion of the ink ribbon is positioned at the head ``head'' based on the judgment result of the judgment means.

The present invention according to claim 2 uses an ink ribbon and a head,
In a printer that performs trial printing, the printer comprises: a drive means for advancing or retracting the ink ribbon; and a first drive means for controlling the drive means so as to move the ink ribbon backward by a predetermined amount.
a control means, a first counting means for counting the predetermined amount, and a first storage means for storing the counting result of the first counting means;
a second control means for driving the head to perform the trial printing while advancing the ink ribbon from a position where the first control means has retreated the ink ribbon; a second counting means for counting;
a second storage means for storing the counting results; a calculation means for calculating the difference between a predetermined amount in the first storage means and a feeding amount in the second recording means; and further advancing the ink ribbon by the result of the calculation means. and a third control means for controlling the drive means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a printer that performs trial printing using an ink ribbon, there is provided an input means for inputting the amount of the trial printing, and a method corresponding to the printing amount of the trial printing based on the input result of the input means. a calculation means for calculating the feed amount of the ink ribbon; a counting means for counting the driving amount of the driving means for driving the ink ribbon; The apparatus includes a first control means for controlling the driving means so that the head moves backward and then moves forward, and a second control means for driving the head to perform trial printing.

[Operations] In the present invention of claim 1, the detection means detects a change in the state of the surface of the ink ribbon, the determination means determines the unused state of the ink ribbon based on the detection result of the detection means, and the drive means detects the change in the state of the ink ribbon. After the ribbon is moved forward or backward, and the control means finishes the trial printing operation, based on the judgment result of the judgment means,
Since the driving means is controlled so that the unused leading end of the ink ribbon is positioned on the head, the used part can be used for fair printing, or the unused part can be rolled up to the used side for fair printing. There is no risk of it happening.

In the present invention according to claim 2, the driving means moves the ink ribbon forward or backward, the first control means controls the driving means to move the ink ribbon backward by a predetermined amount, and the first counting means counts the predetermined amount. The first storage means stores the counting result of the first counting means. Next, the second control means performs trial printing while advancing the ink ribbon from the point where the first control means has retracted the ink ribbon, and the second counting means counts the amount of advance for the trial printing. The second storage means stores the information, the calculation means calculates the difference between the predetermined amount in the first storage means and the feed amount in the second storage means, and the third control means further advances the ink ribbon by the result of the calculation means. Furthermore, since the driving means is controlled, the leading portion of the unused portion can be positioned at the head.

In the present invention of claim 3.4.5, the amount of trial printing is inputted by the input means, and the calculation means calculates the feeding amount of the ink ribbon corresponding to the amount of printing of the trial printing based on the input result of the input means. , the counting means counts the driving amount by the calculation result of the calculation means of the driving means for driving the ink ribbon, and the first control means retreats the ink ribbon by the calculation result of the calculation means based on the count result of the counting means, Thereafter, the drive means is controlled to move forward, and the second control means drives the head to perform trial printing. Further, the second control means causes trial printing to be performed when the ink ribbon is retracted.

Alternatively, the second control means causes trial printing when the ink ribbon moves forward after retreating. Therefore, the leading portion of the unused portion can be located at the head.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view when a printer and a word processor are connected.

In FIG. 1, in printer l, paper 3 to be printed,
A print head cover 4 is provided, and a print head, an ink ribbon, etc. are housed therein.

Further, the word processor 2 is equipped with a CRT 5, a word processor body 6, a keyboard 7, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the printer according to the present invention.

First, the configuration of an embodiment of the printer according to the first aspect of the present invention will be described.

The detection means 10 detects changes in the surface condition of the ink ribbon, and specifically uses a sensor. For example, this sensor is a photosensor such as a photodiode or CCD. When using a photosensor as the detection means 10, as shown in FIG. , detects the state of the ink ribbon X.

Further, the light receiving element 9b is configured to read the entire width of the ink ribbon X. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the relationship among the light emitting element 9a, the light receiving element 9b, and the ink ribbon X in more detail. That is, once the ink ribbon X is used, the used part of the ink ribbon X becomes transparent and the light from the light emitting element 9a passes through and reaches the light receiving element 9b. Further, in the unused portion of the ink ribbon X, no light passes and the light does not reach the light receiving element 9b from the light emitting element 9a. This detection means lO
The sensor is provided near the print head, for example, immediately after the ink ribbon passes through the print head. However, the installation position is not limited to this.

The determining means 11 determines the unused portion of the ink ribbon based on the result detected by the detecting means 1o. Specifically, it is realized in software by a microcomputer. For example, if the unused portion of the ink ribbon continues for 100 mm, it is determined that the ink ribbon becomes unused from the beginning of the unused portion, that is, from 100 mm ago. This is because, although it depends on the printer, the ink ribbon X usually has a blank space of several centimeters between prints.

The driving means 13 is for moving the ink ribbon X forward or backward, and specifically, the driving means 13 is a stepping motor 13a.
, 13a. Two stepping motors 13a are provided as the driving means 13, one for forward rotation when the ink ribbon X is moved forward, and one for reverse rotation when the ink ribbon X is moved backward. Both rotating shafts of the motors are connected to a pulley 15 via a one-way clutch 14, and this pulley 15 is connected to a cassette 8 in which the ink ribbon X is stored. The one-way clutches 14 and 14 are connected to each other by a bell) 16. one way clutch 1
4 is for preventing drive from being transmitted to the other stepping motor 13a when one stepping motor 13a is rotating. In addition, at that time, the bell)
16 causes the pulley 15 to follow.

The control means 12 controls the determination means 1 after the trial printing operation is completed.
Based on the determination result of step 1, the driving means 13 is controlled so that the unused head of the ink ribbon X is located at the head. Specifically, it is realized in software on a microcomputer.

For example, after the trial printing is completed, if the determining means 11 determines that the unused portion of the ink ribbon X continues for 100 mm, and that the ink ribbon X is unused after 100 mm, it is determined that the ink ribbon X has been unused for 100 mm. Therefore, the control means 12 drives and controls the drive means 13 so that the head of the unused ink ribbon X is placed on the head.

In FIG. 3, a signal from the word processor 2 is input to the CPU 50 of the printer 1. section 51 and printer display section δ2 are connected to each other.

Next, the operation of an embodiment of the printer according to the tenth aspect of the present invention will be described.

First, the ink ribbon X that has been used once is wound up and set in a backward motion. Then, perform a trial print. After the trial printing is completed, a sensor serving as the detection means 10 detects an unused portion of the ink ribbon X while moving the ink ribbon X forward. For example, if the light from the light emitting element 9a does not reach the light receiving element 9b, it is an unused portion. Then, the unused portion of the ink ribbon
If it exceeds 0 mm, the determining means 11 determines that the ink ribbon X is unused. Then, the control means 12 receives the judgment result of the judgment means 11, drives the drive means 13 so that the printing head is positioned at the beginning of the unused ink ribbon X, and moves the ink ribbon X by 100 mm.
make them retreat.

Next, the configuration of an embodiment of the printer according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the printer according to the second aspect of the present invention.

The driving means 28 is for moving the ink ribbon X forward or backward. Specifically, for example, as in the case described above, two stepping motors are used, and when the ink ribbon X is moved forward, the forward rotation motor is used, and when the ink ribbon X is retreated, the reverse rotation motor is used. is used.

The first control means 20 controls the drive means 2 to retract the ink ribbon X by a predetermined amount, for example, to the beginning of the ink ribbon X. has been realized.

The first counting means 21 is for counting the predetermined amount by which the first control means 20 has retracted the ink ribbon X. Specifically, it is a counter.

The first storage means 22 stores the counting results of the counting means 21, and is specifically a RAM.

The second control means 23 drives the printing head while advancing the ink ribbon X from the position where the first control means 20 has retracted the ink ribbon X to perform trial printing. Specifically, it is realized in software on a microcomputer. A control means that serves both the second control means 23 and the first control means 20 described above may be used.

The second counting means 24 is for counting the amount of advance of the ink ribbon X for the trial printing, and specifically,
A counter is provided and may also serve as the counter of the first counting means 21.

The second storage means 25 stores the counting results of the second counting means 24, and is specifically a RAM. This second storage means 25 may also serve as the first storage means 22.

The calculating means 26 calculates the difference between the predetermined amount stored in the first storing means 22 and the feed amount stored in the second storing means 25, and specifically, it is realized by software using a microcomputer. There is.

The third control means 27 controls the drive means 28 so as to further advance the ink ribbon X by the calculation result of the calculation means 26. Also, if the calculation result is that the amount of trial printing is greater than the amount of retraction, or if the calculation result is 0,
Since fair printing is possible from the trial printing end position, driving means 2
There is no need to control 8. This third control means 27 is also realized in software by a microcomputer.

Next, the operation of an embodiment of the printer according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described.

First, in order to perform trial printing, the first control means 20 drives and controls the drive means 28 to move the ink ribbon X back by a predetermined amount, for example, 1 m. A counter serving as a first counting means 21 counts the predetermined amount by which the ink ribbon X has been retreated. The counting results are stored in the first storage means 22.
remembers.

Next, the second control means 23 causes trial printing to be performed from the point where the first control means 20 has retracted the ink ribbon X. Then, the second counting means 24 counts the feed amount of the ink ribbon X for this trial printing, for example, 0.5 m, and the second storage means 25 stores this counting result. Then, the calculation means 26 retreats by a predetermined amount stored in the first storage means 22, for example, 1 m.
For example, the feed amount stored in the second storage means 25 is 0.
．． Calculate the difference from 5m. The third control means 27 then controls the drive means 28 to advance the ink ribbon X by, for example, 0.5 m as a result of this calculation. In addition, if the predetermined amount of retraction is 1 m and the feed amount for trial printing is 1.5 m, the difference will be -0.5 m, but in this case, the unused part of the ink ribbon X is 0.5 m for trial printing. It means you used it. Therefore, since the head of the unused portion of the ink ribbon X is located at the printing head, there is no need for the third control means 27 to control the drive means 28. Furthermore, even if the predetermined amount of retraction of the ink ribbon X matches the feed amount used in the trial printing, the beginning of the unused portion is located in the printing head, so the third control means 27 controls the drive means 28. There is no need to control it.

Next, an embodiment of the printer according to the third aspect of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention.

The input means 30 is specifically the keyboard 7 of the word processor 2, and the amount of trial printing, for example, from 5 pages to 7 pages.
This is for entering a page.

The calculation means 31 calculates the feed amount of the ink ribbon X corresponding to the print amount of the trial print based on the input results of the input means 30, for example, the contents of the trial print text and graphics of three pages from page 5 to page 7. Specifically, it is implemented in software on a microcomputer.

The counting means 32 uses the ink ribbon X only for the calculation result of the calculation means.
It counts the amount of drive of the drive means 34 that drives the drive means 34, and specifically, it is a counter.

The first control means 33 controls the drive means 34 based on the counting result of the counting means 32 so that the ink ribbon X is moved backward by the calculation result of the calculation means 31 and then moved forward. Specifically, it is realized in software using a microcomputer.

The second control means 35 drives the head Y to perform trial printing. Specifically, it is realized in software using a microcomputer.

The driving means 34 drives the ink ribbon X to move forward or backward, and specifically uses a stepping motor 13a of 2 gM.

Next, the operation of an embodiment of the printer according to the third aspect of the present invention will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, step Sl (hereinafter, step is omitted, simply S
2, S3,... ), the operator inputs the amount of printing, for example, the amount of printing from 5 pages to 7 pages, using the input means 30c; Next, in S2, it is determined whether or not it is a trial print. If it is not a trial print, the process advances to S3 and a fair print is performed using an unused ink ribbon X. If a trial print is to be performed, the process proceeds to S4, and it is determined whether or not to rewind the ink ribbon X so as to move it backward by the print amount of the trial print. In the case of rewinding, the process proceeds to S5, where the calculating means 31 calculates the feed amount of the ink ribbon corresponding to the print amount of the trial print, and the first control means 33 drives and controls the driving means 34 by the calculated feed amount to rewind. Then, the head Y is moved forward, and in S6, the second control means 35 drives the head Y to perform trial printing. In this way, after trial printing, the unused ink ribbon X is positioned in the head Y,
Next, you can immediately print a fair copy. Further, if it is not possible to rewind by the amount of printing in S4, the process proceeds to S7, and the printer display section 52 displays "Partially unused ink ribbon will be used." Then, in step 88, if the operator decides not to use the unused ink ribbon X, the process ends.

If the unused ink ribbon X can be used, the process proceeds to S9, where the first control means 33 drives and controls the drive means 34 to rewind it to the end. Then, in S10, the second control means 35 drives the spatula F'Y to perform trial printing. And it ends. Note that the first control means 33 controls the ink ribbon
When reversing the helad Y, the second control means 35 synchronizes the first control means 33 and the second control means 35, and the second control means 35
It is also possible to drive the printer to perform trial printing. If you are also using an unused ink ribbon X for trial printing,
An unused ink ribbon X is located on the head Y.

Therefore, fairprint printing is possible immediately.

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, after the trial printing is completed, the head of the unused portion of the ink ribbon is positioned in the printing head, so there is no need to search for the beginning of the unused portion of the ink ribbon. However, the following fairprint printing is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the printer according to the present invention when a word processor is connected, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the printer according to the invention according to claim 1, and Fig. 3 is the same implementation. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the printer according to the example and a word processor connected thereto, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the relationship between the detection means and the ink ribbon according to the example, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the printer according to the third aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the embodiment. l... Printer 510... Detection means, 11... Judgment means, 12... Control means, 13... Driving means, 2
0...First control means, 21...First counting means, 22
... first storage means, 23 ... second control means, 24.
...Second counting means, 25...Second storage means, 26...
- Arithmetic means, 27... Third control means, 28... Driving means, 30... Input means, 31... Arithmetic means, 32
...Counting means, 33...First control means, 34...
Drive means, 35... second control means, X... ink ribbon, Y... head.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In a printer that uses an ink ribbon and performs trial printing, a detection means detects a change in the state of the surface of the ink ribbon, and an unused state of the ink ribbon is determined based on the detection result of the detection means. a determining means, a driving means for advancing or retracting the ink ribbon, and performing the trial printing by retracting the ink ribbon by the driving means;
A printer comprising: a control means for controlling the driving means so that, after the operation is completed, the leading end of the ink ribbon in an unused state is positioned at the head based on the judgment result of the judgment means. (2) In a printer that uses an ink ribbon and a head to perform trial printing, a drive means for moving the ink ribbon forward or backward, and a first control that controls the drive means to move the ink ribbon backward by a predetermined amount. a first counting means for counting the predetermined amount; a first storage means for storing the counting result of the first counting means; a second control means for driving the head to perform the trial printing while advancing the head; a second counting means for counting the amount of advance for the trial printing; and a second storage means for storing the counting result. a calculation means for calculating the difference between a predetermined amount of the first storage means and a feed amount of the second storage means; and a third control means for controlling the driving means so as to further advance the ink ribbon by the result of the calculation means. A printer characterized in that it is equipped with a control means. (3) In a printer that performs trial printing using an ink ribbon, an input means for inputting the amount of the trial print, and feeding of the ink ribbon corresponding to the print amount of the trial print based on the input result of the input means. a calculating means for calculating the amount; a counting means for counting the driving amount of the driving means for driving the ink ribbon; and based on the counting result of the counting means, the ink ribbon is retreated by the calculation result of the calculating means, and then A printer comprising: a first control means for controlling the drive means to move the head forward; and a second control means for driving the head to perform trial printing. (4) Claim 3, wherein the second control means causes the trial printing to occur when the ink ribbon retreats.
Printer listed. (5) The printer according to claim 3, wherein the second control means causes trial printing when the ink ribbon moves forward after retracting.