JPH0355275A - Printer equipped with ribbon life alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect and display the residual quantity of a ribbon by outputting an alarm when the value of a backup memory exceeds the preset number of alarm printings. CONSTITUTION:When a ribbon cassette 1 is detached for the sake of the replacement of a ribbon, a number-of-printed character counter 4 and a backup memory 5 are reset and, when a new ribbon cassette 1 is mounted, the output signal of a ribbon mounting/detachment detection part 2 is applied to the number-of- printed character counter 4. When said signal is applied, the signal at every one character printing from a printer printing control part 3 is counted but the count value is renewed at every one character printing to be stored in the backup memory 5 and the count value stored in the backup memory 5 is compared with the preliminarily given number of alarm characters by a life detection part 6 to allow a ribbon life alarm lamp 7 to light and a ribbon life alarm signal is outputted to a higher rank apparatus. By this method, it is preliminarily displayed that the life of the ribbon is exhausted beforelong and this state can be informed to the higher rank apparatus.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a printer with ribbon life warning.

[Conventional technology]

Printers that use conventional ribbon cassettes are usually installed horizontally to stop printing and issue an alarm when the ribbon is used up, but they do not have a function to notify the amount of ribbon remaining in the middle. .

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, conventional printers do not have a function to detect and display the remaining amount of ribbon, so when operated in an unattended environment, the ribbon becomes unable to print and stops printing. When the user goes to pick up the ribbon expecting completion of printing, a situation occurs where the user has to replace the ribbon force set 1 again and start printing again.5 [Means for solving the problem] Printer with ribbon life warning according to the present invention includes a ribbon attachment/detachment detection unit that detects the attachment/detachment state of the ribbon cassette, a printed character number counter that counts the number of printed characters only while the ribbon cassette is attached, and a nonvolatile backup memory that stores the cumulative count value of the printed character number counter; The device includes a life detection section that outputs an alarm when the value in the backup memory exceeds a preset number of warning prints, and a display section that displays this alarm.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. When the ribbon cassette 1 is attached or detached, the ribbon attachment/detachment detection section 2 outputs the state. The printer print control section 3 performs print control for the entire printer and outputs a signal for each character.

The printed character number counter 4 is connected to the ribbon attachment/detachment detection section 2 and the printer print control section 3, and counts the number of printed characters when the ribbon cassette is attached. The backup memory 5 is a nonvolatile memory that is connected to the print character counter 4 and stores cumulative count values.

The life detection section 6 is connected to the backup memory 5, and when the counted value exceeds a specified number, it lights up the ribbon life warning lamp 7 and outputs an alarm signal to the host device.

When the ribbon cassette 1 is removed for ribbon replacement, the print character number counter 4 and backup memory 5 are reset. When a new ribbon cassette 1 is installed, an output signal from the ribbon attachment/detachment detection section 2 is given to the printed character number counter 4. When the printed character number counter 4 receives this signal, it counts the signal for each character printed from the printer print control section 3. This count value is updated every time a character is printed.
The data is stored in the backup memory 5. Even when the printer is no longer in use and the power is turned off, the value in the backup memory 5 is retained, and when the printer is restarted, the printed character counter 4 starts counting from this value. By comparing the counted value stored in the backup memory 5 and the predetermined number of warning characters (a number obtained by subtracting a certain number from the number of characters that can be printed on the ribbon) in the life detection section 6, the ribbon life warning lamp 7 is turned on. It is possible to output a ribbon life alarm signal to the host device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention has the effect of indicating in advance that the ribbon life is nearing the end and notifying the host device by counting the number of printed characters when the ribbon is attached.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ribbon cassette, 2... Ribbon attachment/detachment detection section, 3... Printer print control section, 4... Print character number counter, 5... Backup memory 26... Life detection section, 7 ...Ribbon life warning lamp.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A ribbon attachment/detachment detection section that detects the attachment/detachment state of the ribbon cassette, a printed character number counter that counts the number of printed characters only while the ribbon cassette is attached, a nonvolatile backup memory that stores the cumulative count value of this printed character number counter, and this backup. 1. A printer with a ribbon lifespan warning, comprising a lifespan detection section that outputs an alarm when a memory value exceeds a preset number of warning prints, and a display section that displays this alarm.