JPH04303674A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lower a cost, reduce a space, and ensure the detection of a ribbon end. CONSTITUTION:Sheet-form exposed electrodes 17a, 17b formed on a thermal head 1 as a recording part are provided so as to be in contact with a conductive tape part 18 formed by vapor depositing a good conductive metal, such as aluminum, in the vicinity of an ribbon end of an ink ribbon 9. A recording action is brought to a stop by an electric short circuit caused by the contact of said conductive tape part 18 with said exposed electrodes 17a, 17b. As mentioned above, the sheet-form electrode pair 17a, 17b are only formed on the thermal head 1 so as to be in contact with the conductive tape part 18 formed by vapor depositing a good conductive metal, such as aluminum, in the vicinity of the ink ribbon 9. In this manner, a cost can be lowered and, moreover, a space can be reduced, and an ribbon end can be positively detected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having an ink ribbon cassette, and more particularly to a recording apparatus capable of stopping a recording operation by detecting the end of an ink ribbon.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Recording devices such as thermal printers have features such as high speed printing and low noise, and have recently been adopted as printing devices for typewriters and word processors. Also,
In order to improve work efficiency and ease of use, it is common practice to detect the end of the ink ribbon and send a message to the user.

As shown in FIG. 11, a conventional thermal printer includes a carrier 53 on which an ink ribbon cassette 51 is removably attached and a recording head 52 is mounted.
It is configured to move along a shaft 54 via a belt by a drive source (not shown). The recording head 52 is connected to an electric circuit section (not shown). Further, the printing operation is performed by the recording head 52 pressing the ink ribbon 57 against the recording paper 56 supported by the platen 55, and at the same time, the recording head 52, which is controlled for printing by the electric circuit section, is heated for recording. made by
After printing, the ink ribbon 57 is wound onto a take-up reel 58 which is rotated by a drive source (not shown).

Detection of the ribbon end of the ink ribbon 57 in the thermal printer is performed as shown in FIG.
This is performed by a reflective photosensor 60 provided on the supply reel 59 side of the carrier 53 detecting a light reflective tape portion provided near the ribbon end of the ink ribbon 57. The detection signal is sent to a control system (not shown), and the control system stops the printing operation of the thermal printer.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since a reflective photosensor is used, the cost is high, and the installation space for the photosensor is required, which hinders the miniaturization of the device. There is a drawback that there is a risk of malfunction due to variations in the photosensor or the influence of external light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to provide a low-cost recording device that can reliably detect the ribbon end in a space-saving manner. This is what I am trying to do.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A typical means for solving the above problems and applied to the embodiments described below is a recording device that detects the end of the ink ribbon and stops the recording operation based on the detection signal. A conductive tape portion is provided near the end of the ink ribbon, and at least one pair of exposed electrodes is provided on the path of the ink ribbon to the recording portion, and the conductive tape portion and the exposed electrode pair are provided. It is characterized in that it is configured to detect the terminal end by providing it in a contactable manner.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the present invention, the conductive tape section provided near the end of the ink ribbon is provided so as to be able to come into contact with a pair of exposed electrodes provided on the path of the ink ribbon to the recording section. Since the recording operation is stopped when the conductive tape portion comes into contact with the exposed electrode, it is possible to reliably detect the ribbon end in a space-saving manner, and it is also possible to further reduce costs. be.

Next, an example in which the above means is applied to a thermal printer will be explained.

0010

[Embodiment] [First embodiment] First, the configuration and operation of a thermal printer will be explained using FIG. It is mounted on a carrier 3 that can be mounted, and further connected to an electric circuit board 5 by a flexible printed circuit board 4, and is configured to perform predetermined printing control. This printing operation is performed at the same time as the thermal head 1 driven by a drive source (not shown) presses the ink ribbon 9 supplied from the supply reel 8 in the ribbon cassette 2 against the recording paper 7 supported by the platen 6. , the recording section of the thermal head 1 records and heats the ink ribbon 9, and the carrier motor 1 further heats the ink ribbon 9 for recording.
This is done by driving said carrier 3 along the shaft 11 via a belt by a belt. After printing, the ink ribbon 9 is wound onto a take-up reel 12 which is rotated by a drive source (not shown), and the recording paper 7 is fed by rotating a paper feed roller 13 by a drive source (not shown).

The configuration of the ribbon end detection section of the ink ribbon 9 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The thermal head 1 is provided with a recording section 1a, which is attached to a heat sink 14 which has the role of discharging heat generated when the thermal head 1 performs recording heating. Further, the ink ribbon 9 is connected to the outlet 1 of the ribbon cassette 2.
5 (on the side of the supply reel 8) and wound up to the inlet 16 (on the side of the take-up reel 12), the thermal head moves in the direction of arrow i in the figure with respect to the thermal head 1. 17a,
A pair of exposed electrodes 17b are provided on the surface of the thermal head 16, and are configured to come into contact with the back surface of the ink ribbon 9 in the printing state. Reference numeral 18 denotes a conductive tape portion formed by vapor-depositing aluminum on the ink ribbon 9, and is provided near the ribbon end of the ink ribbon 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 19, which is one end of the flexible printed circuit board 4, is connected to the exposed electrodes 17a, 17b, a lead electrode to a heat generating resistor (not shown), and a common electrode by soldering. The other end is connected to the electric circuit board 9 as described above (see FIG. 1).

A control system for controlling printing of a thermal printer according to a signal detected by the ribbon end detection section and the operation of the control system will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 5, when printing is started by this thermal printer, the CPU detects the potential difference between the exposed electrodes 17a and 17b (step S1). The material of the ink ribbon 9 is a polyester film or the like having high electrical resistance, and the exposed electrodes 17a, 17 are
Since a predetermined potential difference has occurred between B and B as shown in FIG. 4, printing is continued by the CPU 20 (step S
2). However, the conductive tape portion 18 is
When pulled out to the surfaces of 7a and 17b, the exposed electrode 17
Since a and 17b are electrically short-circuited and there is no potential difference, a potential of 0 is applied to the port P1 of the CPU 20 as shown in FIG.
V is input, and the CPU 20 controls each driver 21, 2.
2 and 23 to the head drive motor 24, carrier motor 10, and thermal head 1, respectively, to stop the printing operation of the thermal printer (
Step S3). When the printing operation of the thermal printer is stopped, the buzzer 25 emits a sound for a predetermined period of time to convey a ribbon end message of the ink ribbon 9 to the user (step S4), and the series of operations ends.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a ribbon end detection section in a second embodiment. The configuration and operation of the thermal printer of this embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment. The differences from the first embodiment are as follows:
The exposed electrode pair is not provided on the thermal head, but on a flexible printed circuit board.

As shown in FIG. 6, a connecting portion 19 which is one end of a flexible printed circuit board 4 is attached to a thermal head 1 having a recording section 1a, and a pair of connecting portions 19 are attached to the connecting portion 19 of the flexible printed circuit board 4. exposed electrodes 26a, 26b are provided. Therefore, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a ribbon end detection section in a third embodiment. The configuration and operation of the thermal printer of this embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment. 27a and 27b are sheet metals made by bending thin metal plates, and are stuck to the ribbon back contact portion 15a of the ribbon outlet 15 of the ribbon cassette 2 with an adhesive or the like. Further, 28a and 28b are a pair of electrodes, which are metal plates 27a and 27a provided on the ribbon cassette 2.
7b is provided at a position where it comes into contact when the cassette is installed, and is connected to a ribbon end detection circuit (not shown) by lead wires 29a, 29b, as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The control system shown in FIG. 1 is configured to stop printing after detecting the ribbon end and emit a buzzer sound.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of a ribbon end detection section in a fourth embodiment. The configuration and operation of the thermal printer of this embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment. Furthermore, this embodiment is an example in which the heat sink 14 is used as one of the electrodes.

As mentioned above, the heat sink 14 is made of metal such as aluminum, has the thermal head 1 having the recording section 1a adhered to the front surface thereof, and has the function of discharging the heat generated by the thermal head 1 to the outside air. I am in charge. Further, the heat sink 14 is supported by a head arm 30, and the head arm 30 is driven by a drive system (not shown) to perform head-up and head-down operations.

In FIG. 8, the heat sink 14 is connected to the GND 31 of the main board to prevent static electricity or noise. 32 is an exposed electrode wired on the flexible printed circuit board 8 as shown in the second embodiment. Therefore, the potential between the heat sink 14 and the exposed electrode 32 is detected by the control system shown in FIG. 4, and the thermal printer is controlled by the operation shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the detection signal.

In FIG. 9, reference numerals 33 and 34 are a pair of exposed electrodes, which are provided at the connecting portion 19 of the flexible printed circuit board 8 attached to the thermal head 1. As shown in FIG. One of the exposed electrodes 33 is exposed on the heat sink side, and the other exposed electrode 34 is exposed on the back side of the ink ribbon 9. Therefore, since the exposed electrode 33 is at the same potential as the heat sink 14, the exposed electrode 33 is at the same potential as the heat sink 14.
4 and the exposed electrode 34 is detected by the control system shown in FIG. 4, and the thermal printer is controlled by the operation shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the detection signal.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a thermal printer and a ribbon end detection section in a fifth embodiment. Reference numerals 35 and 36 are exposed electrodes made by bending thin metal plates, which are bonded to an electrode support portion 37 provided on the carrier 3, and are disposed at positions where they come into contact with the ink ribbon in the printing state. Further, lead wires 35a and 36a are soldered to the lower ends of the exposed electrodes 35 and 36, respectively, and the lead wires 35a and 36a are connected to a flexible printed circuit board (not shown) inside the carrier 3. The end of is shown in Figure 1.
It is connected to an electrical circuit board as described above.

The printing operation of the thermal printer in this embodiment is performed by sending a signal detected by the ribbon end detection section having the above configuration to the control system shown in FIG.
It is controlled by the operation shown in FIG. Therefore, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0023]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the conductive tape portion provided near the ribbon end of the ink ribbon and the pair of exposed portions provided on the path from the ink ribbon outlet (supply reel side) to the thermal head. The conductive tape section is provided so as to be able to come into contact with the exposed electrode, and the recording operation is stopped when the conductive tape section comes into contact with the exposed electrode, so the ribbon end can be reliably detected in a space-saving manner, further reducing costs. You can also do that.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which exposed electrode pairs are provided on a thermal head.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the thermal head.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a control system of a thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print control of the thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which exposed electrode pairs are provided on a flexible printed circuit board.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a heat sink in which one of the exposed electrodes is short-circuited to GND.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a heat sink in which one of the exposed electrodes is short-circuited to GND.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which an exposed electrode pair is provided near the ink ribbon outlet (supply side).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which exposed electrode pairs are provided on a carrier.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a ribbon end detection section of a conventional thermal printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a thermal head, 1a is a recording section, 2 is a ribbon cassette, 3 is a carrier, 4 is a flexible printed circuit board, 5
is an electric circuit board, 6 is a platen, 7 is a recording paper, 8 is a supply reel, 9 is an ink ribbon, 10 is a carrier motor, 1
1 is a shaft, 12 is a take-up reel, 13 is a paper feed roller, 14 is a heat sink, 15 is an outlet, 16 is an inlet,
17a, 17b are exposed electrodes, 18 is a conductive tape portion, 19
is a connection part, 20 is a CPU, 21, 22, 23 are drivers, 24 is a head drive motor, 25 is a buzzer, 26a
, 26b are exposed electrodes, 27a, 27b are sheet metals, 28a,
28b is an electrode, 29a, 29b are lead wires, 30 is a head arm, 31 is GND, 32, 33, 34, 35, 3
6 is an exposed electrode, and 35a and 36a are lead wires. Patent applicant Canon Inc. Representative Patent attorney Shukichi Nakagawa Reference number 1942011

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording device that detects a terminal end of an ink ribbon and stops a recording operation based on a detection signal thereof, wherein a conductive tape section is provided near the terminal end of the ink ribbon, and the ink ribbon reaches a recording section. 1. A recording apparatus characterized in that the terminal end is detected by providing at least one pair of exposed electrodes on a path up to the point where the conductive tape section and the pair of exposed electrodes are in contact with each other. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the exposed electrode is provided in the recording section. 3. A pair of thin plate members are provided on the cassette that stores the ink ribbon, and a pair of terminal members are provided on a carrier that is mounted with the cassette and moves back and forth in the recording direction, and when the cassette device is used, the two members are connected to each other. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of electrodes are formed in contact with each other. 4. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the exposed electrode is provided on the carrier.