JPH0462086A - Residual ribbon detection mechanism of ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To move a head carrier to a ribbon cassette replacement position after printing all lines during printing and replace a ribbon cassette when the cassette is replaced by detecting the residual amount of mused ribbon reaching a specified level. CONSTITUTION:A detection device 22 which operates mechanically is equipped with a lever 22a. The lever 22a becomes engaged with a turning arm 21, if the arm 21 turns to a position(C) and detects the residual amount of an unused ribbon 4 reaching a specified level equal to a single line or more of printed data. After that, a head carrier is allowed to move to a cassette replacement position for cassette replacement after printing all lines in printed data. After cassette replacement, printing process is resumed starting with a next line so that printed data is no longer offset.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Summary) Regarding the ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism of the ribbon cassette used for printing characters etc. with a printer, it is possible to detect the running out of ribbon well in advance and detect the line being printed. A ribbon that detects the amount of ribbon remaining in a ribbon cassette, which consists of a payout reel and a take-up reel, which are connected to both ends of the ribbon, housed in the cassette main body, with the aim of making it possible to replace the cassette after all printing has been completed. In the remaining ribbon amount detection mechanism of the cassette, the tip of the cassette body rotates in one direction as the ribbon is consumed while making contact with the outer periphery of the unused ribbon wound on the feed reel, and the remaining amount of ribbon is detected. A rotating arm is provided that detaches from the outer periphery of the ribbon and rotates in the - direction when a certain amount is reached, and
The present invention is configured to include a detection means for detecting the rotation of the rotation arm after it comes off the outer periphery of the ribbon.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism for a ribbon cassette used for printing characters, etc. with a printer.

If a printer runs out of ribbon while printing using a ribbon cassette, printing will no longer be possible, so it is required to detect the presence or absence of ribbon and stop printing.

[Prior Art] Fig. 5 is a structural explanatory diagram of a ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism of a conventional ribbon cassette 9. In the figure, 1 is a cassette main body, 2 is a feeding reel, 3 is a take-up reel, and 4 is a ribbon. . A portion with high reflectance is formed at the end of the ribbon 4, and this portion is detected by a reflection sensor 5 in the printer to stop printing (stop the head carrier).

6 and 7 are guide rollers for guiding the unwound ribbon 4, and 8 is a window provided in the cassette body 1 for detecting the end of the ribbon and for the print head.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In such a conventional structure, the head carrier stops when the end of the ribbon is detected, making printing impossible, and the ribbon cassette must be replaced at the stop position of the acid head carrier.

However, when replacing the ribbon cassette, force may be applied to the head carrier and the head carrier may move, resulting in the printing position being shifted when reprinting after replacing the ribbon cassette, resulting in reprinting from the beginning. Something had to happen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of ribbon in a ribbon cassette, which can detect the running out of ribbon in a timely manner and enable the cassette to be replaced after all lines currently being printed are printed. It is said that

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, in which 10 is a ribbon cassette, 11 is a rotating arm, and 12 is a detection means. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same constituent members as in the prior art.

The rotating arm 11 has a base portion rotatably supported by the cassette body 1, and a tip portion 11a that rotates clockwise as the ribbon 4 is consumed while contacting the outer periphery of the unused ribbon 4 wound around the payout wheel 2. (one direction). This rotation is possible by the weight of the rotation arm 11, but it may also be possible to provide a spring that biases the rotation arm 11 clockwise to cause the rotation. The rotating arm 11 contacts the outer periphery of the unused ink ribbon 4 when it reaches the position (B) from the position (A), but when it reaches the position (B), it separates from the unused ink ribbon 4 and moves clockwise to the position (H). ). The unused ribbon 4 at position (B) has a certain amount remaining, for example, more than one line of printing.

The detection means 12 is arranged at a position facing the rotating arm 11 at position (C). As the detection means 12, mechanical, optical, and magnetic methods can be used.

[Operation] The rotating arm that has reached the position (c) is detected by the detection means 12. That is, the detection means 12 detects that the remaining amount of the unused ribbon 4 has reached the above-mentioned constant amount. There is a certain amount of unused ribbon 4 remaining at the time of this detection, so when replacing the cassette afterwards, print all the lines that were being printed, then stop printing, and move the head carrier to the ribbon cassette replacement position. and replace the cassette. Since printing resumes from the next line after replacing the cassette, the printing misalignment that has been a problem in the past does not occur.

Note that the remaining amount of ribbon at position (B) may be set to be greater than one line of printing, and the detection means may be used for notifying the ribbon of running out.

[Example] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory diagram of the ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism of the ribbon cassette 20 of this example, in which 21 is a rotating arm and 22 is a detection means.

The rotating arm 21 is similar to the rotating arm 11 shown in FIG. 1 except that a retaining part 23 is provided at the tip 21a, and the remaining amount of unused ink ribbon 4 on the feed reel 2 is enough to print one line. When the above certain amount is reached, the ribbon is removed from the outer periphery of the ribbon 4 and rotated clockwise to position (C).

The detection means 22 is mechanical and includes a lever 22a. The lever 22a engages with the rotating arm 21 when the rotating arm 21 rotates to the position (c), and the remaining amount of unused ribbon 4 reaches a certain amount equal to or more than one line of printing. Detect. Thereafter, in the same manner as described in connection with FIG. 1, after all lines being printed are printed, the head carrier is moved to the cassette exchange position and the cassette is exchanged. Since printing resumes from the next line after replacing the cassette, no printing deviation occurs.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism of the ribbon cassette 30 of this example. In the figure, 31 is a rotating arm and 32 is a detection means.

In this example, a light reflective type is used as the detection means 32,
In connection with this, a high reflectance portion 33 is provided at the tip 31a of the rotating arm 3.

The rotating arm 31 rotated to the position (c) is
It is detected by the reflection of light emitted from 2 and incident on the high reflectance portion 33. Other effects.

The effect is the same as the previous example.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory diagram of the ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism of the ribbon cassette 40 of this example, in which 41 is a rotating arm and 42 is a detection means.

In this example, a magnetic type is used as the detection means 42, and a magnetic material portion 43 is provided at least at the tip portion 41a of the rotating arm 41 in correspondence with the magnetic detection portion 42a, (c)
The rotating arm 41 rotated to the position of the magnetic detection unit 42a
Detected by

Other functions and effects are the same as the previous example.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the running out of ribbon can be detected well in advance and the cassette can be replaced after all the lines currently being printed are printed, thereby improving work efficiency. do.

Furthermore, even if the head carrier moves when replacing the ribbon cassette, the next printing is performed from the beginning of the line, so the head position is calibrated and printing is performed at the correct position, eliminating the need for reprinting due to printing misalignment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism of the ribbon cassette according to the first embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of ribbon in the ribbon cassette according to the first embodiment of the invention. 4 is a structural explanatory diagram of the remaining ribbon amount detection mechanism of the ribbon cassette according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. This is a structural explanatory diagram of the amount detection mechanism. In the figure, l is the cassette body, 2 is the feed reel, 3 is the take-up reel, 4 is the ribbon, IO is the ribbon cassette, 11 is the rotating arm, 11a is the tip, 12 is the tip. It is a detection means. Patent Applicant: Fujitsu Isotic Co., Ltd. Agent: Patent Attorney Shoji Aitani Attorney: Hiroshi Watanabe

Claims (1)

[Claims] The remaining amount of ribbon in a ribbon cassette (10), which is made up of a feed-out reel (2) and a take-up reel (3) to which both ends of the ribbon (4) are connected, are housed in a cassette body (1). In the ribbon remaining amount detection mechanism of the ribbon cassette to be detected, the feeding reel (2) is attached to the cassette body (1).
The tip (11a) rotates in one direction as the ribbon is consumed while contacting the outer periphery of the unused ribbon wound around the ribbon, and when the remaining amount of ribbon reaches a certain amount, it comes off from the outer periphery of the ribbon and returns to the A rotating arm (11) that rotates in the direction is provided, and the rotating arm (11)
1) A remaining ribbon amount detection mechanism for a ribbon cassette, characterized in that a detection means (12) for detecting the rotation of the ribbon cassette is provided.