JPH05162406A - Thermal transfer recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm residual amount of an ink film during operation of the title apparatus by a method wherein pulse signals corresponding to the number of marks for detecting the residual amount of the ink film provided to the ink film are emitted from a part for detecting the residual amount of the ink film. CONSTITUTION:Inks are applied in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan and black to one side of an ink film 1. An ink belt 1a in black in a specified width that is in common to all of the colors is provided to the side end of the ink film 1. Then a mark 2 in optically detectable specified wavelength with no black ink applied thereon for detecting the residual amount of the ink film is provided to the side end of a part whereon the yellow ink that is transferred in the first place is applied. The number of the marks 2 for detecting the residual amount of the film is different, according to the residual amount of the film. In the case where the residual amount of the film 1 is 90% or more of the total printable amount for the film, one mark 2 is provided, while two marks 2 are provided when the residual amount is above 80%, but below 90% of the total printable amount for the film.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink film remaining amount detecting function used in a thermal transfer recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a thermal transfer type recording apparatus, an ink film and a recording sheet are superposed, heat is applied to the ink film to melt the ink, and the recording is performed by transferring this to the recording sheet.

The ink film is wound around a supply roller and is used by being fed out in a length required for recording. The remaining amount of ink film was only detected when the remaining amount was low.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional thermal transfer type recording apparatus, since the ink film is built in the apparatus, it is difficult to confirm the remaining amount of the ink film. Also, since the warning is displayed only when the remaining amount of ink film becomes very small,
There is a drawback that the remaining amount of the ink film cannot be confirmed while the device is in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus capable of confirming the remaining amount of ink film during use of the apparatus.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a thermal transfer type recording apparatus according to the present invention has an ink film remaining amount detecting section and melts the ink of the film by applying heat to the ink film. A thermal transfer type recording apparatus for transferring this to a recording sheet for recording, wherein the ink film has a light-impermeable ink band at a side end portion, and the ink band corresponds to the remaining amount of the ink film. It has a number of light-transmitting ink film remaining amount detection marks, and the ink film remaining amount detection section outputs a pulse signal according to the number of ink film remaining amount detection marks of the ink film to check the remaining amount of the film. is there.

[0007]

In order to detect the remaining amount of the ink film, it has a remaining amount detecting mark and a detecting means.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 (a), (b), and (c) are plan views showing an ink film used in an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, ink is applied to one surface of the ink film 1 in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. Further, a black ink band 1a having a constant width is applied to the side end of the ink film 1 for each color.

A mark 2 for detecting the remaining amount of the ink film of a predetermined length which is optically not detected and which is not coated with black ink is provided at the side end of the portion where the yellow ink is first transferred onto the paper. Is provided.

The number of the ink film remaining amount detecting marks 2 varies depending on the remaining amount of the ink film 1.

As shown in FIG. 1A, when the remaining amount of the ink film 1 is 90% or more of the total printable number of the ink film 1, one mark 2 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1B, two marks 2 and 2 are provided when the ink film 1 is 80% or more and less than 90% of the total printable number.

In the same manner as below, if the remaining amount of the ink film 1 is less than 10% of the total printable number of the ink film 1 as shown in FIG.
... is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a thermal transfer type recording apparatus which can detect the remaining amount of the ink film 1 by using the ink film 1 described in this embodiment.

In this apparatus, the ink film 1 is unwound from a supply roll 3, passes through a detection unit and a recording unit, and is then wound around a winding roll 10. The detector is
Light emitting diode 4 for irradiating the side edge of the ink film 1
And a phototransistor 5 arranged at a position facing the ink film 1 by sandwiching it.

The recording section has a plurality of heat generating elements and applies a heat to the ink film 1, a platen roller 6 for pressing the ink film 1 onto the thermal head 7, and a feed for conveying the recording paper 9. And the roller 8.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the detector. The light emitting diode 4 irradiates the black ink band 1a applied to the side end portion of the ink film 1. Normally, the irradiated light is blocked by the black ink band 1a, but at the ink film remaining amount detection mark 2, it passes through the ink film 1 and enters the phototransistor 5 to output a pulse signal. Become.

If the number of detection marks 2 corresponding to the remaining amount of the ink film 1 is provided, the remaining amount of the ink film 1 can be detected by detecting the number of output pulse signals. Further, the output pulse signal is guided to the detection circuit 11 to detect the remaining amount of the ink film 1, and the remaining amount of the ink film 1 is displayed on the operation panel 12.

Therefore, when the ink film 1 shown in this embodiment is used, since the number of the ink film remaining amount detection marks 2 is 10, there are 10 equal parts of the total printable number of the ink film 1. It is possible to display the remaining amount of the ink film 1 as a ratio.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a detection mark corresponding to the remaining amount of the ink film is provided on the ink film, and the number of pulse signals from the remaining amount detection circuit is detected, so that the device can be used during use. There is an effect that the remaining amount of the ink film 1 can be confirmed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an ink film provided with an ink film remaining amount detection mark used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus having an ink film remaining amount detecting function.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a detection circuit that detects the remaining amount of the ink film.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ink film 2 Mark for detecting remaining amount of ink film 3 Supply roller 4 Light emitting diode 5 Phototransistor 6 Platen roller 7 Thermal head 8 Feed roller 9 Recording paper 10 Winding roller 11 Detection circuit 12 Operation panel

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer recording apparatus having an ink film remaining amount detecting section, which melts the ink of the ink film by applying heat to the ink film and transfers the ink to a recording sheet to perform recording. Has a light-impermeable ink band at the side end, and has a number of light-transmissive ink film remaining amount detection marks corresponding to the remaining amount of ink film in the ink band. The thermal transfer recording apparatus is characterized in that it outputs a pulse signal according to the number of ink film remaining amount detection marks of the ink film to confirm the remaining amount of the film.