JPH0571974U - Identification code printer for time recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When printing an identification code on a card via an ink ribbon using a time recorder printer, the printing density of the identification code should always be higher than that of normal printing such as working hours. (EN) Provided is an identification code printing device capable of maintaining a dark state, using an ink ribbon more economically, and reducing the number of times of ribbon replacement to reduce the troublesomeness of replacement work. [Structure] When printing an identification code, the time recorder is set to the card creation mode, and the ink ribbon switching mechanism 7 causes the ribbon switching control circuit 8 to move the ink ribbon to a ribbon area different from the ribbon area of the ink ribbon on which normal printing is performed. A code is printed through the shifted ribbon area. As a result, the print density of the printed identification code is always higher than the normal print density in the ribbon area that is frequently used repeatedly, and the ink ribbon can be used effectively for a longer period of time, which is economical. In addition to the above, the frequency of ribbon replacement is reduced, and the troublesome replacement work can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention not only prints normal working data such as working hours on a time card, but also has a so-called card creation function that prints an identification code that distinguishes each individual's name, working form, etc. The present invention relates to a time recorder, and more particularly to an identification code printing device therefor.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As a method of providing this kind of identification code on the card, a method of forming punch holes in the card is also known, but printing such as working hours is printed via the ink ribbon by the printer built in the time recorder. Therefore, a method has been proposed in which this identification code is printed using the same printing medium such as an ink ribbon. For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-46668 prints a bar code as an individual identification code on a personal information display section provided at the lower end of a time card.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 As mentioned above, the printing of numbers and times (hereinafter referred to as normal printing) such as working hours that are performed daily and total printing performed every month through the printing medium such as the ink ribbon (hereinafter referred to as code) When printing is performed, the print density gradually decreases due to exhaustion of the ink ribbon during repeated use, so it is necessary to replace the ribbon at an appropriate time.

The minimum print density required for normal printing is that the characters, numerical values, etc., can be visually read, so it can be said that ribbon replacement can be appropriately performed shortly before it becomes unreadable. However, in the case of code printing, it is necessary to read the code accurately with a sensor, and a density higher than a predetermined level is required according to the sensitivity of the sensor.

If the code is printed at a density lower than the predetermined density due to the consumption of the ribbon, the code cannot be read accurately by the sensor and the card cannot be processed. As a result, it will be wastefully discarded. Under these circumstances, code printing requires a print density that is considerably higher than the minimum print density required for normal printing, and in order to maintain this print density, normal printing is still possible. However, the ink ribbon had to be replaced early, and the frequency of ribbon replacement was high, which was uneconomical and the ribbon replacement work was troublesome. In this respect, the above-mentioned conventional time recorder of this type is a proposal for printing an identification code in a specific area of a card, and there is no suggestion of a solution to this problem by referring to the above-mentioned problem of print density.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and its purpose is to reduce the frequency of ribbon replacement when the identification code is printed by a printer provided in the time recorder via the ink ribbon. However, it is possible to reduce the replacement work and provide an identification code printing device for a time recorder that can maintain the density of code printing in a usable state for a longer period of time while using an economical ink ribbon. is there.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is premised on a time recorder which prints working data such as working hours on a time card and prints an identification code of each individual through an ink ribbon. A printer for performing printing via an ink ribbon on a time card sent to a printing position, and an ink ribbon for a first ribbon area for performing the normal printing and a second ribbon area different from the first ribbon area. An ink ribbon switching mechanism that performs a switching shift in a lateral direction with respect to the traveling direction of the ribbon, and in order to make the first ribbon area of the ink ribbon correspond to the printing position during the normal printing. When the identification code is printed, the second ribbon area of the ink ribbon is made to correspond to the printing position while operating the ink ribbon switching mechanism. An ink ribbon switching control means for urchin operating the ink ribbon switching mechanism, which proposes a configuration of the identification code printing device including a.

[0008]

[Action]

 According to the above-mentioned identification code printing apparatus of the present invention, in the case of normal printing, the ink is printed in the first ribbon area of the ink ribbon, and in the case of the identification code, the ink is printed in the second ribbon area different from the area normally used. It is configured to switch between ribbons for printing. Therefore, since the second ribbon area is not a portion that is frequently used repeatedly, it is possible to maintain a darker state than at least the print density of the first ribbon area. Therefore, the ribbon can be used for a longer period of time compared to the case where the normal printing and the code printing are printed in the same ribbon area, which is economical and the number of ribbon replacements is reduced, so that the replacement work is also reduced. ..

The ink ribbon switching mechanism is controlled by the ribbon switching control means so as to selectively switch to the corresponding ribbon area before entering the normal printing and the code printing, respectively. Upon completion of printing the identification code, the ribbon switching control means switches to the ribbon area for normal printing.

[0010]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a control unit 1 provided in the time recorder has a keyboard 2 for input setting of personal identification information, various settings of the time recorder, totaling operation, and mode changing operation. Corresponding to the personal identification data such as name, employee number, affiliation, work division number, etc. and personal code automatically given at the time of input setting, such as personal identification data memory 3 for storing card number in RAM memory, personal code. A work data memory 4 that stores work data such as time to go and leave for each individual in a RAM memory, a clock circuit 5 that forms current time data based on a clock signal output from a crystal oscillator, and outputs the current time data to the control unit 1, A display unit 6 for displaying various operation statuses and results of the time recorder to the operator is connected.

Reference numeral 7 is an ink ribbon switching mechanism that shifts the ink ribbon laterally with respect to its running direction to make a plurality of different ribbon regions correspond to printing positions. Reference numeral 8 is connected to the control unit 1 and will be described later. The ribbon switching control circuit is a ribbon switching control circuit that operates the ribbon switching mechanism 7 so as to shift the ink ribbon to the corresponding ribbon area in the case of normal printing and in the case of the identification code. Reference numeral 9 is for printing personal identification data, employment data and identification code on the time card via the ink ribbon at the printing position. For example, a dot printer type printer 10 is connected to the printer 9 and connected to the control unit 1. This is a printer drive control circuit connected via a print buffer 11. Reference numeral 12 is a card feeding mechanism that carries the time card into the printing position from the card insertion port of the time recorder and ejects the printing paper from the printing position after the predetermined printing is completed. 13 is connected to the control unit 1 and carries in the time card. This is a card feed control circuit that controls the forward and reverse rotations of the card feed mechanism 12 so as to eject the card.

Reference numerals 14 and 15 denote a pair of reflective sensors that detect presence / absence of insertion of a time card into a time recorder, an identification code mark, and a mark for discriminating an insertion state, and send various detection signals. , Corresponding to both side edges of the time card to be inserted, respectively, one of them is arranged on the front side of the card, and the other is arranged on the back side of the card. Reference numeral 16 is a read signal processing means for reading the detection signals from these sensors 14 and 15 and sending out various kinds of processing signals. At a predetermined timing, the identification code data generated by processing the detection signal from one of the corresponding sensors 14 and 15 is sent to the control unit 1, the insertion state determination means 19 and the identification code memory 18, respectively. The reference counter 17 sends a reference timing pulse in response to a pulse from a rotary encoder 37, which will be described later, and determines the reference timing for printing and reading the identification code. Reference numeral 18 is an identification code memory for storing the generated identification code data read from the time card, and various work data are processed based on the identification code. Reference numeral 19 denotes an insertion state determination means that is connected to the read signal processing means 16 and receives signals detected by both the sensors 14 and 15 as processing signals from the processing means 16 to determine the insertion state of the time card. The insertion state adequacy determination means is connected to the determination means 19 and determines whether or not the insertion state of the time card has been correctly inserted with respect to the front side and the back side. The suitability judging means 20 is connected to the control unit 1, and a control signal is sent to the card feeding control circuit 13 via the control unit 1 based on the judgment signal sent from the judging unit.

FIG. 2 shows a time card 21 to be used. On the surface of the card 21, the name, affiliation, etc. of each individual are stored in the personal identification data memory in the upper end area 22 of the card. This is a print field in which personal identification information is printed. Reference numeral 23 is a work print column in which the date, day and time of attendance, etc. are printed. A range indicated by 24 is an identification code printing column for printing the identification codes 25a, 25b, 25c ... Using the one side edge of the card 21 along the feeding direction of the card 21. As shown in the figure, the identification code has a plurality of print positions set in the print field 24, and the personal identification information is coded by a combination of the presence or absence of narrow print marks at these positions. Reference numerals 26 and 26 are reference marks which are formed on the upper and lower sides of the same side edge of the card 21 as the identification code print field 24 in the card 21 and which serve as a reference for starting and ending the printing and reading of the identification code. Upon insertion, the mark 26 is detected by the corresponding sensor 14, and the reference counter 17 uses the detected reference mark 26 as a reference to generate the printing and reading timing of each identification code. Reference numeral 27 is a mark formed on the corner of the lower edge of the card 21 for determining the card insertion state.

In FIG. 3, a time recorder body 30 is provided with a card guide 31 forming a guide path 32 for inserting and guiding the time card 21, and the card 21 is indicated by an arrow from the card insertion opening 32. Is inserted as. The sensors 14 and 15 are arranged in the card insertion slot 32. The printer 9 is arranged so as to be capable of reciprocating along the print line XX across the guide path 32, and a predetermined print is made on the card 21 at the print position P.

A card feed mechanism 12 is installed in the time recorder main body 30. The mechanism 12 includes a pair of upper and lower feed shafts 33, a feed roller 34 mounted on the feed shafts 33, and a pair of these feed shafts 33 for interlocking rotation. It is composed of a drive transmission mechanism 35 and a reversible motor 36 for applying a driving force to the mechanism 35, which are connected to a pulley and a timing belt. A driven roller is provided opposite to the pair of feed rollers 34, but not shown. A rotary encoder 37 is provided at one end of the feed shaft 33. The encoder is composed of a slit plate 38 and a photo interrupter 39, and generates a pulse corresponding to the transfer distance of the time card and sends the pulse to the reference counter 17. When this pulse is input, the reference counter 17 sends a reference timing pulse every count of a predetermined pulse.

The sensor 14 corresponds to the front side of the card 21 to be inserted and the other sensor 15 corresponds to the back side. When the sensor 14 detects the mark 27 upon insertion of the card, the card 21 is shown in FIG. When the other sensor 15 detects the mark 27, the time card 21 is inserted in the back state, and both sensors are both inserted into the card. When the mark 27 is not detected at the beginning of the insertion, it is determined that the card is inserted upside down, and when the insertion state adequacy determining means 20 determines that the insertion state is "no", the card is again in the proper state. It is required to insert the card at.

When the card 21 is properly inserted, the card feeding mechanism 12 feeds the card 21 toward the printing position in the insertion direction (normal direction), and the sensor 14 starts counting from the position where the reference start mark 26 corresponds. It Then, the identification code is sequentially printed at a predetermined position at the timing of counting. The card is ejected by reversing the motor 36 and feeding the card 21 in the ejection direction (reverse direction) by the card feeding mechanism 12.

Next, a specific configuration of the ink ribbon switching mechanism 7 provided in the identification code printing device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes a carriage on which the printer 9 is mounted and which is supported by a pair of guide rails 41 and 41 on the time recorder main body 30 and reciprocates along a print line. Reference numeral 42 denotes a spindle on the carriage 40. The ink ribbon cassette is detachably rotatably supported at one end (rear end) via 43 and constantly urged counterclockwise in the drawing by a compression spring 44. The ink ribbon 45 accommodated in the cassette 42 is exposed at the other end (front end) of the cassette and is interposed between the printer 9 and the card plan inner path 32 into which the time card 21 is inserted. It faces P. As shown by the solid line and the chain line in the figure, the ribbon cassette 42 is rotated around the support shaft 43 by the ink ribbon switching mechanism 7 during the ink ribbon switching operation, whereby the ink ribbon 45 is shifted upward and downward and different. Switching to the ribbon area, or so-called printing stage switching, is performed.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the ink ribbon 45 is switched to three ribbon regions 45a, 45b, and 45c divided in the width direction, so that the ink ribbon 45 can be used in so-called three-stage switching. For example, the ribbon areas 45a, 45b, and 45c on the respective stages are respectively printed for the normal working hours (first stage), the identification code (second stage), and the time zones for late / holiday ( It can be used by dividing it into 3rd stage). The ribbon 45 is a two-color ribbon of red and black, and the belt portion 46a including the ribbon areas 45a and 45b is printed in black, and the belt portion 46b including the ribbon area 45c is printed in red. Of course, it is also possible to use an ink ribbon in which the band colors of the portions corresponding to the respective stages are divided into black, red, and blue. The first and third stage ribbon areas 45a and 45c are areas for normal printing that are frequently used to print data for normal work such as attendance and leaving. On the other hand, the second-stage ribbon area 45b is a ribbon area dedicated to printing the identification code, which is different from the normal printing area.

The carriage 40 shown in FIG. 4, together with the ribbon cassette 42, is driven by a drive belt, pulley, motor, etc. (not shown) from the home position H at the left end to the print end position E at the right end on the main body 30. It is reciprocally driven by a mechanism.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 47 denotes a detection portion provided on the lower surface of the carriage 40 so as to project downward, and reference numerals 48 and 49 denote carriage positions arranged at intervals in a passage along which the detection portion 47 moves as the carriage 40 travels. It is a detection sensor. One of the sensors 48 detects that the carriage 40 has returned to the home position H when the detection unit 47 has come to a position corresponding to this, and the other sensor 49 has the detection unit 47 of the carriage 40. When the carriage returns to the home position, the print standby position A of the carriage 40 is detected by arriving at a position corresponding to the midway part. As will be described later, when the ink ribbon 45 continues printing in the same ribbon area or printing stage, the carriage 40 is stopped at the print standby position A without returning to the home position H and printing is started from here. Set the reference position to start. Although not shown, a carriage position detection sensor for detecting the position E and stopping the carriage 40 is also provided corresponding to the print end position E.

Next, the ink ribbon switching mechanism 7 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 50 denotes a ribbon actuating member that extends between the carriage 40 and the ribbon cassette 42 along the traveling direction of the carriage 40 and has both ends bent to be swingably supported by the support shaft 51 on the main body 30. Reference numeral 52 is a switching rotary member which is composed of one bent end plate of the member 50 and has a plurality of engaging teeth 53 formed around the plate.

When the switching rotation member 52 is located at the position (original position) shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the ribbon actuating member 50 resists the spring 44 and the ribbon cassette 42 is generally horizontal on its upper surface as shown by the solid line. The ink ribbon 45 is caused to correspond to the printing position P by the first non-elevated position ribbon area 45a. Then, when the switching rotary member 52 is rotated clockwise from the original position around the support shaft 51 as schematically shown by a chain line, the ribbon actuating member 50 is tilted accordingly and resists the spring 44. The ribbon cassette 42 is rotated around the support shaft 43 to raise the ink ribbon 45 from the first stage as shown by the arrow, and the ribbon regions 8b and 8c of the second or third stage are made to correspond to the printing position P. It is like this.

Reference numeral 55 is an operating solenoid installed in the main body 30, 56 is connected to the solenoid 55 via a plunger 57 and a rotation support shaft 58, and a tension spring 59 normally engages the switching rotation member 52. An actuating claw member 60, which is disposed in an engaged state with the artificial tooth 53, is supported by the main body 30 by a rotary support shaft 61 and is always engaged with the engaging tooth 53 of the switching rotary member 52 by a tension spring 62. It is a holding claw member arranged in a state. Both the claw members 56, 60 have bent tongues 56a, 60a which can be engaged with each other and which form interlocking means, and one claw member 56 is connected to the tongue 56a as seen in FIG. It has a cam portion piece 56b which is slightly inclined and protrudes in the lateral direction, and the cam portion piece 56b is disengageable from the engaging protrusion 63 protruding from the side edge of the carriage 40 so as to be engageable therewith. Means are configured.

When the carriage 40 returns to the home position H in a state where both the claw members 56 and 60 are engaged with the engagement teeth 53 of the switching rotation member 52, the engagement protrusion 63 engages with the cam portion piece 56b. By the cam action of the inclined cam portion piece 56b, the actuating claw member 56 is first pushed down in the direction in which it disengages from the engaging teeth 53, and along with this, the tongue piece 56a is moved to the tongue piece 60a of the holding claw member 60. The holding claw member 60 is also disengaged from the engaging tooth 53 by engaging with and pushing down. As a result, the switching rotation member 52 becomes free and is rotated and returned to the original position by the urging force of the spring 44, so that the ink ribbon 45 is returned to the first-stage non-elevated position, that is, the so-called ink ribbon is reset. When the carriage 40 starts traveling from the home position H for printing, the engagement between the engagement projection 63 and the cam portion piece 56b is released, so that the two claw members 56 and 60 are not moved. The engagement teeth 53 of the switching rotation member 52 in the position are engaged again.

Referring to FIG. 8, a mode in which the switching rotary member 52 is switched by the actuating solenoid 55 via both the claw members 56 and 60 will be described. (A) shows that the switching rotary member 52 is in the original position, The solenoid 55 is in a non-excited state, and both claw members 56 and 60 are in the normal position state in which they are engaged with the tooth spaces 53a and 53b of the engaging teeth by the biasing of the springs 59 and 62, respectively. (B) shows a state in which the one-shot pulse is excited in order to set the ink ribbon 45 to the second stage position with respect to the actuation solenoid 55 in the state of (a). In this state, the actuating pawl member 56 is first pulled by the plunger 57 in the direction of the predetermined stroke arrow, whereby the pawl member 56 rotates the switching rotary member 52 clockwise by one tooth. As a result, the holding claw member 60 goes over one of the engaging teeth 53 and engages with the next tooth groove 53c, and holds the switching turning member 52 in this turning state. The actuating claw member 56 returns from the retracted position as shown by the chain line immediately after the actuation of the one-shot operation of the actuating solenoid 55, and at this time, it crosses over one engaging tooth 53 to the next tooth groove 53b. Enroll.

As described above, even if the actuating solenoid 55 immediately returns to the non-excited state by the excitation of the one-shot pulse, both the claw members 56 and 60 reliably hold the switching rotary member 52 at the position rotated by one tooth. can do. The rotation amount for one tooth corresponds to the movement amount for moving the ink ribbon 45 upward from the ribbon region 45a of the first stage to the ribbon region 45b of the second stage, so that the ink ribbon 45 has two stages. It will be switched and set at the eye position.

When the operating solenoid 55 is further excited by a one-shot pulse from the state shown in FIG. 8B, both claw members 56 and 60 cooperate in the same manner as described above, and one more tooth, the switching rotary member. Since 52 rotates and is held at this rotating position, the amount of rotation for one further tooth is increased by the amount by which the ink ribbon 45 is moved upward from the second-stage to the third-stage ribbon area 45c in the same manner as described above. The ink ribbon 45 can be switched and set to the third stage position. When the switching rotation member 52 is in the original position, that is, when the ink ribbon 45 is directly set to the third stage position from the state where the ink ribbon 45 is in the first stage position, the operation solenoid 55 is set to the second position. Just excite it.

When printing is completed and the carriage 40 returns to the home position H in a state in which the switching rotation member 52 is held at the rotation position by the both claw members 56 and 60 as described above, the engagement is performed as described above. Due to the engagement of the fitting protrusion 63 and the cam portion piece 56b, the claw members 56 and 60 are disengaged from the engaging teeth 53 of the switching rotation member 52, and the switching rotation member 52 is the original as shown in FIG. 8 (c). After returning to the position, the ink ribbon 45 is also reset to the non-elevating position of the first stage.

In this way, in the ink ribbon switching mechanism 7, the ink ribbon 45 can be shifted to a desired ribbon area or a printing stage only by applying a temporary excitation pulse to the actuating solenoid 55. .. As described above, the ink ribbon 45 is held in the set ribbon region until the carriage 40 finishes printing one line and returns to the home position H, but the next line is printed in the same region. In this case, the carriage 40 is not returned to the home position H but is detected by the carriage position detection sensor 47 at the print standby position A provided in front of the home position H, and the detection signal is sent from the sensor 47 to move the carriage 40 to the position A. To stop. Therefore, the ink ribbon 45 is not reset and printing is continued in the same ribbon area. When printing is required in different ribbon areas of the ink ribbon 45, the carriage 40 is returned to the home position H regardless of the detection signal from the sensor 47, and the ink ribbon 45 is reset and activated. The solenoid 55 operates again to switch the ink ribbon to the desired position.

The ink ribbon switching mechanism 7 has been described above. The number of teeth of the engaging teeth 53 around the switching rotation member 52 is set so as to correspond to the three-step switching. However, in the case of a configuration in which the ink ribbon 45 is divided into a higher number of steps, The number of teeth should be set according to the number. Further, by setting the tooth pitch of the engaging teeth 53 to a so-called half pitch, the ribbon area can be set even in a narrower ribbon area, and the number of steps and the pitch can be set arbitrarily. Particularly, in the identification code printing apparatus of the present invention, the identification code may be a narrow mark as shown in FIG. 2, so that the ribbon area required for this printing can be narrow. Therefore, in the case of using a conventional red-black two-color ribbon as the ink ribbon to print normal service on the black part and print on the red part such as late, holiday, etc., the identification code between these printing parts is used. It is also possible to print by shifting in half pitch using a small area or near both edges of the ribbon.

The ribbon regions 45a and 45c of the first and third stages printed by the ink ribbon switching mechanism 7 described above are regions used for normal printing for aggregated data such as working hours. Is the first ribbon region, the second-stage ribbon region 45b forms a second region dedicated to printing the identification code. When the black ribbon and the red ribbon of two colors are used in a configuration in which the ink ribbon 45 is a two-stage switch, the black ribbon area for printing regular working hours is set as the first ribbon area for normal printing, and the delay time is set. The red ribbon area for printing holidays is set as the second ribbon area, and the identification code is printed using the second ribbon area. In any case, the object of the present invention is achieved by printing the identification code in an area other than the ribbon area, which is usually used most often.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a processing procedure of the card creation mode and a processing procedure of printing an identification code performed in the mode will be described. This time recorder has a card creation mode that creates a time card for each individual, for example, every month, a normal printing mode that prints the daily working hours of the created card, and a working data memory that is stored monthly. A totaling mode for totaling data and a maintenance mode for the card are prepared. Here, the card making mode related to the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 9A, in step 70, the operator selects and starts the card creation mode from the keyboard 2, inserts the time card 21, and in step 71, the presence or absence of the card insertion is detected by the sensors 14 and 15. If confirmed, the card feeding mechanism 12 draws the card in step 72. The front and back of the card 21 inserted in step 73 and the normal and reverse states are determined by the insertion state determination means 19, and in step 74, if the insertion state suitability determination means 20 determines that the card 21 is not correctly inserted, The feed mechanism 12 is rotated in the reverse direction to eject the card 21 in step 75, a card insertion error is displayed on the display unit 6 in step 76, and the operator is instructed to reinsert the card. Finish at 77.

If it is determined in step 74 that the card is inserted properly, step 78 reads whether or not the identification code is a preprinted one printed on the card, If the printed data is read in step 79, the card feeding mechanism 12 ejects the card 21 in step 80, and the display unit 6 displays "Code printed" in step 81. Then, in step 82, this series of processing is ended in step 82.

When it is read in step 79 that the identification code is not printed on the card 21, the identification data of the individual to be printed is read from the personal identification data memory 3 and set in the print buffer 11 in step 83. Then, in step 84, the card 21 which has been fed in the inserting direction is reversed in the ejecting direction by the card feeding mechanism 12, the upper end area 22 of the card 21 is aligned with the printing position, and in step 85, the printer 9 is used. Personal identification information is printed. At the time of this printing, since the ink ribbon 45 is the normal printing, the ribbon switching mechanism 7 maintains the ribbon 45 in the non-elevated position or the position not shifted, and the printing is performed using the first ribbon area 45a. Done.

Next, in step 86, the identification code is printed, but the identification code corresponding to the individual printed in the previous step 85 is read from the personal identification data memory 3 and set in the print buffer 11. At the same time, when the sensor 14 detects the reference mark 26 (FIG. 2) on the card, the reference counter 17 counts the card feed amount to determine the code print timing, and the card feed mechanism 12 sequentially feeds the card 21 to a predetermined value. At the printing position, the printer 9 sequentially prints the identification code marks 25a, 25b, ....

As shown in FIG. 9B, the printing procedure of the identification code is such that, at the start of step 86, at step 87, first, the ribbon area where the identification code is to be printed, that is, the second ribbon area 45b (see FIG. The ink ribbon 45 is switched and shifted to 5). When a specific code is read from the personal identification data memory 3 and the information is sent from the control unit 1 to the print buffer 11, it is transmitted from the control unit 1 to the ribbon switching control circuit 8 and the circuit 8 By sending a switching signal from the ribbon switching mechanism 7 to the operation solenoid 55, the ribbon switching mechanism 7 moves the ink ribbon 45 from the first ribbon area 45a to the second ribbon area 45a. Ribbon area 45b. When the printer 9 finishes printing one line in step 88 by the carriage 40 traveling from the home position H, the presence or absence of code printing in the next line is confirmed in step 89, and all code printing is completed. The carriage 40 is not returned to the home position H until the ink ribbon is held in the same ribbon area 45b. During that time, the code is printed while continuing the card feeding. When it is confirmed that all the codes have been printed, the carriage 40 is returned to the home position H in step 90, the ink ribbon 45 is switched to the original non-elevated position, and the identification code printing process is executed in step 91. finish.

The series of identification codes printed in this manner is read back in FIG. 9A and read in step 92, and in step 93 the suitability of the printed code, that is, verification is performed. This verification is performed by comparing the identification code for printing set in the print buffer 11 with the identification code read after printing and stored in the identification code memory 18. If there is an error in the code printing, an identification code printing error is displayed on the display unit 6 in step 94, and the correct one is not displayed as it is, and the card feeding mechanism 12 is reversed in step 95. Then, the card is ejected, and in step 96, the total number of processes is completed.

[0040]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, in the identification code printing device of the present invention, the printing of the identification code uses a ribbon area different from the ribbon area of the ink ribbon which is frequently used for normal printing such as working hours. Since the printing density of the identification code can always be kept higher than that of normal printing, the waste of replacing the ribbon that is legible and still usable in normal printing is eliminated. In addition, the ink ribbon can be used for a longer period of time, is economical, and has a practical effect that the number of times of ribbon replacement is reduced and the troublesomeness of replacement work is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken front view of a time card on which an identification code is printed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a time recorder for explaining card feeding by a card feeding mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a time recorder for explaining an ink ribbon switching mechanism used in the identification code printing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view showing a mode of a printing area of an ink ribbon.

6 is a schematic plan view of the time recorder shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts of the time recorder and the ink ribbon switching mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 8A illustrates an operation mode of the ink ribbon switching mechanism,
It is operation | movement explanatory drawing shown by each of (b) and (c).

9A and 9B show a processing procedure of a time card in the card creation mode, wherein FIG. 9A is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the entire card creation mode, and FIG. 9B is a flowchart showing the processing procedure for printing the identification code. It is a flowchart shown.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Part 7 Ink Ribbon Switching Mechanism 9 Printer 12 Card Feeding Mechanism 14, 15 Sensor 21 Time Card 30 Time Recorder Main Body 45 Ink Ribbon

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A time recorder which prints working data such as working hours on a time card and prints an identification code of each individual through an ink ribbon. The time card is sent to the printing position of the time recorder. A printer that performs printing through an ink ribbon, and an ink ribbon that includes the first ribbon region that performs the normal printing and the first ribbon region that performs the normal printing.
A second ribbon area different from the ribbon area, and an ink ribbon switching mechanism for performing a switching shift in the lateral direction with respect to the traveling direction of the ribbon, and the first ribbon of the ink ribbon during the normal printing. The ink ribbon switching mechanism is operated so that the area corresponds to the printing position, and the ink ribbon switching mechanism operates so that the second ribbon area of the ink ribbon corresponds to the printing position when the identification code is printed. An identification code printing device in a time recorder, comprising: switching control means.