JPH0582557U - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The purpose of the present invention is to perform ribbon cueing in a ribbon cueing mechanism such as a color line thermal printer that is not affected by changes in the transport path due to the winding of the ribbon winding bobbin. [Structure] The ribbon feed auxiliary roller is made of a light-transmissive material, the ribbon feed roller is made of a rubber roller of a light-reflecting color, and the ribbon feed auxiliary roller is made to pass through the ribbon feed by using a reflection type optical sensor. The cue mark on the ink ribbon is detected by reflecting it on the roller. [Effect] Since the ribbon cueing operation is always performed by the roller portion for driving the ink ribbon, reliable sensing can be performed. In addition, since the detection distance can be set arbitrarily, there is an effect that the type of sensor is not selected.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cueing mechanism for a color thermal printer, which is an output device used in office equipment and the like.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 A conventional ink ribbon cueing mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.

The sheet 6 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A, passes between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2, and is held by the capstan roller 3 and the pinch roller 4. The surface of the capstan roller 3 is constituted by an etching roller in which a plurality of minute protrusions are formed by etching. The minute protrusions strongly hold the paper and carry it back and forth in the direction of arrow B.

The ink ribbon 5 is supplied from a ribbon supply bobbin 10 (direction of arrow C) and wound around a ribbon take-up bobbin 11 (direction of arrow D) via a thermal head 1 and a platen roller 2. At this time, the ink ribbon 5 is driven by the ribbon feed roller 7 and the ribbon feed auxiliary roller 8.

The sheet 6 and the ink ribbon 5 are superposed between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2, and an image is formed there.

The ribbon cueing sensor 9 for cueing the ink ribbon 5 by color is composed of a reflection type optical sensor and a reflection plate 20. The ribbon cueing sensor 9 is configured so as to sandwich the ink ribbon 5 conveyance path between the ribbon feed roller 7 and the ribbon winding bobbin 11.

Although not shown, the ink ribbon 5 is provided with color inks or dyes such as yellow, magenta, cyan, etc. arranged in a frame-sequential manner in a print screen size, and a black mark for cueing is provided at the transition of each color. It is provided. Since the ink ribbon portion other than the mark transmits light, the light emitted from the ribbon cueing sensor 9 passes through the ink ribbon 5, is reflected by the reflection plate 20, and is incident on the ribbon cueing sensor 9 again. .. When the ribbon is cued, the opaque mark provided on the ribbon is detected and the ink ribbon is cued to print.

[0008]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 As described above, the outer diameter of the ribbon winding bobbin 11 is different at the beginning of use and at the end of the ribbon (12). Therefore, if a ribbon cueing sensor is provided between the ribbon take-up bobbin and the ribbon feed roller, the ribbon conveyance path changes depending on the outer diameter of the ribbon take-up bobbin. Therefore, in order to install the ribbon cueing sensor between the ribbon feed roller and the ribbon winding bobbin, a special optical sensor with a long focal length that can be detected even if the ribbon conveyance path changes is required. There was a point.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the ribbon feeding auxiliary roller is made of a material such as glass that transmits light, and the ribbon feeding roller is made of a material of a color that easily reflects light. It is configured to detect the reflection of the ribbon feed roller by transmitting it through the auxiliary roller.

[0010]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The sheet 6 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A, passes between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2, and is held by the capstan roller 3 and the pinch roller 4. The surface of the capstan roller 3 is constituted by an etching roller having a plurality of minute projections formed by etching, and the minute projections strongly hold the paper and carry it back and forth in the direction of arrow B.

The ink ribbon 5 is supplied from a ribbon supply bobbin 10 (direction of arrow C) and wound around a ribbon take-up bobbin 11 via a thermal head 1 and a platen roller 2 (direction of arrow D). At this time, the ink ribbon 5 is driven by the ribbon feed roller 7 and the ribbon feed auxiliary roller 8.

The paper 6 and the ink ribbon 5 are superposed between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2, and an image is formed there.

Although not shown, the ink ribbon 5 has color inks or dyes such as yellow, magenta, and cyan arranged in a frame-sequential manner in a print screen size, and transmits light for cueing at the transition of each color. There is a black mark to prevent it. When printing, this mark is detected and the ink ribbon is cued to print.

The ribbon cueing sensor 9 is a reflection type optical sensor, and is fixed by sandwiching the ribbon feeding auxiliary roller 8 in a direction in which the ribbon feeding roller 7 is irradiated with light. The ribbon feeding auxiliary roller 8 is made of a material that transmits light, such as glass or acrylic. The ribbon feed roller is composed of a rubber roller made of a material such as white that easily reflects light.

[0016]

[Effect of the device]

 According to the above invention, since the ribbon cueing operation is performed by the roller portion for constantly driving the ink ribbon, it is possible to perform reliable sensing. Further, since the detection distance can be set arbitrarily, there is an effect that the type of sensor is not selected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a conventional example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Thermal Head 2 Platen Roller 3 Capstan Roller 4 Pinch Roller 5 Ink Ribbon 6 Paper 7 Ribbon Feeding Roller 8 Ribbon Feeding Auxiliary Roller 9 Sensor (Ribbon Cueing Sensor) 10 Ribbon Supply Bobbin 11 Ribbon Winding Bobbin (Before Use) 12 Ribbon Take-up bobbin (after use) 20 Reflector

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ink ribbon in which a plurality of colors are applied in a frame-sequential manner and reflective or transmissive marking is made for each color, a line-type thermal head, and a paper and the ink ribbon are sandwiched together with the head. A platen roller for conveying, a feeding roller for feeding out the ink ribbon, a pair of ribbon feeding rollers for feeding the ink ribbon ejected from the head and a feeding auxiliary roller, and a pair of ribbon feeding rollers and feeding auxiliary rollers for feeding. An ink ribbon take-up roller that winds up the ink ribbon, and a reflection type sensor arranged near the ribbon feed roller or the feed auxiliary roller, wherein one of the ribbon feed roller or the feed auxiliary roller is , At least the width position where the marking is arranged when the ink ribbon is transported is made transparent. , The width position of the other of the ribbon feeding roller or the feeding auxiliary roller has a color that can be reflected, and the sensor transmits through the transparent portion of one of the ribbon feeding roller or the feeding auxiliary roller. A printer device for sensing the marking of the ink ribbon.