JPH06106834A - Multi-pass ink ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a multi-pass ink ribbon which prevents itself from being used beyond the specified number of printings. CONSTITUTION:End marks 33, 34a, 34b of different patterns which indicate each end are provided on both end parts of a multi-pass ink ribbon 26. A facsimile device detects the end marks 33, 34a, 34b using a first and a second optical sensor 35a, 35b, and determines the number of printings of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 based on the number of ON signals. Then, if the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 ends the second round of printing, that is, the time of replacing the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 comes, this sign is indicated by a display part, so that an operator can recognize the time visually.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-pass ink ribbon used in a thermal transfer type printing apparatus in which an ink on a film is melted by a thermal head and transferred onto a paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a thermal transfer type printing apparatus, a thermal head is arranged to face a platen roller. And
The ink ribbon wound around the supply roll passes between the thermal head and the platen roller, and the transfer is performed on the recording paper in the meantime.

Currently, there are two types of ink ribbons, one-time ink ribbons and multi-pass ink ribbons. The former one-time ink ribbon has a high printing quality, but the printing frequency is usually once. Further, the latter multi-pass ink ribbon is inferior in print quality to the former one-time ink ribbon, but since it can be printed multiple times, it is economically advantageous over the one-time ink ribbon. Is. The user properly uses both ribbons according to the print image quality required at that time and the number of prints.

[0004]

However, there are the following problems when the above-mentioned multi-pass ink ribbon is used.

That is, the multi-pass ink ribbon can be printed a plurality of times, but it is not possible to confirm how many times the printing has been performed at that time. For example, it is assumed that the multipass ink ribbon is printed twice a predetermined number of times. Then, even if the printing time by the multi-pass ink ribbon is the second time of the final printing time, the user cannot judge that the printing time at that time is the final printing time.

Therefore, even if the user has exceeded the predetermined number of times of printing, there is a risk that the multi-pass ink ribbon will be used again for printing. When a multi-pass ink ribbon is used over a predetermined number of times of printing, almost no ink remains on the film, the print quality deteriorates, and the predetermined print quality cannot be maintained.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-pass ink ribbon which can prevent the use of the multi-pass ink ribbon which has exceeded a predetermined number of printing times. is there.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, at both ends of a multi-pass ink ribbon,
The gist of the invention is to provide end marks of different patterns showing the respective end portions.

[0009]

In the present invention, the end marks of different patterns indicating the respective end portions are provided at both ends of the ribbon, so that the end mark to be confirmed after the first printing and the second mark After the end, the end mark that is confirmed is different. As a result, the number of times of printing at that time is surely grasped.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given based on FIG. First, the configuration of a facsimile machine to which the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 of this embodiment is attached will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a reading unit 2 for reading an image on a document G is arranged inside the apparatus case 1. Inside the device case 1, a recording unit 3 for printing on a recording paper P based on received image data and the like is arranged. A paper feed cassette 4 for accommodating the recording paper P is detachably attached to the lower part of the apparatus case 1. A document tray 6 on which the documents G are stacked and supported is arranged on the upper part of the apparatus case 1, and a feeding force is applied to the document G by the rotation of the feed assist roller 7.

In the apparatus frame 1, a separation roller 8 and a separation pad 9 for fixing the originals one by one are fixed. A pair of guide plates 10 are supported on the downstream side of the separation roller 8, and the original G is supported by the guide plates 10.
A transfer passage 10a through which the water passes is formed. A reading window 11 is formed on the one guide plate. Then, the reflected light emitted from the light source 12 to the original G through the reading window 11 passes through the reading window 11 again, and a plurality of mirrors 13 are formed.
Finally, the image sensor 15 is irradiated with the light through the lens 14. That is, the image of the document G is read by the image sensor 15. Further, the plurality of feed rollers 17 feed the original G after the image reading to the original outlet 1
Discharge from 6.

A large number of recording papers P are accommodated in the paper feed cassette 4 in a stacked state. A half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 18 is installed above the paper feed cassette 4 so as to be positively rotatable. Then, by the rotation of the paper feed roller 18, the recording paper P is sent from the inside of the paper feed cassette 4 via the guide plate 19 toward the recording unit 3 one by one. Also,
By the rotational force of the feed roller 20, the feed force is further applied to the recording paper P delivered from the paper feed cassette 4.

The recording section 3 is composed of a platen roller 22, a thermal head 23 disposed in contact with the platen roller 22, and the like. And between these,
An ink ribbon (multi-pass ink ribbon) 26 contained in the ribbon accommodating cassette 21 is sandwiched.

The structure of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 of this embodiment and its cassette will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 21a of the ribbon accommodating cassette 21 is provided with a supply roll supporting part 24 and a winding roll supporting part 25 which constitute a supplying part and a winding part. A supply paper tube 27 around which the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 is wound is detachably supported on the supply roll support portion 24. On the other hand, the take-up roll support portion 25 detachably supports a take-up paper tube 29 for taking up the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 supplied from the supply roll side 28. The take-up roll 30 is made by the take-up paper tube 29.
Is configured.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, silver-colored end marks 33, 34a, 34b indicating the respective end portions are formed in different patterns at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26. Has been formed. That is,
One end side of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 (in the figure,
On the lower side), one end mark 33 is formed on the left side in the width direction of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26.

On the other end side of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26, the end marks 34a. 34b is formed. And a new multi-pass ink ribbon 26
When printing is started by, the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 is wound from the end marks 34a, 34b side to the take-up roll 3
The cassette 21 is set so that it is wound up on the 0 side.
When performing the second printing, the supply paper tube 27 and the winding paper tube 29 are connected to the ribbon accommodating cassette 21.
The ribbon storage cassette 21 is reattached to the ribbon storage cassette 21 again after the front and rear are replaced.

Support shaft pieces 43 and 44 are detachably fitted to both ends of the supply paper tube 27 and the winding paper tube 29, respectively.
8, 30 are detachably and rotatably supported by the support portions 24, 25. Keys 43a and 44a are formed on the support shaft pieces 43 and 44, respectively, and the paper tubes 2
Key grooves 27a and 29a are formed in 7, 29,
Due to their engagement, both paper tubes 27, 29 and support shaft pieces 43, 4
Relative rotation with respect to 4 is prevented. Gears 31 and 32 are formed on the support shaft piece on one side. That is, the supply roll 28 is composed of the supply paper tube 27 and the support piece 43, and the winding roll 30 is composed of the winding paper tube 29 and the support piece 44.
Is configured.

Gear 3 formed on the support pieces 43, 44
Gears (not shown) connected to the motor M are meshed with the gears 1, 32. That is, the rolls 28 and 30 are positively rotated by the driving force of the motor M. The motor M is drive-controlled by a controller C described later.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the device case 1 above the supply roll 28, two first and second photosensors 35a and 35b, which are reflective photosensors, are arranged in parallel. It is installed in a place. That is, the optical sensors 35a, 35b are sensors for detecting the end marks 33, 34a, 34b formed on the multi-pass ink ribbon 26. The first optical sensor 35a is a sensor that detects the end mark 33 and the end mark 34a,
The second optical sensor 35b is a sensor that detects the end mark 34b.

A guide plate 36 is provided on the upstream side of the platen roller 22. Further, on the upstream side of the guide plate 36, a pair of supply rollers 37 for supply are rotatably supported. On the other hand, on the downstream side of the platen roller 22, a pair of ejection feed rollers 38 are rotatably supported. A recording paper discharge tray 39 is arranged further downstream thereof. A recording paper feed passage 41 formed by a pair of guide plates 40 communicates between the supply feed roller 37 and the feed roller 20 arranged on the side of the paper feed cassette 4. Therefore, when the recording paper P delivered from the paper feed cassette 4 passes through the recording paper feed passage 41 and is supplied to the recording unit 3, the recording unit 3 allows desired data, received image information, etc. Is printed. Then, the recording paper P printed by the recording unit 3 is ejected to the recording paper ejection tray 39 by the rotational force of the ejection feed roller 38.

Next, the electrical configuration of the above facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The controller C is a central processing unit (CPU) 51, a read-only memory (ROM) that stores in advance each control program.
52 and a readable / writable memory (RAM) 53 for temporarily storing received image information and various data.

The reading unit 2 is connected to the input side of the CPU 51. The first side of the CPU 51 is connected to the first side.
And the second optical sensors 35a and 35b are connected to each other. Both of these optical sensors 35a, 35b serve as end marks 33, 34a, 34 of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26.
When b is detected, each ON signal is output to the CPU 51.

On the other hand, the output side of the CPU 51 is connected to the display unit 54 which is a liquid crystal display for displaying data and the like in the memory. When the ON signal is input only from the first optical sensor 35a, the CPU 51 causes the display section 54 to display the message "You can use it again." Further, the CPU 51 uses the first and second optical sensors 3
When an ON signal is input from 5a and 35b, the display unit 54
The message "End. Please replace with new ink ribbon." Is displayed.

Further, the recording unit 3 is connected to the output side of the CPU 51. The CPU 51 controls the recording unit 3 based on the control program stored in the ROM 52.
Drive control. A motor M for rotating the supply roll 28 and the winding roll 30 is provided on the output side of the CPU 51.
Are connected.

The CPU 51 uses the optical sensors 35a and 3a.
When the ON signal is input from 5b, the operation of the motor M and the recording unit 3 is stopped. That is, the CPU 51
Stops the printing operation when an ON signal is input from the optical sensors 35a and 35b.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus configured as described above will be described. Figure 5 CP of controller C
It is a flow chart which shows a processing routine of control performed by U51.

When the processing shifts to this routine, first,
In step 101, it is judged if the printing operation for outputting the received image information or the like has started. If it is determined that the printing operation has started, the next step 1
Move to 02.

In step 102, the recording paper P is supplied, the recording section 3 and the motor M are driven, and the next step 1
Move to 03. In step 103, the end marks 33, 34a, 3 are detected by the optical sensors 35a, 35b.
It is determined whether or not 4b is detected. If the end marks 33, 34a, 34b are not detected, the process proceeds to step 104.

At step 104, it is judged if printing has been completed. If it is determined that the printing is completed, the process proceeds to step 105. In step 105, the supply of the recording paper P and the driving of the recording unit 3 and the motor M are stopped, and the CPU 51 ends the subsequent processing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 103 that the end mark 33 is detected, the process proceeds to step 106. In step 106, it is determined whether or not ON signals have been input from both the optical sensors 35a and 35b. That is, the multi-pass ink ribbon 26
End marks 34a, 34b formed on the other end side of
It is determined whether or not the light is detected by both the optical sensors 35a and 35b.

Here, when the ON signal is input from only one of the optical sensors 35a, that is, when the end mark 33 formed on one end side of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 is detected, the process proceeds to step 107. To do. In step 107, the message "You can use it again" is displayed on the display unit 54, and the process jumps to step 105. Therefore, the user can
As described above, the winding roll 30 and the supply roll 28 are interchanged in the front-rear direction, and the support shaft pieces 43, 44 are interchanged. In this way, the role of the take-up roll 30 is changed to the supply roll 28 and the role of the supply roll 28 is changed to the take-up roll 30, and the support shaft pieces 43 and 44 hold the same position on the leader tape accommodating cassette 21. . Therefore, the gears 31 and 32 on the support shaft pieces 43 and 44 also hold the same position, and therefore, the rotation transmission system does not change and the ribbon 26 can be used again for printing. In addition,
It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the accommodation cassette has a symmetrical structure, and the winding roll 30 and the supply roll 28 are interchanged by exchanging the accommodation cassette in the front and rear.

On the other hand, when the ON signals are input from both the optical sensors 35a and 35b in step 106, the process proceeds to step 108. In step 108, the message "End. Please replace the ink ribbon." Is displayed on the display unit 54, and the process jumps to step 105. Therefore, the user replaces the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 with a new one at this stage.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the end marks 33, 34a, 34b of different patterns showing the respective end portions are provided at both end portions of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26. Then, the facsimile machine displays the end mark 3
3, 34a, 34b to the first and second optical sensors 35a,
35b, and the number of times of printing of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 is determined based on the number of ON signals at that time.

Then, the multi-pass ink ribbon 26
When the second printing is completed, that is, when it is time to replace the multi-pass ink ribbon 26, the fact is displayed on the display unit 54 so that the user can visually check the replacement time. it can.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, unlike the prior art, it is possible to prevent the continuous printing with the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 which has exceeded the predetermined number of times of printing. As a result, it is possible to always maintain a predetermined print image quality.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be configured as follows, for example, within the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, one end mark 33 is formed on one end side of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26, and two end marks 34a and 34b are formed in parallel on the other end side. On the other hand, for example, a mark pattern different from that of the above-described embodiment as shown in FIG. 6 may be used. That is, in FIG. 6, the end mark 34 similar to that of the above-described embodiment is formed on one end side, and the end mark 34a of the above-described embodiment is formed on the other end side in a fractured shape. In this case, the end mark 34 is a continuous signal, the end mark 6
Since 1 is an intermittent signal, one optical sensor can recognize the end mark.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the pattern of FIG. 6 may be formed across the entire surface. Also in this case, one optical sensor is sufficient as in the case of FIG. (2) In the above embodiment, the end marks 33, 34a, 34b formed on the multi-pass ink ribbon 26 are detected by the optical sensors 35a, 35b, and the controller C displays that fact on the display unit 54. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, end marks 71 and 72 are formed on both ends of the multi-pass ink ribbon 26, respectively, on which characters indicating the facts are printed to notify the user of the time of replacement when the ribbon is replaced. It may have any configuration. That is, in the first use, the lower side of FIG. 8 is the take-up roll side, and at the end of the first use, the characters "reuse for reverse" appear. In addition, when the front and back of the rolls are switched for the second time, the upper side of Fig. 8 becomes the take-up roll side, and at the end of the second time, the message "End. Replace ink ribbon." Appears. .

[0038]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Since it is possible to prevent the use of the multi-pass ink ribbon which has exceeded the predetermined number of times of printing, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect that the recording paper can always be printed with a predetermined print image quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a ribbon cassette, a multi-pass ink ribbon, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a multi-pass ink ribbon showing a formation state of end marks.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a multi-pass ink ribbon showing an end mark pattern of another example.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a multi-pass ink ribbon showing an end mark pattern different from that of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a multi-pass ink ribbon showing an end mark pattern different from those in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[Explanation of symbols]

26 ... Multi-pass ink ribbon, 33, 34a, 34b
... end mark

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multi-pass ink ribbon in which end marks of different patterns indicating the respective ends are provided on both ends.