JPH0699651A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make printing on at least one sheet of medium after the detection of an end or near end of an ink ribbon film for thermal transfer printing. CONSTITUTION:In an ink ribbon film 1 in use, an edge of the ink ribbon film 1 is not coated with ink in a near end part of the ribbon; the full surface is coated with ink in an end part of the ribbon; and a transparent end tape 13 is provided at the end. In the judgement of an end or near end, at the time of ribbon setting or power throw-in and normal printing, the ribbon is judged in respective procedures.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ribbon film near end detection and an end detection of a conventional thermal transfer type printing apparatus detect a near end by detecting a slit B11 portion of an ink ribbon film 8 with a near end sensor 9, as shown in FIG. Had detected. At this time, ink is applied to the portions other than the slit B11 portion and the slit C12 portion of the ink ribbon film 8, and the light of the near-end sensor 9 which is a transmissive optical sensor does not pass through that portion. Ink is not applied to the slit B11 portion of the ink ribbon film 8 and only the transparent base film is formed, so that the near-end sensor 9 transmits light. Further, the end is detected by detecting the slit C12 portion of the ink ribbon film 8 with the end sensor 10.

[0003]

In this prior art, since two rows of slits for near end detection and slits for end detection are arranged on the ink ribbon film, the width of the ribbon becomes large. There was a problem that the processing cost of the ribbon film was high.

[0004]

According to the printer of the present invention, the ink ribbon film near end detection and end detection are
The thermal transfer ink ribbon film is such that the end of the ribbon film is near the end of the ribbon, that is, the ink is not applied at the ribbon near end detection position, and the entire surface is not applied with ink at the end of the ribbon, that is, the ribbon end detection position. It is equipped with an end detection sensor.

[0005]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ink ribbon film used.

An opaque and light-tight leader tape 7, a transparent and light-tight end tape 13, and an ink ribbon film 1 having a slit A5 at an end portion of the ink ribbon film 1 near which ink is not applied are provided. Printing is performed by the print head 3, guided by the ribbon guide 4, and proceeds in the direction of arrow a in FIG. Also, the sensor A2
Is an uncoated area on the ink ribbon film 1,
Since the base film of the ink ribbon film 1 is transparent, the presence or absence of the slit A5 through which light can pass is constantly monitored.

Next, the operation will be described. First, regarding the operation when the ink ribbon film 1 is replaced or when the power of the apparatus is turned on, the print length is 200 m, and at least one sheet can be printed after the end is detected. Explain. First, the ink ribbon film 1 is set in the device. Alternatively, when the power of the apparatus is turned on, the ink ribbon film 1 is automatically set to 50
Feed by mm, stop once, and see if sensor A2 is passing light or is blocking light.

At this time, the sensor A2 shields the light because the ink ribbon film 1 is in the range A of FIG.
Either in the printable area or in the area C, that is, in the end detection area. In order to judge that, the ink ribbon film 1 is further fed by 400 mm and again the sensor A2 is passing light or shielded from light. If it is shielded from light, it is known that it is the part of range A, that is, the printable part, and the ribbon is present.
In addition, when the light is passing, the ink ribbon film 1
It is in the range C before feeding 00 mm, and in the part of the transparent end tape B after feeding 400 mm or 400
It can be seen that it is in the range A before feeding mm, and it is in the range B after feeding 400 mm, and the ribbon end state is reached. At this time, the length of the range B varies depending on the number of ribbon near-end detections, but is about 4 m.
Has a length of about 350 mm.

Further, when the sensor A2 is transmitting light when the ink ribbon film 1 is fed by 50 mm, when the ink ribbon film 1 is in the area B in FIG. 2, that is, in the near end detection area, or the end tape 13 In either case, that is, in the end portion and in the non-printable portion, the ink ribbon film 1 is further fed by 400 mm to judge whether or not the sensor A2 is transmitting light but is blocking light. Obviously, when the light is shielded, the sensor A2 is in the position of the range C in FIG. 2, and it is determined that the ribbon end because one sheet of medium cannot be printed. If the light is blocked or not, it is determined that the light is in the range B. If the light is in the near end state, the end tape 13 is positioned. A determination is made and the ribbon end Ri.

Next, a case other than the normal printing, that is, the time when the ribbon is set or the power is turned on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a print command is received, first sensor B
Whether the print head 3 is in the position of the end tape 13 is judged to be the ribbon end by seeing whether the light is transmitted or blocked by the light. If the sensor A2 is passing light, see if the sensor A2 is passing light or not. If the sensor A2 is passing light, it means that the print head 3 is in the range B of FIG. When printing is possible and the light is shielded from light, the near-end state is one time before, and the print head 3 is in the range C in FIG. If it is not in the near-end state, the ribbon is present and printing is possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, one slit and one end on the ink ribbon can be observed by viewing with two sensors using the respective procedures at the time of setting the ribbon or turning on the power and at the time of normal printing. After the end detection is performed with the tape, the end detection ensuring that at least one medium can be printed and the near end detection can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ink ribbon film used in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when setting a ribbon or turning on a power source.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for normal printing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ink Ribbon Film 2 Sensor A 3 Print Head 4 Ribbon Guide 5 Slit A 6 Sensor B 7 Leader Tape 8 Ink Ribbon Film 9 Near End Sensor 10 End Sensor 11 Slit B 12 Slit C 13 End Tape

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The end of the ribbon film is an ink unapplied portion near the end of the ribbon, that is, at the ribbon near end detection position, and the ink is applied over the entire surface at the end of the ribbon, that is, the ribbon end detection position. A printing apparatus characterized in that the end tape is provided with a thermal transfer ink ribbon film such that the entire surface is not coated with ink, and an end detection sensor.