JPH07144454A - Discrimination ink sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a discrimination ink sheet capable of easily discriminating the kind of the ink sheet only by a kind of ink cassette without providing the ink cassette with an ink sheet discriminating hole when the kind of ink sheet charged in the ink cassette is discriminated. CONSTITUTION:Both outer edges of an ink sheet 11 are provided with a first discrimination marker 11B (black strip) and a second discrimination marker 11T (transparent strip), respectively, for example, the discrimination of the kind of the ink sheet 11 is performed using discrimination light sensors (A-side sensor and B-side sensor) detecting the presence of the first and second discrimination markers. In this case, the outputs Vout of the respective sensors corresponding to the kind of the ink sheet can be obtained. That is, by the combination of the outputs Vout, the kind of the ink sheet can be easily discriminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink sheet used in a printer for printing an image from a personal computer or a television receiver on a recording paper, and more particularly to an ink sheet holder having only one kind of ink cassette holder. The present invention relates to an identification ink sheet that enables identification.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, images from a personal computer, a camera-integrated video tape recorder, an electronic still camera, etc. have been soft-copied by a display device or the like capable of displaying high resolution. However, in recent years, a color printing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a video printer) capable of displaying an image as a full-color, high-definition hard copy image of these information sources has been developed. The video printer is a color printing ink sheet in which, for example, three color dyes of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are cyclically applied in a predetermined order according to a video signal of an information source. While circulating (hereinafter abbreviated as an ink sheet), the Samar head is heated to sublimate the dye in the ink sheet to perform one-screen color printing on the recording paper (thermal transfer recording paper). Further, this video printer controls the time for applying an electric current to the samar head to adjust the amount of dye sublimated to perform gradation.

By the way, the ink sheets used for printing in this way are classified according to the purpose of printing, and generally, the ink sheet for plain paper and the white sheet for color printing as described above are used. Black and white ink sheets for printing in two colors, black and white, or OHP ink sheets used for overhead projectors (hereinafter referred to as OHP).

Further, such an ink sheet is generally referred to as an ink cassette holder (hereinafter abbreviated as ink cassette).
The ink cassettes are also classified according to the purpose of printing.

Therefore, the conventional ink sheet and the ink cassette loaded with the ink sheet are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an ink sheet for plain paper for performing conventional color printing, and FIG. 7 shows an ink cassette when an ink sheet for each purpose of printing is loaded, and FIG. Is a side view of a plain paper ink cassette for color printing, FIG. 7B is a side view of a black and white ink cassette for black and white printing, and FIG. 7C is a side view of an OHP ink cassette used for OHP. Is.

In FIG. 6, for example, an ink sheet 11 for plain paper for color printing is generally sequentially coated with yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) inks. It is formed to have an ink non-coating portion, and is conveyed from the supply-side hobbin 12 to the take-up reel 13. The ink sheet 11 has markers Yo and M for detecting respective color positions in front of the respective areas.
o and Co (indicated by diagonal lines) are arranged. Therefore,
In order to carry out the heading of the ink sheet in this way, for example, the head portion of the first color (yellow) of the ink sheet,
Alternatively, a position detecting marker is provided on the head of each color. That is, the position detecting marker is used to detect the position of each color by a sensor such as a position detecting element, and thereby moves each color to a predetermined position.

By the way, in order to discriminate the types of the commonly used ink sheet for plain paper which is used for color printing and the different ink sheet for black and white or OHP ink sheet, for example, different from this , The ink cassette 50 in which the ink sheet 11 is loaded as shown in FIG.
A hole 50a for identifying the ink sheet is provided on the side surface of
The type of ink sheet as described above is identified by the difference in how the holes 50a are opened.

This is because, for example, in the case of an ink sheet for plain paper for color printing, as shown in FIG. 7A, the hole 50a of the ink cassette 50 in which the ink sheet is loaded has the hole 50a of the ink cassette 50. It is provided on the lower side of the side surface.

In the case of a black-and-white ink sheet for black-and-white printing, as shown in FIG. 7B, the hole 50a of the ink cassette 50 loaded with this ink sheet is located above the side surface of the ink cassette 50. It is provided in.

Further, in the case of an OHP ink sheet used for OHP, as shown in FIG.
Cassette 50 loaded with ink sheets for use in
Hole 50a is not provided.

However, in the method of identifying the ink sheet as described above, there is a problem in that an ink cassette for loading the ink sheet must be prepared for each type of the ink sheet.

Therefore, in order to manufacture the ink cassette as described above, it is indispensable for the manufacturer to provide a mold for manufacturing the ink cassette for each type of ink sheet or a nested mold. In addition, the manufacturing process becomes complicated and the cost becomes high.

Also, on the user side, for example, when different kinds of ink sheets are used, it is necessary to separately prepare an ink cassette corresponding to the ink sheet, which causes a problem in cost. .

[0015]

As described above, in the conventional ink sheet, in order to identify the type of the ink sheet loaded with the ink sheet according to the purpose of use of the ink sheet, the ink sheet is provided on the side surface of the ink cassette. Make a hole,
The type of the ink sheet loaded has been identified by the difference in the method of opening the holes, but this identification method has a problem that an ink cassette must be prepared for each type of ink sheet.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems. When identifying the type of ink sheet loaded in the ink cassette, the ink cassette does not need to be provided with an ink sheet identifying hole. It is an object of the present invention to provide an identification ink sheet that can easily identify the type of ink sheet using only the type of ink cassette.

[0017]

According to the identification ink sheet of the present invention as defined in claim 1, an ink sheet coated with a plurality of colors or black and white inks is fed in a predetermined feeding direction, and these inks are transferred and mixed. An ink sheet for identification, which is used in at least a plurality of types of devices that print a color image or a black and white image for one screen, and that identifies the type of ink sheet corresponding to these devices using a sensor. On one of the outer edge portions on both sides of the ink sheet,
A first identification marker having a region coated with a color that blocks light from the sensor, and a second identification marker having a region coated with a transparent color that transmits light from the sensor on the other side. And is provided.

An identification ink sheet according to the present invention according to claim 2 is the color printing ink sheet according to claim 1, wherein the first and second identification markers are of a color that blocks light. One of the colors that transmits light is unified.

[0019]

In the present invention, the first identification marker having a region coated with a color that blocks the light from the sensor is provided on one of the outer outer edges of the ink sheet, and the light from the sensor is provided on the other. By providing a second identification marker having an area coated with a transparent color that penetrates the ink sheet according to the type of the ink sheet, the ink sheet can be identified when the identification sensor is used to identify the type of the ink sheet. Different signals for each type can be detected, that is, the type of ink sheet can be easily identified.

[0020]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an identification ink sheet according to the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) shows the structure of an ink sheet for plain paper for color printing, and FIG. 1 (b) shows an OHP. The configuration of the OHP ink sheet used is shown in FIG.
Shows the structure of a black-and-white ink sheet for black-and-white printing, and the same components as those in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1A, when the identification ink sheet 11 is used as an ink sheet for plain paper for color printing, the identification ink sheet 11 is yellow (Y), magenta ( The inks of M) and cyan (C) are sequentially applied and, for example, are conveyed from the supply side bobbin 12 to the winding bobbin 13.

The identification ink sheet 11 used for plain paper has a first outer edge portion on one side of the ink sheet 11 for identifying the type of ink sheet by a device such as an optical sensor (not shown). The black band 11B is provided as a marker for identification, and the transparent band 11T is provided as a second marker for identification on the other outer edge portion. For example, an optical sensor is used for this black band 11B. It is made of a material that blocks this light when it is exposed to the light. The black band 11B may be coated with, for example, black ink, or the area of the black ink 11B may be used when printing black characters or the like (comment).

The transparent band 11T is, for example, the transparent band 1
When 1T is irradiated with light using an optical sensor, it is made of a material that allows the light to pass through without being blocked.

When the identifying ink sheet 11 is used for OHP, the ink sheet 11 is yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) as shown in FIG. 1B, for example. ) Ink is applied sequentially,
Similar to the above, the supply side bobbin 12 is conveyed to the winding bobbin 13. Further, the ink sheet 11 has the black band 11B of the first identification marker and the transparent band 11T of the second identification marker, which are opposite to the identification ink sheet 11 for plain paper, and the outer edge of the ink sheet. That is, the transparent belt 11T is provided at the outer edge portion on the right side with respect to the feeding direction of the ink sheet, and the black belt 11B is provided at the outer edge portion on the left side.

Further, when the identification ink sheet 11 is used as a black and white ink sheet for performing black and white printing, for example, as shown in FIG. A black belt 11B is provided on the portion.

The black band 11B of the first identification marker is used.
The transparent band 11T of the second identification marker may be provided on the side opposite to the above-described configuration.

The identification ink sheet 11 having such a structure
For example, by using an optical sensor or the like for detecting the black band 11B and the transparent band 11T, a signal corresponding to the type of the ink sheet is obtained, and by detecting the difference in the level of this signal, the ink sheet Allows identification of types.

Therefore, an optical sensor for identifying the type of the identifying ink sheet is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show an example of the identification optical sensor for detecting the identification marker of the identification ink sheet in this embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the case where the identification optical sensor is arranged on the identification ink sheet. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration, and FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram constituting the photosensor for identification.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, an ink cassette (not shown) loaded with the identification ink sheet 11 is attached to, for example, a video printer, and after the ink cassette is attached,
Alternatively, in the print standby state, the identification optical sensor 14 including the light emitting element 14a (not shown) and the light receiving element 14b is arranged so that the identification ink sheet 11 is sandwiched. The identification optical sensor 14 is composed of two sets of sensors, one sensor is provided on the right side (A side in the drawing) with respect to the winding direction of the ink sheet, and the other sensor is on the left side (in the drawing). It is provided on the B side) to detect the identification marker of the identification ink sheet 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, such an optical sensor 14 for identification has a light emitting element 14a constituting a sensor, for example.
Is mainly composed of a light emitting diode D1 (LED) and an LED drive resistance resistor R1, and emits light to the light receiving element 14b. The light emitted by the light emitting element 14a passes through the first and second identification markers of the identification ink sheet 11 (not shown) and is received by the light receiving element 14b composed of the phototransistor Q1 and the resistor R2. Received light. A DC voltage is applied to the terminals of the resistors R1 and R2, respectively.

Next, a method of identifying the type of the ink sheet using the identifying optical sensor having such a circuit will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, an ink cassette (not shown) loaded with the identification ink sheet 11
Is attached to, for example, a video printer. After that, the ink cassette is in a print standby state, and the identification optical sensor 14 is arranged at a predetermined position (arrangement state shown in FIG. 2) of the identification ink sheet 11 loaded in the ink cassette.

Then, when the ink sheet 11 is arranged or at the same time when the ink sheet 11 starts to be conveyed, the light emitting elements 14a (both on the A side and the B side) of the sensor 14 have the identification markers 11B on the identification ink sheet 11, respectively. Light is emitted continuously to detect 11T.

In this case, for example, an outer outer edge portion of the identification ink sheet 11 is provided between the light path that connects the light emitting diode D1 as a light emitting element forming the identification optical sensor 14 and the phototransistor Q1 as a light receiving element. When there is a first identification marker 11B (black band) provided in the light emitting diode D1, the light emitted from the light emitting diode D1 is blocked, and as a result, the phototransistor Q1 is turned off, as shown in FIG. Output of this sensor 14 Vout
However, the signal which becomes a high level (H) can be obtained.

A second identifying element, which is provided on the outer edge of the identifying ink sheet 11, is provided between the light emitting diode D1 of the light emitting element 14a and the phototransistor Q1 of the light receiving element 14b. Marker 11T
When there is a (transparent band), the light emitted from the light emitting diode D1 is transmitted and the phototransistor Q1 is transmitted.
Is received by. As a result, the phototransistor Q1
Is turned on, and a signal in which the output Vout of the sensor 14 becomes low level (L) can be obtained.

That is, when the output Vout is at the high level, it means that the first identification marker 11B (black band) is detected, and when at the low level, the second identification detection marker 11T (transparent band) is detected. It means that the identification is detected.

Therefore, for example, the identification optical sensor 14 having such an output characteristic is provided with the first and second identification markers 11B and 11T provided on both sides of the identification ink sheet 11 as shown in FIG. A and B so that they are sandwiched
When two sensors 14 are provided on the side and the side, the output Vout of each sensor 14 is different for each type of the identification ink sheet 11 of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Vout can be obtained.

Therefore, it is possible to easily identify the type of the identification ink sheet loaded in the ink cassette from the combination of the respective outputs Vout as shown in FIG. 4, and the ink cassette is not attached. Even in the case, it can be recognized by this signal.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the first identification markers 11B are provided on both outer edges of the ink sheet 11.
By providing the (black band) or the second identification marker 11T (transparent band) respectively, for example, the identification optical sensor 14 (the A side sensor and the A side sensor, which detects the presence or absence of these first and second identification markers). When the type of the ink sheet 11 is identified by using the (B side sensor), the output Vo of each sensor 14 according to the type of the ink sheet is obtained.
ut can be obtained, that is, the type of the ink sheet can be easily identified by the combination of the output Vout.

Thus, it is not necessary to provide the ink cassette with a hole for identifying the type of ink sheet, which has been a problem in the past, that is, without preparing an ink cassette for each type of ink sheet. Of course, it is possible to easily identify the type of the ink sheet loaded in the ink cassette by using the type of ink cassette, and it is possible to obtain the effect in terms of cost.

In this embodiment, the black band is provided as one of the first identifying markers on one of the outer side edges of the ink sheet, and the transparent band is provided as the second identifying marker on the other side. As described above, for example, even when the first marker for identification is made of a color that blocks the light of the sensor, the same effect as that of the black belt can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first and second identification markers provided on the ink sheet 11 are used as position detection markers on the front end side of each color so that the color inks of the ink sheet can be set. It may be provided, and the head of the ink sheet and the type of the ink sheet may be identified.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, one of the outer edge portions of the ink sheet has a first identification marker (black band) and the other has a second identification marker (transparent band). )
By providing and, it is possible to identify the type of ink sheet loaded in the ink cassette by using the identification optical sensor. As a result, it is not necessary to process the holes of the ink cassette that indicate the type of ink sheet, and each type of ink sheet is loaded with one type of ink cassette without making the ink cassette easy for each type of ink sheet. Therefore, the maker side can facilitate the manufacturing process of the ink cassette and reduce the cost.

Also, for the user side, since ink sheets corresponding to respective printing purposes can be used with one type of ink cassette, the use of ink sheets is facilitated,
You can be satisfied with the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an ink sheet for identification according to the present invention, showing a configuration of an ink sheet for each type.

FIG. 2 is a view of a first part of the identification ink sheet shown in FIG.
The top view which shows the state in which the sensor which detects the 2nd identification marker (black band and transparent band) was set.

FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an ink sheet type identification sensor used in the present embodiment, showing an example of a light emitting element and a light receiving element constituting the sensor.

4 is a characteristic diagram showing an output waveform of a light receiving element of the sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional ink sheet.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an ink cassette for explaining a conventional ink sheet type identification method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Ink sheet for identification 11B ... First identification marker (black band) 11T ... Second identification marker (transparent band) 12 ... Supply side bobbin 13 ... Winding side bobbin 14 ... Identification optical sensor 14a ... Light emission Element (sensor) 14b ... Light receiving element (sensor)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. At least a plurality of types in which a color image or a black and white image for one screen is printed by feeding an ink sheet coated with a plurality of colors or black and white inks in a predetermined feeding direction and transferring and mixing the inks. Is an identification ink sheet that is used in an apparatus for identifying the type of ink sheet corresponding to these apparatuses by using a sensor, and intercepts light from the sensor at one of both outer edge portions of the ink sheet. And a second identification marker having an area coated with a transparent color that transmits light from the sensor is provided on the other side. Ink sheet for identification. 2. The first and second identification markers are unified in either one of a color that blocks light and a color that transmits light. Ink sheet for color printing.