JPH07309046A - Thermal transfer color recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a thermal transfer color recording apparatus generating no color shift. CONSTITUTION:A thermal transfer color recording apparatus is equipped with an optical sensor 2 detecting the white and black mark of the disk 1 provided to the side surface of an ink ribbon rolls 55 on a supply side and converting the rotation of the ink ribbon roll 55 to a pulse to output the same, a counter circuit 3 counting the pulse, a latch circuit 4 temporarily storing the count value corresponding to one color, an ROM 5 outputting control data corresponding to the count value, a D/A converter 6 converting the control data to voltage and a driver circuit 7 allowing the current corresponding to voltage to flow to a ribbon motor 72.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional thermal transfer type color recording apparatus, which is called a frame sequential swing system. Reference numeral 51 is a recording head equipped with a line type heating resistor, and 52 is this recording head 5.
1 is a platen arranged so as to be opposed thereto.

Reference numeral 53 is a paper roll formed by winding a continuous belt 54 in a belt shape, 55 is a supply-side ink ribbon roll formed by winding an unused ink ribbon 57 in a belt shape,
Reference numeral 56 denotes a used ink ribbon roll in which a used portion of the ink ribbon 57 is wound up into a roll shape, and the recording head 51 is fed out from the paper roll 53 between the platen 52 and an arrow A direction. Transfer recording is performed on the paper 54, which is fed to the paper 54, the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55, and the used ink ribbon roll 56, and the ink ribbon 57 that is fed together with the feed of the paper 54 is sandwiched.

Reference numerals 58a and 58b denote pressure rollers for pressing the paper 54 against the platen 52. As a result, the paper 54 is fed while being wound around the platen 52 on the surface side of the platen 52 facing the recording head 51. The ink ribbon 57 has a width equal to the width of the paper 54, and transfer inks of three primary colors for printing yellow, magenta, and cyan are used for one-time printing preset on the paper 54. It is applied to a length L'which is slightly larger than the length L of the recording area 59. After the yellow is first transferred to the recording area 59, the paper 54 is reversely fed back to the initial position and set. ,
Then, magenta is transferred, and then cyan is transferred in the same manner as described above to record one screen.

Here, in order to sequentially record yellow, magenta, and cyan, marks 60a, 60b, and 60c corresponding to the print start positions of the respective colors are printed in advance on the ink ribbon 57, and the ribbon mark sensor 61 is used. By detecting this, cueing for each color can be performed. Normally, the recording head 51 performs recording while holding the pressed state against the platen 52 by the spring 64 with the fulcrum 63 attached to the bracket 62 as the center of rotation. The recording head 51 is headed down by the motor 65 and the cam 66 and separated from the platen 52 during standby or at the time of feeding to set the printing start position of each color of the ink ribbon 57.

Here, 70 is a large gear attached to the shaft of a holder that supports the used ink ribbon roll 56 of the ink ribbon 57, 71 is a small gear that meshes with this large gear 70, and 72 is this small gear 71. A ribbon motor composed of a driving DC motor. When the ribbon motor 72 rotates, the used ink ribbon roll 56 rotates and the used portion of the ink ribbon 57 is wound up. Drive in direction B.

In such a configuration, when it is determined in advance that the yellow, magenta, and cyan are printed in this order, the ink ribbon is detected until the ribbon mark sensor 61 detects the mark 60a corresponding to the yellow print start position when the power is turned on. The printing is started after the initial operation of moving 57 to perform positioning. Further, 73 is an end mark printed at the end of the paper 54 wound in a roll shape, 74 is an end mark sensor for detecting the end mark 73, and the end mark 73 indicates that the remaining amount of the paper roll 53 is several. When the end mark sensor 74 detects the end mark 73 when the number of sheets is reached, the end mark sensor 74 detects the end mark 73 and displays on the display unit (not shown) that there is no more paper.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With such a configuration,
On the winding side of the ink ribbon, the winding diameter of the used ink ribbon roll is small when the ink ribbon is first used, and the winding diameter of the used ink ribbon roll is large when the ink ribbon is used. Therefore, assuming that the torque of the ribbon motor is constant, the ribbon winding force is inversely proportional to the winding diameter of the used ink ribbon roll.

As described above, since the winding force changes depending on the start and end of the use of the ink ribbon, the thermal transfer type color recording apparatus for performing three-color superposition printing by reciprocating the paper three times begins to use the ink ribbon. If you adjust so that there is no color shift at the end of use, color shift will occur at the end of use, and on the contrary, if you adjust so that there is no color shift at the end of use There is a problem that color shift occurs.

Further, since the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is not known, it is necessary for the operator to always open the cover of the recording apparatus to check the remaining amount of the ink ribbon, which increases the burden on the operator. Furthermore, although it is possible to detect the end of the paper, the operator is required to open the cover of the recording device and check the remaining amount of the paper without knowing the remaining amount in the middle, which increases the burden on the operator. There's a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus in which color misregistration does not occur. It is another object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer type color recording device capable of easily confirming the remaining amount of the ink ribbon. A further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer type color recording device that allows easy confirmation of the remaining amount of paper.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, a first aspect of the present invention is a strip-shaped coating in which a plurality of colors required for color printing are applied in the same length and in a predetermined order. A supply side ink ribbon roll formed by winding an unused part of the ink ribbon, a used ink ribbon roll wound into a roll shape by winding the used part of the ink ribbon, and the used ink ribbon roll. A ribbon motor that rotates to wind up the used ink ribbon, a paper roll on which unused band-shaped paper is wound, a platen that feeds the paper fed from this paper roll, and a platen that faces this platen. A thermal transfer color recording device that is arranged and has a recording head that presses the paper and the ink ribbon against the platen to transfer the ink of the ink ribbon to the paper and perform printing. In the device, an optical sensor that detects the rotation of the supply-side ink ribbon roll and converts the rotation into a pulse corresponding to the rotation speed, a counter unit that counts the pulses output from the optical sensor, and a counter unit A latch unit that temporarily stores the counter value for one color that is output, a ROM that has a table that converts the count value into control data for the ribbon motor, and a ROM that outputs control data according to the count value that is output from the latch unit. ,
A D / A conversion unit for converting control data, which is a digital value output from the ROM, into a voltage, which is an analog value;
The driver unit is provided with a current corresponding to the voltage output from the D / A conversion unit, which flows to the ribbon motor.

A second aspect of the invention is to count the rotation of the supply-side ink ribbon roll and to count the pulse output from this optical sensor, which converts the pulse into a pulse corresponding to the rotation speed. A ROM having a counter section and a table for converting the count value to the ink ribbon remaining amount value, outputting the ink ribbon remaining amount value according to the count value output from the counter unit, and the ink ribbon remaining amount output from this ROM. And a display unit for displaying the quantity value.

Furthermore, a third aspect of the invention is an optical sensor for detecting the rotation of the paper roll, a comparator for converting the output of the optical sensor into a pulse, and a counter section for counting the pulses output from the comparator. And a table for converting the count value into the remaining paper amount value and outputting the remaining paper amount value according to the count value output from the counter circuit.
And a display unit for displaying the remaining paper amount value output from the ROM.

[0015]

In the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure, when the ink ribbon is fed by printing, the supply-side ink ribbon roll rotates and the ink ribbon is fed.
When the ink ribbon roll on the supply side rotates, a pulse corresponding to the rotation speed is obtained.The count value at the time of printing one color by counting this pulse is temporarily stored, and when printing the next color, The control data of the ribbon motor according to the count value of the color is output, the control data is converted into a voltage, and the current corresponding to this voltage is sent to the ribbon motor to rotate the ribbon motor to feed the ink ribbon. I do.

In the second invention, when the ink ribbon is fed by printing, the supply-side ink ribbon roll rotates and the ink ribbon is fed out. When the supply-side ink ribbon roll rotates, a pulse corresponding to the rotation speed is obtained, and by counting this pulse, an ink ribbon remaining amount value corresponding to the count value is output. Then, the remaining ink ribbon value at the time of printing one color is displayed.

Further, in the third invention, when the paper is fed by printing, the paper roll rotates and the paper is fed out. When the paper roll rotates, a pulse corresponding to the rotation speed is obtained, and by counting this pulse, the remaining paper amount value corresponding to the count value is output and displayed.

[0018]

Embodiments Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus in a first embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that the recording head 51, a platen 52 arranged to face the recording head 51, and a spring 64
And a motor 65 and the like for pressing the recording head 51 against the platen 52 and separating the recording head 51 from the sheet 5.
4, the length of the recording area, the paper roll 53 on which the paper 54 is wound, the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55 on which the ink ribbon 57 before use is wound, and the used ink on which the ink ribbon 57 after use is wound up. Ribbon roll 56,
Used ink ribbon roll 56 through gears 70 and 71
Is rotated to wind the ink ribbon 57, the pressure rollers 58a and 58b that press the paper 54 against the platen 52, the marks 60a, 60b and 60c for specifying the position of each color of the ink ribbon 57, and these marks are detected. The ribbon mark sensor 61 is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a disk mounted on the side surface of a holder for supporting the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55. White and black marks are alternately printed on the disk 1, and a ribbon motor 72 is provided. As a result, the used ink ribbon roll 56 rotates and the ink ribbon 57 is fed out, whereby the used ink ribbon roll 56 rotates together with the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an optical sensor which is arranged so as to face the disk 1. The optical sensor 2 is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the optical sensor 2 determines whether the light receiving element receives light of a predetermined intensity or more. The output changes. Here, the light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the disc 1 and is received by the light receiving element. As described above, the white and black marks are alternately printed on the disc 1. When the light hits the black mark, it is absorbed and the light received by the light receiving element becomes weak, and when the light hits the white mark, the light reflected and received becomes strong. As a result, when the disc 1 rotates together with the used ink ribbon roll 56, the optical sensor 2
The ON / OFF output alternately changes, and the rotation of the supply side ink ribbon roll 56 due to the feeding of the ink ribbon 57 is output as a pulse from the optical sensor 2.

Reference numeral 3 is a counter circuit for receiving the output of the optical sensor 2. The counter circuit 3 is for counting the pulses output from the optical sensor 2, and the counter circuit 3 is provided with a reset signal from a control unit described later. The value can be initialized. Reference numeral 4 denotes a latch circuit, which is for temporarily storing the count value output from the counter 3, and stores and outputs the count value by a latch signal from a control unit described later. .

Reference numeral 5 denotes a ROM, which is a supply side ink ribbon roll 55 output from the latch circuit 4.
The control information of the ribbon motor 72 with respect to the pulse count value according to the number of revolutions per unit time is stored as a table, and when the pulse count value is input, the motor control value corresponding thereto is output. Here, a ribbon feed signal is input to the ROM 5 from a control unit which will be described later, and the ribbon feed signal is Low.
When it is (“0”), the table for normal printing is selected according to the count value input from the latch circuit 4, and when it is High (“1”), it is input from the latch circuit 4. A separate table is set up specifically for ribbon feeds, regardless of the count value.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a D / A converter which converts the digital motor control value data output from the ROM 5 into an analog voltage. Reference numeral 7 denotes a driver circuit for driving the ribbon motor 72, which controls the current flowing through the ribbon motor 72 according to the voltage output from the D / A converter 6. Then, the torque of the ribbon motor 72 can be controlled by controlling the current.

The driver circuit 7 supplies a current corresponding to the voltage output from the D / A converter 6 to the ribbon motor 72 when the motor ON signal input from the control unit described later is turned on ("1"). And the ribbon motor 72 is rotated. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing the overall circuit configuration of the thermal transfer type color recording apparatus of this embodiment.

In the figure, 8 is a ribbon motor driver, and this ribbon motor driver 8 is composed of the counter circuit 3, the latch circuit 4, the ROM 5, the D / A converter 6 and the driver circuit 7. Reference numeral 9 is an interface unit for inputting data from outside, 10 is a CPU, RO
A control unit 11 including an M, a RAM, a timer and the like is an I / O port for outputting a signal from the control unit 10 and inputting external information.

Reference numeral 12 is a paper motor for rotating the paper roll 53 described in FIG. 1 to feed the paper 54, 13 is a motor driver for driving the paper motor 12, and 14 is a motor for driving the head motor 65 described in FIG. The recording head 51, the paper motor 12, the head motor 65, and the ribbon motor 72, which are drivers, are controlled by the controller 10.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a general printing operation in the above-mentioned thermal transfer type color recording apparatus. First, the controller 10 drives the ribbon motor 72 to feed the ink ribbon 57 (SA1). At this time, the control unit 10 monitors the output of the ribbon mark sensor 61 (SA2) in order to perform the cueing of a certain color on the ink ribbon 57, here, the cueing of the yellow, and the mark attached to the ink ribbon 57. When the mark 60a corresponding to the yellow color is detected, the drive of the ribbon motor 72 is stopped and the feeding of the ink ribbon 57 is stopped (SA
3).

After stopping the feeding of the ink ribbon 57, the controller 10 drives the head motor 65 to press the recording head 51 against the platen 52 (SA4). The control unit 10 then controls the paper motor 12 and the ribbon motor 72.
Both of them are driven to feed the paper 54 and the ink ribbon 57 (SA5), the print data is transferred to the recording head 51, and the printing operation is performed by the yellow (SA).
6). This printing operation is performed by setting the length L of the recording area 59 set on the paper 54 while the print data is present.
Continue until you print within the range. The control of the ribbon motor 72 at this time will be described later.

When printing by yellow is completed (SA
7), the control unit 10 controls the paper motor 12 and the ribbon motor 7
2 is stopped, the feeding of the paper 54 and the ink ribbon 57 is stopped (SA8), and the head motor 65 is
Drive the recording head 51 away from the platen 52 (S
A9). Then, because there is a color to be printed next (SA1
0), the paper motor 12 is reversely driven, and the paper 54 is back-fed to the original position (SA11). This completes the yellow printing.

Next, printing with magenta is performed in the same manner as in the case of the yellow described above. That is, the control unit 10
Drives the ribbon motor 72 to feed the ink ribbon 57 (SA1). At this time, the control unit 10 monitors the output of the ribbon mark sensor 61 (SA2) to detect the magenta which is the next color of the yellow, and when the mark 60b corresponding to magenta is detected, the ribbon motor 72 is detected.
To stop feeding the ink ribbon 57 (SA3).

After stopping the feeding of the ink ribbon 57, the controller 10 drives the head motor 65 to press the recording head 51 against the platen 52 (SA4). The control unit 10 then controls the paper motor 12 and the ribbon motor 72.
Both of them are driven to feed the paper 54 and the ink ribbon 57 (SA5), the print data is transferred to the recording head 51, and the printing operation is performed by magenta (SA).
6). This printing operation is performed by setting the length L of the recording area 59 set on the paper 54 while the print data is present.
Continue until you print within the range.

When printing with magenta ends (SA
7), the control unit 10 controls the paper motor 12 and the ribbon motor 7
2 is stopped, the feeding of the paper 54 and the ink ribbon 57 is stopped (SA8), and the head motor 65 is
Drive the recording head 51 away from the platen 52 (S
A9). Then, because there is a color to be printed next (SA1
0), the paper motor 12 is reversely driven, and the paper 54 is back-fed to the original position (SA11). This is the end of magenta printing.

Next, printing with cyan, which is the last color, is performed. That is, the controller 10 drives the ribbon motor 72 to feed the ink ribbon 57 (SA1). At this time, the control unit 10 monitors the output of the ribbon mark sensor 61 (SA2) in order to perform the cue of cyan, which is the next color of magenta, and when the mark 60c corresponding to cyan is detected, the ribbon motor 72 of the ribbon motor 72 is detected. The driving is stopped to stop the feeding of the ink ribbon 57 (SA3).

After stopping the feeding of the ink ribbon 57, the controller 10 drives the head motor 65 to press the recording head 51 against the platen 52 (SA4). The control unit 10 then controls the paper motor 12 and the ribbon motor 72.
Both of them are driven to feed the paper 54 and the ink ribbon 57 (SA5), the print data is transferred to the recording head 51, and the printing operation is performed with cyan (SA).
6). This printing operation is performed by setting the length L of the recording area 59 set on the paper 54 while the print data is present.
Continue until you print within the range.

When printing with cyan is completed (SA
7), the control unit 10 controls the paper motor 12 and the ribbon motor 7
2 is stopped, the feeding of the paper 54 and the ink ribbon 57 is stopped (SA8), and the head motor 65 is
Drive the recording head 51 away from the platen 52 (S
A9). And since cyan is the last color (SA1
0), the paper motor 12 is driven to eject the paper 54 (S
A12), and the printing operation for one recording area of the paper 54 is completed.

FIG. 4 is a time chart during the ink ribbon feeding operation, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of the ink ribbon feeding operation. The details of the ink ribbon feeding operation during the above printing operation will be described below. To do. When print data is sent (SB
1) First, the control unit 10 resets the reset pulse in order to clear the count value N ₀ counted and held by the counter circuit 3 when the last color, cyan, is printed in the previous printing. To the counter circuit 3. This allows
The previous count value stored in the counter circuit 3 is cleared (SB2).

The latch circuit 4 latches the count value N ₀ counted by the counter circuit 3 when the last color, cyan, is printed in the previous printing,
Since the latch output is input to the ROM 5, the control data X of the ribbon motor 72 according to the count value N _0
0 is output from the table of the ROM 5 (SB3).

Since the output of the ROM 5 is input to the D / A converter 6, the D / A converter 6 converts the control data X ₀ into a voltage value V ₀ and outputs it (SB4).
The driver circuit 7 controls the value of current flowing through the ribbon motor 72 based on this voltage value V ₀ . Then, the control unit 10
Turns on the motor ON signal sent to the driver circuit 7 (High
h) (SB5). As a result, the ribbon motor 72
Starts to rotate and the ribbon motor 72 rotates,
The used ink ribbon roll 56 rotates to wind up the used portion of the ink ribbon 57, whereby the feeding of the ink ribbon 57 is started, and the first color, here, printing by yellow is performed (SB6).

When the used portion of the ink ribbon 57 is wound around the used ink ribbon roll 56, the unused ink ribbon 57 is fed out, and the supply side ink ribbon roll 55 also rotates. As a result, the optical sensor 2 alternately outputs white pulses and black marks on the disk 1 to output a pulse, and the counter circuit 3 sequentially counts the pulses and stores the count value. (SB7).

When the control unit 10 determines that the printing by the yellow has been completed (SB8), the motor ON signal is turned OFF (L
ow) (SB9). As a result, the ribbon motor 7
The rotation of No. 2 is stopped, and the feeding of the ink ribbon 57 is also stopped (SB10). Then, as the feeding of the ink ribbon 57 is stopped, the rotation of the supply roller 55 is also stopped,
No pulse is output from the optical sensor 2.

The control unit 10 turns the motor ON signal OFF (L
Then, the ribbon motor 72 is stopped and the latch signal (1 pulse) is sent to the latch circuit 4 (SB11).
When receiving the latch signal, the latch circuit 4 causes the counter circuit 3
The count value N ₁ from the start to the end of the printing of the yellow color stored in is latched (SB12). The count value N ₁ is input from the latch circuit 4 to the ROM 5, and the ROM 5 outputs the control data X ₁ of the ribbon motor 72 according to the count value N ₁ from the table of the ROM 5 (SB13). X ₁ is D / A
The converter 6 converts the voltage value into V ₁ and outputs it (SB14). This voltage V ₁ is a voltage for controlling the current passed through the ribbon motor 71 when printing magenta, which is the next color of yellow.

Since the mark 60b for cueing magenta is detected between the printing by the yellow and the printing by the magenta, it is necessary to perform the ribbon feeding. Therefore, the control unit 10 , Outputting a ribbon feed signal for mark detection (SB1
5). The ribbon feed signal is supposed to be input to the ROM 5, and the ROM 5 turns on the ribbon feed signal.
When it becomes (High), another table for exclusive use of the ribbon feed in which the control data _Xf for feeding the ink ribbon 57 at a higher speed than usual is set is selected (SB1).
6).

Then, the control data X _f is converted into a voltage value of V _f by the D / A converter 6 and output (SB1
7) The driver circuit 7 obtains a current based on this voltage value V _f . As described above, the control unit 10 turns on the ribbon feed signal to cause the ROM 5 to output the control data X _f dedicated to the ribbon feed, and then turns on the motor ON signal to be sent to the driver circuit 7 (SB1).
8). As a result, the ribbon motor 72 starts rotating,
The rotation of the ribbon motor 72 starts the feeding of the ink ribbon 57 (SB19).

The mark 60 is made by the ribbon mark sensor 61.
When b is detected (SB20), the control unit 10 causes the motor O
The N signal is turned off (SB21), the ribbon feed is stopped (SB22), and the ribbon feed signal is turned off (SB23). Ribbon feed signal O
If FF is set, the control unit 10 sends a reset signal to the counter circuit 3 to clear the count value at the time of yellow in order to perform printing with magenta, which is the next color of yellow (SB2). When the ribbon feed signal is turned off, the ROM 5 outputs the control data X ₁ of the ribbon motor 72 according to the count value N ₁ latched by the latch circuit 4 (SB3), and this control data X ₁ is output. The D / A converter 6 converts the voltage value into V ₁ and outputs it (SB4).

During this operation, the up / down operation of the recording head 51 is performed as described in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the recording head 51 is moved to the platen 5.
After pressing to 2, the control unit 10 turns on the motor ON signal (SB5), starts ribbon feeding (SB6),
Hereinafter, in the same manner as in the case of yellow described above, printing with magenta next to yellow is performed.

When the printing with magenta is completed, the printing with cyan, which is the last color, is performed by the same operation as when printing the magenta color. Then, when the printing with the last color, cyan, is completed and there is no data to be printed next (SB1), the operation described above is ended, and when there is data to be printed next, the above-mentioned yellow Repeat the procedure from.

When the used ink ribbon 57 is wound around the used ink ribbon roll 56 and the winding diameter is changed, the torque of the ribbon motor 72 is constant and the number of rotations of the ribbon motor 72 changes. If it does not change, the feed speed of the ink ribbon 57 changes. That is, since the winding diameter of the used ink ribbon roll 56 is small, the amount of feed per unit time is small at the beginning of using the ink ribbon 57. On the other hand, the ink ribbon 5
For the end of 7 use, used ink ribbon roll 5
Since the winding diameter of 6 becomes large, the feed amount per unit time becomes large.

Therefore, the ROM 5 has the ink ribbon 5
7 stores a data table for motor control such that the torque required to feed the ink ribbon 57 at a constant speed is obtained according to the change in the count value accompanying the change in the feed amount of 7. When the yellow printing is completed and the next magenta printing is performed, the torque of the ribbon motor 72 is set based on the count value obtained when the yellow printing is performed. This allows
As the winding diameter of the ink ribbon 57 wound around the used ink ribbon roll 56 changes, the ribbon motor 72
It is possible to feed the ink ribbon 57 at a constant speed by changing the torque generated in step.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the main part of a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that FIG. 6 shows a portion relating to the feed mechanism of the ink ribbon of the thermal transfer type color recording apparatus, and other configurations not shown here are the same as those described in FIG. 1 or FIG. . In the figure, 15L, 15
R is a holder for supporting the used ink ribbon roll 56, and the holders 15L and 15R sandwich the used ink ribbon roll 56 from both ends and can rotate together with the used ink ribbon roll 56. It is slidable in the axial direction for attaching and detaching the used ink ribbon roll 56.

16 is a large gear attached to the shaft of the holder 15L, 17 is a small gear meshing with the large gear 16,
18 is a ribbon motor that drives this small gear 17,
When the ribbon motor 18 rotates, the holder 15
The used ink ribbon roll 56 rotates together with L and 15R to wind up the used portion of the ink ribbon 57, and the ink ribbon 57 is fed in the direction of arrow B.

Reference numeral 19 is a reflection type optical sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are housed in one package, and 20L and 20R.
Is a holder for supporting the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55. The holders 20L and 20R sandwich the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55 from both ends and can rotate together with the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55. It is slidable in the axial direction for attaching and detaching the side ink ribbon roll 55.

Reference numeral 21 is a mark provided on the side surface of the holder 20L so as to face the optical sensor 19, and the white mark 21a and the black mark 21b are alternately printed on the mark 21. Then, as the ribbon motor 18 rotates, the used ink ribbon roll 56 rotates together with the holders 15L and 15R, and the used portion of the ink ribbon 57 is wound up.
Ink ribbon roll 5 on the supply side when fed in the direction
The unused ink ribbon 57 is fed out from No. 5, and the holders 20L and 20R rotate together with the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the principal part of the thermal transfer type color recording apparatus showing the positional relationship between the optical sensor 19 and the holder 20L on which the mark 21 is formed. The light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 19 is shown in FIG. , Is reflected by the mark 21 of the holder 20L and is received by the light receiving element of the optical sensor 19. here,
The mark 21 is composed of a white mark 21a and a black mark 21b. The light emitted from the light emitting element is absorbed when it hits the black mark 21b, and the light received by the light receiving element becomes weak and hits the white mark 21a. The light reflected and received by the light receiving element becomes strong. The output of the optical sensor 19 is changed depending on whether or not the light receiving element receives light having a predetermined intensity or more. When the ink ribbon 57 is fed and the holder 20L is rotated, the optical sensor 19 is rotated.
Means that the white mark 21a and the black mark 21b are detected alternately, and the output changes alternately ON and OFF, and the ink ribbon 57 is fed to rotate the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55. The light sensor 1
It is output from 9 as a pulse.

As shown in FIG. 7, each holder presses the ink ribbon roll from the side by a spring 22, so that the ink ribbon roll is securely sandwiched between the holders. Spring 2
The ink ribbon roll can be attached and detached by sliding the holder against 2. FIG. 8 is a control block diagram showing the configuration of the ink ribbon remaining amount detection circuit.

Reference numeral 23 is a counter circuit, which counts the pulses output from the photosensor 19. Reference numeral 24 is a ROM, and this ROM 24 has an ink ribbon remaining amount data table for the count value output from the counter circuit 23. When the count value P is input from the counter circuit 23 to the ROM 24, this count value P The ink ribbon residual value Q corresponding to is output.

Reference numeral 25 denotes an ink ribbon remaining amount display circuit. The ink ribbon remaining amount display circuit 25 latches the ink ribbon residual value Q output from the ROM 24 by a latch signal and then displays it on a display element such as LED or LCD. To display. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the winding diameter of the ink ribbon roll and the feed amount of the ink ribbon. The number of pulses output from the optical sensor 19 when the holder 20L makes one rotation is p,
When the radius of the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55 is r and the length of the ink ribbon 57 used at one time is L, the count value P when one color of the ink ribbon is used is obtained by the following equation (1). .

[0057]

[Equation 1]

As described above, the count value P is obtained in inverse proportion to the radius r of the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55. Therefore, at the beginning of use of the ink ribbon in which the radius r of the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55 is the maximum value, the count value Pmax when one color of the ink ribbon is used is obtained by the following equation (2), and the supplied ink Ribbon roll 5
At the end of using the ink ribbon 57 where the radius r of 5 is the minimum value, the count value P when one color of the ink ribbon is used
min is obtained by the following equation (3).

[0059]

[Equation 2]

Therefore, in the data table held in the ROM 24, as the count value P increases, a plurality of ink ribbon residual values Q are displayed on the display circuit 25 to indicate that the ink ribbon remaining amount has decreased. Composed of. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the operation of the above-described ink ribbon remaining amount detecting circuit, and the operation of the second embodiment will be described below.

First, before printing is started, a reset signal is output from the control circuit (not shown) to the counter circuit 23 to initialize the counter value and clear the count value. Next, the printing operation as described in the flowchart of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment is executed. At this time, the ribbon motor 18 is driven to feed the ink ribbon 57, and the used ink ribbon 57 is used.
Unwound ink ribbon 57 while being wound around 6
Is fed from the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55.

As a result, the supply-side ink ribbon roller 5
The holder 20L supporting 5 rotates and the holder 20L
By rotating, the optical sensor 19 alternately detects the white mark 21a and the black mark 21b of the mark 21 on the holder 20L, and the optical sensor 19 outputs a pulse. The pulse output from the optical sensor 19 is input to the counter circuit 23 and the number of pulses is counted.

The output of the counter circuit 23 is ROM
24, and the ROM 24 outputs the ink ribbon residual value Q corresponding to the count value P. Here, assuming that the length of the paper 54 used in one printing is L, the length of the ink ribbon wound around the used ink ribbon roll 55 every time one color is printed is always the paper 54 and the ink ribbon 57. Is closely contacted with each other, the length is the same as the length of the paper used in the above-described one-time printing, and is constant. Therefore, as described above, the count value P is the supply side ink ribbon roll. It increases in inverse proportion to the decrease in the diameter of 55.
As described above, when the count value P increases, the diameter of the supply-side ink ribbon roll 55 decreases and the remaining amount of the ink ribbon 57 decreases. Therefore, the ink ribbon residual value Q output from the ROM 24 increases the count value P. Along with this, an indication that the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is reduced is displayed.

When the one-color printing operation (for the length of L) is completed, a latch signal is output to the display circuit 25, and the display circuit 2
When the latch signal is input, the reference numeral 5 latches the ink ribbon residual value Q output from the ROM 24 at the time when the printing operation for a certain color is completed and displays it on the display element. By the above operation, when the printing of one color is completed, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon at that time is displayed, which can be used as a guide for the ink ribbon replacement.

By combining the mechanism for accurately feeding the ink ribbon in the first embodiment and the mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of the ink ribbon in the second embodiment, color misregistration occurs. Therefore, it is possible to provide a device in which the remaining amount of the ink ribbon can be easily confirmed. FIG. 11 is a main part configuration diagram of a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

The mechanism of the entire apparatus not shown here has the same structure as that of FIG. 1, FIG. 6 or FIG. Reference numerals 30a and 30b denote paper supporters that support the paper roll 53, and reference numeral 31 denotes a plurality of slits formed in the paper supporter 30a at regular intervals so as to draw a circle. Reference numeral 32 denotes a reflection type photo sensor which is arranged to face the paper supporter 30a provided with the slit 31 and is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

When printing is performed, the paper 54 is fed in the direction of arrow C. At this time, the paper supporter 3
0a and 30b rotate in the direction of arrow D together with the paper roll 53. Therefore, the slit 31 periodically passes through the front of the photo sensor 32. The photo sensor 32
Is a paper whose output changes depending on whether the light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected and received by the light receiving element.
Is being fed, the light emitted from the light emitting element alternately passes through the portion with the slit 31 and the portion without the slit 31, whereby the amount of reflected light received by the light receiving element changes periodically, The photo sensor 32 outputs an analog voltage amount that repeatedly changes in high and low.

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram showing the structure of the remaining paper amount detecting circuit of the third embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a time chart showing the flow of signals in the remaining paper amount detecting circuit. Three
Reference numeral 3 denotes a comparator to which the output r of the photo sensor 32 is input. The comparator 33 compares the output r of the photo sensor 32 with a certain slice level s and outputs an analog signal as shown in FIG. The value is converted and output as a pulse t.

Here, the output r of the photo sensor 32 is high when the photo sensor 32 detects the slit 31, and is low when it detects a place without the slit 31. Therefore, by setting the slice level s in the middle of the highest output and the lowest output of the photo sensor 31, the number of slits 31 can be counted by the pulse t obtained by comparing with the slice level. .

A counter section 34 receives the output of the comparator 33 and counts the number of pulses output from the comparator 33. A memory 35 stores remaining paper amount data corresponding to the number of pulses. A control unit 36 reads the count value from the counter unit 33 and reads the remaining paper amount data corresponding to the count value for one sheet from the memory 36.

A display unit 37 outputs the remaining paper amount data read by the control unit 36 in a visually recognizable form. next,
The relationship between the diameter of the paper roll and the number of pulses will be described. The length of the paper used in one printing is L, the paper roll 53
Where r is the radius and N is the number of slits 31, the pulse number n corresponding to the length of the paper used in one printing can be expressed by the following equation (4).

[0072]

[Equation 3]

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the diameter of the paper roll 53 due to the use of the paper 54. As the paper 54 is used, the radius r of the paper roll 53 is r _a → r _b → r _c → r. _d
The pulse number n can be expressed by the following equations (5) to (8).

[0074]

[Equation 4]

[0075] In this case, the number of pulses n _a when the radius r _a
For a radius r _b, r _c, the pulse number n _b when the r _d, n _c, when determining the ratio of n _d, the following (9) to
It can be expressed by equation (11).

[0076]

[Equation 5]

That is, it can be seen that the number of pulses is inversely proportional to the radius of the paper roll 53. For example, r _a = 1, r _b =
Assuming that (1/2) r _a and r _a = 10 pulses, the ratio of the number of pulses n _b when the radius is r _b to the number of pulses n _a when the radius is r _a is calculated as follows. It can be expressed by equation (12), and from this equation (12), the number of pulses n _b when the radius is r _b can be obtained by equation (13).

[0078]

[Equation 6]

Thus, when the radius of the paper roll 53 is halved, the number of pulses per paper length used in one printing is doubled. Figure 15 is a time chart showing changes of the paper roll radius and the number of pulses, the sheet a r _a roll 53
A radius of when not in use, the radius of the paper roll 53 in the process of using the sheet 54 is to decreases the _{r b → r c → r d} , the number of pulses at that time, FIG. 15 As shown, it increases in proportion to n _b → n _c → n _d .

Therefore, the paper roll 5 is stored in the memory 35.
A table of data obtained by calculating the remaining amount of paper according to the radius of 3, that is, the number of pulses is stored in advance,
The control unit 36 reads out the remaining paper amount data from the memory 35 according to the number of pulses counted by the counter unit 33,
It will be displayed on the display unit 37. A mechanism for accurately feeding the ink ribbon in the first embodiment, a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of the ink ribbon in the second embodiment, and a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of paper in the third embodiment. It is possible to provide a device in which color misregistration does not occur, and it is easy to check the ink ribbon and the remaining amount of paper by combining the mechanisms for doing so.

[0081]

As described above, according to the first invention, the pulses obtained by the rotation of the supply-side ink ribbon roll are counted and the count value at the time of printing one color is determined. Since the ribbon motor control data was obtained and the ribbon motor was controlled based on this control data, a thermal transfer color recording device that can always feed a fixed amount of ink ribbon and has excellent print quality without color misregistration. Can be provided.

Further, according to the second invention, the pulses obtained by the rotation of the supply-side ink ribbon roll are counted, the ink ribbon remaining amount value corresponding to the counted value is obtained, and this is displayed. Therefore, the staff can always easily confirm the remaining amount of the ink ribbon and can provide the thermal transfer type color recording device having excellent operability. Further, according to the third invention, the number of pulses obtained by rotating the paper roll is counted, the remaining paper amount value corresponding to this count value is obtained, and this is displayed. Can always confirm the remaining amount of paper, and can provide a thermal transfer type color recording device with excellent operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing the overall circuit configuration of the thermal transfer type color recording apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a general printing operation.

FIG. 4 is a time chart when the ink ribbon is fed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations at the time of feeding an ink ribbon.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus in a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a thermal transfer type color recording device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram showing a configuration of an ink ribbon remaining amount detection circuit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the winding diameter of the ink ribbon roll and the feed amount of the ink ribbon.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the operation of the ink ribbon remaining amount detection circuit.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a thermal transfer type color recording device in a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram showing a configuration of a remaining paper amount detection circuit.

FIG. 13 is a time chart showing the flow of signals in the remaining paper amount detection circuit.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in the diameter of a paper roll with the use of paper.

FIG. 15 is a time chart showing changes in the paper roll radius and the number of pulses.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional thermal transfer color recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 disk 2 optical sensor 3 counter circuit 4 latch circuit 5 ROM 6 D / A converter 7 driver circuit 55 supply side ink ribbon roll 72 ribbon motor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical display location B41J 35/16 B 35/36 (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Inoue 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A supply-side ink ribbon roll formed by winding an unused portion of a belt-shaped ink ribbon, in which a plurality of colors required for color printing are applied in equal lengths and in a predetermined order. A used ink ribbon roll that rolls up the used portion of the ink ribbon to form a roll, a ribbon motor that rotates the used ink ribbon roll to wind the used ink ribbon, and an unused A paper roll formed by winding a belt-shaped paper, a platen for feeding the paper fed from the paper roll, and a platen arranged to face the platen. A thermal transfer color recording apparatus including a recording head for transferring ink to perform printing, wherein rotation of the supply-side ink ribbon roll is converted into a pulse. Means, a means for counting this pulse, a means for temporarily storing the count value for one color, and a table for converting the count value into the control data of the ribbon motor, and control according to the temporarily stored count value. A thermal transfer type color recording apparatus comprising: a unit for outputting data; a unit for converting control data of the ribbon motor into a voltage; and a unit for supplying a current corresponding to the voltage to the ribbon motor. 2. A supply-side ink ribbon roll formed by winding an unused portion of a belt-shaped ink ribbon on which a plurality of colors required for color printing are applied in predetermined lengths and in a predetermined order. A used ink ribbon roll that is wound into a roll by winding the used portion of the ink ribbon; a ribbon motor that rotates the used ink ribbon roll to wind the used ink ribbon; The paper roll formed by winding the strip-shaped paper, the platen for feeding the paper fed from the paper roll, and the platen arranged to face the platen. The paper and the ink ribbon are pressed against the platen to form the ink ribbon on the paper. In a thermal transfer type color recording apparatus equipped with a recording head for transferring and printing the above ink, the rotation of the supply-side ink ribbon roll is changed into a pulse. A means for converting, a means for counting this pulse, a means for converting the count value to an ink ribbon remaining amount value, a means for outputting the ink ribbon remaining amount value according to the count value, and the output ink ribbon A thermal transfer color recording apparatus comprising: a means for displaying a remaining amount value. 3. A supply-side ink ribbon roll formed by winding an unused portion of a belt-shaped ink ribbon on which a plurality of colors required for color printing are applied in predetermined lengths and in a predetermined order. A used ink ribbon roll that is wound into a roll by winding the used portion of the ink ribbon; a ribbon motor that rotates the used ink ribbon roll to wind the used ink ribbon; The paper roll formed by winding the strip-shaped paper, the platen for feeding the paper fed from the paper roll, and the platen arranged to face the platen. The paper and the ink ribbon are pressed against the platen to form the ink ribbon on the paper. A thermal transfer color recording apparatus having a recording head for transferring the ink to perform printing, a means for converting the rotation of the paper roll into pulses, A means for counting the pulses, a table for converting the count value to a remaining paper amount value, a means for outputting the remaining paper amount value according to the count value, and a means for displaying the outputted remaining paper amount value A thermal transfer type color recording device comprising: