JPH079748A - Discrimination of ink ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inexpensively perform the discrimination of three kinds of a monochromatic ink ribbon, a high-grade ink ribbon and a color ink ribbon and the detection of the end of one kind of the ink ribbon without using a microswitch in a dot impact printer capable of replacing three kinds of the ink ribbons to use the replaced ink ribbon. CONSTITUTION:Color ribbon forming operation is performed to investigate the output of a photosensor (steps 101, 102). When the output of the photosensor is turned ON/OFF, the mounting of a color ribbon is judged (step 107) and, when the output is turned ON succeedingly, ribbon feed operation is performed (step 104) and, when the output of the photosensor is in an ON state succeedingly, the mounting of a monochromatic ink ribbon is judged and, when the output is ON OFF, the end of a high-grade ink ribbon is judged (steps 106, 112). When the output is in an OFF state succeedingly in the step 102, ribbon feed operation is performed (step 109) and, when the output of the photosensor is in an OFF state succeedingly, the printing position of the high- grade ribbon is judged (step 111) and, when the output is OFF ON, the end of the high-grade ribbon is judged (step 112).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ink ribbon identification method,
In particular, the present invention relates to an ink ribbon identification method for a dot impact type printer that can be used by exchanging a plurality of types of ink ribbons.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of ink ribbon identification method has been used to identify three types of ink ribbons, namely, a circulation type monochrome ribbon, a winding type high quality ribbon, and a circulation type color ribbon, and a winding type identification ribbon. The target is to detect the end of the ink ribbon with respect to the ink ribbon. However, if the color ribbon cannot be used, the other two types of identification and end detection are targeted, and the identification function for the color ribbon is omitted.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are views for explaining a conventional ink ribbon identification method. FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are for identification in a printer that can use a monochrome ribbon and a high-quality ribbon, and FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating identification in the printer which can also use a ribbon.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are respectively a front view and a side view of a carrier portion when a monochrome ribbon is mounted on a carrier of a printer. The carrier 1 is supported by a guide shaft 2 and is in a direction of an arrow A. Can be moved to. The monochrome ribbon 15 is supported by the ribbon base 3 attached to the carrier 1. The ink ribbon drive gear 4 mounted on the carrier 1 is driven by the front stay 5 when the carrier 1 moves in the direction of arrow A, and the carrier 1 moves in either direction of arrow A so that the monochrome ribbon cloth 16 is held by the carrier 1. The drive force in the rotational direction for winding in the direction of arrow B with respect to the print head 6 mounted on the ribbon feed gear 7 is transmitted. Monochrome ribbon 1
The ribbon feed gear 7 mounted on the roller 5 receives the driving force from the ink ribbon drive gear 4, and winds the circulation type monochrome ribbon cloth 16. The photo sensor 8 and the micro switch 9 are attached to the carrier 1. The state of the photo sensor 8 when the monochrome ribbon 15 is used is “O”.
N "and the state of the microswitch 9 are set to" OFF ".
The control unit 10 receives the photo sensor 8 and the micro switch 9 as an electric signal, performs ribbon identification and ribbon end detection, receives an electric signal in the “OFF” state of the micro switch 9 as an input, and detects the ribbon It is identified that the type is the monochrome ribbon 15.

6 (a) and 6 (b) are respectively a front view and a side view of a carrier portion when a high-quality ribbon is attached to a carrier of a printer, and a high-quality ribbon 17 is a ribbon base attached to the carrier 1. Supported by 3. Ink ribbon drive gear 4 mounted on the carrier 1
Is driven by the front stay 5 by the movement of the carrier 1 in the direction of arrow A, no matter which direction the carrier 1 moves in, the high-quality ribbon film 18 is attached to the print head 6 mounted on the carrier 1. The driving force in the rotational direction of winding in the direction of arrow B is transmitted to the ribbon feed gear 7. The ribbon feed gear 7 mounted on the high-quality ribbon 17 receives the driving force from the ink ribbon drive gear 4, drives the ribbon take-up reel 19, and drives the ribbon supply reel 20 to take the take-up high-quality ribbon film 18. Wind up. High-quality ribbon 17 attached to the ribbon base 3
Causes the arm 23 attached to the high-quality ribbon 17 to turn on the microswitch 9 in the "ON" state. Control unit 10
Inputs an electric signal of the "ON" state of the micro switch 9 to identify that the type of the attached ribbon is the high quality ribbon 17. Further, since the high-quality ribbon film 18 is of the winding type, it is necessary to detect the ink ribbon end. The high-quality ribbon film 18 is coated with ink on the front surface of a transparent film, and the ink is transferred from the back surface to the paper by the impact of the print head 6 to perform printing, and also passes through the groove of the photo sensor 8. The photosensor 8 is in the "OFF" state in the portion where the surface of the high-quality ribbon film 18 is coated with ink, and the ribbon sensor of the ribbon end portion of the high-quality ribbon film 18 is not coated in the surface thereof. ON ”. The change of the electric signal from the “OFF” state of the photo sensor 8 to the “ON” state is input to the control unit 1
0 detects the ribbon end of the high quality ribbon 17.

7 (a) and 7 (b) are respectively a front view and a side view of a carrier part when a color ribbon is mounted on a carrier of a printer. As in the case of a monochrome ribbon, the carrier 1 is attached to a guide shaft 2 as shown in FIG. It is supported and movable in the direction of arrow A. The color ribbon 21 is supported by the color ribbon base 11 attached to the carrier 1. The ink ribbon drive gear 4 mounted on the carrier 1 is driven by the front stay 5 when the carrier 1 moves in the direction of arrow A, and the color ribbon cloth 22 can be moved regardless of the direction of arrow A of the carrier 1.
The drive force in the rotational direction for winding the print head 6 in the direction of arrow B with respect to the print head 6 mounted on the carrier 1 is transmitted to the ribbon feed gear 7. The ribbon feed gear 7 mounted on the color ribbon 21 receives the driving force from the ink ribbon drive gear 4 and winds the circulation type color ribbon cloth 22.
The color ribbon cloth 22 has four colors of black, blue, red and yellow from the upper end.
The color ink ribbon 2 is divided into different colors, and the color ink ribbon 2 must be oscillated in order to perform color printing by combining these four colors, and the color ribbon base different from the ribbon base 23 in FIGS. 5 and 6. 11 will be used. The color ribbon base 11 includes a motor 12 and a cam 13, and the motor 1 receives an electric signal from the control unit 10 as an input.
The cam 13 is driven by 2. The cam 13 swings the color ribbon 21 in the direction of arrow C. The color ribbon 21 changes the “ON” and “OFF” states of the photo sensor 8 by the light shielding portion 25 when swinging in the direction of arrow C. The control unit 10 outputs an electric signal to the motor 12 necessary to change the “ON” and “OFF” states of the photosensor 8 at least once, and the photosensor 8 turns “ON” and
When the "OFF" state changes, the color ribbon 21 is recognized and the home position of the color ribbon 2 in the direction of arrow C is confirmed. Also, color ribbon base 1
Although it is possible to attach the monochrome ribbon 15 or the high-quality ribbon 17 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to FIG. 1, there is no convex portion 24 like the color ribbon 21, so that the cam 13 swings in the direction of arrow C. The state of the photo sensor 8 and the micro switch 9 does not change.

[0007]

The above-described conventional ink ribbon identifying method includes a mechanism for swinging the ink ribbon to identify three types of ink ribbons and one type of ink ribbon end detection. There is a drawback in that a photo sensor and a micro switch are necessary and expensive.

[0008]

According to the ink ribbon identifying method of the present invention, three types of ink ribbons, that is, a circulation type monochrome ribbon, a winding type high quality ribbon and a circulation type color ribbon can be exchanged and used. In the ink ribbon identification method of the dot impact type printer, the attached monochrome ribbon ribbon fabric does not pass through, the attached color ribbon is blocked by the light shielding plate, the attached high quality ribbon passes through, and the transparent portion of the ribbon film causes ink to pass through. The printer is provided with a photo sensor for detecting the ribbon end and a swinging mechanism for swinging the color ribbon through the convex portion provided on the color ribbon. By operating this swinging mechanism, the output from the photo sensor is turned from ON to OFF. , Or when it changes from off to on, it is determined that the color ribbon is loaded and the swing mechanism is operated. When the output from the photo sensor is on and does not change, ribbon feed operation is performed.When this output is on, it is determined that a high-quality ribbon is attached and the ink ribbon end is present, and the swing mechanism is operated. Also when the output from the photo sensor is off and does not change, ribbon feeding operation is performed, and when this output is off, it is determined that a high-quality ribbon is attached and is at the printing position.
When this output is turned on, the high-quality ribbon is mounted and it is determined that it is at the ink ribbon end.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are views for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are each a carrier when a color ribbon is attached to a carrier of a printer. It is the front view and side view of a part. Figure 1
In (a) and (b), the carrier 1 is supported by the guide shaft 2 and is movable in the arrow A direction. The ink cribbon drive gear 4 mounted on the carrier 1 winds the color ribbon fabric 22 in the direction of arrow B with respect to the print head 6 mounted on the carrier 1, regardless of which direction the carrier 1 moves in the direction of arrow A. The driving force in the rotating direction is transmitted to the ribbon feed gear 7. The ribbon feed gear 7 mounted on the color ribbon 2 is transmitted with a driving force by the ink ribbon drive guide 4, and the circulation type color ribbon cloth 22
To wind up. The color ribbon fabric 22 is black, blue,
The color ink ribbon 21 is divided into four colors, red and yellow, and color printing is performed by combining these four colors. Therefore, the color ink ribbon 21 needs to be oscillated, and the color ribbon base 11 is used. The color ribbon base 11 is equipped with a motor 12 and a cam 13, and the cam 13 is driven by the motor 12 which receives an electric signal from the control unit 10. The cam 13 pushes up the convex portion 24 of the color ribbon 21 and obtains a reaction force by the spring 14 to obtain the color ribbon 2
1 is rocked in the direction of arrow C. Color ribbon 21
Changes the state of "ON" where the groove of the photo sensor 8 attached to the carrier 1 is not blocked and "OFF" where the groove is blocked by the light blocking portion 25 when swinging in the direction of arrow C. The controller 10 turns the photosensor 8 “ON” at least once.
Outputs an electric signal to the motor 12 necessary to change the "OFF" state, and turns the photosensor 8 "ON" and "OFF".
When the state changes, the color ribbon 21 is recognized and the home position of the color ribbon 2 in the direction of arrow C is confirmed.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a side view, respectively, when a high-quality ribbon is mounted on a carrier of a printer. The high-quality ribbon 7 is supported by the ribbon base 3 attached to the carrier 1. The ink ribbon drive gear 4 mounted on the carrier 1 is driven by the front stay 5 when the carrier 1 moves in the arrow A direction, and is wound in the arrow B direction with respect to the print head 6 mounted on the carrier 1. Is transmitted to the ribbon feed gear 7. The ribbon feed gear 7 mounted on the high-quality ribbon 17 is the ink ribbon drive gear 4
The driving force is transmitted to drive the ribbon take-up reel 19, and the take-up high-quality ribbon film 18 is taken up from the ribbon supply reel 20. In addition, high-quality ribbon film 1
Since 8 is a winding type, it is necessary to detect the ink ribbon end. The high-quality ribbon film 18 is coated with ink on the front surface of a transparent film, and the ink is transferred from the back surface to the paper by the impact of the print head 6 to perform printing. The high-quality ribbon film 18 passes through the groove of the photo sensor 8, and the photo sensor 8 is "O" at the portion where the surface of the high-quality ribbon film 18 is coated with ink.
In the "FF" state, the ribbon end portion alternately has the "OFF" state portion of the photosensor 8 whose surface is coated with ink and the "ON" state portion of the photosensor 8 which is not coated with the ink. 1 regardless of the color ribbon base 11 shown in FIG. 1 or the ribbon base shown in FIG.
1 and outputs the electric signal to the motor 12 which is not shown in FIG. 2, but when the high-quality ribbon 17 is supported by the color ribbon base 11, the color ribbon 21 of FIG.
Since there is no such convex portion 24, the cam 13 does not swing in the direction of arrow C, and the state of the photo sensor 8 does not change. In addition, the ribbon base 3 is shown in FIG.
Motor 12, cam 13 such as color ribbon base 2 of
Is not mounted, the state of the photo sensor 8 does not change due to the electric signal output from the control unit 10. Also, when using the monochrome ribbon 15 described later, "O
The groove portion of the photosensor 8 in the N "state is blocked by the high-quality ribbon film 18 and is always in the" OFF "state. The control unit 10 receives the electric signal in the" OFF "state of the photosensor 8 as an input and attaches the ribbon. Recognizes that the type of the high-quality ribbon 17 is the high-quality ribbon 17. Further, after identifying that the type of the attached ribbon is the high-quality ribbon 17, the control unit 10 can move the carrier 1 in the direction of the arrow A to obtain the high-quality ribbon. The ribbon film 18 is wound in the direction of the arrow B, and the high-quality ribbon 17 can be printed if the state of the photo sensor 8 remains "OFF". The change from "OFF" to "ON" (or "ON" to "OFF"). If there is, it is judged as ribbon end.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are respectively a front view and a side view when a monochrome ribbon is mounted on a carrier of a printer. The carrier 1 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is supported by the guide shaft 2 and is movable in the arrow A direction. The monochrome ribbon 15 is supported by the ribbon base 3 attached to the carrier 1. The monochrome ribbon 15 is supported by the color ribbon base 11 when the color ribbon base 11 shown in FIG. The ink ribbon drive gear 4 mounted on the carrier 1 is driven by the front stay 5 when the carrier 1 moves in the direction of arrow A, and the monochrome ribbon cloth 16 is held by the carrier 1 when the carrier 1 moves in either direction of arrow A. The drive force in the rotational direction for winding in the direction of arrow B with respect to the print head 6 mounted on the ribbon feed gear 7 is transmitted. The ribbon feed gear 7 mounted on the monochrome ribbon 15 is transmitted with the driving force by the ink ribbon drive gear 4, and the circulation type monochrome ribbon fabric 1
Take up 6. The control unit 10 is the ribbon base 1 shown in FIG.
1 or the ribbon base 3 shown in FIG.
Outputs an electrical signal to 2 but color ribbon base 11
When the monochrome ribbon 15 is supported by the black ribbon 15, the convex portion 24 unlike the color ribbon 21 shown in FIG. 1 does not exist, so that the cam 13 does not swing in the direction of arrow C.
The state of the photo sensor 8 does not change. Further, since the motor 12 and the cam 13 such as the color ribbon base 21 of FIG. 1 are not mounted on the ribbon base 3, the state of the photo sensor 8 is not changed by the electric signal output from the control unit 10. When the monochrome ribbon 15 is used and the ribbon end portion of the high quality ribbon 17 of FIG.
Since it is N ", the control unit 10 moves the carrier 1 in the direction of arrow A, winds the monochrome ribbon cloth 16 or the high-quality ribbon film 18 in the direction of arrow B, and if the state of the photosensor 8 remains" ON ", the monochrome ribbon 15, "ON"
If it changes from "OFF" (or "OFF" to "ON"), it is determined that the ribbon end of the high quality ribbon 17.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart summarizing the ribbon identification method described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The flowchart shows a case where the color ribbon base 11 is attached to the printer and various ribbons are attached. First, the motor 12 is driven to perform the color ribbon homing operation, and the output of the photo sensor 8 is checked (step 10
1, 102), and if it remains “ON”, it is determined that a monochrome ribbon is attached or a high-quality ribbon is attached and the ribbon end is reached (step 103).
A ribbon feed operation is performed to check the output of the photo sensor 8 (steps 104 and 105). Therefore, if it is kept "ON", it is determined to be a monochrome ribbon (step 106). If "ON" → "OFF", it is determined that the ribbon is a high quality ribbon end (step 112). In step 102, the output of the photo sensor 8 is “ON” → “OF”.
If F (or "OFF" → "ON"), it is determined that the color ribbon is attached and the home position is confirmed (step 107), and in step 102, the output of the photo sensor 8 is turned "OFF". If it is left as it is, a high-quality ribbon is attached, and it is judged that it is at the printing position or at the ribbon end (step 108). ), If it is kept “OFF”, it means the printing position of the high quality ribbon (step 11).
1) If "OFF" → "ON", it is determined that the ribbon is at the end (step 112).

When the ribbon base 3 is attached to the printer, at step 102, only two outputs, that is, "ON" or "OFF", are output from the photo sensor.

[0015]

As described above, the present invention is a dot impact type printer which can be used by exchanging three types of ink ribbons.
There is an advantage that homing operation of the color ribbon and the photo sensor can perform the detection of the ink ribbon end of the kind of ink ribbon without providing a micro switch.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention when a color ribbon is attached to a printer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention when a high quality ribbon is attached to a printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention when a monochrome ribbon is attached to a printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the ink ribbon identification operation of FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional ink ribbon identification method when a monochrome ribbon is attached to a printer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a conventional ink ribbon identification method when a high-quality ribbon is attached to a printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional ink ribbon identification method when a color ribbon is attached to a printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Carrier 2 Guide Shaft 3 Ribbon Base 4 Ribbon Drive Gear 5 Front Stay 6 Print Head 7 Ribbon Feed Gear 8 Photo Sensor 9 Micro Switch 10 Control Unit 11 Color Ribbon Base 12 Motor 13 Cam 14 Spring 15 Monochrome Ribbon 16 Monochrome Ribbon Cloth 17 High Quality Ribbon 18 High-quality ribbon film 19 Ribbon take-up reel 20 Ribbon supply reel 21 Color ribbon 22 Color ribbon cloth 23 Arm 24 Convex section 25 Light-shielding section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ink ribbon identification method for a dot impact type printer, wherein three kinds of ink ribbons, a circulation type monochrome ribbon, a winding type high quality ribbon and a circulation type color ribbon, can be exchanged and used. The monochrome ribbon does not pass through the cloth, but the attached color ribbon is blocked by the light shield plate, and the attached high-quality ribbon passes and the photosensor that detects the ink ribbon end by the transparent part of the ribbon film and the color ribbon The printer is provided with an oscillating mechanism that oscillates through the convex portion provided on the color ribbon, and when the output from the photosensor is changed from on to off or from off to on by operating the oscillating mechanism, the color ribbon is If it is determined that the photo sensor is attached and the output from the photo sensor does not change even if the swing mechanism is operated, When the ribbon feed operation is performed, and when this output is on, it is determined that a high-quality ribbon is installed and the ink ribbon end is present, and the output from the photo sensor remains off even if the swing mechanism is operated. Performs ribbon feed operation.When this output is off, it is determined that the high-quality ribbon is installed and is in the print position.When this output is turned on, the high-quality ribbon is installed and the ink ribbon end is A method for identifying an ink ribbon, characterized by determining that there is.