JPH11105315A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output the number of papers capable being printed by accurately obtaining a residual quantity of an ink ribbon in a simple structure without adding a special part in terms of a printer that prints image data by superposing inks of plural colors on the color ink ribbon in which the inks of the plural colors are arranged at predetermined intervals. SOLUTION: A consumption combination number (B) (=L/H) of inks of three primary colors in an ink ribbon required for image printing of one piece of paper is calculated based on a size (L) for designated image printing and a width (H) of a print head in the longitudinal direction. For example, the number C (=A/B) of papers capable of being printed is calculated based on a non-used residual combination number (A) and a consumption combination number required for printing one piece of paper. The non-used residual combination number (A) and the number (C) of papers capable of being printed are indicated and the image printing is executed. The non-used residual combination number (A) is decremented to be renewed and is indicated every time when superposing printing of one line by the inks of three primary colors is executed as well as the number (C) of papers capable of being printed is decremented to be renewed and is indicated every time when the printing of one piece of paper is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing image data using a plurality of color inks using a color ink ribbon in which a plurality of color inks are arranged in a predetermined repetition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing apparatus such as a word processor for printing using an ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is moved with respect to a thermal head, and the used ink ribbon is wound up and printed. In some cases, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is obtained in consideration of user's convenience and displayed, because printing is interrupted due to exhaustion of ink.

That is, in the above-described printing apparatus, the number of revolutions of the winding shaft of the ink ribbon is cumulatively counted by the rotary encoder, and the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is obtained by subtracting the cumulative count value from the initial value.

[0004] In addition, there has also been a printing apparatus that counts the number of printed recording sheets and estimates the remaining printable number based on the accumulated count.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional printing apparatus, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is displayed based on the numerical value of the rotation of the winding shaft of the ink ribbon.
It is difficult for the user to understand how much ribbon remains and how much data can be printed. In addition, since a rotary encoder is used to detect the number of rotations of the ribbon take-up shaft, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and the cost increases.

[0006] Furthermore, in the apparatus for counting the number of printed recording sheets and estimating the remaining printable number based on the cumulative count, an average print data amount per sheet is determined in advance. Since the number of remaining prints is predicted based on the number, there is a problem that the predicted quantity is not always accurate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a simple configuration without any additional components, and can accurately determine the remaining amount of an ink ribbon and output the number of printable sheets. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

That is, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of inks of a plurality of colors corresponding to one printing line are formed in a predetermined set in a predetermined repetition arrangement, and at least a set of inks corresponding to a specific one color ink is formed. A cassette containing an ink ribbon attached with identification information is attached to a printing unit having a print head that moves along the recording paper, and the identification information is detected by a detector to print the ink of each of a plurality of colors. A printing device for printing using a plurality of colors of ink by repeating main scanning and sub-scanning of the print head while aligning with the head, and housed in the cassette based on identification information detected by the detector. Counting means for counting the number of sets of the plurality of color inks of the unused ink ribbon to be used, and setting the print size of the image data to be printed to the length of the print head in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. Setting means for setting the image data, and a multi-color ink of an ink ribbon consumed for printing the image data based on the length of the image data in the sub-scanning direction of the print head and the width of the print head of the image data set by the setting means. Consumption calculating means for calculating the number of sets of the ink ribbon, and the number of sets of the plurality of color inks of the unused ink ribbon obtained by the counting means and the number of sets of the consumption of the plurality of color inks of the ink ribbon obtained by the consumption calculating means. The image processing apparatus further includes a print number calculating unit for calculating the number of recording sheets on which the image data can be printed, and an output unit for outputting a calculation result of the print number calculating unit before printing the image data.

According to such a printing apparatus, the identification information attached to the ink ribbon is detected, the number of sets of the plurality of color inks on the unused ink ribbon is counted, and the print size of the image data to be actually printed is determined. It calculates the number of sets of ink used for ink of multiple colors on the ink ribbon based on the width of the print head and the width of the print head, and calculates the number of recording papers on which image data can be printed. Can be output.

In addition, it is possible to obtain identification information for aligning a plurality of color inks of an ink ribbon with a print head and a number of consumed color ink sets of the ink ribbon using a detector for detecting the identification information. As a result, the configuration can be simplified without adding any special parts.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view of a main part of a printing mechanism of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a platen roller, 2 is a carriage, 3 is a print head, and 4 is a cassette containing a color ink ribbon. The carriage 2 reciprocates in the X and Y directions along the platen roller 1 while being guided by the guide rails 5. Also, the carriage 2 has
While the print head 3 is mounted, the ink ribbon take-up shaft 6, the self-propelled mechanism of the carriage 2 not shown, the drive mechanism of the ink ribbon take-up shaft, the drive mechanism of the print head 3, and the color ink position mark of the ink ribbon Is mounted.

When the carriage 2 moves in the X direction from the home position shown in FIG. 1, the ink ribbon take-up shaft 6 is driven by a motor mounted on the carriage 2, and the print head 3 comes into pressure contact with the platen roller 1. Printing is performed on the recording paper 7. When the carriage 2 moves to the end of the printing range on the right side of FIG. 1, the print head 3 is separated from the platen roller 1, and the carriage 2 moves in the Y direction and returns to the home position. This printing operation is repeated three times, and the Y, M, and C print data are overprinted using a set of inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C).

The winding shaft 6 of the ink ribbon is driven based on the position mark of the color ink detected by the detector while the carriage 2 moves from the home position to the printing start position, and the ink head is moved to the print head 3. The head alignment of each color of the ribbon is performed.

When printing of one print line is completed by overprinting using a set of inks of Y, M, and C, the platen roller 1
Is rotated by a predetermined angle by a feed motor and a drive mechanism (not shown) to feed the recording paper 7 in the Z direction to print the next one print line, and repeat this until printing of print data is completed.

The print head 3 has a plurality of heating elements arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage 2 (the vertical direction of the print head 3 in FIG. 1). The recording paper 7 is fed at a pitch of the width of the head 3 (the width of the heating element).

The recording paper 7 is a postcard, which is housed in a tray (not shown), and is supplied to the printing mechanism shown in FIG. 1 every time one sheet is printed.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the ink ribbon R stored in the cassette 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the cassette 4, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) inks each having a predetermined length M are regularly and repeatedly arranged.
A predetermined number of ink sets, each of which includes Y, M, and C as one set, are formed.

At the beginning of each of the Y, M, and C ink areas, position marks m1 to m3 made of black ink are formed. In FIG. 2, the position mark m1 is formed wider than m2 and m3, and by detecting this mark m1, it is possible to identify the head position of one set of ink. Although m2 and m3 have the same width, the widths of m1 to m3 may be different from each other.

It should be noted that the length M of each color ink corresponds to the size of the recording paper 7, and printing can be performed on the recording paper 7 at a maximum size of width M.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of M.

3 and 4, reference numeral 10 denotes a control unit;
Denotes a key input unit, 11a denotes a print key for instructing start of printing,
11b is a character key for inputting characters, 11c is a reset key which is operated at the time of replacement of the cassette 4 to set the number of unused color ink sets of the ink ribbon R to an initial value, 11d
Is the ink ribbon R when the cassette 4 is remounted.
Is a set key for inputting and setting the number of unused sets of the color ink according to the usage. In addition, various control keys are provided.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a ROM which stores character font pattern data, message information to be displayed on the display unit 14, and the like in addition to the control program.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a RAM, which is an image data memory 13a for storing image data to be printed, a print data memory 13b for storing Y, M, and C print data created from the image data, and a print head 3 for printing. , A print buffer 13c in which the print data supplied to the printer is transferred from the print data memory 13b and stored, an image size memory 13d in which the print size input and set for the image data to be printed is stored, and the number N of prints input and set Number of prints memory 13e to be printed, and remaining number of sets memory 13f in which unused number data A of color ink of ink ribbon R is stored.
Is provided.

When the cassette 4 is replaced, the unused set number data A of the ink ribbon R stored in the remaining set number memory 13f is set to an initial value by operating the reset key 11c. Sometimes set key 1
Input setting can be made with 1d and character keys 11b.

Further, the RAM 13 includes a consumption group number memory 13g for storing the consumption group number B of a plurality of color inks required for printing image data on one sheet of recording paper 7 obtained by calculation, and a remaining group of the ink ribbon R. 1 that can be printed with number A
A printable number memory 13h for storing the printable numbers C and D of image data requiring the number of sets B consumed per sheet, the recording paper 7
Printed number memory 13i for storing the printed number E of
In addition, a data processing area for scaling the image data based on the set print size and a register for temporarily storing operation values of various operations are provided.

14 is a display unit, 15 is a printer control unit, 1
6, a head driver for driving the print head (thermal head) 3 to generate heat; 17, 18, 19, motor drivers;
A motor 0 drives the ink ribbon take-up shaft 6 mounted on the carriage 2 and the print head 3. This motor 20
Drives the ink ribbon winding shaft 6 to rotate,
Also, the print head 3 moves up and down via the cam.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a self-propelled motor of the carriage 2 mounted on the carriage 2.

A paper feed motor 22 drives the platen roller 1.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a detector, and the print head 3
And a transmissive photosensor for detecting the position marks m1 to m3 of the ink ribbon R in order to perform the color ink positioning (starting) process with respect to.

Reference numeral 24 denotes an input / output unit (I / O) for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device, and receives image data from the external device.

The control unit 10 detects the position marks m1 to m3 by the detector 23 and performs the cueing process of the color ink. When the position mark m1 is detected, the control unit 10 sets the remaining pair number A from the remaining pair memory 13f. The numerical value is counted down by "1" (set).

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a printing state of a print image 8 to be printed on the recording paper 7.

At the time of printing, the print size of the image data to be printed is input and set, and stored in the image size memory 13d in the RAM 13. The setting of the print size is performed by inputting a numerical value from the key input unit 11, and the width W and the length L of the print image are input. The direction of the width W corresponds to the main scanning direction of the print head 3 (the moving direction of the carriage 2), and the length L corresponds to the sub-scanning direction of the print head 3 (the conveying direction of the recording paper 7). Further, the width H of the print head 3 (the width of the heating element) corresponds to the length L direction of the print image.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an image printing process by the printing apparatus.

The printing process of this printing apparatus is performed by the key input unit 1
1 starts by operating the print key 11a.
At the start of the printing process, image data input in advance via the input / output unit (I / O) 24 and stored in the image data memory 13a in the RAM 13 or created by operating the character key 11b Image data memory 1
3a is designated as image data to be printed, and its print size (width W, length L)
Is specified and stored in the image size memory 13d, and the number of prints N is also specified and stored in the print number memory 13e.

When the printing process is started by operating the print key 11a, first, the group number data (consumption group number data) B of a plurality of color inks consumed for printing one image data is expressed as "B = L / H". And stored in the consumption group memory 13g in the RAM 13 (step S
1). Note that “B” is an integer, and if “L / H” has a fraction, it is carried forward.

Then, when the printing of the number N of prints specified in advance and stored in the number-of-prints memory 13e is executed, the total number of consumed groups "BN" of the ink ribbon R and the number of remaining pairs of memories 13f are stored in the memory 13f. A comparison is made between the number of unused pairs of the ink ribbon R and the number A of unused pairs (step S2).

Here, if it is determined that the total number of consumed sets BN of the ink ribbon R required for the predetermined number of prints N is equal to or less than the remaining number of unused sets A, printing with the remaining number of sets A is possible. The number of sheets C is obtained by the calculation of “C = A / B” and stored in the printable number memory 13h (steps S2 → S3). However, if a fraction appears in "A / B", the fraction is truncated.

Then, the number A of unused pairs of the ink ribbon R and the number C of printable sheets obtained by the arithmetic processing in step S3 are displayed on the display unit 14 (step S4).

In accordance with the print size (width W, length L) specified in advance and stored in the image size memory 13d, scaling processing of the print target image data stored in the image data memory 13a is performed. Then, print data for Y printing, M printing, and C printing are created and stored in the print data memory 13b (step S5).

Then, the paper feed motor 22 is driven by the motor driver 19 via the printer control unit 15, the platen roller 1 is rotated, and the recording paper 7 is fed to the printing start position (step S6).

The motor driver 17 controls the motor 2
0 is driven to rotate the ink ribbon take-up shaft 6, the mark m1 attached to the Y ink of the ink ribbon R is detected via the detector 23, and the cueing of the Y ink is performed (step S7). ).

Here, the remaining set number memory 1 in the RAM 13
The data of the remaining number A of unused pairs of the ink ribbon R stored in 3f is decremented by “1” (step S8), and accordingly, the remaining number A of pairs displayed on the display unit 14 is accompanied. Is updated (step S
9).

Then, the carriage 2 is moved in the width direction of the recording paper 7 by using the Y ink of the ink ribbon R which has been caught in step S7, and printing of one line of Y data (print data) is performed. It is. Subsequently, the cueing of M ink and printing of one print line of M data (print data) are performed, and the cueing of C ink and printing of one print line of C data (print data) are performed. Line overprinting is performed (step S10).

When the overprinting by Y, M, and C for one printing line is performed, the paper feed motor 22 is driven to rotate the platen roller 1 and the width H of the print head 3.
Is fed by a line feed (step S1).
1).

Then, it is determined whether or not the printing of one image data has been completed. If it is determined that the printing has not been completed, the printing process for each printing line in steps S7 to S11 is performed on the ink ribbon R. This is repeated while decrementing the remaining use number A by "1" (step S12 → S
7 to S11).

Thereafter, in step S12, 1
If it is determined that the printing of one image data has been completed, the RA
The printed number E stored in the printed number memory 13i in M13 is incremented by “1” (step S12 → S13), and the printable number memory 13
The printable number C stored in h is decremented by "1" (step S14), and the data display of the printable number C displayed on the display unit 14 is updated (step S15).

Then, the printed recording paper 7 is discharged by rotating the platen roller 1 (step S16).

Here, by comparing the designated number N of prints stored in the number-of-prints memory 13e with the number E of prints stored in the number-of-printed-memory 13i, it is determined whether all the specified number of prints have been completed. If "E = N", that is, if it is determined that the printing is completed, the printing process is terminated (step S17 → END), and "E <N", that is, the number of printed sheets E reaches the designated number of printed sheets N. If it is determined that there is no single-sheet printing, the one-sheet printing process in step S6 and subsequent steps is repeated (step S17 → S6 to S16).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the total number of consumed sets BN of the ink ribbon R required for the designated number of prints N is larger than the number of remaining unused sets A,
The number of printable sheets D based on the number of remaining sets A is “D = A / B”
And is stored in the printable number memory 13h (step S2 → S18). However, "A /
If a fraction appears in "B", the fraction is truncated.

Here, it is compared whether the printable number D stored in the printable number memory 13h is larger or smaller than "1", and it is determined that the printable number D is smaller than "1". In this case, a message for cassette replacement is displayed on the display unit 14.
Is displayed, and the printing process is terminated (steps S19 → S20, END).

If it is determined that the number of printable sheets D is larger than "1", the number of printable sheets D is displayed on the display section 14 together with the number A of unused pairs of the ink ribbon R. A message as to whether or not to print is also displayed (steps S19 → S21).

When there is no print execution instruction,
This printing process is terminated (step S22 → END),
If there is an instruction to execute printing, one-sheet printing processing is performed up to the maximum number D of printable sheets in accordance with steps S5 to S17 (step S22 →).
S6).

Therefore, according to the printing apparatus having the above configuration, one image printing is required based on the image printing size (length L) designated in advance and the width (H) in the length direction of the print head 3. Consumption group number B of three primary color inks of ink ribbon R
(= L / H) is calculated, and printing is performed based on, for example, the number A of unused pairs of the ink ribbon R initially set when the ink ribbon cassette 4 is replaced and the number B of consumed pairs required for printing one sheet. The number of available sheets C (= A / B) is calculated, the number of remaining unused pairs A and the number of printable sheets C are displayed, and the image is printed. Each time one print line is overprinted with three primary color inks, the number of unused pairs A is updated to "-1" and is updated and displayed. Is updated to "-1", so that no special parts other than the originally present ink ribbon detector 23 are required for use in finding the ink color of the ink ribbon R. The remaining set number A and printable number C of R can be known on the display.

[0059]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the identification information attached to the ink ribbon is detected, the number of sets of the plurality of color inks of the unused ink ribbon is counted, and the actual number is set. Because the number of consumed ink sets of the ink of the plurality of colors of the ink ribbon is calculated based on the print size of the image data to be printed on the print head and the width size of the print head, the number of recording papers on which the image data can be printed is calculated. The number of printable sheets can be accurately obtained and output.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately obtain the remaining amount of the ink ribbon and output the number of printable sheets with a simple configuration without adding any particular components.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a main part of a printing mechanism of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an ink ribbon R stored in a cassette of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a RAM of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a print state of a print image printed on recording paper in accordance with a print process of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image printing process performed by the printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Platen roller, 2 ... Carriage, 3 ... Print head, 4 ... Ink ribbon cassette, 5 ... Guide rail, 6 ... Ink ribbon winding shaft, 7 ... Recording paper, 8 ... Print image, R ... Ink ribbon, m ... Ink Ribbon ribbon position mark, 10: control unit, 11: key input unit, 11a: print key, 11b: character key, 11c: reset key, 11d: set key, 12: ROM, 13: RAM, 13a: image data memory, 13b: print data memory, 13c: print buffer, 13d: image size memory, 13e: print number memory (N), 13f: remaining number memory (A), 13g: consumed number memory (B), 13h: printable Number memory (C), 13i Printed number memory (E), 14 Display unit, 15 Printer control unit, 23 A Link ribbon position mark detector, 24 ... input / output unit (I / O).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cassette for accommodating an ink ribbon in which a plurality of inks of a plurality of colors corresponding to one printing line are formed in a predetermined repetitive arrangement in a predetermined repetitive arrangement, and at least identification information is provided corresponding to a specific one color ink. The main scanning of the print head is carried out while being attached to a print unit having a print head that moves along the recording paper, detecting the identification information by a detector and aligning each of the plurality of color inks with the print head. A printing apparatus that prints using a plurality of colors of ink by repeating sub-scanning with a plurality of colors of ink of an unused ink ribbon stored in the cassette based on identification information detected by the detector. Counting means for counting the number, setting means for setting the print size of the image data to be printed by the length of the print head in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, Consumption amount calculating means for calculating a set number of a plurality of color inks of the ink ribbon consumed for printing the image data based on a length of the fixed image data in the sub-scanning direction of the print head and a width of the print head; The number of recording paper sheets on which the image data can be printed is obtained from the number of sets of the plurality of inks of the unused ink ribbon obtained by the counting means and the number of sets of the consumption of the plurality of inks of the ink ribbon obtained by the consumption calculating means. A printing apparatus comprising: a printed sheet number calculating unit that calculates the number of printed sheets; and an output unit that outputs a calculation result of the printed sheet number calculating unit before printing the image data.