JPH11321053A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent waste of ink ribbon in test print by carrying an ink ribbon in the returning direction by an amount corresponding to the length of a print data when a decision is made that the carrying amount of ink ribbon is equal to or larger than the length of the print data. SOLUTION: A key input section 3 select to use a region of an ink ribbon located on the downstream side of a print head 27 thus selecting test print. When test print is selected, used amount of ink ribbon stored in an RAM 32 is compared with an expected length to be used and a decision is made whether test print is possible or not. If the used amount is equal to or larger than the expected length to be used, the ink ribbon is carried in the returning direction by a ribbon carrying mechanism 16 by an amount corresponding to the length of print data stored in the RAM 32. Since used part of the ink ribbon can be reused, waste of ink ribbon can be prevented in test print.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus, an ink ribbon is superimposed on a sheet (medium to be printed) such as recording paper, and in this state, at least while the ink ribbon is being fed, a print head controls the ink of the ink ribbon based on print data. In some cases, printing is performed by transferring the image on paper. In this type of printing apparatus, a ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon is removably mounted at a predetermined position in the apparatus main body, and a print head is placed in a state where the ink ribbon and paper inserted in the apparatus main body are superimposed. In this condition, the print head transfers the ink of the ink ribbon to the paper based on the print data while feeding the ink ribbon from the supply reel in the ribbon cassette and winding the ink ribbon on the take-up reel. Is configured.

[0003]

However, in such a printing apparatus, since the ink ribbon is fed out of the supply reel in the ribbon cassette and is printed while being taken up by the take-up reel, printing is performed every time. Each time, a new portion of the ink ribbon is sent between the print head and the platen at the start of printing, so even if you want to perform test printing, you can print using the new portion of the ink ribbon. And had to waste ink ribbons.

An object of the present invention is to prevent wasteful consumption of ink ribbon in test printing by rewinding the used ink ribbon and reusing it.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying a long ink ribbon provided with an ink portion in a feed direction and a return direction, and the ink conveyed in the feed direction by the transfer means. A printing unit that prints the ink portion of the ribbon on a print-receiving medium based on print data; a calculation unit that calculates a print data length that is printed by the printing unit based on the print data; Storage means for storing the print data length and the transport amount of the ink ribbon positioned downstream of the printing means; and the length of the transport amount of the ink ribbon and the print data length stored in the storage means. Comparison determination means for comparing the size, and using the area of the ink ribbon located downstream from the printing means, or upstream from the printing means Selection means for selecting whether to use the area of the ink ribbon to be placed, selection judgment means for judging a selection result by the selection means, and the ink ribbon positioned downstream of the printing means by the selection judgment means. When it is determined that the use of the area is selected by the selection unit, the comparison determination unit compares the transport amount of the ink ribbon stored in the storage unit with the length dimension of the print data. When it is determined that the transport amount of the ink ribbon is equal to or larger than the length of the print data length, the ink ribbon at least for the size of the print data length stored in the storage unit is determined. Transport control means for transporting in the return direction by the transport means.

According to the present invention, the test printing can be selected by selecting the use of the area of the ink ribbon located downstream of the printing means by the selection means, and the test printing is selected. By comparing the length of the ink ribbon transport amount stored in the storage unit with the print data length by the comparison determining unit, it is determined whether test printing is possible, and the transport amount of the ink ribbon is printed. If the length of the data length is equal to or greater than the length dimension,
It is determined that test printing is possible, and the return conveyance control means causes the conveyance means to convey the ink ribbon of the size of the print data length stored in the storage means in the return direction. Only the ink ribbon can be rewound, so that the once used portion of the ink ribbon can be used again, and wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon in test printing can be prevented. In this case, as described in claim 2, when the comparison determination unit determines that the print data length stored in the storage unit is larger than the length dimension of the transport amount of the ink ribbon stored in the storage unit, If the notifying means for notifying that is provided, when the test printing is selected by the selecting means, the notifying means can notify that the returned amount of the used ink ribbon is insufficient.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
1 is an external perspective view of a printing apparatus. This printing apparatus includes an apparatus main body 1. A lid case 2 is attached to the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 so as to be openable and closable. A key input unit 3 for inputting information such as print data and a print command, and a key input unit A display unit 4 is provided for displaying information such as print data input by the unit 3 and processing results thereof. On the front of the apparatus main body 1, there is provided a cassette entrance 6 through which a ribbon cassette 5 is inserted and removed. Is provided,
A paper discharge port (not shown) for discharging the inserted paper 7 is provided on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 1 opposed thereto.

The ribbon cassette 5 is removably mounted in the apparatus main body 1 through the cassette entrance 6 and has a cassette case 11 for accommodating an ink ribbon 10. The left end of the cassette case 11, that is, the end located on the side of the paper insertion slot 8, has an ink ribbon 1.
The supply reel 12 for supplying the ink ribbon 10 is rotatably provided at the right end thereof, that is, at the end located on the paper discharge port side. Have been. Also, supply reel 1
Cassette case 1 located between 2 and take-up reel 13
An opening 14 that exposes the upper and lower surfaces of the ink ribbon 10 is provided vertically through a center portion of the ink ribbon 10. In addition,
The ribbon cassette 5 is provided for monochrome printing and color printing, and a plurality of types of these are prepared for different widths of the ink ribbon 10, respectively.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the apparatus body 1, a paper transport mechanism 15 for transporting the inserted paper 7, a ribbon transport mechanism 16 for transporting the ink ribbon 10, and printing on the paper 7 are performed. A printing mechanism 17 is provided. The paper transport mechanism 15 is disposed between the paper insertion port 8 and the paper discharge port shown in FIG. 1, and is located on the paper insertion port 8 side (the left side in FIG. 2).
And a discharge-side transport roller unit 19 provided on the paper discharge port side (the right side in the figure).
And a paper driving unit 2 for driving each of the transport roller units 18 and 19
0. Each of the transport roller portions 18 and 19 includes a pair of rollers 18a, 18b, 19a and 19b, respectively.
a, 19b with the paper 7 sandwiched between
, And is configured to transport the sheet 7. The paper driving unit 20 transmits the rotation of a stepping motor (indicated by reference numeral 34 in FIG. 4) to each of the transport roller units 1 by a transmission unit.
8 and 19, and is constituted by a plurality of gear trains so as to drive one (lower in FIG. 2) rollers 18a and 19a of each of the transport roller units 18 and 19.

The paper transport mechanism 15 includes first and second paper sensors 21 and 22 for detecting the presence or absence of the paper 7 inserted in the apparatus main body 1. The first paper sensor 21
A light-emitting element 21a and a light-receiving element 21b are arranged near the insertion side of the insertion-side transport roller unit 18, and the paper insertion port 8 is provided.
Is configured to detect the paper 7 inserted into the apparatus main body 1 from the apparatus. The second paper sensor 22, like the first paper sensor 21, includes a light emitting element 22a and a light receiving element 22b. The second paper sensor 22 is disposed near the insertion side of the discharge-side transport roller unit 19, and is sent to the printing mechanism 17 by the paper transport mechanism 15. Torn paper 7
Is configured to be detected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon transport mechanism 16 is provided above the paper 7 transported by the paper transport mechanism 15, and is mounted on the supply reel 12 when the ribbon cassette 5 is loaded. The apparatus includes a return shaft 23, a take-up shaft 24 mounted on the take-up reel 13, and a ribbon drive unit (not shown) for driving one of the rewind shaft 23 and the take-up shaft 24 to be switchable. . Rewinding shaft 23 and winding shaft 24
Are provided in the apparatus main body 1 so as to be capable of slip rotation via a clutch mechanism (not shown). When the winding shaft 24 is driven by the ribbon driving unit, the rewind shaft 23 slips and rotates. Is driven by the ribbon drive unit, the winding shaft 24 is configured to perform slip rotation. The ribbon driving unit controls the forward rotation and the reverse rotation of the stepping motor (indicated by reference numeral 36 in FIG. 4) to one of the rewinding shaft 23 and the winding shaft 24 by a switching mechanism (not shown) such as a planetary gear mechanism. By transmitting, for example, the winding shaft 24 is rotated in the winding direction of the ink ribbon 10 by forward rotation of the stepping motor 36, and the rewind shaft 23 is rotated in the winding direction of the ink ribbon 10 by reverse rotation of the stepping motor 36. It is configured as follows.

The ribbon transport mechanism 16 has a cassette sensor (reference numeral 25 in FIG. 4) for detecting the type of the ribbon cassette 5.
), And a mark sensor 26. As shown in FIG. 2, the mark sensor 26
a and a light receiving element 26b for detecting the detection marks 10a and 10b of the ink ribbon 10 for color printing. In the ink ribbon 10 for color printing, three color ink portions of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are repeatedly and continuously arranged in this order along the longitudinal direction of the ink ribbon 10. It has a configuration. The detection mark 10a is for detecting the head (cueing) of each ink portion of Y, M, and C of the ink ribbon 10 as one set, and detects the downstream end of the Y ink portion, that is, the Y ink portion. It is provided with a large width at the boundary between the portion and the C ink portion. The detection mark 10b is for detecting the end of each of the Y, M, and C ink portions, and is provided with a narrow width at the boundary between the Y, M, and C ink portions. Each of the detection marks 10a and 10b is a black mark.

The printing mechanism 17 includes a printing head 27 and a platen roller 28 as shown in FIG. The platen roller 28 is rotatably arranged below the sheet 7 conveyed by the sheet conveying mechanism 15 so as to face the ribbon cassette 5, and is driven by the sheet driving unit 20 of the sheet conveying mechanism 15 to form a sheet. It is configured to rotate in synchronization with the transport speed of the paper 7 by the transport mechanism 15. The print head 27 is configured to be brought into pressure contact with and separated from the platen roller 28 through the opening 14 of the ribbon cassette 5 by a head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29. A heating element (not shown) that is driven to generate heat in accordance with print data is provided on a surface of the print head 27 that faces the platen roller 28.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 includes a head arm 29a rotatably provided above the ribbon cassette 5 mounted on the ribbon transport mechanism 16, and a tip of the head arm 29a. Print head 27
The head arm 29 is rotated by a rotating member (not shown) that is rotated by a motor (indicated by reference numeral 39 in FIG. 4).
is rotated so that the print head 27 is pressed against and separated from the platen roller 28. That is, the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 is
a rotates clockwise in FIG.
7 is inserted into the opening 14 of the cassette case 11 from above the ribbon cassette 5, the ink ribbon 10 in the ribbon cassette 5 is pushed down by the print head 27 and overlapped on the paper 7, and in this state, the print head 27 is When the head arm 29a is pressed against the roller 28,
, The print head 27 is separated from the platen roller 28 and moved above the ribbon cassette 5.

Next, regarding the circuit configuration of the printing apparatus,
This will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 30 is a control unit that controls the entire printing apparatus according to a program stored in the ROM 31.
Further, the ROM 31 stores various information such as the total length of the ribbon, which is fixed data for each type of the ribbon cassette 5. The RAM 32 stores data processed by the CPU 30. The key input unit 3 includes various keys such as a character key, a print key, and a selection key, and transmits various information such as print data and a print command in accordance with the key operation.
Enter 30. The display unit 4 obtains data input by key operation of the key input unit 3 and information such as a processing result from the CPU 30 and displays the data.

The paper transport motor drive circuit 33 includes a CPU
In response to the drive command from the control unit 30, the stepping motor 34 for sheet conveyance is driven to operate the sheet conveyance mechanism 15.
The ribbon transport motor driving circuit 35 is provided with a ribbon transport stepping motor 3 in response to a drive command from the CPU 30.
6 to operate the ribbon transport mechanism 16. The head drive circuit 37 drives the heating elements of the print head 27 to generate heat according to print data in response to a drive command from the CPU 30. The head pressure contact / separation motor drive circuit 38 includes a CPU 3
The print head 27 is pressed and separated from the platen roller 28 by driving the motor 39 of the head pressure contact and separation mechanism 29 in response to the drive command from 0 to rotate the head arm 29a.

When the first paper sensor 21 detects the paper 7 inserted into the apparatus main body from the paper insertion slot 8, the first paper detection circuit 40 inputs a detection signal to the CPU 30. When the paper 7 sent to the printing mechanism 17 by the paper transport mechanism 15 is detected by the second paper sensor 22, the second paper detection circuit 41 inputs a detection signal to the CPU 30. The cassette detection circuit 42 is connected to the apparatus main body 1 through the cassette entrance 6.
When the type of the ribbon cassette 5 mounted in the inside is detected by the cassette sensor 25, the detection signal is input to the CPU 30. When the mark sensor 26 detects each of the detection marks 10a and 10b of the ink ribbon 10 for color printing, the mark detection circuit 43 inputs a detection signal to the CPU 30. The counter 44 is provided for each stepping motor 34,
36 step rotations are counted by the drive pulse,
Input to CPU30.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main configuration of the RAM 32. Various memory areas such as a display register 32-1, a work area 32-2, and a cassette-specific memory 32-3 are allocated to the RAM 32. The display register 32-1 is a register that stores display data to be displayed on the display unit 4. The work area 32-2 stores print data input by the key input unit 3, print data length calculated based on the print data, data for calculation processing of the CPU 30, data read from the ROM 31, and the like. Is done. The cassette memory 32-3 is an area for storing the type of the ribbon cassette 5, and the type, the ribbon width, and the used amount Xn of the ribbon cassette 5 are classified and stored for each type of the ribbon cassette 5. For example, in the case of the monochrome ribbon cassette A for monochrome printing, the ribbon width is 9 mm and the used amount is 1 m. In the type monochrome ribbon cassette B, the ribbon width is 18 mm, the used amount is 1.5 m, and the type is color printing. Color ribbon cassette A, the ribbon width is 9 mm, the used amount is 0.1 m,
If the type is color ribbon cassette B, the ribbon width is 18
mm and the used amount are stored as 2.0 m.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Assuming that the main flow of FIG. 6 starts, when a new ribbon cassette 5 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1 from the cassette entrance 6, the reset button is operated to operate a ribbon used amount Xn described later.
Has been cleared in advance. When the main flow starts, the type of the ribbon cassette 5 is determined by the cassette sensor 2.
5 identifies the used ribbon amount Xn of the ribbon cassette 5 in the cassette-specific memory 32-3 of the RAM 32.
And stores it in the work area 32-2 of the RAM 32 (step S101). Then, print data is input by key operation of the key input unit 3 and stored in the work area 32-2 of the RAM 32 (step S102). At this time, input character data (character size) is also automatically regulated according to the type (ribbon width) of the ribbon cassette 5. Thereafter, it is determined whether the print key of the key input unit 3 has been pressed (step S103). If the print key has not been pressed, the process returns to step S102 and the above operation is repeated.
When the print key is pressed and turned on, normal print and test print are displayed on the display unit 4 (step S104), and it is determined whether the test print key, which is a selection key of the key input unit 3, is pressed (step S105). ).

When the test print key is pressed and turned on in step S105, it is determined that the test print has been selected, and the ribbon use amount y of the ink ribbon 10 with respect to the input print data is calculated, and the work of the RAM 32 is performed. It is stored in the area 32-2 (step S106). The calculation processing in step 106 is performed, for example, based on the input print data, when the character size is 5 mm and the number of input characters is 1
If there are 0 characters, the character pitch is 6mm, and there is no margin setting,
The expected amount of ribbon y is y = (5 × 10) + {(6−5) × (10−1)} = 50 + 9 = 59m
Perform an operation to make m = 0.059m. This calculation result (0.059m) is stored in RAM
In the 32 work area 32-2, the ribbon use amount y (print data length) is stored. By comparing the ribbon used amount Xn stored in the RAM 32 with the ribbon used amount y, it is determined whether or not test printing is possible (step S107). In this step S105, the used amount Xn of the ribbon is smaller than the planned amount y of the ribbon used (Xn
In the case of <y), it is determined that the test printing cannot be performed, and an error is displayed on the display unit 4 (step S108) to inform that the test printing cannot be performed because the used ink ribbon 10 is insufficient.

If the used ribbon amount Xn is equal to or larger than the expected ribbon usage amount y in step S107 (Xn ≧ y), it is determined that test printing is possible and the ribbon cassette 5 Sensor type 25
Is determined again (step S109). This step S
If it is determined at 109 that the ribbon cassette 5 is one of the monochrome ribbon cassettes for monochrome printing, for example, the monochrome ribbon cassette A by the cassette sensor 25, the motor 39 of the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 is driven to drive the head arm. 2
9a is rotated counterclockwise, whereby the printing mechanism 17 is rotated.
Is separated from the platen roller 28 (step S110), and the ink ribbon 10 for black and white printing
(Step S200).

As shown in FIG. 7, in the rewinding process of the ink ribbon 10 in step S200, first, the ribbon rewinding amount f of the ink ribbon 10 for black and white printing is set to 0 (step S201). The stepping motor 36 of the transport mechanism 16 is rotated in the reverse direction to rotate the rewind shaft 23 in the rewind direction to start the rewinding of the ink ribbon 10 (step S202), and the stepping number of the stepping motor 36 of the ribbon transport mechanism 16 is counted. By counting at 44, the ribbon rewind amount (f = f + 1) of the ink ribbon 10 is measured (step S203), and the ribbon rewind amount f is compared with the expected ribbon use amount y (for example, y = 0.059m). Accordingly, it is determined whether the ink ribbon 10 has been rewound by the print data length (step S20).
4) If the two are not the same (f <y), the process returns to step S202 to continue the rewinding of the ink ribbon 10,
If both are the same (f = y), it is determined that the ink ribbon 10 has been rewound on the supply reel 12 by the print data length, and the process returns to the main flow.

When the rewinding process of the ink ribbon 10 for black and white printing is completed in step S200, the motor 39 of the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 is driven to drive the head arm 2
9a is rotated clockwise, whereby the print head 27 is rotated.
To the platen roller 28 with the ink ribbon 10 and the paper 7
(Step S111), and the monochrome printing process is executed in this state (step S112). In the monochrome printing process in step S112, the paper 7 is transported from the paper insertion port 8 side to the paper discharge port side by the transport rollers 18 and 19 of the paper transport mechanism 15, and the stepping motor 36 of the ribbon transport mechanism 16 is operated. By causing the heating element of the print head 27 to generate heat based on the print data while feeding out the ink ribbon 10 that has been normally rotated and rewound from the supply reel 12 and winding it up with the take-up reel 13, the ink of the ink ribbon 10 is Are sequentially transferred to the paper 7, and when printing is performed by transporting the paper 7 and the ink ribbon 10 by the print data length, the test printing using the ink ribbon 10 for monochrome printing is completed.

If the ribbon sensor 5 is determined to be a ribbon cassette 5 for color printing by the cassette sensor 25 in step S109, the number of setting of each of the Y, M, and C ink portions required for printing in the ribbon cassette 5 is performed. i is calculated (step S113). The set number i is determined by changing the used amount y of the ribbon to Y of the ink ribbon 10,
This is a value (i = y / r) obtained by dividing the length r of one set of each of the ink portions M and C (i = y / r).
Assuming that the length r of each of the Y, M, and C ink portions is 5 cm in cm, i = 10.5 / 5 = 2.1. The value of this calculation result (for example, i = 2.1) is rounded up to the decimal point, and the set number i is converted to an integer (for example, i = 2.1 ≒ 3) (step S114). Thereafter, the motor 39 of the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 is driven to move the print head 27 to the platen roller 28.
(Step S115), and the rewinding process of the ink ribbon 10 is executed by the number of sets corresponding to the set number i of the ink ribbon 10 for color printing (step S300).

In the rewinding process of the color printing ink ribbon 10 in step S300, as shown in FIG. 8, first, a black color corresponding to each detection mark 10a, 10b of the ink ribbon 10 detected by the mark sensor 26 is obtained. The thickness data g of the mark is set to 0, the value of the number of times i is substituted for the variable k (step S301), and the rewind shaft 23 of the ribbon transport mechanism 16 is rotated to start the rewinding of the ink ribbon 10. Then, it is determined whether the mark sensor 26 has finished detecting the black mark on the ink ribbon 10 (step S303). At this time, if it is determined that the mark sensor 26 has not finished detecting the black mark, it is determined whether or not the mark sensor 26 has detected the black mark (step S304). For example, the thickness data g of the black mark is counted (g = g + 1), the measurement of the thickness of the black mark is started (step S305), and the process returns to step S302 to continue rewinding the ink ribbon 10 for color printing. I do. If it is determined in step S304 that a black mark has not been detected, the process returns to step S302 to continue rewinding the ink ribbon 10 for color printing, as described above.

In step S303, when the mark sensor 26 determines that the detection of the black mark corresponding to one of the detection marks 10a and 10b has been completed, the thickness data g of the black mark and the reference of the thickness of the detection marks 10a and 10b are determined. Value j
(Which is a reference value for identifying the detection mark 10a and the detection mark 10b) (step S30).
6). If the thickness data g of the black mark becomes equal to or smaller than the thickness reference value j (g ≦ j) in step S306, the black mark is set for each of the Y, M, and C ink portions of the ink ribbon 10. Is determined to be the detection mark 10b, and the operation returns to step S301 to repeat the above operation, and the thickness data g of the black mark is larger than the thickness reference value j (g> j).
In this case, the detection mark 1 for cueing the ink ribbon 10
0 k and the variable k to which the value of the set number i is substituted
Is subtracted, and the rewind amount of the ink ribbon 10 is measured (step S307). Then, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable k is 0 (step S308). If the value of the variable k is not 0, the process returns to step S301 to repeat the rewinding operation. = 0), it is determined that the ink ribbon 10 has been rewound by the number of sets corresponding to the set number i of the ink ribbons 10 for color printing, and the rewinding process of the ink ribbon 10 ends, and the process returns to the main flow.

When the rewinding process of the ink ribbon 10 for color printing is completed in step S300, the motor 39 of the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 is driven to move the print head 27 to the platen roller 28 via the ink ribbon 10 and the paper 7. The color printing process is performed (step S117). The color printing process of step S117 is performed by each transport roller 1 of the paper transport mechanism 15.
8 and 19, the paper 7 is conveyed from the paper insertion port 8 side to the paper discharge port side, and the color printing ink ribbon 10 rewound by the ribbon conveyance mechanism 16 is fed out from the supply reel 12 and taken up. By driving the heating elements of the print head 27 to generate heat based on the print data while winding at 13, the Y,
Of the M and C ink units, first, the Y ink unit
Print on.

When the detection mark 10b provided at the end of the Y ink portion is detected by the mark sensor 26, the Y mark is detected.
When it is determined that the printing of the ink portion has been completed, the motor 39 of the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 is driven to separate the print head 27 from the platen roller 28, and only the paper 7 is inserted from the paper outlet by the paper transport mechanism 15. The paper 7 is conveyed in the opposite direction toward the opening 8 side, and the length of the paper 7
The paper 7 is again transported from the paper insertion port 8 side to the paper discharge port side by the paper transport mechanism 15, and
While the ink ribbon 10 for color printing is unwound from the supply reel 12 by the ribbon transport mechanism 16 and wound up by the take-up reel 13, the heating element of the print head 27 is driven to generate heat based on the print data. Printing is performed on the paper 7 with the M ink portion, which is the next ink portion. This operation is repeated for each of the Y, M, and C ink portions.
Perform color printing for the set.

When one set of color printing is completed in the color printing process of step S117, the set number i is subtracted each time the color printing is completed (step S11).
8) It is determined whether or not the set number i is 0 (step S119). That is, if the set number i is not 0, it is determined that all the printing of the print data has not been completed, and the process returns to step S117 to repeat the color printing process. It is determined that all printing of the print data length has been completed, and the test printing using the ink ribbon 10 for color printing ends, and this main flow ends.

Note that step S10 of the main flow
If the test print key is not pressed in step 5, it is determined whether the normal print key is pressed (step S120). If the normal print key is not pressed, it is determined that the printing process is not performed.
When the main print key is pressed after the main flow is finished, the type of the ribbon cassette 5 is determined by the cassette sensor 25 (step S121). This step S12
If the ribbon sensor 5 is determined to be a monochrome ribbon cassette for black and white printing by the cassette sensor 25 in step 1, the process returns to step S111, in which the print head 27 is pressed against the platen roller 28 by the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29, and the single color ribbon in step S112. Execute the printing process. Step S
When the ribbon sensor 5 is determined to be a color ribbon cassette for color printing by the cassette sensor 25 at 121,
A normal color printing process is executed (step S122),
This main flow ends.

As described above, in this printing apparatus, by using the key input unit 3 to use the area of the ink ribbon 10 located downstream of the print head 27,
A test print can be selected. When the test print is selected, the test print can be performed by comparing the length of the used amount Xn and the planned use amount y of the ink ribbon 10 stored in the RAM 32. Is determined, and the used amount Xn
Is the same as or larger than the intended use amount y,
It is determined that test printing is possible, and the
Ink ribbon 1 for the size of the print data length stored in 2
Since the ink ribbon 10 is rewound by the ribbon transport mechanism 16, the ink ribbon 10 can be rewound by a length necessary for the test printing, so that the once used portion of the ink ribbon 10 can be used again. Useless consumption of the ink ribbon 10 can be prevented. In this case, R
If it is determined that the print data length (scheduled use amount y) stored in the AM 32 is larger than the used amount Xn of the ink ribbon 10, an error message is displayed on the display unit 4. Used amount Xn of the ink ribbon 10
Can be notified that there is not enough.

In the above embodiment, the transport amount of the ink ribbon 10 by the ribbon transport mechanism 16 is measured by the stepping number of the stepping motor 36. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each rotation angle of the take-up shaft 13 may be detected by a detector such as an encoder, and the transport amount of the ink ribbon 10 in the feed direction and the return direction may be measured. In the above embodiment, the detection marks 10a and 10b provided on the ink ribbon 10 for color printing are
The detection mark is provided on one or both sides in the width direction of the monochrome ink ribbon for monochrome printing, not limited to the ink ribbon for color printing. By detecting the mark with a sensor, the rewind amount of the monochrome ink ribbon for black and white printing may be measured.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the paper transport mechanism 15, the ribbon transport mechanism 16, and the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 are driven by separate motors 34, 36, and 39, respectively. The paper transport mechanism 15, the ribbon transport mechanism 16, and the head pressure contact / separation mechanism 29 may be configured to be driven by two motors. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the sheet 7 cut into a sheet is used as a print-receiving medium such as a recording sheet is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a long sheet wound in a roll may be used. May be used.

In the above embodiment, the ink ribbon 10 and the paper 7 are separately inserted into the apparatus main body 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. And a label printer using a tape cassette containing the print-receiving tape and the ink ribbon. In the above embodiment, the ribbon cassette 5 is fixed in the apparatus main body 1 and printing is performed while the sheet 7 is conveyed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ribbon cassette is mounted on a carriage, and the carriage and the sheet Can be widely applied to a printer or the like that prints by moving each in the orthogonal direction.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, trial printing can be selected by selecting the use of the area of the ink ribbon located downstream of the printing means by the selection means. When the test print is selected, the comparison determination means compares the transport amount of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means with the length of the print data to determine whether the test print is possible. If the transport amount of the ink ribbon is the same as or greater than the length of the print data length, it is determined that test printing is possible, whereby the return transport control means causes the return data control means to store the print data length stored in the storage means. Is transported in the return direction by the transport means, so that the ink ribbon can be rewound by a length necessary for test printing, and thus the ink ribbon used once is used. Minute again can be used, it is possible to prevent wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon in the test printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of the internal structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part showing an ink ribbon for color printing accommodated in the ribbon cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a RAM in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main flow of the operation of the printing apparatus in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of rewinding an ink ribbon for black and white printing in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of rewinding an ink ribbon for color printing in FIG. 6;

[Description of Signs] 3 Key input unit 4 Display unit 7 Paper 10 Ink ribbon 16 Ribbon transport mechanism 17 Printing mechanism 25 Cassette sensor 26 Mark sensor 30 CPU 31 ROM 32 RAM

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transport unit for transporting a long ink ribbon provided with an ink portion in a feed direction and a return direction, and print data for the ink portion of the ink ribbon transported in the feed direction by the transport unit. A printing unit that prints on a printing medium based on the print data; a calculation unit that calculates a print data length that is printed by the printing unit based on the print data; and the print data length that is calculated by the calculation unit; and Storage means for storing the transport amount of the ink ribbon located downstream of the printing means; and comparison determining means for comparing the length of the print data length with the transport amount of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means Using the area of the ink ribbon located downstream from the printing means, or using the ink ribbon located upstream from the printing means Selecting means for selecting whether to use an area; selection determining means for determining a result of the selection by the selecting means; and using the area of the ink ribbon located downstream of the printing means by the selection determining means. When it is determined that the ink ribbon is selected by the selection unit, the comparison determination unit compares the transport amount of the ink ribbon stored in the storage unit with the length of the print data, and compares the length of the ink ribbon. If it is determined that the transport amount is equal to or greater than the length of the print data length, the transport unit returns at least the ink ribbon corresponding to the print data length stored in the storage unit. And a return transport control means for transporting in a direction. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the comparing and judging means determines that the print data length stored in the storage means is longer than the length of the transport amount of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means. 2. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying the user.