JPH11321056A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To judge whether an ink ribbon cassette for performing a double-side printing is erroneously mounted or not in the case of mounting the cassette even in the case of removing the cassette from a printer on the way of using. SOLUTION: (a) In the case of printing in a traveling direction of an arrow by a print head 19 in the state the an ink ribbon cassette is mounted in a printer by using its A-surface, a mark detecting sensor 20 detects a Y-mark 51b next to a Y-mark 51a, and the printer stores that the A-surface is being used. In the case of removing and remounting the cassette from and at the printer, (b) at the time of mounting in the state of using a B-surface, when an ink ribbon 51 is wound in a traveling direction of an arrow, the sensor 20 detects the Y-mark 51a next to the Y-mark 51b. Accordingly, the printer stops printing by judging a B-surface mounting irrespective of using of the A-surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on an image receiving paper such as a postcard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink ribbon cassette mounted on a printing apparatus, an ink ribbon fed from a supply reel at the time of printing is wound up to the end by a take-up reel, and then the cassette is turned over. There has been known a configuration in which an ink ribbon is fed from a take-up reel in the future by being mounted on a printing apparatus, and is taken up by a supply reel up to that time. FIG. 12 shows such an A surface and a B surface.
The appearance of an ink ribbon cassette 50 that can be used on both sides is shown. The ink ribbon cassette 50 is provided with two concave portions 50a and 50b, and has a structure in which the ink ribbon 51 is exposed at the position of each concave portion.

[0003] Some of these ink ribbon cassettes contain a single-color or full-color ink ribbon. In a printing apparatus to which such an ink ribbon cassette is mounted, the length of the arrangement of the plurality of heating elements in the main scanning direction of the print head is set to half the width of the ink ribbon. Therefore, the ink ribbon cassette A
The printing is performed while the surface of the ink ribbon is wound while the surface is mounted on the printing device, and the printing is performed until the winding of the ink ribbon is completed. After that, one of the widths of the ink ribbon is used. Therefore, the ink ribbon cassette is detached from the printing apparatus, and the B side thereof is reattached to the printing apparatus to perform printing.

[0004]

However, if the ink ribbon cassette is detached from the printing apparatus during use, it is not clear which surface was used when the ink ribbon cassette was mounted again, and the remaining ink ribbon wasted. Up,
If the half-width ink ribbon on the opposite side has already been used, defective printing will result. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 12, a method is adopted in which a seal 52 is attached to one surface, and the presence or absence of the seal 52 is determined when the ink ribbon cassette 50 is removed from the printing apparatus, thereby preventing a mistake in mounting the ink ribbon cassette 50. Sometimes it was done. However, the method of attaching the seal 52 to the ink ribbon cassette 50 is troublesome, and it is necessary to remember whether or not the surface where the seal 52 was attached at the time of removal is next mounted. Also, if the person who removed and the person who will be re-attaching are different people, the sticking of the seal 52 is also useless. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon cassette which can be easily identified without attaching a seal when the ink ribbon cassette is removed from the printing apparatus during use, without sticking a sticker, thereby preventing defective printing and preventing ink printing. The purpose is to avoid wasting the ribbon.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ink ribbon cassette can be mounted by reversing a mounting surface, and an ink ribbon accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette is provided. A printing device that transports the ink ribbon and prints it by a printing means, and reads an ink ribbon provided with a running direction mark indicating a running direction in the ink ribbon cassette along a longitudinal direction, and reads a running direction mark of the ink ribbon during printing. Detecting means for detecting the running direction information of the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette, and storing means for storing immediately preceding running direction information which is the running direction information of the ink ribbon detected by the detecting means at the time of immediately preceding printing end; The immediately preceding traveling direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means and the information detected by the detection means at the time of printing. Determining means for determining whether or not the running direction information of the ribbon is different; and, as a result of the determination by the determining means, the immediately preceding running direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means and the detecting means at the time of printing. And control means for stopping printing by the printing means when it is determined that the detected traveling direction information of the ink ribbon is different. According to the configuration of the first aspect, when the ink ribbon cassette is removed during use, the immediately preceding traveling direction of the ink ribbon detected at the end of printing is stored, and the stored immediately preceding traveling direction and printing after re-attachment are stored. If the running direction of the ink ribbon detected at the time is different, printing is stopped.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a second aspect of the present invention is provided.
As described in (1), in a printing device in which the ink ribbon cassette can be mounted by reversing the mounting surface, and the ink ribbon accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette is transported and printed by the printing means, the ink ribbon cassette is moved along the longitudinal direction in the ink ribbon cassette. An ink ribbon provided with a running direction mark indicating the running direction and a ribbon end mark indicating the end at a longitudinal end, and a running direction mark of the ink ribbon at the time of printing are read into the ink ribbon cassette. Detecting the end direction information of the ribbon end mark indicating the end of the ink ribbon while detecting the running direction information of the ink ribbon at the time of printing, and the running of the ink ribbon detected by the immediately preceding printing end detecting means. Storage means for storing immediately preceding traveling direction information which is direction information;
Rewriting means for rewriting the immediately preceding traveling direction information of the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette stored in the storage means when the end mark information of the ribbon end mark is detected by the detecting means, to the traveling direction information in the reverse direction; Determining means for determining whether or not the running direction information of the ink ribbon immediately before and the running direction information of the ink ribbon detected by the detecting means at the time of printing are different from each other,
As a result of the determination by the determination unit, when it is determined that the immediately preceding traveling direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the storage unit is different from the traveling direction information of the ink ribbon detected by the detection unit during printing. And control means for stopping printing by the printing means. According to the configuration of the second aspect, when the ribbon end mark indicating the end of the ink ribbon is detected, the immediately preceding traveling direction of the ink ribbon is changed to the opposite direction and stored, and the stored immediately preceding traveling direction is stored. If the running direction of the ink ribbon detected at the time of printing after reattachment is different, printing is stopped.

[0007] In the case of the first or second aspect, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises an informing means for informing an error of the mounting surface of the ink ribbon cassette as described in the third aspect. In this case, it is possible to make the user recognize the error of the mounting surface more reliably.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 taking a printing device for postcard printing as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus has a main body case (housing) including a lower case 1 and an upper case 2, and a printer cover 3 is rotatably attached to a rear portion thereof by a hinge 4. On the upper surface of the upper case 2,
A key input unit 5 including a large number of keys is provided, and a display unit 6 including a liquid crystal display device is provided. The printer cover 3 has two locking claws 3a on both sides thereof.
However, the upper case 2 has a structure in which the upper case 2 is closed by being locked in two locking holes 2a on both sides of a rear portion thereof. The printer cover 3 has a window 3b for viewing the inside in a closed state.
Is provided, and a curved portion 3 is provided for discharging the printed postcard.
3c is provided with a discharge port 3d.

A postcard to be printed, that is, an image receiving paper, is inserted from the front side of the lower case 1, is fed into a transport path inside the printing apparatus by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown), and is sent to a platen 7 behind the lower case 1 shown in FIG. While being placed,
The paper is fed between a paper feed roller 9 and a paper holding bar 10 attached to a support member 8 near both ends of the platen 7. The paper holding bar 10 is pressed by the paper feed roller 9 by the coil spring 11 and fixes the image receiving paper placed on the platen 7.

A carriage 13 for mounting an ink ribbon cassette 50 is provided on a base 12 of the lower case 1, and is guided by a toothed pulley 14 and a toothed belt 15 to guide rails 16 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen 7.
It is structured to reciprocate along. The carriage 13 has a take-up shaft 17 for taking up the ink ribbon of the attached ink ribbon cassette 50 and a supply shaft 1.
8 is provided, and the concave portion (50
a or 50b), a print head 19 comprising a thermal head, a light emitting element 20a and a light receiving element 2
A mark detection sensor 20 made of Ob is provided.
At the time of printing, the print head 19 descends to the platen 7 side, and the print head 19 is pressed against the image receiving paper on the platen 7 via the ink ribbon 51 to perform printing.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure when the ink ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the carriage 13. When the take-up shaft 17 rotates while the carriage 13 is separated from the platen 7 and the print head 19 is not pressed against the image receiving paper, the take-up reel 50 d of the ink ribbon cassette 50 is rotated.
Rotates, the supply reel 50e also rotates together with the supply shaft 18, and the ink ribbon 51 is wound from the supply reel 50e to the take-up reel 50d. Then, the ink ribbon 51 exposed in the concave portion 50a passes through the upper surface of the print head 19 and passes between the light emitting element 20a and the light receiving element 20b constituting the mark detection sensor 20.

In this embodiment, three color ink ribbons 51 of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) are stored in the ink ribbon cassette 50, but are exposed in the recess 50a. The length of the ink ribbon 51 inside the ink ribbon cassette 50 from the end of the concave portion 50a to the end of the concave portion 50b, and the length of the ink ribbon 51 exposed in the concave portion 50b. The total length is equal to the length of one color of the ink ribbon 51. Therefore, the color of the ink ribbon 51 exposed in the concave portion 50a is the same as the color of the ink ribbon 51 exposed in the concave portion 50b.
Is reversed, and the color of the ink ribbon 51 is the same.

FIG. 3 shows a system configuration of the printing apparatus.
The control unit 30 controls the entire printing apparatus, and includes a CPU and the like. The ROM 31 stores a program for determining the side A and the side B of the ink ribbon cassette, and the control unit 30 executes the program. RAM32
Stores data processed by the control unit 30.
The detection circuit 33 inputs a detection signal obtained from the mark detection sensor 20 to the control unit 30. The key input unit 5 includes a character key 5a, a print key 5b, a registration key 5c, and an execution key 5.
d, a cursor key 5e and other keys (not shown) are provided, and ON / OFF information of each key is input to the control unit 30 in accordance with an operation.

The display memory 34 obtains the data input by the key operation of the key input unit 5 and the data of the processing result from the control unit 30 and develops the data into one-dot dot matrix image data. The data is output to the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 6 via the LCD. The cassette type detection sensor 36 detects the type (color, monochrome, size, etc.) of the ink ribbon cassette mounted on the carriage 13 and inputs the detected type to the control unit 30 via the detection circuit 37.

The motor driver 38 drives a stepping motor 39 in response to a command for transporting the image receiving paper from the control unit 30 to operate the paper feed roller 9 and other transport mechanisms. The motor driver 40 drives the stepping motor 41 in accordance with the carriage movement command of the control unit 30,
The carriage 13 is moved. The motor driver 42
The stepping motor 43 is driven in accordance with the ink ribbon winding command from the control unit 30 to rotate the ink ribbon winding shaft 1.
7 is rotated. The head driver 44 drives the print head 19 according to a print command from the control unit 30 to perform printing.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the positional relationship between the color ink ribbon 51, the print head 19 and the mark detection sensor 20 during printing. FIG.
(A) shows the flow (arrow) of the three-color ink ribbon 51 when the surface A of the ink ribbon cassette is mounted, and printing is performed in the order of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). You. FIG. 4B shows the flow of the ink ribbon 51 when the side B of the ink ribbon cassette is mounted, and Y (yellow), M (magenta), C
(Cyan)
Printing is performed by superimposing M (magenta), Y (yellow), and C (cyan) in this order. In printing, the length of the heating element 19a of the print head 19 is 1/2 of the width 1 of the ink ribbon 51, so that the half width of the Will be used.

When the ink ribbon 51 is moved, the mark detection sensor 20 composed of the light emitting element 20a and the light receiving element 20b detects the Y mark 51a, the Y mark 51b, the M / C marks 51c, 51c, An end mark 51d attached to the end of the ink ribbon 51 is detected.
Therefore, in the case of A-side printing and the case of B-side printing,
The detection order of each mark is reversed. In the detection of a mark, a level difference between each mark (black) and another part (a part regarded as white) is detected based on the light receiving level of the light receiving element 20b that receives light from the light emitting element 20a, and white is changed to black. And the change from black to white.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 described above, the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 9 executed by the control unit 30, and the display messages of FIG. . When the main flow of FIG. 5 starts (step S100), 1 is set to the pointer m.
Is set, the flag J is reset to 0, and 0 is set in the register F (step S101). m is a pointer for storing the number of times the instruction key is pressed without reversing the mounting surface of the ink ribbon cassette 50, and J is the pointer in FIG.
Is a flag that is set to 1 when the Y mark 51a of the ink ribbon 51 is detected and reset to 0 when it is not detected, and F is the mark of the mark of the ink ribbon 51 detected by the mark detection sensor 20. This is a register that stores the value of the width dimension.

Next, character data corresponding to the character key turned on in the key input section 5 is input and stored in the RAM 32 (step S102). Next, it is determined whether or not the print key 5b has been turned on (step S103). If it is determined that the print key 5b has been turned on, a cassette mounting surface detection process is executed (step S200).

In the cassette mounting surface detecting process, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the press contact of the print head 19 with the platen 7 is released (step S201). Then, 0 is set in the register F (step S202). Next, a command is sent to the motor driver 42 to drive the stepping motor 43 one step, and the ink ribbon winding shaft 17 is driven.
Is rotated to transport the ink ribbon 51 by one step (step S203). Then, the mark detection sensor 20
It is determined whether or not a change from black to white, that is, the trailing edge of the mark on the ink ribbon 51 has been detected based on the detection signal from (step S204). If the trailing edge of the mark is not detected, it is determined whether or not black (change from white to black) of the mark has been detected (step S205).

If black of the mark is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S203 to convey the ink ribbon 51 by one step, and the processing loop of steps S203 to S205 is repeated. Then, when black of the mark is detected in step S205, the value of the register F is incremented (step S206). Thereafter, the process further proceeds to step S203 to convey the ink ribbon 51 by one step, and the processing loop of steps S203 to S206 is repeated. Then, every time black of a mark is detected in step S205, the value of the register F is incremented in step S206. Step S2
When the trailing edge of the mark on the ink ribbon 50 is detected in 04, the process proceeds to step S207.

In the processing after step S207 in the cassette mounting surface detection processing, the mark is determined by comparing the value of the register F with three reference values a, b, and c. a is a reference value for distinguishing the width between the end mark 51d and the Y mark 51a, b is a reference value for distinguishing the width between the Y mark 51a and the Y mark 51b, and c is the reference value for distinguishing the width between the Y mark 51b and the M / C mark. This is a reference value for distinguishing the width from 51c. In step S207, it is determined whether the value of F, that is, the width of the detected mark is larger than the reference value a. If the value of F is larger than the reference value a, the mark is the end mark 51d, so that the ribbon end process is executed (step S500). The ribbon end processing will be described later.

In step S207, if the value of F is equal to or less than the reference value a, the value of F is changed to the reference value a and the reference value b.
Is determined (step S208).
If the value of F is a value during this period, the mark detection sensor 20 has detected the Y mark 51a. Therefore, the flag J is set to 1 (step S209).
Then, the process proceeds to step S202, where the value of F is set to 0, and the next mark detection is performed again.

In step S208, if the value of F is not between the reference value a and the reference value b, it is determined whether or not the value of F is between the reference value b and the reference value c (step S208). S210). If the value of F is a value during this period, it means that the mark detection sensor 20 has detected the Y mark 51b. In this case, it is determined whether or not the flag J is 1, that is, whether or not the Y mark 51a has been detected (step S211). When J is 1, it is the case where the Y mark 51b is detected following the detection of the Y mark 51a, which is the state of FIG. 4A, that is, the case of the A-side device. Therefore, in step S212, J and F are set to 0, and the flag I indicating the cassette mounting surface is set to 0 (A surface mounting). At this time, the Y (yellow) ink ribbon 51 is in a printable state. In step S211, if J is not 1, the Y mark 51a is detected without detecting the Y mark 51a.
Since b has been detected and the mounting surface cannot be determined yet, the flow shifts to step S203 to continue detecting the next mark.

In step S210, if the value of F is not between the reference value b and the reference value c, it is determined whether the value of F is smaller than the reference value c (step S213).
If the value of F is smaller than the reference value c, it means that the mark detection sensor 20 has detected the M / C mark 51c. In this case, it is determined whether or not the flag J is 1, that is, whether or not the Y mark 51a has been detected (step S214). If J is 1, the Y mark 51a
This is the case where the M / C mark 51c is detected subsequent to the detection of FIG. 4B, which is the state of FIG. Therefore, in step S215, J and F
And set the flag I indicating the cassette mounting surface to 1
(B side mounting) is set. If the value of F is equal to or greater than the reference value c in step S213, or step S214
If J is not 1, since the mounting surface cannot be determined yet, the flow shifts to step S203 to continue detecting the next mark.

If it is detected in step S212 that the A-side is mounted, or if it is detected in step S215 that the B-side is mounted, this flow is terminated and step S104 of the main flow of FIG. Move to Then, it is determined whether or not the flag K is 1. The flag K is a flag that is set to 0 when the used ink ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the side A and set to 1 when the used ink ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the side B.

If the flag K is 1 in step S104, it is determined whether the flag I is 0 (step S105). When I is 0, the ink ribbon cassette 50 in use is on the B side, but the reattachment is on the A side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the ink ribbon cassette 50 is
Message on the display unit 6 is displayed on the display unit 6 (step S106). Then, an operation of removing and reattaching the ink ribbon cassette 50 is received (step S1).
07).

Next, it is determined whether or not the execution key 5d has been turned on (step S108). When it is turned on, the cassette mounting surface detection processing of FIG. 6 is executed again (step S200). By this process, the ink ribbon 51 is wound up to a state where M (magenta) can be printed. After step S200, the flag I indicating the cassette mounting surface is set to 1
(Attachment on side B) is determined (step S10).
9). If the flag I is not 1, since the erroneous mounting has not been corrected, the pointer m is incremented (step S110), and the process shifts to step S106 to indicate that the ink ribbon cassette 50 is to be mounted in reverse (Side B). The message is displayed on the display unit 6 again.

Each time the execution key 5d is turned on in a state where the erroneous mounting is not corrected, the unused ink ribbon 51 is wound up until the state in which M (magenta) can be printed in step S200. , Step S110
Is incremented by m. If the flag I has become 1 in step S109, it is determined whether or not m is 1 (step S111). If m is not 1, execute key 5 in a state where the erroneous mounting is not corrected.
The unused ink ribbon 51 is wound up by the number of times d is turned on. Therefore, m is decremented (step S112), and the unused ink ribbon 51 is rewound in step S200. Until m becomes 1, steps S112, S200, and S
109, the processing loop of step S111 is repeated.

If m becomes 1 in step S111, the wound unused ink ribbon 51 is rewound and the first M (magenta) color of the unused ink ribbon 51 is printed. It is set to a possible state. Accordingly, the process shifts to step S300 to execute a three-color printing process on the ink ribbon B side. Step S105
In this case, when the flag I is 1 instead of 0, it means that the ink ribbon cassette 50 in use is mounted on the B side, and the reattachment is also on the B side. Therefore, the process immediately proceeds to step S300 to execute the three-color printing process on the surface of the ink ribbon B.

FIG. 7 shows a flow of the three-color printing process on the surface of the ink ribbon B. When this flow starts (step S
300), the print head 19 is pressed against the platen 7 side (step S301), and the print head 19 is driven by the head driver 44 to perform M (magenta) printing (step S302). Next, the press contact of the print head 19 is released (step S303), and the paper feed roller 9 is driven by the motor driver 38 and the stepping motor 39 to perform the image receiving paper return processing (step S304). Then, the motor driver 42 and the stepping motor 43
Drives the ink ribbon take-up shaft 17 to perform M mark detection processing to detect a mark at the boundary between M (magenta) and Y (yellow) (step S30).
5). Next, the print head 19 is pressed into contact (step S3).
06), Y printing is performed (step S307). Next, the press contact of the print head 19 is released (Step S308).
An image receiving paper return process is performed (step S309). And
By performing a Y mark detection process, a mark at the boundary between Y (yellow) and C (cyan) is detected (step S31).
0). Next, the print head 19 is pressed into contact (step S3).
11), C printing is performed (step S312). And
The process returns to the main flow (step S313).

In step S104 of the main flow of FIG. 5, if K is not 1 but 0, the flag I is set to 0.
Is determined (step S113). I is 0
If the ink ribbon cassette 50 in use is mounted on the surface A, but the ink ribbon cassette 50 in use is mounted on the surface A, the remounting is performed on the surface B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, a message to the effect that the ink ribbon cassette 50 is to be mounted upside down (A side) is displayed on the display unit 6 (step S114).
Then, the operation of removing and reattaching the ink ribbon cassette 50 is performed (step S115).

Next, it is determined whether or not the execution key 5d has been turned on (step S116). When it is turned on, the cassette mounting surface detection processing of FIG. 6 is executed (step S2).
00). By this process, the ink ribbon 51 is wound up to a state where Y (yellow) can be printed. Step S
After 200, it is determined whether or not the flag I indicating the cassette mounting surface is 0 (A surface mounting) (step S117).
If the flag I is not 0, the erroneous mounting has not been corrected and the pointer m is incremented (step S
118), the process proceeds to step S114, and a message indicating that the ink ribbon cassette 50 is to be mounted in the opposite direction (A side) is displayed on the display unit 6 again.

Each time the execution key 5d is turned on in a state where the erroneous mounting has not been corrected, the unused ink ribbon 51 is wound up to a state where Y (yellow) can be printed in step S200. , Step S118
Is incremented by m. If the flag I has become 0 in step S117, it is determined whether or not m is 1 (step S119). If m is not 1, execute key 5 in a state where the erroneous mounting is not corrected.
The unused ink ribbon 51 is wound up by the number of times d is turned on. Therefore, m is decremented (step S120), and the unused ink ribbon 51 is rewound in step S200. Until m becomes 1, steps S120, S200, S117,
The processing loop of step S119 is repeated.

If m becomes 1 in step S119, the unused ink ribbon 51 that has been wound is rewound, and the first Y (yellow) color of the unused ink ribbon 51 is printed. It is set to a possible state. Therefore, the process shifts to step S400 to execute the three-color printing process on the surface of the ink ribbon A. Step S113
In the case where the flag I is 0, the ink ribbon cassette 50 in use is mounted on the A side, and
This is the case for planes. Therefore, immediately step S400
Then, the three-color printing process on the surface of the ink ribbon A is executed.

FIG. 8 shows the flow of the three-color printing process on the surface of the ink ribbon A. When this flow starts (step S
400), the print head 19 is pressed against the platen 7 side (step S401), and Y printing is performed (step S40).
2). Next, the press-contact of the print head 19 is released (step S403), and the image receiving paper returning process is performed (step S40).
4). Then, an M mark detection process is performed to detect a mark 51c at the boundary between Y (yellow) and M (magenta) (step S405). Next, the print head 19 is pressed into contact (step S406), and M printing is performed (step S406).
407). Next, the press contact of the print head 19 is released (step S408), and the image receiving paper return process is performed (step S408).
409). Then, C mark detection processing is performed to detect a mark 51c at the boundary between M (magenta) and C (cyan) (step S410). Next, the print head 19 is pressed into contact (Step S411), and C printing is performed (Step S412). Then, the process returns to the main flow (step S
413).

Next, the ribbon end processing will be described. When the end mark is detected in the cassette mounting surface detection processing of FIG. 6, the flow of the ribbon end processing of FIG. 9 is executed. In FIG. 9, when the ribbon end process starts (step S500), it is determined whether or not the flag R is 1 (step S501). This flag R is set to 1 when the ribbon end on the cassette A side is detected.
And is reset to 0 when the ribbon end of the cassette B surface is detected. Step S5
At 01, if R is not 1 but 0, it means that the end mark on the surface A of the ink ribbon has been detected. In this case, the value of the register F is reset to 0, the flag K is set to 1 (the cassette B surface is being used), and the flag R is set to 1 (the cassette A surface ribbon end is detected) (step S502). . Then, the process returns to the flow of FIG. 6 (step S507). Note that the cassette mounting surface reversing operation display may be performed after step S502.

On the other hand, if R is 1 in step S501, it means that the end mark on the surface A has already been detected, and the end mark detected this time is the end mark on the surface B. Therefore, a new cassette replacement display is performed (step S503). Then, when the replacement operation is performed (step S504), it is determined whether or not the execution key is turned on (step S505). When the execution key is turned on, the value of the register F is reset to 0,
The flag K is set to 0 (the cassette A side is being used), and the flag R is set to 0 (the cassette A side ribbon end is not detected) (step S506). Then, the process returns to the flow of FIG. 6 (step S507).

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the traveling direction mark (FIG. 4) indicating the traveling direction in the ink ribbon cassette 50 is provided on the ink ribbon 51 along the longitudinal direction.
(Y mark 51a, Y mark 51b, M / C mark 51c, 51c) shown in FIG. Then, the mark detection sensor 20, the detection circuit 33, and the control unit 30 shown in FIG. 3 read the traveling direction mark of the ink ribbon 51 at the time of printing and obtain the traveling direction information of the ink ribbon 51 in the ink ribbon cassette 50. The detecting means for detecting is constituted. The RAM 32 constitutes storage means for storing immediately preceding traveling direction information which is the traveling direction information of the ink ribbon detected at the end of the immediately preceding printing. The control unit 30 has a RAM
A determination means for determining whether the immediately preceding travel direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the storage device 32 and the travel direction information of the ink ribbon detected at the time of printing are different from each other, and a determination by the determination means. As a result, when it is determined that the preceding running direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the RAM 32 is different from the running direction information of the ink ribbon detected at the time of printing, the control means for stopping printing is constituted. I do. According to the above configuration, when the ink ribbon cassette 50 is removed during use, the immediately preceding traveling direction of the ink ribbon 51 detected at the end of printing is stored. If the detected running direction of the ink ribbon 51 is different, the printing is stopped. Therefore, even if the ink ribbon cassette 50 is removed from the printing device during use,
The surface to be re-attached can be easily determined without sticking a sticker, thereby preventing printing defects and avoiding waste of the ink ribbon.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the ink ribbon 51 is provided with a ribbon end mark representing the end in the longitudinal direction together with the running direction mark.
The detection means such as the mark detection sensor 20 reads the traveling direction mark at the time of printing, and
In addition to detecting the running direction information of the ink ribbon 51 in the inside, the end mark information of the ribbon end mark 51d representing the end of the ink ribbon 51 is detected. Control unit 30
Constitutes rewriting means for rewriting the immediately preceding traveling direction information of the ink ribbon 51 in the ink ribbon cassette 50 stored in the RAM 32 to the traveling direction information in the reverse direction when the end mark information of the ribbon end mark 50d is detected. Then, the immediately preceding running direction information of the ink ribbon 51 stored in the RAM 32 and the ink ribbon 5 detected at the time of printing.
1 for determining whether the traveling direction information is different from the traveling direction information.
A control means for stopping printing when it is determined that the immediately preceding traveling direction information of the ink ribbon 51 stored in M32 is different from the traveling direction information of the ink ribbon 51 detected at the time of printing. . According to the above configuration, when the ribbon end mark 51d indicating the end of the ink ribbon 51 is detected, the immediately preceding traveling direction of the ink ribbon 51 is changed to the opposite direction and stored, and the stored immediately preceding traveling direction is re-attached to the stored direction. If the running direction of the ink ribbon 51 detected at the time of subsequent printing is different, printing is stopped. Therefore, even if the ink ribbon cassette 50 is detached from the printing apparatus when the use of one surface is completed, the surface to be re-attached can be easily determined without attaching a seal.

Further, as in the above-described embodiment, the display unit 6 is provided with an erroneous mounting notification means for displaying an erroneous mounting surface of the ink ribbon cassette, so that the user can more reliably recognize the erroneous mounting surface. Can be.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6, the configuration is such that the width of the mark at the boundary between the three colors Y, M, and C is detected. Is fixed, the width of the Y mark 51a and the Y mark 51b in FIG.
The running direction of the ink ribbon 51 within 0 may be determined, and the M / C mark 51c may be configured to simply detect the mark position. In this case, the flow of FIG. 6 can be further simplified.

In the above embodiment, Y, M,
Although the marks are provided at the boundaries of the three colors C, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the running direction marks are provided at both ends (or one end) along the longitudinal direction of the ink ribbon 53. 53a and 53b may be provided. In this case, there is no need to sacrifice the print area of the ink ribbon 52 for the traveling direction mark.

In the above embodiment, Y, M,
Although the present invention has been applied to the ink ribbon for three colors of C, the present invention can be applied to the ink ribbon for monochrome. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, even if the ink ribbon cassette is removed from the printing apparatus during use by providing the running direction marks 53a and 53b at both ends (or one end) along the longitudinal direction. The surface to be reattached can be easily determined without attaching a seal. Further, in this case, the length of the ink ribbon wound in the case of erroneous mounting is indicated by the running direction mark 5
Measured by counting 3a and 53b, and after correctly mounted, by rewinding the length taken up in the event of incorrect mounting, prevent printing defects and avoid wasting the ink ribbon. it can.

The method for detecting the surface of the ink ribbon cassette is not limited to the method for detecting the width of a mark as in the above embodiment. The detection may be performed using a barcode or the like instead of the mark. Alternatively, by changing the shape of the portion that comes into contact with the mounting surface between the A surface and the B surface of the ink ribbon cassette, a switch for detecting the difference in the shape between the A surface and the B surface may be provided in the cassette mounting portion of the carriage. Good.

In the above embodiment, a thermal head has been described as an example of a print head. However, the present invention is of course applicable to wire dots and other print heads. In the above embodiment, the length of the heating element of the thermal head is set to half the width of the ink ribbon. However, the length of the heating element is set to be equal to or longer than the width of the ink ribbon. Is also good.
Even with such a configuration, the portion of the heating element corresponding to half the width of the ink ribbon may be selectively heated during printing.

In the above embodiment, the position of the mark detection sensor 20 is provided in the vicinity of the print head 19; however, the present invention is not limited to this position. For example, the mark detection sensor 20 may be provided at the position of the recess opposite to the recess where the print head 19 is located. In this case, the mark detection sensor 20 is hardly affected by the heat generated by the print head 19. In this case, after detecting the mark, the ink ribbon is wound up by a predetermined number of steps.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking a carriage type postcard printing apparatus as an example. However, all apparatuses using an ink ribbon which can be used on both sides, such as a normal word processor, are used. The present invention can be applied.

[0049]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the ink ribbon cassette is removed during use, the immediately preceding running direction of the ink ribbon detected at the end of printing is stored. If the running direction of the ink ribbon detected at the time of printing after reattachment is different, printing is stopped. Therefore, even when the ink ribbon cassette is removed from the printing apparatus during use, the surface to be re-attached can be easily determined without sticking a sticker, thereby preventing defective printing and avoiding waste of the ink ribbon.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a ribbon end mark indicating the end of the ink ribbon is detected, the running direction immediately before the ink ribbon is changed to the opposite direction and stored. If the running direction immediately before is different from the running direction of the ink ribbon detected at the time of printing after remounting, printing is stopped. Therefore, even when the ink ribbon cassette is detached from the printing apparatus when the use of one surface is completed, the surface to be remounted can be easily determined without sticking the seal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a structure of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of an ink ribbon cassette mounted on the printing apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the printing apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship among an ink ribbon, a mark detection sensor, and a print head according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a main flowchart of a control unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a cassette mounting surface detection process in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a three-color printing process on the ink ribbon B surface in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a three-color printing process on the surface of the ink ribbon A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a ribbon end process in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a message of a cassette mounting surface reversing operation display in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an ink ribbon with a traveling direction mark according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an external view showing an ink ribbon cassette that can be used on both sides.

[Explanation of symbols]

 19 Print Head 20 Mark Detection Sensor 51 Ink Ribbon 51a Y Mark 51b Y Mark 51c M / C Mark

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for mounting an ink ribbon cassette by reversing a mounting surface, conveying an ink ribbon contained in the ink ribbon cassette, and printing the ink ribbon by printing means. An ink ribbon provided with a traveling direction mark representing the traveling direction of the ink ribbon; and a detecting means for reading the traveling direction mark of the ink ribbon during printing to detect traveling direction information of the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette. Storage means for storing immediately preceding travel direction information which is the travel direction information of the ink ribbon detected by the detection means at the time of immediately preceding printing end; and immediately preceding travel direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means. The running direction information of the ink ribbon detected by the detecting means at the time of printing is different Determining means for determining whether or not the ink ribbon has been detected by the detecting means at the time of printing and the immediately preceding traveling direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means as a result of the determination by the determining means. And a control means for stopping printing by the printing means when it is determined that the traveling direction information is different from the printing direction information. 2. A printing apparatus for mounting an ink ribbon cassette by reversing a mounting surface, conveying an ink ribbon accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette, and printing the ink ribbon by printing means. An ink ribbon provided with a running direction mark indicating the running direction of the ink ribbon and a ribbon end mark indicating the end portion in the longitudinal direction; and reading the running direction mark of the ink ribbon during printing. Detecting means for detecting the traveling direction information of the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette and detecting end mark information of the ribbon end mark indicating the end of the ink ribbon; and detecting means for immediately preceding printing end. The immediately preceding traveling direction information, which is the detected traveling direction information of the ink ribbon, is stored. Storage means, and when the end mark information of the ribbon end mark is detected by the detection means, the immediately preceding travel direction information of the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette stored in the storage means, the travel direction in the reverse direction. Rewriting means for rewriting information; and whether or not the immediately preceding running direction information of the ink ribbon stored in the storage means is different from the running direction information of the ink ribbon detected by the detecting means at the time of printing. Determining means for determining whether the ink ribbon is running immediately before the ink ribbon stored in the storage means and the running direction information of the ink ribbon detected by the detecting means at the time of printing. Control means for stopping printing by the printing means when it is determined that the printing method is different from the printing method. Location. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies an error of a mounting surface of the ink ribbon cassette. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit detects a running direction of the ink ribbon by reading a running direction mark of the ink ribbon during printing, and the ribbon representing an end of the ink ribbon. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a ribbon end mark detecting means for detecting end mark information of the end mark. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ink portions of a plurality of colors are repeatedly provided on the ink ribbon in a predetermined longitudinal direction. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the traveling direction mark is provided at a position corresponding to a boundary between the ink portions of the ink ribbon.