JPS59143676A - Color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discern colors with high reliability and high economical advantage by simple constitution in which a magnetic substance is added to color ink and the magnetism is detected by a magnetic sensor. CONSTITUTION:A multi-color film ink ribbon 3 moves in the direction of arrow B and passes by the front of a Hall element 4. In this case, signals from the Hall element 4 are sent out by a magnetic substance 1 mixed into yellow color ink Y. The output is amplified by a differential amplifier 6 and sent out to an output terminal S. Since no magnetic substance is contained in ribbon film 3 except for the yellow color ink Y, L-level signal is sent out to the output terminal S. In the case of the yellow color ink Y, a voltage is generated in the Hall element 4, and H-level signal is sent out from the output terminal S. When output signal from the output terminal S is put in the sensor of a micro computer, etc., and a time when the output signal is varied from L-level signal to H- level signal is detected as the tip of the yellow color ink, the discrimination of colors can afterwards be exactly made by control of software, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer using a multicolor film ink ribbon having a film base coated with yellow, maze/red, and cyan inks.

Conventional configuration and its problems Conventionally, color printers have been able to print out the three primary colors of yellow (7), magenta (good), cyan (a subtractive mixture of q, but red), and green, as shown in Figure 1. (C9,
In order to create blue (B) and black (BK), three color films of yellow, magenta, and cyan are sequentially overprinted.

Color identification in this type of color printer has been done using a color sensor, or by setting a black line at the color boundary and detecting the black line with a reflective sensor. In addition to being expensive, the output level from the sensor is not constant, so the output comparison and judgment circuit is complicated. There were drawbacks such as the inability to use it effectively.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates these drawbacks and provides a color printer that enables color identification by detecting a magnetic substance mixed in any color ink of a multicolor film ink ribbon. It is.

Structure of the Invention The present invention uses a magnetic sensor to detect a magnetic substance mixed in any color ink of a multicolor film ink ribbon, thereby identifying the color.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 2 shows the multicolor filter in a color printer.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ink ribbon. 1 is a magnetic substance mixed in yellow color ink Y, and by moving in the direction of the arrow, printing of yellow, magenta, cyan (q) is performed.

FIG. 3 shows the cassette 2 into which the multicolor film ink ribbon 3 is loaded and the magnetic sensor (for detecting magnetic material).
In this example, it is a drawing showing a Hall element) 4.

First, the multicolor film ink ribbon 3 moves in the direction of arrow B and passes in front of the Hall element 74.

At this time, a signal is output from the Hall element 4 due to the magnetic material mixed into the yellow color ink Y. The Hall element 4 is connected to a differential amplifier 6 as shown in FIG. 4, and the output from the Hall element 4 is differentially amplified here and output to an output terminal S. For film ink ribbons other than the yellow color ink Y, a low level signal (hereinafter referred to as L level) is output to the output terminal S, which does not contain a magnetic material. Yellow color ink Y
Then, a voltage is generated in the Hall element 4 of i'lJ, and a high level signal (hereinafter referred to as H level) is output from the output terminal S.

If the output signal from this output terminal S is input to a detection device such as a microcomputer, and the time when this output signal changes from L level to H level is detected as the beginning of yellow color ink Y, the software Color identification can be performed reliably by managing the color information.

In addition, if the position of each yellow color ink Y is detected in this way, by controlling the feeding amount of the stepping motor for feeding the film ink ribbon based on that position, the boundary between magenta M and 7th An C can be detected. The parts can be known quite accurately, and as a result, Y, M,
It is possible to accurately manage the boundaries of each color of C.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention mixes a magnetic substance into color ink and detects it with a magnetic sensor, so it is possible to create a color printer with a simple configuration, extremely high economic efficiency, and high reliability. can be realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a subtractive color mixture diagram of the three primary colors, Figure 2 is a diagram of a multicolor film ink ribbon used in an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram of the multicolor film ink ribbon used in the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the magnetic sensor and a diagram showing the connection relationship between the magnetic sensor and the differential amplifier. 1...Magnetic material, 2...Cassette, 3...
・Multicolor film ink ribbon, 4...Magnetic sensor, 6...Print head. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person
1 Figure 1 / A◆-111

Claims (1)

[Claims] A color printer characterized in that a magnetic substance is mixed into the color ink of a multicolor film ink ribbon, and the magnetic substance is detected by a magnetic sensor.