JPS6063188A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent printing quality from being lowered even when an ink ribbon is used multiple times, by a method wherein the position of printing with an ink ribbon by a printing head is slightly staggered from the center position of the ink ribbon. CONSTITUTION:For example, the center position C of an ink ribbon 4 contained in a thermal transfer type ink ribbon cartridge 1 is slightly staggered from the center position of the printing head. It is preferable to enable to vary the stagger quantity (h) in several stages.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to improvements in printers using ink ribbon cartridges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, as the automation of office work has progressed, various types of printing devices, ie, printers, such as typewriters, have been developed and are rapidly becoming popular. That is, there are type printers, wire dot printers, thermal transfer printers, etc., which use an ink ribbon cartridge to transfer ink on an ink ribbon onto recording paper.

Among these, thermal transfer printers have the problem that the ink cartridges can only be used once, one way, and running costs are high. Also, with other methods, there is a problem in that printing quality deteriorates when the same height on the ink ribbon is used several times.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that exhibits little deterioration in print quality even after being used several times.

Structure of the Invention The present invention is a device in which the center height of an ink ribbon cartridge and the center height of the print head or printed characters are slightly shifted or varied in several steps, and the center height of the ink ribbon cartridge is made variable at the same location on the ink ribbon. This is a printer that can be used many times without having to use it.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a front view showing the main parts of a printer in an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 has a configuration that allows use of both thermal transfer type ink ribbon cartridges AB and B. Reference numeral 2.3 indicates an insertion portion for a thermal transfer type ink ribbon, 4 indicates a thermal transfer type ink ribbon, and 5 supports the attached cartridge 1 with a gear ridge. 6 is a thermal transfer type head support part, and 7 is a thermal transfer head element, which is composed of a row of several dots of heating elements. Further, C is the center line of the cartridge 1, h is the center line of the thermal transfer head, and d is the difference in height between the two, that is, the height deviation.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the positional relationship of the imprint marks when this printer finishes printing on the A side of the cartridge and prints on the 8th side. 8 is the print mark on the A side of the cartridge, Reference numeral 9 indicates print marks on eight sides, arrow a indicates the printing direction, and arrow s indicates the direction of height deviation of the cartridge 1.

By changing the height at which the cartridge is supported by the carriage 6 to two positions shifted from the center position, the printing position can be shifted to four positions in two reciprocations on the ribbon. Of course, even a simple-to-use cartridge can be used a number of times depending on the number of stages of shift change, but it requires return. It is sufficient that the amount of deviation is equal to or greater than the line width of the characters to be printed or the height of the dots. When using a cartridge on both sides, the misalignment of characters on the ribbon is twice the height misalignment d, and although it depends on the width of the ribbon guide, it is sufficient even considering the uneven height when feeding the ribbon. It is. As for characters overlapping in the horizontal direction, the chance of this occurring is low if it is used only a few times.

Effects of the Invention In the present invention, the center height of the ink ribbon cartridge 1-ridge and the center height of the head or type printed with it are slightly shifted or varied in several steps, so that the same location on the ink ribbon can be changed. This allows the ink ribbon cartridge to be used multiple times, thereby extending the life of the ink ribbon cartridge.
Therefore, it is of extremely high practical value in reducing the running speed of the printer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the positional relationship of print marks when both sides are used. 1... Ink ribbon cartridge, 4...
...Ink ribbon, 6...Carriage, C...
...Cartridge center line, h...Head center line, d...Height deviation amount. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person @1
81 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A printer characterized in that the center height of the ink ribbon cartridge and the center height of the head or type printed with the cartridge are slightly offset. Q) The printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of deviation is variable in several steps.