JPS61280979A - Ribbon control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain not only to shorten a change-over time but also to enhance printing quality, by performing the change-over control of a ribbon in succession to the selection of a color to be printed next time simultaneously with the start of the speed reduction of a head and confirming the stoppage of the head after a predetermined time was elapsed to start the approach run of the head. CONSTITUTION:A pattern developing part 14 for performing the development of a pattern through the selection of a color, a monitor part 25 for monitoring spacing operation after a predetermined time was elapsed from the point of time when the change-over of a ribbon was started to issue a printing operation start order and a main control part 26 for controlling each functional part are provided and not only the completion of printing is monitored to simultaneously order head speed reduction control, color reduction and the change-over of the ribbon but also the spacing operation of a printing head and printing operation are controlled on the basis of the indication of the monitor part 25. By simultaneously starting the stop operation of the printing head and the selection and change-over of the ribbon, a ribbon change-over time is absorbed by the speed reduction time of the printing time to make it possible to increase a printing speed without damaging printing quality.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] In a color printer that performs color printing by switching ink ribbons, if the next printing is started before the ribbon switching is completed, the print quality will deteriorate.

Therefore, the conventional method of selecting the next print color and switching the ribbon after the print head is stopped has a problem in that the printing speed is slow and the printing speed cannot be increased.

The present invention provides a method for starting the stop operation of the print head and the ribbon selection change operation at the same time, so that the ribbon change time can be absorbed by the print head deceleration time and the printing speed can be increased without deteriorating the print quality. can.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to improvements in ribbon control methods in color printers.

In a color printer that prints in multiple colors by switching color ink ribbons, the color ink ribbons are selected and switched sequentially based on the color information included in the print information, and 1
Ribbon control is performed in which each line is printed in that color.

In the conventional method, which performs the above ribbon switching operation after the printing of that line is completed and the print head has stopped, there is a problem that the printing speed is slow due to the switching time, and in order to increase the printing speed, there is a problem that the switching time must have enough margin. There was a problem in that printing quality deteriorated due to the delay time in ribbon switching.

Therefore, there is a need for a ribbon control method that increases printing speed and does not cause deterioration in printing quality.

[Conventional technology]

An example of ribbon control in a conventional color printer will be described below.

Figure 3(a) is an explanatory diagram of the printing mechanism of a color printer;
FIG. 3(b) is a block diagram of the control section, FIG. 3 (C1 is a time chart of the ribbon control operation, and FIG. 3(C) is a flowchart of the ribbon control operation.

In FIG. 3(a), 1 is a head unit, 2 is a print head, 3 is a color ink ribbon, 4 is a ribbon frame, 5 is a gear for rotating the ribbon frame 4 around the shaft 9, and M2 is a ribbon motor. , 7 and 8 are ribbon spools, and 10 is a guide pin.

As shown in the figure, the color ribbon 3 has four color ink parts: yellow 3a, magenta 3b, and cyan 3c.

The ribbon frame 4 is rotated around an axis 9 to move the ribbon 3 up and down along a guide pin l, so that the color ink portions are respectively opposed to the print head 2. .

On the other hand, since it takes time to switch ribbons, the printing method employs a method in which one line is printed with a selected color ribbon, and then the same line is printed multiple times by switching to the next color ribbon. Therefore, by printing one line a maximum of four times, it is possible to print in eight colors, including overlapping.

Ribbon switching in the above printing method involves selecting the next color ribbon from the printing information, calculating the amount of movement from the current ribbon, and
This is done by supplying a predetermined pulse to the pulse motor M2 to rotate the shaft 9.

The printing control operation will be explained in detail below.

(1) The print information sent from the host computer is composed of color information, print position information, character code, etc. for each character, and is received through the interface 12 and stored in the input cover sofa 13.

(2) When one line of printing information is received, a printing color ribbon is selected based on the printing information of the first character, and the printing information of that line is sequentially extracted from the input buffer 13, and for characters containing the selected color component, The characters are developed into a character pattern and stored in the line buffer 23, and the print information of characters having other color components is stored in the attribute buffer 15.

For example, if the color information is "green", it is "yellow cyan".
When "yellow" is selected, "yellow" is subtracted and the remaining "cyan" is stored in the attribute buffer 15.

(3) When the pattern development for one line is completed, the space control unit 17 is activated, and after the run-up control, the print pattern is extracted from the line buffer 23 and the print head 2 is driven while performing spacing at a constant speed.

(4) After printing one line in the above color, the head unit 1 is decelerated and stopped, then the attribute buffer 15 is searched from the beginning, the next color is selected, and characters with that color information are sequentially developed into a pattern. and stores it in the line buffer 23.

(5) Subsequently, the ribbon motor M2 is driven to switch the ribbon 3, and after a predetermined time, the space control section 17 is activated, and after the run-up control, a printing operation is performed from a predetermined position based on the contents of the line buffer 23.

(6) The above operations are repeated in both left and right directions until the attribute buffer 15 is empty.

FIG. 3 (C1, (d+) represents a time chart and an operation flowchart of the above operation.

That is, the deceleration of the head starts from the print end time to, and after the head stops (after T1 time), color selection is performed.

Pattern development is performed (time T2), and then ribbon motor M2 is driven to perform ribbon switching. (T3+74) After T5 hours from the start of this ribbon switching, the run-up of the head and throat starts, and when the ribbon reaches a predetermined position, printing starts. Therefore, the ribbon switching margin time T4 is determined by selecting the time T5.

From the above, the total time required for color printing change is Tl + T
2 +T5 +T smile T1; Head deceleration and stop operation T2; Color selection, pattern development T3; Ribbon switching time T4; Ribbon switching margin time T5; Head run-up start elapsed time T6; Head run-up time.

Note that the ribbon switching time T3 varies depending on the ribbon selection, and the ribbon switching margin time T4 depends on the power transmission from the ribbon motor M2 etc. to the ribbon 3 due to friction between the ribbon 3 and print head 2, slack in the ribbon 3, etc. This is the margin time that is set by taking into account the delay.

As a result of the above, time (T3 + T4) is required for ribbon switching, and therefore head stop time 'F5 is set as a waiting time for ribbon switching.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As explained above, it is necessary to switch a maximum of four colors of ribbon for one line, and with the conventional switching method, the switching time required to print one line is several hundred meters + * seconds, which slows down the printing speed. There was a problem in that the margin time for ribbon switching could not be set sufficiently in order to speed up the process, resulting in a decrease in printing quality.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon control method that solves the above problems.

[Means for solving problems]

For the above purpose, the present invention selects a deceleration operation (17) for stopping the spacing operation of the print head after printing with the first color ink ribbon and a second color ink ribbon as shown in FIG. command means (26) for simultaneously starting the switching operation (14, 19) for switching the ribbon;
), and a monitoring means (25) for confirming that the print head has stopped after a predetermined period of time from the start of the ribbon switching operation and for starting printing using the second color ink ribbon.

[Effect]

That is, the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2 Tb) and (C),
At the start of deceleration of the head, following the selection of the next color to be printed, ribbon switching control (time t2'') is performed.
After a predetermined time (T5) has elapsed from 2°, the head stops and starts the run-up of the head.This has the effect of reducing the total time required for printing color switching by the head deceleration time (T1), and also reduces the head delay time. The deceleration and run-up time can be absorbed and lengthened, and the effect of shortening switching time and improving printing quality can be expected.

〔Example〕

Examples of the present invention will be described in detail according to FIGS. 2(a), (b), and (C1).

〔composition〕

FIG. 2(a) is a block diagram of a color printer showing parts related to the present invention. In the figure, 14 is a pattern development section that selects a color and develops a pattern, and 25 is a pattern development section that selects a color and develops a pattern. A monitoring section 26 monitors the spacing operation and issues a print operation start command, and 26 is a main control section that controls each functional section, and monitors the end of printing and simultaneously commands head deceleration control, color selection, and ribbon switching. , which controls the head spacing operation and printing operation based on instructions from the monitoring section 25. Others in Figure 3 (the same symbols as bl represent the same objects.

[Operation explanation] (See Figure 2 (bl, (C1)) The printing information received from the interface 12 is sent to the pattern developing section 1.
4 selects the printing color of the first digit, the corresponding character code is pattern developed and stored in the line buffer 23, and the printing information of each digit is stored in the attribute buffer 15 after subtracting the selected color. .

After one line of pattern development is completed, the main control section 26 causes the space control section 17 to drive the space drive section ICl to perform a spacing operation, while reading the line buffer 23 and controlling the print head drive section 21 to print the selected color. to print.

The line buffer 23 is managed by pointers representing the start address of pattern storage, the end address of pattern storage, and the read address, respectively. When printing reaches the end pointer, the main control unit 26 controls the space control unit 17.
and the pattern development section 14 are activated at the same time.

The space control section 17 sends a control pulse to the space drive section 18 in accordance with a predetermined deceleration to stop the space motor Ml.

The pattern development unit 14 searches the attribute buffer 15, selects the next color based on the print information of the first character of the print line, extracts the character having the corresponding color print information, and performs pattern development.

After the pattern development is completed, the ribbon control section 19 calculates the amount of ribbon movement from the colors before and after switching, and sends a control pulse based on a predetermined acceleration/deceleration to the ribbon drive section 20 to switch the ribbon 3.

After counting a predetermined time (T5) from the start of ribbon switching, the monitoring section 32 confirms that the head has stopped and sends a print start signal to the main control section 26.

The main control section 26 causes the head to run in response to the above signal, and after a predetermined time (T6) controls each section to start printing.

The same applies to line feed, but line feed is performed after the head has stopped.

As a result, the deceleration and stop time of the head can be shortened compared to the conventional method, and the color printing speed can be improved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, which starts the stop operation of the print head and the ribbon selection changeover operation at the same time, the ribbon changeover time can be absorbed by the deceleration time of the printhead, and the printing speed can be increased without compromising print quality. is large.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 (a) is a block diagram of a color printer according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 (b) is an operation flow chart, Fig. 2 (C) is an operation time chart, and Fig. 3 (a) is an explanatory diagram of the printing mechanism of a color printer;
FIG. 3(b) is a block diagram of a conventional control unit, FIG. 3(C) is a time chart of ribbon control operation, and FIG. 3<d) is a flowchart of ribbon control operation. In the figure, 1 is the head section, 2 is the print head, 3 is the ribbon, 3a to 3d are the respective color ink parts, 5 is the gear, 7.8 is the ribbon spool, 9 is the rotating shaft, 10 is the pin, 11.26 is the main control unit, 12 is the interface, 13 is the input buffer,
14 is a pattern development section, 15 is an attribute buffer, 16 is a pattern generation section, 17 is a space control section, 18 is a space drive section, 19 is a ribbon control section, 20 is a ribbon drive section, 21 is a print head drive section, 23 is a 24 is a line feed drive unit, 25 is a monitoring unit, Ml is a space motor, and M2 is a ribbon motor. ) h
rv (σ) η Rahprinter = rtgp U11 kidnapping and Kozuki Tsukiaki 3
Figure (α) 263 m (b)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A ribbon control method for a printer that is equipped with a plurality of color ink ribbons and performs color printing by sequentially selecting and switching the color ink ribbons based on color information included in printing information, the method comprising: a first color ink ribbon; Deceleration operation to stop the spacing operation of the print head after printing is completed (17)
and command means (26) for simultaneously starting the switching operation (14, 19) for selecting the second color ink ribbon and switching the ribbon; A ribbon control system characterized by comprising a monitoring means (25) for starting printing with a second color ink ribbon.