JPS6131284A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a main body of a carriage to be reduced in size, by providing a reflector at a part of a paper guide so that a reflection-type photo-sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an ink ribbon can also detect the presence or absence of a ribbon cassette. CONSTITUTION:The reflection-type photo-sensor 22 mounted on the carriage 5 is so provided as to be located in the interior of the ribbon cassette 7. In the paper guide (2) 21, a light reflector 23 is provided at a part opposed to the front face of the sensor 22. Since a ribbon end part B is transparent, light emitted from a light-emitting part C of the sensor 22 is reflected by the reflector 23 provided on the paper guide (2) 21, and the reflected light is received by a light-receiving part D. Accordingly, since the presence or absence of the ink ribbon and that of the ribbon cassette can be detected by the small-sized reflection-type photo-sensor, the main body of the carriage can be reduced in size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly to an ink ribbon and a method for monitoring a ribbon cassette containing the ink ribbon.

[Background of the invention]

Conventional thermal transfer printers are
As shown in the issue, a transmission type photointerrupter was used to detect the ribbon end and the absence of a ribbon cassette. However, the transmissive type photointerrupter has a disadvantage in that it is larger in size than the reflective type, which makes it inconvenient for downsizing the printer.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to enable miniaturization of the carriage main body,
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive thermal transfer printer.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a reflector is provided in a part of the paper guide so that the reflective photosensor that detects the presence or absence of an ink ribbon can also detect the presence or absence of a ribbon cassette.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 2 is an external view of a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention. A shaft (1) 4 is fixed between the side plates (1 door and the side plate 12) 2. or,
A carriage 5 is arranged to be able to slide on the shaft (1) 4, and a ribbon cassette 7, a thermal head 15, and a paper guide (2) 21 are mounted on the carriage 5. 16 are stored. The carriage 5 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction by a carriage motor 8 and via a timing belt 10.

The line feed motor 11 transmits driving force to a gear (1) 12 fastened to the shaft of the platen 18, and feeds the paper 14. The paper 14 is sent out by the paper guide (2) 21 with a lot of irregular feeding. Paper can also be fed in the same way by turning the platen knob 13 by hand. 19 is a paper guide (1).

By moving the release lever 20 in the front-back direction,
The paper pressing roller 17, which is slidably disposed on the shaft 3, is configured to be pressed against or separated from the paper surface. 6 is a home position sensor, and 9 is a flat cable for supplying electricity to the thermal head 15 and the like. Printing is performed using a unidirectional printing method that prints only when the carriage 5 moves to the right.When moving to the right, the ink ribbon 16 is wound up, and when it moves to the left, the ink ribbon 1 is wound up.
Do not wind up 6.

FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a state in which a thermal head 15, a ribbon cassette 7, a paper guide (2) 21, and a reflective photosensor 22 are mounted on the carriage 5. The ink ribbon 16 is stored inside the ribbon cassette 7 as shown in the figure, and moves in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure during immediate operation. A reflective photosensor 22 mounted on the carriage 5 is provided to be located inside the ribbon cassette 7. In addition, in the paper guide (2) 21, a portion located in front of the reflective photosensor 22 includes:
A light reflector 23 is provided.

A method for detecting the presence or absence of a ribbon end and a ribbon cassette using the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3.4 and 5.6.7.

FIG. 3 shows a ribbon end portion B (a portion to which ink is not applied) and a non-ribbon end portion A (a portion to which ink is applied) of the ink ribbon 16.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the ribbon end portion (the portion to which ink is not applied) is located in front of the reflective photosensor 22. In FIG. Since the ribbon end part B is transparent, the light output from the light emitting part C of the reflective photosensor 22 is reflected by the light reflector 23 on the guide (2) 21, and is reflected by the light receiving part. is input.

Therefore, in this case, the detection voltage V+ shown in FIG.
It becomes Vb shown in the figure. Further, in the part where the ink is applied, the detection voltage becomes ■i.

Next, the case where the cylinder cassette 7 is attached and detached from the carriage 5 will be explained using FIG. 4. In this case as well, as in the ribbon end section, the light output from the light emitting section C of the reflective photosensor 22 is reflected by the light reflector 23 on the peno-kuichi guide (2) 21, so the detected voltage V+ becomes VL.

Therefore, in a state where there is no ribbon end or ribbon cassette, the detected voltage is VL, so that the controller 25 is notified of the state where there is no ribbon end or ribbon cassette through the voltage comparator 24.

Note that it is not necessary to provide the light reflector 23 when the carriage 5 or the paper guide 21 is sufficient for reflecting light.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, since the presence or absence of an ink ribbon and ribbon cassette can be detected using a small reflective photo sensor, it is possible to downsize the carriage body and provide an inexpensive thermal transfer printer. It is something.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a detailed view of the carriage, Fig. 2 is an external view of the thermal transfer printer, Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the ink ribbon method, and Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the ink ribbon method. Detection circuit diagram, No. 20, No. 30 No. 4 Nojitsuta S mouth

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A thermal head, a ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon, and a paper guide for guiding recording paper;
A thermal transfer printer comprising a reflective photosensor for detecting the presence or absence of an ink ribbon, and a carriage equipped with the thermal head, ribbon cassette, paper guide, and reflective photosensor, wherein the carriage has a reflector that can be detected by the reflective photosensor. A thermal transfer printer characterized by: 2. The thermal transfer printer according to item 1, wherein the paper guide is provided with a reflector that can be detected by a reflective photosensor.