JPS6154975A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce noise as well as raise the quality of printing by a method in which kinds of ink ribbon cassettes set are detected, and the printing pressure of a wire head is controlled according to the kinds of the ribbon. CONSTITUTION:A dot printer is provided with a detector to detect the kinds of ink ribbon cassettes and a controller to control a wire head 27 according to the kinds of the cassettes. When, for example, printing pressures are selected by a printing pressure selection switch 24 and the power source of the printer is closed, the presence or absence of the detector in ink ribbon cassettes 15 and 16 set is detected by an optical detector 11, and detected signals from the ribbon cassette detector 25 are sent to EXOR circuit 20 of the controller 19. In case where the printing pressure selected is matched with the ink ribbon, a indication of printing pressure designated in the printing pressure selection switch 24 is put in a printing drive circuit 22 by a printing pressure indicating circuit 21. In case where the printing pressure is not matched with the ink ribbon, a signal is sent from the circuit 21 to a ribbon alarm displayer 26 for alarm displaying.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a wire dot printer that uses different strengths and weaknesses of printing power.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, spring charge type heads, clapper type heads, and the like are known as heads for wire dot printers, and one example of the clapper type heads will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a current is applied to the coil 2 of the clapper-type wire head 1, the armature 3 attracts the core 4 and strikes the wire 5, and the wire 5 imprints the printing paper 7 on the platen 8 via the ink ribbon 6. .

When this printing is completed, the return springs 9 and 10 return the initial state to the state shown in FIG.

These wire dot printers have the disadvantage that in order to obtain good print quality, including copying, it is necessary to increase the printing pressure above a certain level, which increases the noise generated when the wire is printed. there were. Therefore, in the clapper-type wire head 1, the strength of the printing pressure is adjusted by changing the strength of the current or the length of the application time. This reduces noise.

In this case, in order to obtain satisfactory printing quality under the above printing pressure conditions, it is necessary to adapt various conditions such as the ribbon base material of the ink ribbon and the ink to the strength of the printing pressure. In other words, when the printing pressure is strong, a thick cloth ribbon is used, and when the printing pressure is still weak, a thin cloth ribbon or film ribbon is used, so that the desired ink ribbon cassette can be set alternatively. be.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, such conventional methods operate even if an ink ribbon that is not compatible with the strength of the printing pressure is incorrectly set, so it may not always be possible to obtain good printing quality, or for example, if the printing pressure is too strong. Sometimes, if a suitable ink ribbon is used incorrectly when the printing pressure is low, the ink ribbon may be punched out with a wire because the ribbon base material is not strong enough.
There are problems such as jamming of the ink ribbon and breakage of wires.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problem, and its purpose is to provide a detection means for the ink ribbon cassette so that an ink ribbon suitable for the printing pressure can always be used, thereby reducing noise. The aim is to improve printing quality and print quality.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the object described in "=1)," the present invention provides a detection means for detecting the type of ink ribbon cassette, and a control section for controlling a wire head according to the spindle frequency of the ink ribbon cassette detected by the detection means. It is characterized by the following.

[Effect]

The present invention having the above features detects the type of ink ribbon cassette that has been sent by a detection means, and controls the wire head by a control unit according to the detected type of ink ribbon cassette, thereby adjusting the printing pressure of the wire head and the like. When the ink ribbon is not compatible, the controller keeps the wire head stopped, displays an alarm, and sets the printing pressure of the wire head to a printing pressure compatible with the ink ribbon cassette.

〔Example〕

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of main parts of a printer showing a specific example of this embodiment. First, in FIG. 3, a detection means 11 having a light emitting function and a light receiving function is provided at the upper end of a carriage 13 mounted so as to be able to slide on two parallel guide shafts 12. A plurality of ink ribbon cassettes 15 and 16 suitable for changing the printing pressure can be selectively set in the wire head 14 provided in the wire head 13, and the ink ribbon cassettes 15 and 16 are connected to a ribbon drive shaft that rotates on the carriage 13 during printing. 17 so that the ribbon can be fed to the ribbon drive shaft 17.

A detecting section 18 is protruded from the lower end of the ink ribbon cassette 16 to block light transmission and reception of the detecting means 11 when the ink ribbon cassette 16 is set. Although it is not protruded from the ink ribbon cassette 15, the presence or absence of this detects the ink ribbon cassette. The type is identified.

In this embodiment, the detection section 18 is provided protruding from the ink ribbon cassette 16, but the detection section may be provided protruding from the ink ribbon cassette 15.

In FIG. 1, the control unit 19 includes an EXOR circuit 20, a print pressure instruction circuit 21, a print drive circuit 22, and a print control circuit 2.
From 3 onwards, a printing pressure selection switch 24 and a ribbon cassette detection section 25 are connected to the EXOR circuit 20 of the control section 19, and the detection means 11 shown in FIG. A ribbon alarm display section 26 is connected, a wire head section 27 is connected to the print drive circuit 22, and an input section 28 is connected to the print control circuit 23.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. When the strength of the printing pressure is selected in advance with the printing pressure selection switch 24 and the power of the printer is turned on, the detection means 11 shown in FIG.
Based on this detection, a detection signal is sent from the ribbon cassette detection unit 25 to the EXOR circuit 20 of the control unit 19, and the EXOR circuit 20 determines whether the printing pressure selection and the ink ribbon are compatible. Take. If the printing pressure selection and ink ribbon match, the printing pressure instruction circuit 21
inputs the printing pressure instruction specified by the printing pressure selection switch 24 to the printing, 1 drive circuit 22.

On the other hand, print data is input to the print drive circuit 22 from the input section 28 through the print control circuit 23, and the wire head section 27 is driven.

In addition, if the printing pressure selection and the ink ribbon do not match, the printing pressure instruction circuit 21 sends a signal to the ribbon alarm display section 2.
6 to display an alarm.

In this example, two types of ink ribbon force settings are used.15.
However, if a slit is formed in the detection section 18 and the position and width thereof are coded, and a plurality of detection means 11 are provided, five or more types of ink ribbon cassettes can be identified and used.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, only one of the ink ribbon cassettes 16 is provided with a protruding detection section 18 for detection by the optical detection means 11;
[Any other detection means may be used as long as it can detect i. For example, 1. Magneto and Paul's youngest son, 2. A protrusion and a switch operated by the protrusion; 3. f1°17 or notch and switch, 4. Examples of methods include pasting marks and reflective light emitting and receiving sensors.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and this second embodiment is similar to the EXOR circuit 20 of the first embodiment. The printing pressure selection switch 24 and ribbon alarm display section 26 are omitted, and the printing pressure is controlled according to the type of ink ribbon cassette set. Below, the third
The second embodiment will be explained based on FIG.
The same parts as in the embodiment will be described with the same numbers assigned.

First, in this second embodiment, when the power of the printer is turned on, the detecting means 11 shown in FIG. Cassette detection section 25
A detection signal is sent to the printing pressure instruction circuit 30 of the control section 29. The printing pressure instruction circuit 30 instructs the printing drive circuit 22 to operate the wire head section 27 at a predetermined printing pressure depending on the type of the ink ribbon cassette 15 or 16 set.

On the other hand, print data is input to the print drive circuit 22 from the input section 28 through the print control circuit 23, and the wire head section 2T is driven.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the printer according to the present invention, the detecting means detects 21t and E of the set ink ribbon cassette, and the control section controls the wire head according to the detected type of ink ribbon cassette. When the printing pressure of the wire head and the ink ribbon are not compatible,
The control unit can display an alarm when the wire head is stopped, or the printing pressure of the wire head can be set to a printing pressure that is compatible with the ink ribbon cassette, so the printing pressure can be changed from the conventional printing pressure. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent incorrect use of incompatible ink ribbons, to prevent deterioration of printing quality due to incompatible printing pressure, and to prevent jamming of ink ribbons and damage to wires. It can be used in impact printers that change printing pressure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of main parts of a printer to which the present invention is applied, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment. 11... Detection means 14... Wire dot 15° 16... Ink ribbon cassette 18... Detection section
19゜29... Control Department Patent Applicant Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Takashi Kanakura Niba 1 Shio 4-Q

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a printer that prints by switching printing pressure according to the types of multiple ink ribbon cassettes, there is a detection means for detecting the type of ink ribbon cassette, and a wire head according to the type of ink ribbon cassette detected by the detection means. A printer comprising: a control unit that controls the printer;