JPS6223774A - Ink ribbon supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit two-way printing by providing a winding mechanism by which an ink ribbon is sent in blank in unused state by one-line length of ink ribbon after line spacing to the winding rotary shaft side from the sending rotary shaft and also the ribbon is wound up by one-line length of ink ribbon used in opposite-direction printing after line spacing. CONSTITUTION:A wire-driven pulley 19 is released to make a ribbon cassette 11 freely movable, a printing head 15 is moved to the left end, and printing is made for one line. When line spacing is made and printing is continued, a pressure contact of the head 15 against a printing paper 17 is released, a wire 18 is moved to the opposite direction of arrow mark A by a driver connected to the pulley 19, and the wire-driven pulley is connected and the ink ribbon 12 of one-line length (lR) after line spacing is wound around a winding rotary shaft 14 in unused state. The pulley 19 is released, the printing is transferred from the right end to the left end, and when printing for one line after line spacing is ended, the contact of the printing head 15 is released, the pulley 19 is connected, and the ribbon 12 is wound around the shaft 14 by length (lR).

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] In a thermal transfer printer equipped with a ribbon cassette, the print head is used to perform printing in both directions.

When the printing of the forward pass is completed, the printing ink ribbon for one line of the next return pass is fed unused to the winding rotation shaft side, and when the printing of the return pass is completed, the ink ribbon for the next line of the return pass that was skipped is fed. Wind up one line of ink ribbon toward the winding rotation shaft 2
An ink ribbon supply device is disclosed that prepares an ink ribbon supply configuration for printing on the outgoing path of the next row.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention provides an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer printer equipped with an ink ribbon supply device, particularly a ribbon cassette, in which a new ink ribbon is always supplied from the ribbon cassette during both forward printing and return printing of the next line. This relates to a supply device.

[Conventional technology]

In a printer, the head normally prints from the left side to the right side, using an unused area of the ink ribbon. When one line of printing is finished.

As the print head returns to the initial left end, the print paper is advanced by one line and enters a standby state for printing the second line.

In other words, in a thermal transfer printer equipped with a ribbon cassette, the feeding speed of the ink ribbon from the ribbon cassette and the moving speed of the print head are set at the same speed using a synchronization mechanism, etc., and the ink ribbon is always moved to a new position. Printing is performed by pressing the print head, and printing is not performed again at the position of the ink ribbon that has been used once, so that non-transfer of the print does not occur.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, as explained above, in conventional printers, it is necessary to use the unused area of the ink ribbon, and for this reason, when one line of printing is completed, the print head is returned to the left end, and then Since the print head is moved to the right again to print, it takes time to move the print head from the printing position of that line to the left end in preparation for printing the 9th line. There was a drawback that the printing speed could not be increased.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and it is an alternative to starting printing from the left end of the printing paper by moving the print head to the left end at each line feed.

After starting printing from the left edge, start printing from the right edge for the next line, and then move the print head from the print head position before the line break to the expected print end position after the line break, and move the ribbon cassette. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon supply device that is designed to always use an unused area of the ink ribbon stored in the ink ribbon.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual explanatory diagram of an ink ribbon supply device of the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 is a ribbon cassette, 2 is an ink ribbon,
3 is a feed rotation axis, 4 is a winding rotation axis, 5 is a print head,
6 represents a platen.

An unused ink ribbon 2 is wound around a feed rotation shaft 3. First, the print head 5 sequentially moves, for example, from the left end to the right end of the printing paper 7, and when the print head 5 has moved one line forward, that is, when it has finished printing one line in the forward direction, it is at the right end position of the secondary line. A mechanism is adopted that allows the print head 5 to be moved to.

The ink ribbon feeding mechanism in the ribbon cassette 1 is a mechanism that performs the same operation as the conventional one when the print head 5 moves back and forth from the left end side to the right end side. In other words, if the print head 5 moves by 1 degree while printing the first line, the ribbon
The winding rotation shaft 4 in the cassette 1 moves the print head 5 for one line by the amount 1. The mechanism is such that it winds up the ink ribbon 2 of the same length as the ink ribbon 2, and when printing while moving the print head 5 one character at a time to the right, the relative speed between the printing paper 7 and the ink ribbon 2 becomes zero. Such control is performed. In other words, the unused area of the ink ribbon is controlled to be used.

In order to print the next line, the print head 5 is moved to, for example, the right end position of the next line. At this time, the ink ribbon of a length corresponding to the amount of movement lR of the print head 5 for the next line to be printed moves from the feed rotation shaft 3 side in the ribbon cassette 1 to the take-up rotation shaft 4 side. The ribbon cassette 1 is equipped with an empty feeding mechanism for empty feeding. When the print head 5 moves from the right end position of the next row, that is, the position where the print head 5 first prints in the row, toward the left end, the feed rotation shaft 3 in the ribbon cassette 1 , the printing paper 7
The length of the above-mentioned idle feed of the ink ribbon 2 at a speed at which the relative speed between the ink ribbon 2 and the ink ribbon 2 becomes zero! It has a mechanism that sequentially rewinds the truth.

Furthermore, when the print head 5 finishes printing one line in the opposite direction to that before the line feed, that is, in the backward direction, the winding rotation shaft in the ribbon cassette 1 is moved to the length 18 of the ink ribbon 2 used for the above printing. The ribbon cassette 1 is also equipped with a winding mechanism for winding a blank roll to prepare for printing the next line.

[Effect]

It is now assumed that the print head 5 is on the left end side and prints toward the right end side.

To print, RAD 5 moves to the right one character at a time while printing paper 7.
When printing by pressing the ink ribbon 2, the ribbon
The winding rotation shaft 4 inside the cassette 1 is.

The unused ink ribbon 2 whose winding rotation shaft 4 is wound around the feed rotation shaft 3 is set so that the winding speed between the printing paper 7 and the ink ribbon 2 is zero, that is, the speed between the printing paper 7 and the ink ribbon 2 is zero. The ink ribbon 2 is wound up at a speed at which the relative speed of is zero. Therefore, when the print head 5 finishes printing one line on its outward path from the left end side to the right end side, the movement amount J of the print head 5 and the winding of the ink ribbon 2 wound by the one-winding rotation shaft 4 are calculated. The amount is the same J.

When the print head 5 finishes printing one line.

The print head 5 is operated by a mechanism (not shown).

For example, the right end position of the next line, that is, the print head 5 after the line break.
is moved to the print position where it will be printed first. At this time, the required length l of the ink ribbon 2 used for printing the next line
R is calculated by a separately provided electric circuit, and the winding rotation shaft 4 is driven by the idle feeding mechanism provided in the ribbon cassette 1, and the winding rotation shaft 4 is Immediately feed the ink ribbon to the rotating shaft 3.
Dry feeding from the side, that is, winding up unused.

Next, the print head 5 moves from the right end side to the left end side.

That is, it moves in the backward direction while printing one character at a time.

As the pad 5 moves toward printing, the feed rotation shaft 3 in the ribbon cassette 1 winds up the ink ribbon 2 from the rotation shaft 4 at a speed such that the relative speed between the printing paper 7 and the ink ribbon 2 becomes zero. Wind it up toward the feed rotating wheel 3 side (that is, wind it back). In this case as well, the print movement amount when the print head 5 finishes printing one line after the line feed is 1. I is the same as the length of the ink ribbon 2 wound from the rotation shaft 4 to the feed rotation wheel 3 side. It is l. Therefore, even after a line feed, that is, when printing in the backward direction, the ink ribbon 2 pressed against the printing paper 7 always uses the unused area, and the printing by the print head 5 is transferred reliably. .

When the print head 5 finishes printing at its original position, that is, one line after the line feed 9, the take-up rotation axis 4° is immediately activated by the idle-feed take-up mechanism provided in the ribbon cassette 1, and the above-mentioned It was first wound up on the feed rotation shaft 3 (
That is, the length β of the used ink ribbon 2 in the backward direction corresponding to one line feed (that is, rewound) is wound up by the winding rotation shaft 4.

Then, the printing paper 7 is fed by one line and becomes in a standby state for the second printing.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the ink ribbon supply device according to the present invention, in which reference numeral 11 denotes a ribbon cassette, 12
1 is an ink ribbon, 13 is a feed rotation shaft, 14 is a winding rotation shaft, 15 is a print head, 16 is a platen, 17 is printing paper, and 18 is a wire.

19 represents a wire drive pulley, and 20 represents a floating pulley.

An unused ink ribbon 12 is wound around the feed rotation shaft 13, and the feed rotation shaft 13 and the take-up rotation shaft 14 have an unused ink ribbon 12 wound between the wire drive pulley 19 and the floating pulley 20, as shown in FIG. A wire 18 stretched over the wire 18 is wound an appropriate number of times. The wire drive pulley 19 is driven by an existing drive device (not shown) and is configured to be able to be connected to and connected to a power source. Therefore the drive boo I7
When 19 is connected to a power source, wire 18 moves and 2
For example, when driven in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2, both the feed rotation shaft 13 and the winding rotation shaft 14 are rotated to the left, that is, counterclockwise.

Further, when the wire drive pulley 19 is released from the power source, the wire drive pulley 19 rotates freely.

Next, the operation shown in FIG. 2 will be explained with reference to the operation flow chart shown in FIG.

In the initial "beginning" state, it is assumed that the unused portion of the ink ribbon 12 stored in the ribbon cassette 11 is exposed.

Also, what is the "wire drive pulley connection" in Figure 3?

This refers to a state in which the wire drive pulley 19 is mechanically or electromagnetically connected to a known drive device using a power source, thereby causing the wire drive pulley 19 to rotate. Also"
``Release of wire drive pulley'' means to mechanically or electromagnetically release the wire drive pulley 19 from the above-mentioned known drive device, and to release the wire drive pulley 19 freely by the wire 18 as the print head 15 moves in the left and right direction. It refers to the state where it can be rotated.

First, release the wire drive pulley 19 (step 1)
, to make the ribbon cassette 11 freely movable. The print head 15 is moved to the left end by a drive mechanism (not shown) (step 2). The print head 15 performs pressure printing via the ink ribbon 12, moves one character at a time from the left end to the right end, and prints one line (step 3). Then, it is determined whether to continue printing with a new line (step 4). If printing ends on the relevant line, it is the end, and when printing continues with a new line, the length lR of the ink ribbon 12 required for printing the first line.
is calculated by a device not shown, and the ink ribbon 12 is
The length lR of is stored (step 5). Next, after the print head 15 is released from pressure contact with the print paper 17, the wire drive pulley is connected (step 6.7). This puts the wire 18 in a state where it can be moved by a drive device that rotates the wire drive pulley 19. A drive device connected to the wire drive pulley 19 moves the wire 18 in the direction opposite to the arrow A shown in FIG.

The length Ili of the ink ribbon 12 corresponding to one line after the line break calculated above is wound onto the winding rotation shaft 14 in an idle state, that is, in an unused state (step 8). Next, the wire drive pulley 19 is released to allow the wire drive pulley 19 to freely rotate (step 9). Then, the printing pad 15 is pressed against the printing paper 17 via the ink ribbon 12, and the printing is transferred character by character from the right end side to the left end side. That is, a line feed is started and the return path is printed (step 1°). When printing for one line after the line feed is completed, print head 1
5 is released (step 11). Thereafter, the wire drive pulley is connected (step 12), and the drive device connected to the wire drive pulley 19 takes up the length lR of the ink ribbon 12 for one line for the line feed calculated above on the rotating shaft. Wind up to 14 (step 13)
.

After that, it is determined whether to continue printing with a new line (step 14). At this time, if there is no signal to print with a new line, printing ends.

On the other hand, if there is a signal to print with a new line, the printing paper 17 is fed by one line, and then steps 3 and subsequent steps described above are continued.

Note that step 5 in the above description may be performed before step 3 or step 4. Further, the calculation of the length lR of the ink ribbon 12 in step 5 is performed by a known circuit.

The above explanation of FIG. 3 is a flowchart for the case where the print head 15 is printing on the outward path from the left end side to the right end side, and the final print position before line feed is at the rightmost end of the line. If the final printing position before the line break ends in the middle of the printing paper, the print head 15 is moved to the position where printing is to be performed first after the line break, and then Step 10 and subsequent steps are executed.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 has a wire drive pulley 19 and a wire 18.
The length lR of the ink ribbon 12 is fed through the rotating shaft 13
an idle feeding mechanism that performs idle feeding from the winding shaft to the winding rotation shaft 14 side;
and the length IR of the ink ribbon 12 is sent to the rotation shaft 13.
Although a winding mechanism is constructed in which the winding mechanism is moved from the winding shaft to the winding rotation shaft 14 side, the present invention is not limited to this construction.

For example, when the print head 15 reaches either the left or right end, a mechanism that engages gears or a mechanism that engages the ribbon cassette 1
The above-mentioned idle-feeding mechanism and idle-feeding winding mechanism may be configured by adding a small motor for winding to 1.

Moreover, as is clear from the explanation, it goes without saying that the same thing can be said even if the feeding side and the winding side are reversed left and right.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a feeding mechanism that feeds the ink ribbon in an unused state from the feed rotation shaft to the winding rotation shaft side in advance by the length of one line after the line feed. At the same time, by providing a blank feed winding mechanism that winds the ink ribbon by the length of one line after the above-mentioned line break used for printing in the reverse direction, it becomes possible to print in both directions, and at this time, the length of the ink ribbon The unused area can be reliably supplied, and the printing speed can be improved because there is no need to return the print head to the left end and then print the next line as in the conventional method.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of an ink ribbon supply device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the ink ribbon supplying apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart explaining the operation of FIG. 2. In the figure, 1 is a ribbon cassette, 2 is an ink ribbon, 3 is a feed rotation axis, 4 is a winding rotation axis, 5 is a print head, 6 is a platen, 7 is a printing paper, 11 is a ribbon cassette, 1
2 is an ink ribbon, 13 is a feed rotation axis, 14 is a winding rotation axis, 15 is a print head, 16 is a platen, 17 is a printing paper, 18 is a wire, 19 is a wire drive pulley, and 20 is a floating pulley. . Patent applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Patent attorney Mori 1) Hiroshi (3 others) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A ribbon cassette is provided in which the ink ribbon wound around a feed rotation shaft is wound around a take-up rotation shaft, and the print head is moved from one end to the other end while pressing the print head against an unused area of the ink ribbon. In a thermal transfer printer that prints, when the print head finishes printing one line on the outward path from one end to the other, the length of the ink ribbon for the next line is sent in an unused state by the rotation axis. In addition to providing a blank feed mechanism that performs blank feed from the first printing position to the winding rotation shaft side, when the printing of the return path from the first printing position of the next line to one end side is completed, the ink for one line of the above mentioned return path is provided. An ink ribbon supply device characterized in that an empty feeding mechanism is provided to wind the ribbon from the feed rotation shaft to the take-up rotation shaft side by the length of the ribbon, so that an unused area of the ink ribbon is supplied during reciprocating printing. Device.