JPS62255180A - Ink ribbon cassette and printer using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the effective secure replacement of an ink ribbon in printing operation, by detecting the residual amount of the ribbon from the winding amount of the ink ribbon wound on a supply reel or a winding reel. CONSTITUTION:The ink ribbon 11a wound on a supply reel 13 being adjusted to printing operation is wound on a winding reel 15. The ink ribbon on the supply reel 13 gradually decreases and the ink ribbon wound on the winding reel 15 increases. Further, an ink ribbon cassette 3 moves from one end to the other end of a printer 1 along rails 7a, 7b being synchronized with this printing operation and the winding operation of the ink ribbon. Then, when the ink ribbon cassette 3 is moved to the end position at which a positional detection sensor 27 is arranged, the residual amount detection sensor 25 consisting of a reflecting type photosensor or the like is actuated and the distance between said sensor and a reflecting surface 19b is calculated. Then, the residual amount of the ink ribbon is calculated to be indicated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a printer, and particularly to an ink ribbon cassette J3 used in a thermal transfer η printer and a printer.

(Prior art) In recent years, various thermal transfer printers with quiet printing noise have been developed.
It is widely used in word processors, personal computers, etc. The ink ribbons used in this thermal transfer printer are stored in containers 1 to 1, but the ink ribbons are 5μ in size compared to the ink ribbons normally used in dot impact printers, and the parts that have been used once are not reused. Therefore, when using the ink ribbon, detect the remaining amount of ink ribbon before it completely runs out, and replace it with a new ink ribbon cassette before the end. ii! (Problem to be solved by the invention) In the past, for example, there were devices that could detect the end of the ink ribbon, but when the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is low and it is near the end. Since there was nothing to detect that
There are cases where the ink ribbon does not realize that it has completely disappeared until it reaches the end of the ink ribbon, and the ink ribbon runs out during printing. In other words, in conventional systems, the printer or the word processor that controls the printer, for example, cannot detect the ink ribbon until it runs out, so it is detected only at J3 when the ink ribbon runs out, and this causes, for example, an alarm. etc., but in this case, the ink ribbon that falls into the printer is not fully retained before the ink ribbon runs out, resulting in blurred printing, and of course, after the ink ribbon runs out, the printing (- Because the ink ribbon does not come out, there is a lJ before the ink ribbon runs out.
There is a problem that the printing will be incomplete and you will have to print again, or you can continue printing without checking that the ink ribbon has run out. Output to the printer side, and if the printer continues printing, only the printing paper is supplied/) (Of course, it cannot be printed, so it is necessary to print this part again in the same way. There's a problem.

This invention (made in view of the above) is aimed at an ink ribbon cassette and an ink ribbon cassette capable of detecting the remaining amount of unused ink ribbon in advance and preventing wasteful printing operations. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer using the cassette.

[Mechanism of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the ink ribbon force set of the present invention (- means a supply reel wound with an unused ink ribbon and a printer). Information regarding the amount of winding of the ink ribbon wound around the supply reel or the take-up reel is stored in an ink ribbon cassette (15) having a take-up reel for sequentially winding the ink ribbon installed and used for printing. 4. Having 46 output gutter information output means/A:
Take the abstract.

Further, in the printer of the present invention, an ink ribbon cassette storing an ink ribbon is installed, and the ink ribbon cassette is installed in a printer that prints using the ink ribbon stored in the cassette 1. Information about the supply reel on which the ink ribbon used is wound, the take-up reel that winds the ink ribbon used for printing, and the winding of the ink ribbon wound on the supply reel or take-up reel. unused II output means for detecting the winding amount information output from the winding amount information outputting means and calculating an unused amount of the ink ribbon; The purpose is to cover the following.

(Function) The ink ribbon force set 83 of the present invention outputs information regarding the winding ω of the ink ribbon wound on the supply reel or the take-up reel.

Further, in the printer of the present invention, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is detected by excluding the actual amount of ink ribbon used from information regarding the amount of winding of the ink ribbon wound on the supply reel or the take-up reel. There is.

(Implementation 1+ll) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram J showing a printer using an ink ribbon cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a printer 1 is, for example, a thermal transfer printer, and a -r link ribbon cassette 3 is attached approximately to the center of the printer 1. This ink ribbon force hitch 1-3 is movably guided by a pair of rails 7a and 7b extending below the ink ribbon cassette 3 parallel to the platen 5 extending in the horizontal direction of the printer 1. The cassette mounting table 9 is removably mounted on the cassette mounting table 9, and the cassettes 1 to 9 are mounted on the rail 7.
a.

7b almost from one end of the printer 1 to the other."
It's becoming a sea urchin. Note that in FIG. 1, the upper case 3a of the ink ribbon cassette 3 is shown disassembled upward to cover the drawing for clarity.

The ink ribbon cassette 3 is an unused ink ribbon 11a.
The unused ink ribbon 11a wound around the supply reel 13 has a supply reel 13 wound to supply the used ink ribbon 1111 and a take-up reel 15 wound around the used ink ribbon 1111. That is, the take-up reel 15 is inserted between the thermal head 17 and the platen 5.
used ink ribbon 111]. Then, when the l\rad 7 prints on the printing paper (not shown) inserted between the platen 5 and the head 17, the ink from the unused ink ribbon 11a held between the platen 5 and the head 17 is printed. is attached to the printing paper by the action of the rad 7, causing the print to be twisted. At this time, the ink ribbon cassette 3 moves along the rails 7a and 7b parallel to the platen 5 from one end of the printer 1 to the other, printing from one end of the printing paper to the other, and in synchronization with this printing operation, the take-up reel 15J5 and the supply reel 13 rotate, the used ink ribbon 11b is sequentially wound onto the take-up reel 15,
Unused ink ribbon 1 wound around supply reel 13
1a are rolled out in sequence. By performing such a printing operation, the thickness of the unused ink ribbon 11a wound around the supply reel 13, i.e., the remaining amount, gradually decreases, and the diameter of its outer periphery gradually decreases. On the other hand, the thickness of the used ink ribbon 111) wound up on the take-up reel 15 gradually increases, and the diameter of its outer periphery gradually increases.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the ink ribbon cassette 3, in which one end 19a of a leaf spring 19 constituting a part of the winding amount detection means of the present invention is fixedly attached near one side of the cassette. (The other end 19b of the plate bone 19 is attached to the used ink ribbon 11 which is taken up by the take-up reel 15.
It is arranged so that it may contact the outer peripheral end of 11. This binding, the other end 191 of the wing plate spring 19, moves in the radial direction of the take-up reel 15 in accordance with the thickness of the used ink ribbon 111) wound on the take-up reel 15, i.e. the amount used. The amount to be used is then instructed.

The inner ribbon 11 at the other end 19b of the leaf spring 19
The one facing H and the opposite one are made of members that distribute light (
The reflection surface 191) is formed by
A part of the case from cassette 1 facing b is cut out,
A measurement window 21 is formed here for measuring the position of the opposite q1 surface 19b and measuring the skewer of the ink ribbon Ilb (used). Therefore, the 1η position of the reflective surface 191) can be measured from this measurement window 21, and as will be described later, from the measured position of the reflective surface 19b, the remaining portions of the ink ribbon p, t and the unused ink ribbon 11a are measured. The amount is now on the rise.

The ink ribbon cassettes I to 3 configured as described above are installed (used) in the printer 1 as shown in FIG. 1.The ink ribbon cassette 3 shown in FIG. The window 21 is not formed in the corner as shown in FIG. 2, but is formed as a measurement window 21' in the side wall.
The basic structure and operation are the same as those shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, ink ribbon cassette tools 7a and 7b
A remaining amount detection sensor 25 for detecting the remaining amount of the ink ribbon by detecting the position of the reflective surface 19b is provided on the side wall portion 1a at one end that moves along the ink ribbon. A position detection sensor 27 is provided below the ink ribbon cassette 3 to detect when the ink ribbon cassette 3 has moved to the position closest to the side wall 1a. The ink ribbon cassette 3 is disposed so as to face the surface 19b through the measurement window 21-, and the ink ribbon cassette 3 moves periodically with the printing operation of the printer 1, and the ink ribbon cassette 3 is detected by the position detection sensor 25 by λJ. When the ink ribbon cassette 1-3 moves to the closest end position, when the position detection sensor 27 detects that the ink ribbon cassette 1-3 has moved to the end position, the position detection signal from the position detection sensor 27 is detected. Then, the remaining amount detection sensor 25 detects the position between the ink ribbon force set 1-3 and the reflective surface 19b, and the remaining amount of the unused ink ribbon 11a is calculated according to the measured position. .

The remaining amount detection sensor 125 uses, for example, a reflective interrupter that detects the distance to the reflective surface 19b using light, and detects the remaining amount of the ink ribbon based on the distance information. This is to calculate the amount. That is, the remaining amount detection sensor 2 is fixedly arranged at a predetermined position.
If the distance from 5 to the reflective surface 19b is detected, the relationship between the distance and the remaining amount of the ink ribbon can be measured in advance. The remaining amount of the ink ribbon can be calculated from the distance. In addition, position detection sensor 2
7 is composed of, for example, a micro switch or the like, and when the ink ribbon cassette 3 reaches the extreme end position, a micro switch is pressed on the side of the ink ribbon cassette 3.
(The remaining amount detection sensor 25 is not limited to the one that uses light as described above, but can be configured such that one of the nonconforming surfaces b is magnetic.) According to the relationship with the configuration of anti-11=q・1 and 19b, there is a theory that it can be measured using, for example, a Hall element, a press-contact terminal, or other various means. The switch is not limited to the switch f-, but other mechanical switches, transmissive type A1 to interlab using light, etc., and various other switches can be used.

FIG. 3 shows the ink ribbon cassettes 1 to 3 shown in FIG. The configuration is shown in which the amount detection sensor 25 measures the distance -1 to the C reflecting surface 19b through the measurement window 21 and excludes the remainder of the ink ribbon.
In this figure, the position detection sensor 27 is located on the front side of the printer 1.
1) In the figure, the ink ribbon is disposed below the ink ribbon units 1 to 3.

Next, the operation can be explained with reference to Figure 4.

When the printer 1, narrowly defined as the ink ribbon cassette 3, performs a printing operation, the ink ribbon 11a wound on the supply reel 13 is taken up on the take-up reel 15 in accordance with the printing operation, and the ink ribbon on the supply reel 13 is gradually The number of ink ribbons removed by the number of IJ-rules 15 increases. Furthermore, in synchronization with this printing operation and the ink ribbon winding operation, the ink ribbon cassette 3 moves from one end of the printer 1 to the other along the rails 7a and 7b (step 11).
0), and when the ink ribbon cassette 3 moves to the extreme position where the position detection sensor 27 is disposed, the position detection sensor 27 is activated and it is confirmed that the ink ribbon cassette 3 has moved to the predetermined measurement position. (steps 120, 130).

When the position detecting sensor Fj27 detects that the interribbon cassette 3 has come to this position, the remaining amount detecting sensor 25 consisting of a reflective photo sensor 1 to a sensor etc. is activated, and the -C1 sensor and the reflective surface 191) are activated. The distance between is calculated and covered (steps 140, 150).

When the distance between the remaining amount detection sensor IJ25 and the reflective surface 191) is measured, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon is calculated from this distance by 14-=J from the previously measured table as described above. The balance is calculated and displayed (Step 1)
60,170). From this displayed remaining amount, you can see how much of the ink ribbon currently being used in the printer 1 can be used, and this allows you to replace the ink ribbon appropriately before it runs out completely. This prevents the ink ribbon from running out in the middle of printing, which was the case in the past, thereby preventing unnecessary printing operations.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(1+) are a side view of an ink ribbon cassette 1 and a plan view showing its internal structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. The J ink ribbon cassette shown in the same figure has a plate spring 1 in the ink ribbon forceps 1 to 1 shown in FIG.
One end 19a, which is a fixed support portion of the printer 9, is disposed on the side where the head 17 of the printer 1 is located, contrary to FIG.
The only difference is f''A in that the measurement window 21' is disposed on the I\ side.

FIG. 6 shows an ink ribbon cassette according to another embodiment of the invention. In the four-ink ribbon cassette shown in the same figure, one end is wound onto a take-up reel 15 to measure the amount of ink ribbon used, that is, the remaining amount of ink ribbon, instead of using the leaf spring 19 as described above. Displacement rod 3 that contacts the outer peripheral end surface of the used ink phone 111I
1 is used, and the displacement rod 31 is configured to be always in contact with the ink ribbon by a spring 33.

Then, the displacement rod 31 measures the amount of displacement protruding from the side wall of the cassettes 1 to 7 according to the thickness of the used ink ribbon to be wound up on the take-up reel 15. We measured the ink ribbon used and
This calculates the remaining amount of unused ink ribbon.

FIG. 7 is a side view and a plan view of the internal structure of an ink ribbon cassette according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a small ink ribbon cassette is shown at winding wheel 15.
A member replacing the leaf spring or the like that contacts the used ink ribbon wound up on the cassette 1 and detects the usage amount of the ink ribbon is inserted between the pair of guide plates 35a and 35b disposed on the flat surface 71. It has a reflector plate 37 configured to move in the radial direction of the take-up wheel 15 while always maintaining parallel to the side wall of the case, and has a reflector plate 37 arranged so as to
The used or remaining amount of the ink ribbon is detected by the movement φ of the plate 37.

FIG. 8 shows an ink ribbon cassette according to still another embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the ink ribbon force set 1 shown in the same figure, in which the other end 19b of the plate 19 constitutes the anti-Ω1 surface, a rod-shaped member 4 is attached to the other end 19b.
A permanent magnet 41 is attached via 3, and this permanent magnet 41
The thickness of the ink ribbon wound up on the winding wheel 15 is 11+L/ (The moving position is detected by a magnetic detection means (not shown), such as a ball element, etc., and the usage amount of the ink ribbon is measured. It is.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment 1 of this invention)! The ink ribbon shown in the same figure has a magnetic part 45 parallel to a normal ink part 45a.
tT. When the ink ribbon is used and the strength of the ink ribbon wound on the take-up reel 15 increases, magnetic detection (not shown) occurs at the magnetic part of the increased outer peripheral end. Since the magnetic effect on the means tends to change, the amount of ink ribbon used can be measured by detecting this magnetic effect.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
That is, when the ink ribbon reaches the end position, the remaining amount detection sensor 1] 25 is activated to measure and layer the used ink ribbon (
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and by always detecting and covering the positions of the ink ribbon cassettes 1 to 3 using the other h method, the use of the ink ribbon can be avoided no matter where the ink ribbon cassette 3 is located. It is also possible to perform measurement.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the supply reel L can detect the remaining amount of the ink ribbon from the winding amount of the ink ribbon wound around the take-up reel. Therefore, before the ink ribbon completely runs out, it is possible to know in advance how much ink ribbon is left, in other words, to know the remaining amount of the ink ribbon, and thereby to accurately determine when it is time to replace the ink ribbon.
Replace the ink ribbon before it completely runs out (because X and There is no waste,
Printing operations and ink ribbon replacement can be performed efficiently and accurately.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an ink ribbon according to an embodiment of the present invention.
'a? ] Figure l'A, Figure 2 shows the internal structure of the ink ribbon cassette 1 used in the printer shown in Figure A1.
1ゝ[! 11 and 4 show the operation of the printer shown in FIG. 1. )I
J--f t□-1-1 FIGS. 5 to 8 each show a one-thread interribbon cassette according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows a single thread interribbon cassette according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram showing an ink ribbon to be used. 1...pudding! 7 3... Ink ribbon cassettes 11a, 11b... Ink ribbon 13... Combination reel 15... Take-up reel 19... Leaf spring 19b... Reflective surface 25... Residual sulfur detection level 4th Figure 5 + a) Figure 5 (b) Kettle 6

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A supply reel wound with an unused ink ribbon;
In an ink ribbon cassette having a take-up reel that is attached to a printer and sequentially winds up the ink ribbon used for printing, outputs information regarding the winding amount of the ink ribbon wound around the supply reel or the take-up reel. An ink ribbon cassette characterized by having winding amount information output means. (2) The winding amount information output means includes a winding amount indicating means whose one end is in sliding contact with the outer periphery of the ink ribbon wound on the take-up reel, and supports the winding amount of the ink ribbon on the take-up reel; The ink ribbon cassette according to claim 1, further comprising display means provided on the main body of the ink ribbon cassette for displaying the instruction by the take-up amount indicating means on the outside of the ink ribbon cassette. (3) In a printer that is equipped with an ink ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon and prints using the ink ribbon stored in the cassette, the ink ribbon cassette is equipped with a supply reel wound with an unused ink ribbon, and a printer that prints using the ink ribbon stored in the cassette. a take-up reel for winding the ink ribbon used in the above, and a winding amount information output means for outputting information regarding the winding amount of the ink ribbon wound around the supply reel or the winding reel; The printer is characterized in that the printer has unused amount calculating means for detecting the winding amount outputted by the winding amount information outputting means and calculating the unused amount of the ink ribbon. (4) The winding amount information output means includes a winding amount indicating means, one end of which is in sliding contact with the outer circumference of the ink ribbon wound on the take-up reel, and which indicates the winding amount of the ink ribbon on the take-up reel; 4. The printer according to claim 3, further comprising display means provided on the main body of the ink ribbon cassette for displaying the instruction by the take-up amount indicating means on the outside of the ink ribbon cassette.