JPS6260680A - Tape information detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the titled detector capable of detecting various kinds of tape information, by detecting bodies to be detected provided in a carriage and a cartridge by an optical detecting means to thereby obtain position information concerning the carriage and information concerning a transfer tape enclosed in the cartridge. CONSTITUTION:When a carriage CR is started moving, a reflector M1 is first detected by a photosensor PS, and the function of a home position detecting mechanism is performed by the photosensor PS and the reflector M1. Then, reflectors M2, M3 and M4 are sequentially detected by the photosensor PS. For example, combinations of presence or absence of reflectors at the arranging positions for the reflectors M2, m3, M4 can be used as means for identifying the colors or kinds of tapes, for example, as a means for indicating that the tape is adapted to printing on a rough paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application 1] The present invention relates to a tape information detection device, and more particularly to a carriage and tape information detection device in a printer that prints using a transfer tape.

[Prior Art 1] For example, in a device for detecting tape end information, information on a transfer tape in such a printer is based on J: of a means for moving the tape, LE of a light emitting element [l], It is equipped with a reflective sensor combined with a phototransistor, and when the tape reaches the end, a reflective tape is rolled out instead of the transfer tape, and a method has been used in which this reflective tape is detected by the reflective sensor. . That is, this method is effective for printers that can detect the tape end just before it, stop printing, stop again after replacing the tape, and then start printing from the point immediately after.

However, in printers that must start printing from a new line after replacing the tape, there is no need to detect the end of the tape just before the end, and the detection mechanism moves along with the tape. This has the disadvantage that the cost is higher than that of a fixed detection mechanism.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] The purpose of the present invention is to focus on the above-mentioned problem, and to solve the problem, to provide a fixed tape end detection mechanism to detect the position of the carriage as well as the tape end. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape information detection device that can be obtained at a low price and can detect various types of tape information.

Means for Solving the L Problem 1 In order to achieve this object, in the present invention, a cartridge containing a transfer tape is mounted on a carriage, and the transfer tape is transferred while being fed while being wound in response to the scanning of the carrier 2. In a printer that performs printing using tape, an optical detection means is provided along the scanning path of the carriage and at a position where the entire length of the carriage passes, and the cartridge is provided with a detection window that can view a part of the tape surface of the transfer tape, When the carriage scans, the optical detection means detects whether the transfer tape is at the end through the detection window, and the optical detection means detects the object to be detected provided on the carriage and the cartridge. information regarding the location of the transfer tape and the transfer tape stored in the cartridge.

C Function 1 In the tape information detection device configured as described above, the optical detection means capable of detecting the end of the tape is disposed at a position where the entire carriage of the tape cartridge can pass through. By providing a window through which the tape being wound can be seen, when the position of this window reaches the optical detection means, it is not only possible to detect the end of the tape based on the presence or absence of reflection, but also to detect the end of the gear ridge. The home position and various information regarding the tape can be detected through this optical detection means.

Example f] Examples of the present invention will be described below in detail and specifically based on the drawings.

1 and 2 show one embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, TO is a tape cartridge, and CR is a carriage that carries the tape cartridge TO and moves. The tape cartridge TC has a thermal transfer tape TA wound between a loading reel R1 and a take-up reel R2, and the tape TA is wound from reel R1 to reel R2 as the carriage GR moves. , tape T
In the path where A is wound, cartridge T
It passes through the detection window E drilled in C and the position of the thermal head TH.

Furthermore, in this example, a reflector Ml is attached to the left side surface of the carriage CR as shown in FIG. 2, and reflectors M2 . M3 and N4 are attached to the side of the tape cartridge TC.

PS is a photosensor installed at a position where the side surface of the carriage OR passes when it moves. , it is possible to detect the positions where these are attached, and it is also possible to detect whether or not the tape TA has reached the tape end via the detection window E.

Next, a process of detecting the home position of the carriage CR and tape information according to the movement of the carriage CR by the tape information detection device configured as described above will be described. In this example, when printing is performed using this thermal head TH, the carriage CR is connected to the photo sensor P as shown by the dashed line in these figures.
Start from the right side of the S.

When the carriage CR starts to move, the reflector Ml is first detected by the photosensor PS, and the photosensor PS and the reflector M1 act as a home position detection mechanism. Thus, the reflector M2. M3 and M4 are sequentially detected by the photosensor PS, but for example, these reflection plates M2. Depending on the combination of M3 and whether or not a reflective plate is attached to the old placement position, it can be used as a means of recognizing the color of the tape and the type of tape.1 For example, to determine that it is a tape for rough paper. It can be used for means etc.

That is, the reflector M1 and the reflector M2. M3. The positional relationship between M4 and the detection window E is maintained at predetermined intervals during manufacturing, and the speed of the carriage CR can be controlled by a controller (not shown). For example, if the reflector M2 is detected after a predetermined time has elapsed after the reflector M1 is detected by the PS, it is determined that there are 4 reflectors M2, and the reflector M2 is detected even after the predetermined time has elapsed. If not, the control mechanism of the printer (not shown) can determine that there is no reflector M2.Similarly, the presence or absence of reflectors M3 and ■ can be determined at each time interval, and the presence or absence of these can be determined. Information about the stored tape TA can be obtained through the combination, and the printing speed or thermal rad T can be determined using that tape TA.
S can be achieved by changing driving conditions such as heating time using H.

Next, when the detection window E passes the photosensor PS, if the tape TA at the position of the detection window E is a thermal transfer part, no light is reflected from the tape TA to the photosensor PS, so the tape A is still It is determined that the tape end has not been reached, and if the tape TA is at the tape end at this time, it is determined that the tape end is reached because the light is reflected. Note that by setting a promise that at least one of the reflective plates M2 to M1114 will be attached to the side surface of the cartridge TC, it is also possible to determine whether or not the cartridge is mounted.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, an optical detection means is provided along the scanning path of the carriage carrying the tape cartridge and at a position where the entire length of the carriage passes, and the tape cartridge is A tape end detection window is provided at a predetermined position on the surface facing the optical detection means, and an object to be detected that can be detected by the optical detection means is provided at another predetermined position on the same surface of the tape cartridge and carriage. , it is possible to detect not only the tape end information but also the home position of the carriage and other information regarding the tape.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the tape information detection bag of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1. TO... Cartridge C1'l... Carriage, R1, R2... Reel, TA... Tape, TH... Thermal head, Ml, M2. M3. M4...-reflector, PS...photo sensor, LEII...light emitting element, PT...light receiving element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A printer in which a cartridge containing a transfer tape is mounted on a carriage, and printing is performed using the transfer tape while winding the transfer tape in response to the scanning of the carriage, comprising: a scanning path of the carriage; an optical detection means is provided at a position along which the entire length of the carriage passes; a detection window that can view a part of the tape surface of the transfer tape is provided in the cartridge; and when the carriage scans, the optical detection means The means detects whether or not the transfer tape is at the end through the detection window, and the optical detection means detects the carriage and the object to be detected provided in the cartridge, and determines the position of the carriage. A tape information detection device characterized in that information and information regarding a transfer tape stored in the cartridge are obtained.