JPS6331783A - Thermal recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a projecting part of an ink sheet cassette part and a detector therefor and provide a thermal recorder capable of an inexpensive high-accuracy detection, by a construction wherein the type of an ink donor sheet can be discriminated by utilizing a color identification marker on the ink donor sheet. CONSTITUTION:A signal detected by a detector 11 is transmitted to a controller, and when a reference color 14 is detected, the controller commanded to stop the movement of an ink donor sheet, and waites for a printing command. When the printing command is supplied under this condition and the commanded printing is the first printing immediately after a power source is switched ON, Y (yellow) printing, M (magenta) printing and C (cyan) printing are sequentially performed. In other cases, a normal printing sequence is followed. After printing in the three colors, the reference color 14 is checked, and when the reference color 14 is present, it is judged that the ink donor sheet 12, 13 being currently fitted is a three-color ink donor sheet, whereas when the reference color 14 is absent, it is judged that the ink donor sheet is a four-color ink donor sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal recording device, for example, a thermal recording device for output recording of a calculator, a personal computer, or the like.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 5 is, for example, the 5th year of the Jitsukai era? -/f? FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an ink sheet cassette section of a conventional thermal recording device disclosed in Publication No. 6f.

In the figure, the symbol (C is an ink sheet cassette, [-)
is an ink donor sheet installed in an ink sheet cassette (/lK), in which a three-color ink donor sheet or a mating ink donor sheet is installed.

Figure 6 shows a protrusion (
J), which detects the type of ink donor sheet, for example, a three-color ink donor sheet or a one-color ink donor sheet, by actuating a detector such as a switch (u) operated by this protrusion (J). It is configured to determine whether it is a donor sheet.

Next, the operation of the above conventional device will be explained.

Two types of ink sheet cassettes that can be equipped with three-color ink donor sheets or two-color ink donor sheets.
Depending on the configuration of the protrusion (, yl) provided on this ink sheet cassette (1), for example, the presence or absence of the protrusion (, 71), the ink sheet cassette (1) may have a three-color ink donor sheet or a two-color ink donor sheet. For example, a protrusion as shown in FIG.
An ink sheet cassette without 31 is used for three colors, and an ink sheet cassette provided with a protrusion (3) as shown in FIG. 2 is used for colors. By doing this, each ink sheet cassette is loaded with an ink donor sheet that corresponds to the above arrangement.

With this structure, the presence or absence of the protruding portions (, 71) of the ink sheet cassettes (C), each equipped with an ink donor sheet (C), is electrically detected by a detector (ri) in an on state or an off state. By inputting this detection signal to the control device, the type of ink donor sheet currently installed is determined.

Alternatively, although not shown in the figure, a changeover switch is provided on the console panel of the thermal recording device, and the operator switches between the three-color ink donor sheet and the double-color ink donor sheet by switching the changeover switch. In some cases.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Since the conventional thermal recording device is configured as described above, in order to distinguish between mounting of the three-color ink donor sheet and the two-color ink donor sheet, it is necessary to provide a plurality of sensors in the ink sheet cassette section. Furthermore, there was a problem in that it was difficult to install the sensor in terms of space.

Further, in the method in which the operator switches between the three-color ink donor sheet and the q-color ink donor sheet using a switch on the console panel, there are problems in that the operator forgets to switch due to manual error or operator error.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to determine the type of ink donor sheet of 3 colors or q colors by % (without the need for installing protrusions etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermosensitive recording device that can perform simple and accurate detection without requiring additional space, and therefore has high reliability.

[Means for solving problems]

The thermal recording device according to the present invention includes a color identification marker attached to a three-color or one-color ink donor sheet, a detector that detects the color identification marker, and an operation mode that automatically switches based on the detection signal. It is equipped with a control device.

As a result, it is possible to simultaneously perform and control the color position detection of the next printing stop, which is originally intended, and the discrimination of K, three-color, or red-color ink donor sheet.

[For production]

In this invention, the three-color or multi-color ink donor sheet can be identified by the first Y (yellow) printing when the power is turned on, the M
(Magienta) printing and C (Can) printing are completed and detected, and after that, the above three-color ink sheet mode or gray color ink sheet mode is selected until the power is turned off. Continue to memorize and perform the desired printing operation.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings showing one embodiment thereof.

Figure 1 schematically shows the detector section for detecting color identification markers added to an ink donor sheet, and Figures 2 and 3 show ink donor sheets with color identification markers attached. .

This detector (//) detects the color identification marker (//) attached to the ink donor sheet (/ko) or -(/3).
/v) (/s), a light emitting part (/6) that emits far infrared light from a light emitting diode part of the detector (//)
), a reflector (/7) that reflects this far-infrared light, and a light-receiving section (/l) that receives the far-infrared light reflected by the reflector (/7). Detect presence.

On the other hand, the ink donor sheet (lco) (iJ) is constructed as shown in FIGS.
) (/!1 is added at a predetermined position. It is a color identification marker. Usually, a black mark is printed as a color identification marker. Therefore, except for the black mark part, a transparent ink donor sheet (IU) (/s) base film, usually polyethylene film is used.

The detector of this invention (//) and the ink donor sheet (
Since the /ko) (/3) is configured as described above, the ink donor sheet (/u) or (/3) rotates and the light is emitted from the light emitting part (/6) of the detector (//). When the transparent part of the ink donor sheet (/co) or (/3) corresponds to the far infrared light of the ink donor sheet (/co) or (/3), the far infrared light
J), and the far-infrared light reflected by the reflection plate (/7) is received by the light receiving portion (/l).

In addition, if the black mark corresponds to far-infrared light, this far-infrared light cannot pass through the ink donor sheet (/J), and therefore no light is transmitted to the light receiving part (/l). No light coming in.

As a result, the control circuit of the control device sequentially determines the color of the ink donor sheet to be recorded next based on the signal transmitted depending on whether or not the far-infrared light is received at the light receiving section (/l). issue a command.

Next, the procedure for detecting a three-color or multiple-color ink donor sheet will be explained with reference to FIG.

When the thermal recording device is powered on, the ink donor sheet first rotates.

Next, the signal detected by the detector (//) VC is transmitted to the control device, and when the reference color (/) is detected,
The controller is commanded to stop rotating the ink donor sheet and wait for a print command.

When a printing command is issued in this state, as shown in Figure q, if it is the first printing immediately after the power is turned on, Y(
Yellow) printing, M (magenta) printing, C (can) printing
Continue printing. In other cases, the normal printing sequence is followed.

After printing three colors, check the reference color (/su), and if there is a reference color (/so), the currently installed ink donor sheet (/yu)' (/, y') is 3. If there is no reference color (/l), it is determined that it is a v-color ink donor sheet.

The above detection sequence need only be performed during the first printing after power is turned on, and thereafter, desired printing and recording sequences are performed depending on the detected mode of the ink donor sheet.

In addition, in the above example, the ink donor sheet (/2) (
/3) Detector (//')' Although an IC reflection type detector is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and a transmission type detector may be used.

In addition, the color identification marker (IU) on the ink donor sheet
The printing pattern of (/s) is not limited to the pattern shown in the above embodiment, but may be a pattern suitable for each recording apparatus.

Further, the color identification method is not limited to this, and a rotation sequence may be provided before printing, and the three colors, tI colors, may be detected in this state.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the type of ink donor sheet can be determined using the color identification marker of the ink donor sheet, so that the protrusion of the ink sheet cassette part, which was conventionally required, can be used to determine the type of the ink donor sheet. and its detector, and does not require protrusions, detectors or other special space, is inexpensive, and
This has the effect of providing a thermosensitive recording device capable of highly accurate detection.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a detector for detecting color identification markers on an ink donor sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 3 are partial plan views of two types of ink donor sheets shown in FIG. 1. , FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the detection procedure shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. S and 6 are perspective views of two types of ink sheet cassette sections of a conventional thermal recording apparatus. C//)・ΦDetector, (/2)(/3)・・Ink donor sheet, (/g) (/j)・・Color identification marker, (
/6) lI@light emitting part, (/7)φ-reflector, (/to)・
·Light receiving section. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Fan 1 Figure 18. Ukita Kaku P/7-) 2nd fan, 3rd fan, 14 fan 4th map procedural amendment (voluntary) May 12, 1982

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A recording unit that applies thermal pulses to the ink donor sheet from a thermal head while the ink surface of the ink donor sheet and the recording surface of the recording paper are in pressure contact to perform thermal transfer recording on the recording paper; 3-color ink donor sheet and 4
An ink donor sheet is attached with a color identification marker to distinguish between different colored ink donor sheets, and a 3-color ink donor sheet or a 4-color ink donor sheet is distinguished by the color identification marker on the ink donor sheet. A control device that automatically switches the operation mode of the thermal recording device to either a three-color ink sheet mode or a four-color ink sheet mode according to the content of the detection signal of the detector. A thermal recording device characterized by: