JPS6374677A - Thermal transfer-type color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent printing of a last group which is partially devoid of color with an ink layer by arranging a printing instruction mark corresponding to an ink layer for the last group between a core and a mark sensor when the feed of a color ribbon ends. CONSTITUTION:A position mark 13a' is positioned between a core 20 and a position sensor 23 when the feed of a color ribbon 13 ends. Therefore, the position sensor 23 does not detect the position mark 13a' and consequently a detection signal S is not supplied to a control 24. In the meantime, since the control 24 already begins counting a, this count a is larger than a set count value n unless the detection signal S is entered. This allows the control 24 to judge that the feed of the color ribbon 13 is terminated and to suspend transmission of a control signal to a driver circuit 19. Further the control 24 stops transmission of a drive signal to an energization control 25 and outputs a printing termination signal to a display. Thus it is possible to prevent the last group which is partially devoid of color from being printed by an ink layer 13B'.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention involves heating a color ribbon, on which a set of ink layers of a plurality of colors are continuously provided, using a thermal head to print desired characters or figures. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer color printer device that prints color images on recording paper.

(Prior Art) This type of color printer device has a configuration in which a core around which a color ribbon is wound is attached to a rotating supply section, and the color ribbon is supplied between a platen roller and a thermal head from this rotation supply section. have. Therefore, when all the color ribbons are fed out from the core, it is necessary to detect the end of the supply of color ribbons in order to replace them with new color ribbons.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, a mark 3 of a predetermined pattern is provided at the end of the color ribbon 2 wound around the core 1, and this mark 3 is detected by a pattern detection means built into the color printer device. By doing so, the end of supply of the color ribbon 2 was detected.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, as shown in FIG. 7, the color ribbon 2 has a yellow part 2a, a magenta part 2b, and a cyan part 2c.
In some cases, a set of ink layers 2A are continuously provided, and each time the position detector 4 detects a position mark 2-B provided corresponding to each set of ink layers 2A, the platen roller Color printing is performed by controlling the drive of printers, thermal heads, etc.

At the end of the color ribbon 2, for example, the final set of ink layers 2A' may be provided with a portion of the cyan portion 2C missing. For this reason, conventionally, after the position mark 2B' is detected by the position detector 4 and the printing operation has started, the above-mentioned mark 3 for detecting the end of supply may be detected. This has the disadvantage that printing defects may occur. Also, a mark 3 for detecting the end of the supply is placed at the end of the color ribbon 2.
In the case of providing the color ribbon 2, the manufacturing cost increases accordingly, and the color ribbon 2 becomes expensive.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and includes printing instructions provided on a color ribbon corresponding to each ink layer of a set of multiple colors. The mark is detected by a mark detector, and a printing instruction mark corresponding to the ink layer of the final set in which a part of the color is missing is placed between the core and the mark detector when the color ribbon is finished being supplied. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer type color printer device having a structure provided at the end of a ribbon.

(Embodiments of the Invention) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The thermal transfer color printer device according to the present invention includes a platen roller 10, as shown in FIG. This platen roller 10 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) via a speed reduction mechanism, and sequentially sends out the recording sheets 11. A thermal radar 12 is arranged on the platen roller 10 and is controlled by an energization control section 25 as described later. The thermal head 12 is fixed to a mounting base (not shown), and is pressed against the peripheral surface of the platen roller 10 (recording paper 11) via the color ribbon 13 by the swinging of the mounting base.

The used portion of the color ribbon 13 is taken up by a take-up roller 14. Key grooves 14a are provided at both ends of the core metal 14A of this winding roller 14, and the connecting member 1
5.15 is inserted through the key L5a. One connecting member 15 is connected to the shaft of a motor 18 via a drive shaft, a torque limiter 16, and a speed reduction mechanism 17. Therefore, when the motor 18 is driven by the driver circuit 19, the take-up roller 14 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow, so that the used color ribbon 13 portion is taken up by the take-up roller 14.

The unused color ribbon 13 is wrapped around the core 20,
Core 20 is fitted onto supply roller 21 . Connecting members 22.2 are provided at both ends of the core metal 21A of the supply roller 21.
2 is inserted, and these connecting members 22, 22 are rotatably supported. Therefore, when the take-up roller 4 is rotationally driven, the supply roller 21 is driven to rotate while supplying the color ribbon 13.

Now, a position detector 23 is arranged near the supply roller 21. This position detector 23 has a photocoupler configuration including a phototransistor and a light emitting diode, and its output side is connected to the control section 24. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the color ribbon 13 is composed of a film base 13A and an ink layer 13B continuously provided on the film base 13A.
B has a structure including a yellow part 13Y, a magenta part 13M, and a cyan part 13C as a set, and the color ribbon 13
The last set of ink layers 13B' at the end of the yellow part 13
It consists only of Y' and has a structure in which magenta and cyan parts are missing. A position mark 13a consisting of a punched hole is provided at the edge of the color ribbon 13 corresponding to each ink layer 13B. Only the position mark 13a' corresponding to the ink layer 13B' of the final set is
All color ribbons 13 are supplied from the core 20 (feeding out)
The color ribbon 13 is provided at the end edge of the color ribbon 13 so as to be located between the core 20 and the position detector 23 at the time when the color ribbon 13 is moved.

Note that since the end of the color ribbon 13 is firmly fixed to the core 20, a large winding force (
It will not come off from the core 20 even if tension) is applied.

Next, the operation of the thermal transfer type color printer device of the present invention will be explained together with the control operation of the control section 24.

First, as shown in FIG.
The presence or absence of the position mark 13a is detected. In this case, if the position mark 13a is present at the position of the position detector 23, the detection signal S is supplied from the position detector 23, so it is determined that the position mark 13a is present and the power is turned on. A drive signal is output to the control section 25.

Since the energization control section 25 is supplied with a yellow signal from a storage section (not shown) in step (2), it outputs a selection signal corresponding to the thermal head 12. Therefore, in step (2), the predetermined heating element of the thermal head 12 is heated with electricity,
The yellow portion 13Y of the ink layer 13B is heated and melted,
Yellow ink is printed on the recording paper 11 from the printing start position.

When printing of the yellow ink is completed, the control section 24 returns to step (3), controls a motor (not shown) for driving the platen roller 10, and reverses the platen roller 10 to return the recording paper 11 to the printing start position. , by sending a control signal to the driver circuit 19 to slightly rotate the take-up roller 14, the ink layer 13B is removed.
0 energization control unit 25 that positions the magenta portion 13M of the image at the printing start position and outputs a drive signal to the energization control unit 25;
Since the magenta signal is then supplied to the recording paper 11, the magenta portion 13M is heated and melted by a predetermined heating element of the thermal radar 12 in step (3), and magenta ink is printed on the recording paper 11 in the same way as described above. Ru.

When printing of the magenta ink is completed, the control section 24 returns to step (2) again, reverses the platen roller 10 to return the recording paper 11 to the printing start position, and at the same time, the take-up roller 14
is rotated to position the cyan portion 13c at the printing start position. Since the cyan signal is supplied to the energization control section 25, the cyan portion 13C is similarly heated and melted by a predetermined heating element of the thermal head 12 in step (2), and cyan ink is printed on the recording paper 11.

As described above, when the printing of the negative set of ink layers 13B is completed, the control unit 24 prints the one set of ink layers 13B in step (3).
It is determined that printing is completed, and the process returns to step (2). In this case, since it is determined that the position mark 13a is absent, the control section 24 sends a control signal to the driver circuit 19 in step (3) to rotate the winding roller 14 and start winding the color ribbon 13.

The control section 24 starts counting in step (2) simultaneously with the start of winding the color ribbon 13. Then, when the count a is smaller than a preset count value n, the control unit 24 detects the next position mark 13a and the detection signal S is supplied, and the control unit 24 performs the same operation as described above. In step (2), it is determined that the position mark 13a is present, and in step (2), the sending of the control signal to the driver circuit 19 is stopped, and the cue control for the next ink layer 13B is performed, that is, the next ink layer 13B is
The end of the yellow portion 13Y is positioned at the printing start position where the thermal head 12 is located.

After that, steps (2), (2), and (2) are executed, and yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink are printed on the recording paper 11 in this order in the same manner as described above.

Now, when printing with each set of ink layers 13B is completed and the end of the color ribbon 13 is let out from the core 20 in step (2), a position mark 13a' (see FIG. 1) is placed on the end of the color ribbon 13. appear. However, since this position mark 13a' is located between the core 20 and the position detector 23 when the supply of the color ribbon 13 is finished,
The position detector 23 does not detect the position mark 13a', and therefore, the detection signal S is not supplied to the control section 24. On the other hand, since the control section 24 starts counting a at step (2), A detection signal S is input.

If not, this count a will be larger than the set count value n.

When the control unit 24 determines that the coefficient a is larger than the set coefficient value n in step (3), it determines that the supply of the color ribbon 13 has been completed in step [phase], and sends a control signal to the driver circuit 19. The transmission is stopped and the energization control unit 25
After stopping the sending of drive signals to the printer, a print stop signal is output to a display unit (not shown) or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent printing with the ink layer 13B' of the final set in which some of the colors are missing, and it is possible to instantly know when the supply of the color ribbon 13 has ended.

In the embodiment described above, the position marks 13 and 13' are commonly used as printing instruction marks, and the position detector 23 is used for detection. Therefore, when manufacturing the color ribbon 13, the position mark 13' is placed at the beginning of the roll. It is only necessary to provide it at a position that is not detected by the position detector 23, and therefore, the present invention can be applied by simply changing the control operation of the control unit in a conventional thermal transfer color printer device, which is very economical.

FIG. 4 shows a color ribbon 13 according to a modification of the present invention. That is, this color ribbon 13 has yellow portions 13 Y , which constitute each set of ink layers 13B.
Position marks 13a are provided to correspond to the magenta portion 13M and the cyan portion 13C, respectively. Further, the yellow portion 13 constituting the final set of ink layers 13B'
A position mark 13a is provided for Y', and a position mark 13a' is provided for magenta portion 13M'.

In the thermal transfer color printer device of the present invention in which such a color ribbon 13 is mounted, the supply roller 21 has a reversible configuration, and the control unit 24 controls the magenta portion 13.
When the position detector 23 detects the position mark 13a corresponding to M and the detection signal S is supplied, the supply roller 21 is controlled in reverse to position the yellow portion 13Y at the printing start position, and the above printing control is performed. Then, the ink layer 13B
' position mark 13a' corresponding to the magenta part 13M'
Since it is provided at a position that is not detected by the position detector 23, printing by this ink fi13B' can be prevented as described above.

FIG. 5 shows a color ribbon 13 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is shown. That is, this color ribbon 13 has yellow portions 13Y, which constitute each set of ink layers 13B,
Position marks 13a are provided corresponding to the magenta part 13M and cyan part 13C, respectively, and also correspond to the yellow part 13Y' and the magenta part 13M', which constitute the final set of ink layers 13B'. A position mark 13a is provided at the end thereof. Then, the yellow part 13Y and the magenta part 13 in each set of ink layers 13B.
A print instruction mark 13b is provided between the position marks 13a corresponding to M, and a print instruction mark 13b is provided between the position marks 13a corresponding to the yellow part 13Y' and the magenta part 13M' in the final set of ink layers 13B'. is the printing instruction mark 13b'
is provided.

In the thermal transfer color printer device of the present invention in which such a color ribbon 13 is mounted, the control unit 24 controls the supply roller 21 when the position detector 23 detects the print instruction mark 13b and a print signal is supplied. The yellow part 13Y is positioned at the printing start position by reverse control. Also,
Since the print instruction mark 13b' at the end of the color ribbon 13 is provided at a position that is not detected by the position detector 23, printing by the ink layer 13B' can be similarly prevented.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a mark detector may of course be provided separately from the position detector 23, and the print instruction marks 13b, 13b' may be detected by this mark detector.

FIG. 6 shows a color ribbon 13 according to a modification of FIG. 5. That is, this color ribbon 13 has yellow portions 13Y, 13 of each set of ink layers 13B and 13B'.
Position mark 1 consisting of three punched holes corresponding to Y'
3az, a position mark 13a2 consisting of two punched holes is provided corresponding to the magenta portions 13M and 13Y', and a position mark 13a3 consisting of one punched hole is provided corresponding to the cyan portion 13C. A print instruction mark 13 is placed between the position marks 13a and 13a2.
b and 13b' are provided.

In this way, the position marks 13a1-1 whose colors can be distinguished
3a3, the control unit 24 controls each set of ink layer 13B.
Since the color position can be detected accurately and reliably, it is possible to obtain a clear printed image that prevents color shift.

Incidentally, the ink layer 13B may be formed into one set, for example, by adding another ink part such as a black part to a yellow part, a magenta part, and a cyan part.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, a printing instruction mark is provided on a color ribbon in correspondence with each set of ink layers including a plurality of colors, and a printing operation is performed each time this printing instruction mark is detected by a mark detector. At the same time, a printing instruction mark is provided at the end of the color ribbon corresponding to the ink layer of the final set in which a portion of the color is missing so as to be located between the core and the mark detector when the color ribbon is finished being supplied. Since the printing instruction mark is not detected at the end of the color ribbon, it is possible to prevent the final set of ink layers from printing on the recording paper. Therefore, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer color printer device that can print color images and the like with excellent quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a color ribbon according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of main parts of a thermal transfer color printer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 explains the operation of the printer device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a modification of the color ribbon shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a plan view of a color ribbon according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A plan view showing a modified example of the ribbon, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of a conventional color ribbon. 12... Thermal head, 13... Color ribbon, 13B... Ink layer, 13B'... Ink layer of final set, 13a, 13a'... Position mark, 13b, 13b'... Printing Instruction mark, 20... Core, 21... Supply roller, 23... Position detector, 24... Control unit. Figure 6 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A rotating supply unit to which a core around which a color ribbon having a set of ink layers of a plurality of colors is wound is attached;
In a thermal transfer color printer device comprising a thermal head that heats a color ribbon supplied from the rotating supply unit and prints color onto recording paper through each set of ink layers, each set of ink layers is applied to the color ribbon. The printing instruction mark that corresponds to the final set of ink layers in which a part of the color is missing includes a printing instruction mark provided correspondingly to each printing instruction mark and a mark detector that detects the printing instruction mark. A thermal transfer type color printer device, characterized in that the thermal transfer type color printer device is provided at a terminal end of the color ribbon so as to be located between the core and the mark detector when the supply of the color ribbon is finished. 2. The printing instruction mark and the mark detector are comprised of a position mark indicating the position of each set of ink layers and a position detector detecting the position mark. Thermal transfer color printer device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that detects the presence or absence of a detection signal from the mark detector and controls printing to stop if the detection signal is not supplied within a predetermined time. thermal transfer color printer device.