JPS641086Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an ink ribbon for a printer that prints color images by thermally transferring a plurality of types of sublimation dyes in a field-sequential manner.

In still cameras and the like that record image information on a magnetic sheet or the like, it is required to obtain a hard copy from the video signal. In such a case, the first
A printer using sublimation dye as shown in the figure can be considered.

In FIG. 1, this printer consists of a platen 1, a thermal head 2, etc. Platen 1
is for winding the transfer paper 3, and is fed in steps in the direction shown by arrow a. The transfer paper 3 is made of, for example, high-quality paper, and a polymer resin layer of 1 to 2 μm in thickness is formed on the transfer side as necessary. This polymer resin layer is for promoting the diffusion coloring of the sublimation dye.

The ink ribbon 4 is stored in, for example, a cartridge (not shown) and loaded into a printer. This ribbon 4 is made by printing sublimation dye for transfer onto capacitor paper. Specifically, frames 4Y and 4 are coated with yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes, respectively.
It is formed by repeatedly forming M and 4C. One set of frames 4Y, 4M, and 4C corresponds to a unit screen of a color image. Of course, the sublimation dye is printed on the receiving paper 3.

The thermal head 2 thermally transfers the sublimation dye from the ribbon 4 onto the transfer paper 3. The thermal head 2 is composed of a large number of head elements 2a, and these head elements 2a are driven by pulses. That is, a drive signal pulse-width-modulated by a video signal, specifically, yellow, magenta, and cyan chromaticity signals, is supplied to each head element 2a. The larger the amplitude of the chromaticity signal, the longer the driving time of the head element 2a becomes, and the larger the amount of sublimation dye transferred.

In such a printer, the ribbon 4 is pressed against the transfer paper 3, and the ribbon 4 is step fed together with the transfer paper 3. First, ribbon 4
The yellow frame 4Y is in close contact with the transfer paper 3.
At this time, a drive signal corresponding to the yellow chromaticity signal is supplied to the thermal head 2. When the transfer of the yellow component for one line of the unit screen is completed, the platen 1 is driven by one step to prepare for the transfer of the next line. The entire unit screen is transferred in the same manner.

A similar operation is performed for the magenta and cyan frames 4M and 4C, and the magenta transfer image is superimposed on the yellow transfer image, and the cyan transfer image is further superimposed. Finally, a color image is obtained on the transfer paper 3.

In FIG. 1, 4a is a mark for frame detection, and 4b is a mark for detecting a block consisting of three frames. These marks 4a and 4b are each detected by a reflective photo sensor 5.
Detected at a and 5b. Based on these photo sensors 5a, 5b, it is possible to determine which color frames 4Y, 4M, 4C are facing the transfer paper 3, etc.

Incidentally, in such a printer, it is desirable to detect the end of the ribbon 4 and notify the user when it is time to replace the ribbon 4. Specifically, it is conceivable to form a hole at the end of the ribbon 4 and detect this, or to detect this based on an increase in the current value of the driving DC motor. However, in either case, the number of components such as sensors increases.

The present invention was devised in consideration of these circumstances, and is capable of detecting the end of the ribbon using the conventional frame detection sensor and block detection sensor.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the ink ribbon of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

FIG. 2 shows the ink ribbon 11 used in this example, and in this figure, the ribbon 11 is made by printing sublimation dye on capacitor paper, similar to that in FIG. 1. The yellow, magenta, and cyan frames 11Y, 11M, and 11C are also similar to those shown in FIG. In this example, such frames 11Y,
In addition to 11M and 11C, a black frame 11Bk, which is a finishing version, is formed. this black frame 1
1Bk, a pulse signal corresponding to the luminance signal is supplied to the thermal head 2 (FIG. 1) to impart gradation to the image.

Also, 11b has a mark for block detection,
11a is a mark for frame detection. In this case, the mark 11a for frame detection is not provided for every frame 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11Bk, but is usually not provided at a position corresponding to the mark 11b for block detection. However, at the end of the ribbon 11, a mark 11c equivalent to the frame detection mark 11a is provided at such a position as well.

In addition, in this ribbon 11, the width is 104 mm, the length of the block is 750 mm, and the frames 11Y, 11M,
The size of both 11C and 11Bk is 145mm x 86mm.

FIG. 3 shows the circuitry of this printer for frame detection, block detection and end detection. In this figure, the photo sensor 12b is of a reflective type and is used to determine the presence or absence of the block detection mark 11b. This photo sensor 12
b consists of a light emitting diode 13b and a phototransistor 14b. In this case, when the block detection mark 11b comes to be located in front of this photo sensor 12b, the photo transistor 14b
As a result, the collector of the phototransistor 14b becomes high level.
When ribbon 11 does not exist, for example, ribbon 1
Similarly, when the cartridge No. 1 is loaded, the collector of the phototransistor 14b becomes high level. In other normal situations, light emitting diode 1
Light is transmitted and received between the phototransistor 3b and the phototransistor 14b, and the collector of the phototransistor 14b becomes a low level.

The output of the photo sensor 12b obtained at the collector of the photo transistor 14b is the time constant circuit 1.
5b to the inverter 16b. A series circuit of a resistor 17b and a capacitor 18b can be used as the time constant circuit 15b. This time constant circuit 15b is for removing noise. The output of the inverter 16b is supplied to the block discrimination signal output terminal 20 via the Schmitt trigger inverter 19, and is also supplied to the OR circuit (NAND circuit) 2.
1 and the first input terminals of an AND circuit (NOR circuit) 22 in an inverted manner. Then, the output of the OR circuit 21 is supplied to the frame discrimination signal output terminal 23, and the output of the AND circuit 22 is supplied to the termination discrimination signal output terminal 24.

The other photo sensor 12a is also a reflective type, and this photo sensor 12a is connected to the frame detection mark 11.
The presence or absence of a mark 11c and a mark 11c equivalent thereto is determined. The output of this photo sensor 12a is supplied to an inverter 16a via a time constant circuit 15a. Then, the output of this inverter 16a is applied to each second circuit of the OR circuit 21 and the AND circuit 22.
It is inverted and supplied to the input terminal.

In such a configuration, printing progresses and the ribbon 1
1 is fed in steps, the photo sensor 12a detects the frame detection mark 11a, and the frame detection mark 11a is detected by the photo sensor 12a.
produces the output shown in Figure A. On the other hand, another photo sensor 12b detects the block detection mark 11b and produces the output shown in FIG. 4B. The output of this photo sensor 12b is transmitted to a time constant circuit 15b, an inverter 16b and a Schmitt trigger inverter 19.
The signal is output from the output terminal 20 as a block discrimination signal.

Further, the logical sum output of the detection outputs of the photo sensors 12a and 12b is formed by the OR circuit 21, and as a result, the frame discrimination signal shown in FIG. 4C is obtained. This frame discrimination signal is sent to the output terminal 23.
It is derived from

These block discrimination signals and frame discrimination signals are supplied to another circuit section (not shown), which discriminates, for example, what color the frame currently being transferred is. In response to this, a pulse signal corresponding to the desired chromaticity signal is supplied to the thermal head 2.

Further, an AND circuit 22 generates an AND output of the detection outputs of the photo sensors 12a and 12b, and as a result, a termination determination signal shown in FIG. 4D is obtained.
This termination determination signal is then derived from the output terminal 24. This termination determination signal is supplied to another circuit section (not shown), and the operation of the printer is stopped.
Further, the display device may be driven as appropriate so as to indicate that the ribbon 11 should be replaced as appropriate.

Note that even when the ribbon 11 is not loaded in the printer, the termination determination signal shown in FIG. 4D is output, and the operation of the printer is stopped. If there is no heat absorption by the ribbon 11, the thermal head 2 may be disconnected, which can be prevented in this embodiment.
Further, even if printing is performed without noticing that the ribbon 11 is not loaded, this fact can be immediately known (for example, due to printer inoperation or display), and there is no need to waste time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of an ink ribbon used in the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an example of a printer using an ink ribbon according to an embodiment of the present invention. A circuit diagram showing the main parts, and FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the example shown in FIG. 2 is a thermal head, 3 is a transfer paper, 11 is an ink ribbon, 11a, 11b, 11c are marks,
11Y, 11M, 11C, 11Bk are frames,
12a and 12b are photo sensors, 20 is a block discrimination signal output terminal, 21 is an OR circuit, 22 is an AND circuit, 23 is a frame discrimination signal output terminal, 24
is a termination determination signal output terminal.

Claims (1)

[Claim for Utility Model Registration] Multiple colors of ink necessary for color printing are applied sequentially to an ink application area having an area corresponding to the size of the image to be printed, resulting in one frame of ink application area. In an ink ribbon in which a plurality of sets of ink application areas for one frame are provided in series, an ink application area for one frame is placed on a portion where ink is not applied near the ink application area. and a second identification mark that identifies each set of ink application areas for one frame. An ink ribbon characterized in that the first identification mark is prohibited from being applied in the vicinity of the ink application area corresponding to a frame except for the end portion.