KR20000067745A - A ink-ribbon set and a thermal wax transfer printer using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention aims to ensure that the ink ribbon is not terminated during printing by being able to print to the end of the print area at the time of printing the image, and the length of at least one ink ribbon 17c having less influence on the printing accuracy, It forms shorter than the other ink ribbons 17a and 17b, forms the termination mark 60 at the end of this short ink ribbon 17c, and detects a short ribbon end during printing of one printing area. Since the other ink ribbons 17a and 17b are longer than this ink ribbon 17c at this point of time, the printing of the printing area is terminated, and a seam is generated in printing by the long ink ribbons 17a and 17b. An ink ribbon assembly and a thermal transfer printer using the ink ribbon assembly are provided.

Description

A ink-ribbon set and a thermal wax transfer printer using the same}

The present invention relates to an ink ribbon assembly comprising a plurality of ink ribbons and a thermal transfer printer using the ink ribbon assembly. Specifically, the present invention relates to a preferred ink ribbon assembly and a thermal transfer printer using the ink ribbon assembly when overprinting with color ink on base printing and overcoat printing with transparent ink on the printed image.

Background Art Conventionally, thermal transfer printers have been widely used as output devices, such as computers and word processes, for reasons of high print quality, low noise, low cost, and ease of maintenance.

In such a thermal transfer printer, a plurality of heat generating elements formed in the thermal head are selectively controlled to drive the ink of the ink film onto the award paper (printing paper), thereby printing the desired image. .

In other words, on a heat resistant film having a thickness of about 1 to 5 microns made of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyacrylate, etc., an ink layer uniformly coated at a thickness of about 0.5 to 10 microns at room temperature Using a film, the heat head is pressed against the platen through the ink film and the water sheet, and the heating element of the heat head is selectively driven and controlled based on a print signal, and the ink layer of the ink film is melted to form the water paper. After the transfer, the target film is printed by pulling out the ink film from the paper and peeling it off.

In such a thermal transfer printer, when the surface of the printing paper is not smooth or when the surface of the printing paper is not coated, some of the ink does not adhere to the printing paper, or the ink transferred to the printing paper is peeled off by friction. There is a disadvantage that it is easy to be able to obtain a clear print result.

Therefore, before printing with ink of a predetermined color, the surface of the paper is smoothed in advance, or transparent ink or white ink is printed so that the ink is easily transferred, and overprinted with ink of a predetermined color on such a base printing. Moreover, in order to improve abrasion resistance, the printing method which overprints transparent ink on the upper surface of a printed image is proposed.

As a thermal transfer printer using such a printing method, a plurality of ribbon cassettes each containing ink ribbons, which are a kind of ink film, are disposed at a portion facing the carriage, and the desired ribbon cassette is automatically selected and replaced in accordance with printing to print. An automatic converter thermal transfer printer has been proposed.

However, in the above-described thermal transfer printer, when the end of the ink ribbon is recognized by detecting the end mark of the ink ribbon during image printing when printing a code such as a bar code or the like, it is replaced with a new ribbon cassette to continue printing. However, when the ribbon cassette is replaced, a gap or overlapping part of 0.05 to 0.2 mm may occur in printing before and after the ribbon cassette replacement depending on the position detection accuracy of the home position of the carriage. There was a disadvantage that an error occurred in code recognition.

With respect to the above-described image printing, base printing is intended to achieve good image printing, and overlap printing by transparent ink, which is the final printing in overprinting, is intended to protect a code which is a printed image. Since the color tone is also transparent, it terminates during printing, the ribbon cassette is replaced, and even when the associated portion is displaced in the base printing or the overlap printing, it does not lead to a code reading error.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and the use of an ink ribbon assembly and an ink ribbon assembly in which image printing by a predetermined color ink can always be printed to the end of the printing area so that the ink ribbon does not terminate during printing It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a photographic voice code formed by an ink ribbon assembly and a thermal transfer printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the main part in FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an ink ribbon for base printing;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an ink ribbon for voice code main body printing.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an ink ribbon for overcoat printing.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the relationship between each ink ribbon length.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an embodiment of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention.

8 is a side view showing in detail the vicinity of the carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing details of the parallel crank mechanism and the rotary crank mechanism shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

1 thermal printer

2 platen

4 carriages

4a lower carriage

4b upper carriage

5 (5a, 5b, 5c) ribbon cassette

7 column head

8 parallel crank mechanism

11 rotary crank mechanism

17 (17a, 17b, 17c) ink ribbon

18 Optical Sensor for Ribbon Cassette Identification

19 canopy

25 control unit

26 notice

27 Optical Sensor for Ink Ribbon End Detection

60 termination mark

P photo

VC voice code

F base

VM voice code body

OC overcoat

The characteristics of the ink ribbon assembly of the present invention as set forth in claim 1 for achieving the above object make the length of at least one ink ribbon less influenced by the printing precision than other ink ribbons, and the end of the short ink ribbon It is in the point which formed the end mark in the part. By adopting such a configuration, when a short ribbon end is detected while printing one print area, other ink ribbons are longer than at least one ink ribbon having a shorter length, and thus printing of the print area. Is completed, and a seam is not produced in printing by a long ink ribbon.

The ink ribbon assembly of this invention of Claim 2 uses the said short ink ribbon as the ink ribbon used for printing of a top layer, The ink ribbon assembly of this invention of Claim 3 is this The ink ribbon used for the printing of the uppermost layer is an ink ribbon for overcoat having transparent ink. By adopting such a configuration, even if the end of the ribbon is detected during printing of one printing area and the ink ribbon needs to be replaced, the gap between the printing area by the ink ribbon up to the printing area by the new ink ribbon or The problem does not occur even if there is a seam called a duplicate.

A feature of the ink ribbon assembly of the present invention according to claim 4 is that the short ink ribbon is used as the ink ribbon used for the lowest layer printing. By adopting such a configuration, since the lowermost layer has little influence on the printing accuracy, even if the end of the ribbon is detected during printing of one printing area and the ink ribbon needs to be replaced, the printing area and the new ink ribbon by the ink ribbon up to that point. Printing is possible even if a seam of gaps or overlapping portions is formed in the printing area. However, in order to ensure the printing of voice codes or the like superimposed thereon, it is better to have overlapping portions rather than gaps in the joint. In this case, the length of the overlapping portion is particularly preferably about 1 mm.

A feature of the ink ribbon assembly of the present invention as defined in claim 5 is that the length of the ink ribbon, which is shorter in length, is formed as short as the length required for printing at least one printing area than other ink ribbons. By employing such a configuration, in the case of repeatedly printing a plurality of print areas having the same length, printing of one print area can be completed by printing with ink ribbons other than the short ink ribbon.

The thermal transfer printer of claim 6 makes the length of at least one ink ribbon less influenced by printing accuracy than other ink ribbons, and forms an end mark at the end of the short ink ribbon. At the same time, there is provided a detection unit for detecting the end mark of the short ink ribbon and a control unit for determining the end of the ribbon by the end mark of the ink ribbon detected by the detection unit and notifying the end of the ribbon. By adopting such a configuration, the ribbon end of the at least one short ribbon of short length is detected by the detection unit during printing of one print area, the end of the ribbon is notified by the control unit, and the at least one short ribbon of at least short length is printed. However, at the time when the end of this ribbon is notified, since the other ink ribbon is longer than this ink ribbon, the printing of the printing area is finished, and the printing by the long ink ribbon does not cause a seam. .

A feature of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention according to claim 7 is that the length of the ink ribbon having less influence on printing accuracy is formed to be as short as the length required for printing at least one printing area than other ink ribbons. By employing such a configuration, in the case of repeatedly printing a plurality of print areas having the same length, printing of one print area can be completed by printing with ink ribbons other than the short ink ribbon.

A feature of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention according to claim 8 is that, when the detection unit detects an end mark of an ink ribbon having a short length, the control unit is configured to notify whether all of the ink ribbons are at the end of the ribbon. By adopting such a configuration, the long ink ribbon becomes somewhat useless, but by replacing all the ink ribbons at this point, the ribbon is not terminated during the printing of one print area in the long ink ribbon for subsequent printing. .

In the thermal transfer printer of claim 9, when the detection unit detects the end mark of the short ink ribbon, the control unit notifies that all the ink ribbons are at the end of the ribbon, and delivers all remaining ink ribbons to the ribbon ends. The feature is that it is. By employing such a configuration, that is, in the case of a multiple type ribbon, exfoliation can occur automatically.

The thermal transfer printer of the present invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that it is notified that there is a problem in the situation of the ink ribbon when there is an ink ribbon that is not terminated when all the remaining ink ribbons are delivered. There is this. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to recognize that there is a problem such as cutting or winding failure in the ink ribbon which has not been terminated.

Embodiment of the invention

Fig. 1 is a view showing a state of printing a voice code VC for reproducing voice on a surface of a glossy photograph P as a water-based paper with a thermal transfer printer. The voice code VC is entirely rectangular. It forms an image and is comprised by the aggregation of a fine point. Then, the picture P is hanged on the code reader, and the code reader reads the voice code VC so that voice is reproduced.

The voice cord VC is printed and formed along the longitudinal direction by a thermal transfer printer, but since the surface of the photo P is coated with a gloss, the coating of the ink is in a bad state. Therefore, in order to print the voice code VC on the surface of the photo P, first, as shown in FIG. 2, transparent or white color is formed throughout the entire area forming the voice code main body VM of the surface of the photo P. As shown in FIG. The base F is printed with ink FI. Then, the voice code main body VM is overprinted with ink CI of a predetermined color on the base F which is easy to coat the ink. Furthermore, in order to improve the abrasion resistance of the voice code main body VM, the overcoat OC is overprinted with transparent ink TI over the entire voice code main body VM and the exposed base F. In this way, printing of the voice code VC is completed.

Embodiments of the thermal transfer printer for printing in this manner are shown in Figs.

In the thermal transfer printer 1 of the present embodiment, the platen platen 2 is disposed at a predetermined position of a frame (not shown) such that the printing surface 2a is substantially vertical, and the platen 2 Below the front face of), a guide shaft 3 is arranged parallel to the platen 2. The carriage 4 divided up and down is movably supported by the guide shaft 3, and the first carriage 4a shown below becomes the lower carriage 4a supported by the guide shaft 3, The second carriage 4b shown on the upper side is an upper carriage 4b on which a ribbon cassette 5 containing an ink ribbon, which will be described later, is mounted, and at the same time, contact separation is possible in the vertical direction with respect to the lower carriage 4a. It is.

The carriage 4 drives a suitable drive belt 6 wound around a pair of pulleys (not shown) by driving means (not shown) such as a stack peak motor, and reciprocates along the guide shaft 3. This is to be driven freely.

The carriage 4 has a thermal head which is free from contact separation by a known head moving mechanism (not shown together) opposite the platen 2 and operable with a driving force of a drive motor relative to the platen 2. (7) is provided, so that the column head (7) prints on the waterborne paper conveyed on the platen (2) in the press contact state (head down state) abutted against the platen (2). It is. The column head 7 is provided with a plurality of arranged heat generating elements (not shown) which are selectively evaporated based on the desired printing information input by a suitable input device (not shown) such as a keyboard.

In addition, the thermal head 7 is configured to selectively control the energization energy in 15 steps, that is, the energization time for each heat generating element in 15 steps by the control unit 25 described later.

In more detail with respect to the carriage 4, the carriage 4 is a plate-shaped upper carriage 4b almost parallel to the upper surface of the lower carriage (4a) by the parallel crank (8) lower carriage ( Parallel movement is freely fixed so as to be in contact separation with respect to 4a). This parallel crank mechanism 8 is provided at the left and right ends of the carriage 4, respectively, as shown in FIG. 9, and holds each pair of links 9a and 9b which cross each other in X-shape. The intersecting positions of 9a, 9b are pivotally attached by pins 10a, and the ends of links 9a, 9b are lower carriages 4a and upper carriages, respectively, by pins 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e. A long hole (not shown) formed in the upper end portion of the left and right side portions of 4b) is slid freely.

Moreover, the rotary crank mechanism 11 is arrange | positioned at the said lower carriage 4a, and this rotary crank mechanism 11 is made to operate the parallel movement of the upper carriage 4b. The rotary crank mechanism 11 is pivotally attached to the lower carriage 4a by a pin 13a at a eccentric position of the rotary plate 12 that forms a rotating member supported to be driven to rotate. It is comprised from the connection link 14 which comprises a member, and the front-end | tip of this connection link 14 is pivotally attached to the upper carriage 4b mentioned above by the pin 13, and is comprised. Therefore, the rotating plate 12 is driven to rotate by suitable driving means (not shown) such as a motor.

7 again, the plate-shaped arms 15 having the engaging portions 15a having protrusions at the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower ends of the upper carriage 4b, which are gently curved inward to each other, have almost ribbon cassettes ( It is installed vertically spaced apart at the same interval as 5). A pair of rotatable bobbins 16 and 16 are spaced apart from each other at predetermined centers in the width direction of the upper carriage 4b so as to protrude upward, and the ink ribbon 17 is formed by these bobbins 16. It is possible to run in this predetermined direction. The pair of bobbins 16 is a delivery bobbin 16a for feeding out the ink ribbon 17 and a winding bobbin 16b for winding up the ink ribbon 17.

In addition, as the sensor 18 which detects the kind of the ink ribbon 17 accommodated in the ribbon cassette 5 on the far end of the platen 2 of the carriage 4 mentioned above, the optical sensor 18a ) Is arranged. This optical sensor 18a is connected to the control part 25 which is in charge of control of printing operation etc. of the thermal transfer printer 1 arrange | positioned at the preferable position of the thermal transfer printer 1.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, an almost plate-like cover 19, which is spaced at appropriate intervals above the carriage 4 and freely opened and supported as indicated by arrow A in Fig. 8, in a frame not shown. ) Is arranged. The cover 19 serves as acupressure present on the exit side of the paper dispensing mechanism (not shown) in the closed state, and is disposed to face the carriage 4, and substantially closes to the moving area of the carriage 4. Have the same length.

A plurality of cassette holders (not shown) for holding the ribbon cassette 5 are provided at predetermined positions on the bottom face held in parallel with the carriage 4 of the lid 19. Three ribbon cassettes 5, each containing a kind of ink ribbon 17a, 17b, 17c, are arranged in alignment with the moving direction of the carriage 4.

Among these, the ink ribbon 17a is a base as the lowermost layer with little influence on the printing accuracy by transparent or white ink FI in the entire area of the surface of the photograph P described in FIG. 2 that forms the voice code main body VM. It is used to print (F). As shown in Fig. 3, this ink ribbon 17a holds a substrate 30 composed of a PET film having a thickness of 4.5 탆, and on the rear surface of the substrate 30, the thermal head 7 is formed. The fluorine-based resin so as to be in direct contact with the thermal head 7, to prevent adhesion of the thermal head 7 to the substrate 30 by the heat of the thermal head 7, and to improve the sliding property between the thermal head 7 and the ink ribbon 17a. The back layer 31 thus obtained is laminated with a thickness of 0.3 m as an example.

On the other hand, a peeling layer 32 made of a resin material is laminated on the surface opposite to the back layer 31 of the base material 30 to a thickness of 0.2 탆 as an example. Also, on the surface opposite to the base material 30 of the release layer 32, an aqueous layer 33 made of thermoplastic elastomer, which is easy to coat the voice cord body VM by the color ink CI, is laminated to an appropriate thickness. have. In addition, on the surface opposite to the release layer 32 of the aqueous phase layer 33, a titanium-added white ink layer 34, which acts to conceal the image of the photograph, is laminated to an appropriate thickness. Furthermore, a blocking agent such as waxes, higher fatty acid amides, esters, fluororesins, or the like, is added to the surface opposite to the aqueous phase layer 33 of the white ink layer 34 by a thermoplastic elastomer. The adhesive layer 35 is laminated so as to adhere well to the surface.

Then, the ink ribbon 17b is used to overprint the voice code main body VM on the base F. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, this ink ribbon 17b has, as an example, a substrate 40 composed of a PET film having a thickness of 2.5 占 퐉, and the back layer 31 is formed on the rear surface of the substrate 40. A back layer 41 made of a silicon-based material having the same function as the above is laminated as an example with a thickness of 0.25 占 퐉.

On the other hand, the peeling layer 42 which consists of a wax system material is laminated | stacked by the thickness of 1.0 micrometer as an example on the surface on the opposite side to the said back layer 41 of the said base material 40. As shown in FIG. Moreover, the intermediate layer 43 which consists of rosin-type tackifiers on the surface on the opposite side to the said base material 40 of the said peeling layer 42, and makes it easier to coat | cover the overcoat (OC) mentioned later is 0.3 as an example. It is laminated | stacked in the thickness of micrometer. Further, on the side opposite to the release layer 42 of the intermediate layer 43, a colored ink layer 44 made of a resin-based material which contributes to forming the voice cord body VM is laminated to an thickness of 1.2 mu m as an example. have.

In addition, the ink ribbon 17c is used for overprinting the overcoat OC which has little influence on printing accuracy on the exposed base F and the voice code main body VM. As shown in Fig. 5, this ink ribbon 17c holds a substrate 50 made of a PET film having a film thickness of 4.5 탆, and the back layer 31, A back layer 51 made of a fluorine-based resin having the same function as 41) is laminated with a suitable thickness.

On the other hand, the transparent ink layer 52 made of a resin-based material is laminated on the surface opposite to the back layer 51 of the base material 50 at an appropriate thickness. Further, the transparent ink layer 52 has the same side as that of the adhesive layer 35 on the side opposite to the base 50. An adhesive layer 53 made of a material and for improving adhesion to the base F and the voice cord main body VM is laminated.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the length of the ink ribbon 17c used for printing the top layer OC is shorter than the lengths of the ink ribbons 17a and 17b used for other printing as shown in FIG. It is. The length difference between the ink ribbon 17c and the ink ribbons 17a and 17b is about the length in the longitudinal direction of the voice code VC which is at least one printing area. In addition, the length difference between the ink ribbon 17c and the two ink ribbons 17a and 17b when there is the possibility of printing two or more voice code bodies VM different in length is the length of one voice code VC of the maximum length. It is more than the direction length. Unlike in FIG. 6, the length of the ink ribbon 17 used for printing the base F, which forms the lowermost layer with the same printing precision, is shorter than the lengths of the ink ribbons 17b and 17c used for other printing. Also good.

Further, at the end of each ink ribbon 17, stripe-shaped end marks 60 used to detect the ribbon end of each ink ribbon 17 are formed, respectively.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the side of the row head 7 of the lower carriage 4a of the carriage 4 has an opening (not shown) of the ribbon cassette 5 mounted on the upper carriage 4b. On the other hand, the optical sensor 27 as a detection part which detects the termination mark 60 of the ink ribbon 17 is provided. This optical sensor 27 is connected to the said control part 25 of a thermal transfer printer, and this optical sensor 27 detects the termination mark 60 of the ink ribbon 17 accommodated in the ribbon cassette 5. In this case, this detection signal is output to the control unit 25. In addition, the control unit 25 is provided with a notification unit 26 for notifying the user of the end of the ribbon by a display or a voice when a detection signal is input from the optical sensor 27.

Thus, the lengths of the ink ribbons 17a, 17b, 17c housed in each of the ribbon cassettes 5 are shorter than those of the other ink ribbons 17a, 17b used for the printing of the uppermost layer. When the three kinds of ribbon cassettes 5 are used at the same time, the base sensor F, the voice code main body VM, and the overcoat OC are used to print the voice code VC, respectively. By 27, detection of the end mark 60 with respect to the short length ink ribbon 17c is performed first. At this time, the control unit 25 assumes that not only the ink ribbon 17c but also the other two ink ribbons 17a and 17b, which are not actually detected at the end, is notified of the end. Is notified.

If the ink ribbons 17a and 17b are replaced during the printing of one voice cord VC in the printing of the voice cord main body VM, a gap or overlapping portion at the time of printing with the replaced ink ribbons 17a and 17b. In contrast to this, a problem occurs in the formed voice code (VC), whereas in the uppermost overcoat (OC), even if a gap or overlapping part occurs in virtual printing, no special adverse effect is generated. If the ribbon end is detected, all ribbon cassettes 5 must be replaced at the same time.

Each of the ribbon cassettes 5 is covered with the lid 19 and the upper carriage by the operation of the parallel crank mechanism 8 that operates according to the rotary crank mechanism 11, as indicated by arrows B in FIG. 8. Precipitation is selectively performed between (4b).

Each ribbon cassette 5 of this embodiment is formed in the same shape and the same size irrespective of the kind of the ink ribbon 17, and is shown in the case body 20 of the flat and substantially rectangular case body which consists of a pair of upper and lower sides. A pair of reel freely supported reels, a pair of freely rotated ribbon transfer rollers, a plurality of guide rollers adjacent to the rotatable freely supported ribbon path, and the like are disposed.

Then, an ink ribbon 17 is wound between the pair of reels, and an intermediate portion of the ink ribbon 17 is led outward. When the pair of reels are mounted on the upper carriage 4b with the ribbon cassette 5, one of them is a winding reel for winding up the ink ribbon 17 in the portion supplied for printing, and the other is the ink ribbon. It becomes a sending ribbon to send. On the inner circumferential surface of each reel, a plurality of key grooves are formed in a spline shape at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the inner circumferential surface of the winding reel is a winding hole 21b to which the winding bobbin 16b is engaged. The inner circumferential surface of the delivery reel is a delivery hole 21a to which the delivery bobbin 16a is engaged.

Further, in the state of the ribbon cassette 5 facing the platen 2 in the state where the ribbon cassette 5 is mounted on the carriage 4, the recess 22 adjacent to the outside of the column head 7 is formed. The middle part of the ink ribbon 17 is guide | induced in this recessed part 22. FIG.

Furthermore, on the back surface which is developed parallel to the surface on which the concave portion 22 of the ribbon cassette 5 is formed, an identification mark 23 for discriminating the type of the ink ribbon 17 contained in each ribbon cassette 5 is provided. It is arranged. The identification mark 23 of this embodiment is formed by the reflection seal 24 which holds the different number of stripe-shaped non-reflective parts 24a according to the kind of the ink ribbon 17. As shown in FIG.

And this identification mark 23 is detected by the optical sensor 18a provided in the carriage 4, this detection signal is output to the control part 25 of the thermal transfer printer 1, and the inside of this control part 25 is carried out. By counting the number of identification marks 23 in each ribbon cassette 5, the types of ink ribbons 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d stored in the ribbon cassette 5 are determined.

In conclusion, in the ribbon cassette 5a shown to the left in FIG. 7, the reflective seal 24A which has three non-reflective parts 24a is arrange | positioned as the identification mark 23. As shown in FIG. And the left end of the back surface shown in front of the ribbon cassette 5 in FIG. 7 becomes the reference position BP for detecting the identification mark 23, and is located in the right end of the identification mark 23 in FIG. Preferred non-reflective portion 24a for making the distance L of the right end surface branch of the non-reflective portion 24a the same at all the identification marks 23 and identifying the type of ink ribbon 17a within this distance L. ) Is formed. And the ribbon cassette which can be stopped in the state which the optical sensor 18a detected the identification mark 23 provided at the time of use, and is a ribbon cassette accommodated in the cassette holder in the state which the carriage 4 was stopped. (5) is to be replaced by the upper carriage 4b.

In addition, when the said control part 25 detects the end of the ink ribbon 17c of short length, it is assumed that the end part was also detected by the other two ink ribbons 17a and 17b which are not actually detected by the end, After notifying from the branch section 26, each of the ribbon cassettes 5a and 5b in which the other two ink ribbons 17a and 17b are stored are sequentially mounted in the carriage 4, and the respective ink ribbons 17a and 17b are mounted. The control is performed so as to transmit to the end of the ribbon. In the case where each of these ink ribbons 17 is a so-called multiple ribbon, it is necessary to be able to be knocked out automatically. In addition, when the control section 25 cannot detect the end marks 60 of the ink ribbons 17a and 17b even if the ink ribbons 17a and 17b are transferred a predetermined amount in order to transfer them to the ends of the ribbons, The notification unit 26 is to notify that there is a problem in the situation of the ink ribbons 17a and 17b. This is because the ink ribbons 17a and 17b which are not at the end of the ribbon can recognize whether there is a problem such as cutting or winding failure.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

In this embodiment, a new thermally transfer printer, which is attached to the canopy 19 and which is exchanged simultaneously as the ribbon cassettes 5a, 5b, and 5c in which three types of ink ribbons 17a, 17b, and 17c are stored, respectively, is new. It is provided. And when information about the voice code printed by the host computer etc. is transmitted to the thermal transfer printer of this embodiment to the control part 25, the carriage 4 located in a home position is moved by the instruction from this control part 25. The optical sensor 18a arranged in the carriage 4 detects the identification mark 23 of the ribbon cassette 5. Then, the optical sensor 18a sends out the detection signal peculiar to each identification mark 23 to the control part 25 by the arrangement | positioning of the anti-reflection part 24a, a structure, etc., and respond | corresponds to the command generate | occur | produced in the control part 25. It is judged whether or not the identification mark 23 is performed, and in the case of the identification mark 23 corresponding to the command, the movement of the carriage 4 is stopped. In addition, in this embodiment, since printing is performed in order of base F, voice code main body VM, and overcoat OC, the ribbon cassette 5a in which the base ink ribbon 17a is accommodated is first identified. do.

Then, the ribbon cassette 5a in which the selected ink ribbon 17a for the base is accommodated by the parallel crank mechanism 8 and the rotary crank mechanism 11 from the lid 19 as indicated by arrows in FIG. 8. It is selectively exchanged with the upper carriage 4b, and the ribbon cassette 5a is attached to the carriage 4, thereby completing the selection operation of the ribbon cassette 5a.

Subsequently, the photograph P on which the voice code has been printed is set between the platen 2 and the column head 7 by a feeding device (not shown or shown), and printing of the base F is started. Then, the head 7 is headed down by the command from the controller 25, and the carriage 4 is moved while pressing the platen 2 through the ink ribbon 17a and the photograph P. . In this way, the heat generating element of the heat head 7 corresponding to the entire region of the voice cord main body VM is heated while the heat head 7 is moved with respect to the photograph P, and the water layer of the ink ribbon 17a is heated. The thermoplastic elastomer of (33) and the white ink of the white ink layer 34 are peeled off from the peeling layer 32 and transferred to the photograph P. FIG.

When the printing of the base F is finished in this manner, the ribbon cassette 5a used for printing the base F is exchanged from the upper carriage 4b to the canopy 19 by an operation opposite to that described above. Then, the ribbon cassette 5b in which the ink ribbon 17b used for printing the voice code main body VM is housed is identified, and this ribbon cassette 5b is delivered from the lid 19 to the upper carriage 4b. To start printing of the voice code main body VM.

That is, the head 7 is headed down by the instruction from the control unit 25, and the carriage 4 is moved while pressing the platen 2 through the ink ribbon 17b and the photograph P. . By evaporating the heat generating elements of the heat head 7 corresponding to the voice cord main body VM while moving the heat head 7 with respect to the photograph P in this way, the intermediate layer 43 of the ink ribbon 17b The ink of the rosin-based tackifier and the coloring ink layer 44 is peeled off from the release layer 42 and transferred to the photograph P, and the printing of the voice code main body VM, which is an aggregate of dots, is completed in accordance with voice.

When the printing of the voice code main body VM is finished in this manner, the ribbon cassette 5b used for printing the voice code main body VM is removed from the upper carriage 4b by the lid 19 by the operation opposite to that described above. And then identifies the ribbon cassette 5c in which the ink ribbon 17c used for printing the voice code OC is housed, and the ribbon cassette 5c is removed from the lid 19 and the upper carriage 4b. And overcoat (OC) printing is started.

That is, the head 7 is headed down by the command from the control unit 25, and the carriage 4 is moved while simultaneously crimping the platen 2 via the ink ribbon 17c and the photograph P. . Thus, when each heat element 7 of the heat head 7 corresponding to the entire region of the voice cord main body VM and the exposed base F is evaporated while moving the heat head 7 with respect to the photograph P, the ink The adhesive based on the transparent ink of the transparent ink layer 52 of the ribbon 17c and the thermoplastic elastomer of the adhesive layer 53 is peeled off from the substrate 50 and transferred to the photograph P, whereby the voice cord body VM Overcoat (OC) printing to improve permeability is terminated.

When the printing of one voice code VC is finished in this manner, the printing moves to the printing of the next voice code VC. To this end, the ribbon cassette 5c for overcoat OC, which has been mounted on the carriage 4 so far, is used. Is replaced with the ribbon cassette 5a for printing base (F), and base (F) printing is again performed, followed by voice coat main body (VM) and overcoat (OC) printing.

As described above, when repeating the printing of the voice code VC composed of the base F, the voice code main body VM and the overcoat OC, the ink ribbon 17 housed in each ribbon cassette 5 is It becomes more and more consumed.

However, the length of each ink ribbon 17 housed in each ribbon cassette 5 is at least the voice code (the ink ribbon 17c for the overcoat (OC) compared with other ink ribbons 17a and 17b). As short as the length of VC, the automatic sensor 27 also detects the end mark 60 of the ink ribbon 17c for overcoat (OC).

Then, the control section 25 assumes that the end detection is performed not only on the ink ribbon 17c that is actually end-detected but also on the other two ink ribbons 17a and 17b that are not actually end-detected. And / or notify by indication. Thereafter, the control unit 25 sequentially mounts each of the ribbon cassettes 5a and 5b in which the other two ink ribbons 17a and 17b are stored in the carriage 4 so that each of the ink ribbons 17a and 17b is placed at the end of the ribbon. Control to transmit until.

Thus, the operator exchanges all the ribbon cassettes 5 at the same time. As described above, in the printing of the voice code main body VM, when the ink ribbons 17a and 17b are replaced during printing of one voice code VC, the gap at the time of printing by the ink ribbons 17a and 17b after the replacement is replaced. This is because a seam of overlapping portions is formed, which is not suitable for the formed voice code VC, whereas in the uppermost overcoat OC, even if a seam of gaps or overlapping portions occurs in printing, there is no particular adverse effect.

Moreover, although it differs from this embodiment, even if the seam of a gap | interval or overlapping part generate | occur | produces in virtual printing in base F printing which is the lowest, a big bad influence does not arise. That is, even if overlapping portions are generated during printing of the base F, the voice code VC can be printed even if a gap is formed during printing of the base F without affecting the printing of the voice code VC.

Moreover, if the seam is compared with the seam for overcoat (OC) printing in base (F) printing, it is said that any seam is practically no problem, but the seam for overcoat (OC) printing is less affected. Can be.

As described above, according to the thermal transfer printer of the present embodiment, by replacing the ribbon cassette 5c, the overcoat OC printing by the ink ribbon 17c in one voice cord VC can be divided twice. Even if a joint called a gap or overlapped portion is formed in the overcoat OC, there is no problem because the gap or overlapped portion does not adversely affect the overcoat OC.

On the other hand, when the end mark 60 is detected for the ink ribbon 17c stored in the overcoat (OC) ribbon cassette 5c, printing is performed on other bases F and voice code main body VM. The ink ribbons 17a and 17b housed in the ribbon cassettes 5a and 5b for carrying out the steps have not been detected at the end and the remaining amount is present. At the same time, the end detection of the ink ribbons 17a and 17b cannot be made until the end detection of the next ink ribbon 17c is made. Therefore, the printing of the voice code main body VM, which may cause a problem in the formed voice code VC when gaps or overlapping portions are formed during printing, can be formed by normal printing once, thereby obtaining a voice capable of obtaining good reproducibility. The code VC may be formed.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various change is possible as needed. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the end mark was formed in all the ink ribbons, you may form an end mark only in the ink ribbon which prints the uppermost layer.

Moreover, with the ink ribbon which has little influence on printing precision, the length of the ink ribbon used for printing of a lowermost layer, for example may be made shorter than another ink ribbon.

Moreover, two or more ink ribbons may be made shorter than other ink ribbons in either of the ink ribbon used for printing at the top layer and the ink ribbon used for printing at the bottom layer. In this case, the length of the discarded ink ribbon may be shorter.

As described above, since the ink ribbon assembly of the present invention forms the length of at least one ink ribbon with less influence on printing accuracy than the other ink ribbons, and makes the end mark at the end of the short ink ribbon, When a shorter ribbon end is detected during printing of one printing area, the printing of this printing area is terminated because the other ink ribbon is longer than the ink ribbon, so that the seam is printed when printing by the long ink ribbon. There is nothing happening.

In addition, by using an ink ribbon having a short length as an ink ribbon used for printing at the uppermost layer and an ink ribbon used for printing at the uppermost layer as an overcoat ink ribbon containing transparent ink, the ribbon ends are printed during printing of one printing area. Even if it is detected and it is necessary to replace the ink ribbon, there is no problem even if a seam of gaps or overlapping portions occurs between the printing area with the previous ink ribbon and the printing area with the new ink ribbon.

Furthermore, when the above-mentioned short ink ribbon is used as the ink ribbon used for the lowest layer printing, since the lowest layer has little influence on printing accuracy, the end of the ribbon is detected during printing of one printing area, and the ink ribbon needs to be replaced. There is no problem even if a seam of gaps or overlapping portions occurs between the print area by the ink ribbon so far and the print area by the new ink ribbon.

In addition, by forming the length of the shorter ink ribbon as short as necessary to print at least one printing area than other ink ribbons, it is possible to print a plurality of printing areas of the same length other than the short length of the ink ribbon. In the printing by the ink ribbon, the printing of one printing area can be finished.

On the other hand, the thermal transfer printer of the present invention makes the length of at least one ink ribbon which has little influence on printing accuracy shorter than other ink ribbons, and forms an end mark at the end of the short ink ribbon, Since a detection section for detecting the end mark of the short ink ribbon and a control section for judging the end of the ribbon with the end mark of the ink ribbon detected by the detection section and notifying the end of the ribbon, the short length during printing of one printing area is provided. Although the end of the ribbon of the ink ribbon is detected by the detection unit and the end of the ribbon is notified by the control unit, the ink ribbon needs to be replaced at least. However, at the time when the end of this ribbon is notified, the other ink ribbons have a length longer than that of the ink ribbon. Because of its long printing, the printing of the print area is terminated, and it is seamless for printing with a long ink ribbon. It does not occur.

In addition, by shortening the length of the ink ribbon with less influence on the printing accuracy by the length necessary to print at least one print area than other ink ribbons, the ink having short length when repeatedly printing a plurality of print areas of the same length In printing by ink ribbons other than the ribbons, printing of one print area can be completed by all means.

Moreover, when the detection unit detects the end mark of the short ink ribbon, the control unit is configured to notify all the ink ribbons at the end of the ribbon, so that the long ink ribbon becomes somewhat unnecessary. Thereafter, one of the long ink ribbons at the time of printing does not end the ribbon during the printing of the ink area.

In addition, when the detection unit detects the end mark of the short ink ribbon, the control unit notifies that all the ink ribbons are the end of the ribbon and simultaneously transfers all remaining ink ribbons to the end of the ribbon. Pulp can occur automatically.

In addition, the control unit is to notify that there is a problem in the situation of the ink ribbon when there is an ink ribbon that is not terminated when all the remaining ink ribbons are transferred a predetermined amount, so that the ink ribbon that is not the end of the ribbon is cut or wound up. It can be recognized that there is a problem such as a defect.

Claims (10)

In the ink ribbon assembly used for the thermal transfer printer which uses multiple ink ribbons and uses each ink ribbon in a predetermined order, and performs overprinting, Make at least one ink ribbon shorter than other ink ribbons, with less impact on print precision, An ink ribbon assembly, wherein an end mark is formed at an end of the short ink ribbon. An ink ribbon assembly according to claim 1, wherein said short ink ribbon is used as an ink ribbon used for printing of the uppermost layer. The ink ribbon assembly according to claim 2, wherein the ink ribbon used for printing the uppermost layer is an overcoating ink ribbon having transparent ink. An ink ribbon assembly according to claim 1, wherein said short ink ribbon is used as an ink ribbon used for printing of the lowest layer. The ink according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the length of said short ink ribbon is made shorter than necessary to print at least one printing area than the length of other ink ribbon. Ribbon aggregate. Using a plurality of ink ribbons, base printing is first performed with an ink ribbon holding transparent ink or white ink, followed by printing with an ink ribbon having a predetermined color ink superimposed on the base printing, and an image forming area after printing A thermal transfer printer in which a portion is overprinted by an ink ribbon having transparent ink, Make at least one ink ribbon shorter than other ink ribbons with less influence on printing accuracy, and form an end mark at the end of the shorter ink ribbon A detector for detecting the end mark of the ink ribbon having a short length; And a control section for determining the end of the ribbon through the end mark of the ink ribbon detected by the detection section, and for notifying the end of the ribbon. 7. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 6, wherein the length of the short ink ribbon is made shorter than necessary to print at least one printing area than other ink ribbons. 8. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the detection section detects that all of the ink ribbons are at the end of the ribbon when the detection section detects an end mark of the short ink ribbon. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein when the detection unit detects the end mark of the short ink ribbon, the control unit notifies that all the ink ribbons are at the end of the ribbon, and transfers all remaining ink ribbons to the end of the ribbon. The thermal transfer printer characterized in that. The thermoelectric device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to notify that there is a problem in the situation of the ink ribbon when there is an ink ribbon which is not terminated when all the remaining ink ribbons are transferred to a predetermined amount. Four printers.