JPH05139002A - Ink ribbon body and thermal printer with ink ribbon body - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To make it possible to easily and surely identify the type of ink ribbon without pulling it out. Also, make it possible to automatically identify. [Structure] An end face (11a) of a ribbon core (11), a mark (15) for identifying the type of an ink ribbon (12) wound around a peripheral surface (11b) of the ribbon core (11).
A, 15B) are provided. Further, an ink ribbon identification mark (15) attached to the end surface (11a) of the ribbon core (11).
Ribbon discriminating means (41, 51) capable of discriminating the type of the ink ribbon (12) by detecting A, 15B).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon body and a thermal printer for printing (especially color printing) using the ink ribbon body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal printer is known which prints by using an ink ribbon body made of an ink ribbon or the like.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the ink ribbon body includes a ribbon core 11 and a film-shaped ink ribbon 12 wound around the peripheral surface of the ribbon core 11 so as to be drawn out.
It is generally composed of and. There are various kinds of ink ribbon bodies such as a three-color ink ribbon body and a four-color ink ribbon body. The three-color ink ribbon body is configured such that yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) three-color coated portions are arranged on the ink ribbon 12 in a predetermined order. In addition, the four-color ink ribbon body is configured such that a black-coated portion is added to the ink ribbon 12 in addition to the above-described three-color coated portion.

By the way, the method of discriminating the type of the ink ribbon body (ink ribbon 12) is roughly classified into a method of attaching a specific marker to the ink ribbon 12 and a ribbon cartridge for the ink ribbon body. There is a method of changing the shape for each type.

In order to carry out the method of discriminating the type by the specific marker, usually, the ink ribbon 12 of the ink ribbon body is provided with a marker for indexing each color (for example, 19A,
19B) is provided in parallel with a specific marker 19D for ribbon type discrimination. This specific marker 19D is, for example, 3
In the case of the color ink ribbon body, it is painted black so as to block light, and in the case of the four color ink ribbon body, it is formed transparent. On the other hand, on the side of the thermal printer, a specific marker 1 is provided in parallel with a ribbon sensor (29A, 29B) for detecting each color cueing marker (19A, 19B).
A sensor (photosensor) 29D for detecting 9D is provided, and a reflecting plate 28 is provided so as to face the sensor 29D.

Then, the ribbon motor 56 is driven to pull out the ink ribbon 12 and the reference color (for example, yellow).
In the case where the cue is performed, when the reflected light from the reflection plate 28 is incident on the photo sensor 29D through the specific marker 19D and the sensor 29D is turned on, the four color ink ribbon body is attached to the thermal printer. Has been done. If the sensor 29D is not turned on, 3
The color ink ribbon body is attached.

Further, in the method for discriminating the ribbon type by the difference in the shape of the ribbon cartridge, the cartridge is generally formed so that it can selectively accommodate, for example, both three-color ink ribbon bodies and four-color ink ribbon bodies. In consideration of this, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a ribbon cartridge 31A for accommodating ink ribbon bodies for three colors is provided.
And the shape of the ribbon cartridge 31B for accommodating the four color ink ribbons. For example, the protrusion 32 is provided only on the ribbon cartridge 31B, and the protrusion 32
Is detected using, for example, a micro switch or the like to determine the type of ink ribbon.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-mentioned ink ribbon type discriminating method, the type cannot be discriminated only by looking at the ink ribbon body, so that the specific marker 19D of the ink ribbon 12 can be manually confirmed. It is necessary to pull out the ink ribbon body to the thermal printer, or to drive the ribbon motor 56 to pull out the ink ribbon 12 to detect the specific marker 19D by the sensor 29D, which is troublesome. .. In particular, when the ink ribbon is pulled out manually, wrinkles are more likely to occur and there is a problem.

Further, in the above-described ink ribbon type determination method, when an ink ribbon body that does not correspond to the cartridge is placed in the ribbon cartridge 31A, 31B, the type of the ink ribbon is erroneously recognized.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon body which can surely and easily discriminate its type without pulling out the ink ribbon. Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer that can automatically determine the type of ink ribbon without pulling it out.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink ribbon body comprising a ribbon core and an ink ribbon which is wound around the peripheral surface of the ribbon core so that the ribbon can be pulled out from the end surface of the ribbon core. It is characterized in that a mark for identifying the type of the ink ribbon wound around the peripheral surface of the ribbon core is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal printer with an ink ribbon body configured to print using an ink ribbon body made of an ink ribbon wound so as to be drawn around a peripheral surface of the ribbon core. The present invention is characterized by comprising a ribbon discriminating means capable of discriminating the kind of the ink ribbon by detecting an ink ribbon discriminating mark attached to the end face.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the invention, even when the ink ribbon is left alone, the user sees the mark attached to the end face of the ribbon core of the ink ribbon body, and the ink wound around the ribbon core. The type of ribbon can be identified. Therefore, the type of the ink ribbon can be reliably and easily determined without pulling out the ink ribbon.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the type of the ink ribbon is discriminated by detecting the mark attached to the end face of the ribbon core by the ribbon discriminating means. Therefore, the type of the ink ribbon body can be automatically determined without pulling out the ink ribbon.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink ribbon body according to the present embodiment is composed of a ribbon core 11 and an ink ribbon 12 wound around a peripheral surface 11b of the ribbon core 11 so as to be drawn out. The end surface 11a of the ribbon core 11 is provided with a mark for identifying the type of the ink ribbon 12 wound around the peripheral surface 11b of the ribbon core 11.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the end face 11a of the ribbon core 11 of the ink ribbon body for three colors is, as shown in FIG.
Marker 1 consisting of notches 16 and 16 provided in series with a
5A is attached. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the end face 11a of the ribbon core 11 of the ink ribbon body for four colors is provided with notches 16, 16, 1 provided in a cross shape on the end face 11a.
Marker 15B consisting of 7, 17 is attached.

On the other hand, in the thermal printer according to the present embodiment, a mark (15A or 15) for identifying the ink ribbon type is used.
It is configured to perform color printing by using the ink ribbon body for three colors or four colors marked with B), and includes a ribbon discriminating means capable of discriminating the kind of the ink ribbon 12 by detecting the marker. It is configured.

In this embodiment, the ribbon discriminating means is
When the ink ribbon body is mounted on the mounting portion 2 of the printer body 1, the end surface 11a of the ribbon core 11 is engaged with the end surface 11a.
It is composed of a displacement portion that is displaced by an amount corresponding to the marker (15A or 15B) attached to a, and a determination unit that determines the type of the ink ribbon 12 based on the displacement amount of this displacement portion.

More specifically, the displacement portion is composed of a ribbon holder unit 41.

Here, the ribbon holder unit 41 is composed of a ribbon holder 42, a slide reflection plate 45, a tension spring 47, etc., as shown in FIGS.

The ribbon holder 42 is formed in a disc shape as a whole, and extends in the diametrical direction so that it can be fitted into the notches 16 and 16 forming the mark 15A attached to the end surface 11a of the ribbon core 11. And the protruding portion 43 that
Through hole portions 44, 44 that are formed through the hole.

Further, the slide reflection plate 45 is movable to the through holes 44, 44 of the ribbon holder 42 and the hole 4 concerned.
The projections 46, 46 project from the projections 4, 44.
The slide reflection plate 45 is biased toward the ribbon holder 42 by a tension spring 47.

Here, the ribbon holder unit 4 described above is used.
When 1 is engaged with the ribbon core 11 of the ink ribbon body for three colors shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 43 of the ribbon holder 42 fits into the notches 16 and 16 provided in the end surface 11a of the ribbon core 11, The slide reflection plate 45 is pushed from the end surface 11a of the ribbon core 11 via the protrusions 46, 46. As a result, the slide reflection plate 45 resists the urging force of the tension spring 47, as shown in FIG.
The distance from the displacement detection sensor 25, which is moved in the direction away from a and is attached via the sensor support plate 5 to the position corresponding to the attachment portion 2 of the printer body 1, becomes L. As a result, the displacement amount detection sensor 25 is configured so that the slide reflection plate 45
The reflected light from is detected and turned on.

The ribbon holder unit 41 is shown in FIG.
When engaged with the ribbon core 11 of the four-color ink ribbon body shown in FIG. 1, the protrusion 43 of the ribbon holder 42 and the protrusions 46, 46 of the slide reflection plate 45 cause the end face 11 a of the ribbon core 11 to move.
It fits in the notches 16, 16, 17, 17 provided in the. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the slide reflecting plate 45 follows the ribbon core 1 according to the urging force of the tension spring 47.
The distance from the displacement amount detecting sensor 25 approaches L '(> L) when approaching the end face 11a of No. 1. As a result, the amount of reflected light from the slide reflection plate 45 incident on the displacement detection sensor 25 decreases, and the sensor 25 turns off.

On the other hand, the discriminating means is constructed by utilizing a part of the function of the control device 51 for driving and controlling the entire thermal printer. The control device 51 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
The cover open sensor 54,
Displacement amount detection sensor 25, ribbon sensor 29, display unit 5
5, a ribbon motor 56, a mechanical section 57 such as a paper transport mechanism, etc. are connected. Here, the cover open sensor 54
Is a sensor that detects that the open / close cover (not shown) of the thermal printer is open. The ribbon sensor 29 is a sensor that detects a marker (for example, a yellow cue marker) for cueing each color of the ink ribbon 12 of the ink ribbon body. In addition, the ribbon motor 56
Is a drive source for pulling out the ink ribbon 12 wound around the ribbon core 11.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Even when the ink ribbon body is left alone, the user sees the mark (15A or 15B) attached to the end surface 11a of the ribbon core 11 of the ink ribbon body, and the ink wound around the ribbon core 11 is seen. The type of ribbon 12 can be discriminated.

Even if the user is unfamiliar with determining the type of the ink ribbon 12 from the mark, the ribbon holder unit 41 is provided with the ink ribbon body in the thermal printer.
Ink ribbon 1 easily and securely just by mounting it through
Two types can be discriminated.

An ink ribbon type discriminating method using a thermal printer will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

That is, in step ST10, the controller 51 turns on the cover open sensor 54,
It is determined based on the OFF signal whether the open / close cover is closed. When it is determined that the cover open sensor 54 is ON and the open / close cover is open, an error message is displayed on the display unit 55 until the open / close cover is closed for safety (ST12).

When the opening / closing cover is closed and the displacement detection sensor 25 is turned on, the slide reflection plate 45 of the ribbon holder unit 41 is pushed by the end surface 11a of the ribbon core 11 of the ink ribbon body, and Sensor 2
Since it means that the distance from 9 is L, the fact that the three color ink ribbon bodies are mounted is displayed via the display unit 55 (ST14, 16).

When the displacement amount detection sensor 25 is not turned on, the control device 51 determines whether or not the ribbon sensor 56 detects the marker for each color cue by rotating the ribbon motor 56 by a predetermined amount. Yes (ST18, 2
0). When the marker for finding each color is not detected, it is determined that the ink ribbon body is not mounted, and an error is displayed via the display unit 55 (ST24, 26).
When the marker for finding each color is detected in step ST20, the fact that the four-color ink ribbon body is mounted is displayed on the display unit 55 (ST22).

According to this embodiment, however, the end face 11a of the ribbon core 11 is provided with the mark 15 for identifying the kind of the ink ribbon 12 wound around the peripheral surface 11b of the ribbon core 11. Since the user did not pull out the ink ribbon 12, the user can mark the type (15A,
15B), it can be surely and easily determined.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent wrinkles and the like that occur when the ink ribbon 12 is pulled out manually.

Further, this thermal printer has a ribbon core 1
Since it is configured to include the ribbon discriminating means (41, 51) capable of discriminating the type of the ink ribbon 12 by detecting the ink ribbon discriminating mark attached to the end face 11a of No. 1,
The type can be automatically determined without pulling out the ink ribbon 12.

[0034]

According to the invention of claim 1, since the end face of the ribbon core is provided with a mark for identifying the type of the ink ribbon wound around the peripheral face of the ribbon core, the ink ribbon is formed. The type can be easily and surely determined without pulling out.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the ink ribbon identifying means provided on the end face of the ribbon core is detected to identify the type of the ink ribbon, the ribbon identifying means is provided. The type can be automatically determined without pulling out the ink ribbon of the ribbon body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink ribbon body according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a marker attached to a ribbon core of an ink ribbon body for three colors.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a marker attached to a ribbon core of an ink ribbon body for four colors.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining an electrical / electronic configuration of the thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the ribbon holder unit is mounted in the printer body.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a displacement amount of the slide reflection plate of the ribbon holder unit that is engaged with the ribbon core of the ink ribbon body for three colors.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a displacement amount of the slide reflection plate of the ribbon holder unit engaged with the ribbon core of the ink ribbon body for four colors.

FIG. 8 is likewise a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present thermal printer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conventional thermal printer including a mechanism for determining the type of ink ribbon.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional ribbon cartridge of a three-color ink ribbon body.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional ribbon cartridge of a four-color ink ribbon body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Ribbon Core 11a Ribbon Core End Surface 11b Ribbon Core Peripheral Surface 12 Ink Ribbon 15A, 15B Marker 41 Ribbon Holder Unit (Ribbon Discriminating Means) 51 Control Device (Ribbon Discriminating Means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 29/42 Z 8804-2C 35/00 Z 7318-2C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ink ribbon body comprising a ribbon core and an ink ribbon wound around the circumference of the ribbon core so as to be able to be drawn out, the ink wound around the circumference of the ribbon core at the end surface of the ribbon core. An ink ribbon body, which is provided with a mark for identifying the type of ribbon. 2. A thermal printer with an ink ribbon body configured to print by using an ink ribbon body made of an ink ribbon wound so as to be drawn around the peripheral surface of the ribbon core, wherein the thermal printer is attached to the end surface of the ribbon core. A thermal printer with an ink ribbon body, comprising a ribbon discrimination means capable of discriminating an ink ribbon type by detecting an ink ribbon identification mark.