JP2573664B2 - Color printer - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a color printer using a color film ribbon.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional color printer using a thermal printer uses a color film ribbon in which three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan or four colors including black are sequentially applied. . This color film ribbon has a length capable of printing, for example, one sheet of printing paper for each color, has a home position detecting section, forms one block for each color, and has many blocks.

When performing color printing, the home position detection unit of the designated color is detected and printing is performed on the printing paper. When printing of one sheet of paper for one color is completed, the paper is returned to the initial position, and then the next printing is performed. The home position detection unit is detected based on the color designation, and printing is performed for one sheet of paper in the next color. This is repeated based on the color designation, and color printing is performed by single color printing or overlapping printing of each color.

In the prior art, for example, even when printing of only one color is performed, when printing on one sheet of paper is completed, the color film ribbon is wound up to the next block in order to wait for printing of the next sheet.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, in the related art, there is no use at all for printing on paper, or even if there is a color that prints only a few characters, that color is wound up and is no longer used and is wasted. was there.

By the way, in a printer, test printing, erroneous character confirmation, and layout confirmation are also performed. However, such printing is performed for checking unlike normal printing, and printing quality is not required.

Even in such a case, conventionally, printing is always performed using a new block color, so that there is a problem that the ribbon is wastefully consumed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a color printer that can minimize wasteful consumption of a color film ribbon.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the invention described in claim 1, a plurality of colors are divided in a predetermined order by a length capable of printing one page of a sheet to form one block, which has a large number of blocks. A color film ribbon having a home position detection unit for each block color is used, and the home position of the corresponding color is detected by a sensor according to the color designation, and an unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, and a thermal printer is used. Color printing is performed for one page of paper, and if another color is specified, the home position of the corresponding color is detected by the sensor, the unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, the paper is returned to the printing start position, and thermal printing is performed again. The corresponding color printing is performed for one page of paper by the printer, and the color printing is performed for one page of paper by repeating this as long as the color is designated. Yes, paper 1
When the printing on the page is completed, the color film ribbon is fed and fed in order to set an unused portion of the color film ribbon in a color printer which feeds the ribbon until the sensor detects the home position of the first color of the next block. Also, a ribbon feed mechanism for rewinding and feeding the used portion of the color film ribbon, a rewinding switch for rewinding and feeding the color film ribbon, and a printing operation when the rewinding switch is off. In response, the color film ribbon is fed back by the ribbon feed mechanism,
Ribbon feed control means for causing the color film ribbon to be rewound by the ribbon feed mechanism when the rewind switch is on, and for stopping the rewind feed when the sensor detects the home position of the first color of the used block; After the rewind feed is performed by the feed control means and the rewind switch is turned off and the printing operation is performed, after the printing operation is completed, the color film ribbon is rewinded by the ribbon feed mechanism and the home position is detected by the sensor. And ribbon return feed means for setting an unused portion of the color film ribbon.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of colors are separated in a predetermined order by a length capable of printing one page of paper to form one block, which has a large number of blocks and a home position for each color of each block. Using a color film ribbon having a detecting portion, a home position of a corresponding color is detected by a sensor according to color designation, an unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, and the corresponding color printing is performed for one page of paper by a thermal printer. If another color is specified, the home position of the corresponding color is detected by the sensor, the unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, the paper is returned to the printing start position, and the corresponding color printing is performed again by the thermal printer. This process is repeated for each page and color printing is performed on one page of the paper as long as the color is specified.
When the printing on the page is completed, the color film ribbon is fed and fed in order to set an unused portion of the color film ribbon in a color printer which feeds the ribbon until the sensor detects the home position of the first color of the next block. Also, a ribbon feed mechanism for rewinding and feeding the used portion of the color film ribbon, a rewinding switch for rewinding and feeding the color film ribbon, and each time printing on one page of paper is completed. A memory for storing the number of print dots of each block, and a ribbon feed mechanism for rewinding and feeding the color film ribbon according to the printing operation when the rewind switch is turned off, and the ribbon for the color film ribbon when the rewind switch is turned on. Rewind filter by feed mechanism Ribbon feed control means for stopping the rewind feed when the sensor detects the home position of the first color of the block having the smallest number of print dots stored in the memory among the used blocks, and the ribbon feed control means When the print operation is performed by turning off the rewind switch after the rewind feed is performed by the ribbon feed control means and the rewind counter that counts the number of blocks to which rewind feed has been performed, the printing operation ends. Later, the ribbon feed mechanism winds and feeds the color film ribbon by the number of blocks counted by the rewind counter, and then detects a home position by a sensor and sets a ribbon return feed means for setting an unused portion of the color film ribbon. is there.

[Operation] In the present invention having such a configuration, by turning on the rewind switch, the color film ribbon can be rewound by one block, so that, for example, the printing quality is not so required in preparation for the next normal printing. When test printing or layout confirmation printing is performed, if the rewind switch is turned on to rewind the ribbon by one block and the printing is performed, printing can be performed in the color of the block used once. In this case, if the printing is performed when the number of characters of the previous printing is small and the color designation is also small, printing can be performed by using a lot of the unused portion, so that the printing quality is not extremely lowered.

Also, the number of print dots for each block is stored in the memory, and when the rewind switch is turned on, the color film ribbon is returned to the block with the smallest number of print dots stored in the memory. Printing can be performed by using a lot of unused portions, and printing quality will not be extremely deteriorated even when test printing or layout confirmation printing is performed at any time.

Embodiment An embodiment corresponding to claim 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show the overall configuration, and FIG. 3 shows a ribbon control mechanism. Reference numeral 1 denotes a print head of a thermal printer, and reference numeral 2 denotes a platen. The print dot 1 is composed of a head shift motor 3, a head shift cam 4, a head shift lever 5, a head holder 6, a head spring 7,
Is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the platen 2,
It is in the open position during standby.

When the print paper 8 is set and a print command is received, the head shift motor 3 is driven, and the print head 1 is pressed against the platen 2.

The platen 2 engaged with the paper feed motor 9 via the belt 10 feeds the paper 8 and the color film ribbon 11 by driving the paper feed motor 9, and the printing is performed in synchronization with the feed. I have. At this time, the color film ribbon 11 is
The gear portion of the feed pulley 14 and the feed gear 15 engaged via the engagement 13 are transmitted to the winding side by being urged by the spring 16 to be wound.

After printing of one color is completed, the print head is opened, the paper 8 is returned to the printing start position by the feed rollers 17 and 18, and the color film ribbon 11 is fed until the sensor 19 detects the home position detecting unit of the next color. Will be done. Then, the print head 1 is pressed against the platen 2 and printing of the second color is performed.

This operation is repeated several times to complete the color printing on one sheet. When printing is completed, the print head 1 is opened, the paper 8 is discharged by the feed rollers 17 and 18, and the color film ribbon 11 is fed to the head position (for example, yellow position) of the next one block by detecting the home position, and the printer is turned on. It goes into a standby state.

When the rewind switch is turned on in this state, the ribbon solenoid 20 is turned on, and the feed pulley 14 and the feed gear 15 are disengaged by rotating the support plate 22 via the joint plate 21. Rewind pulley 24 engaged with belt 23
And the rewind gear 25 are engaged, and the color film ribbon 11 is rewound. When the leading position (yellow position) of one block is detected, the ribbon solenoid 20 is turned off and the spring 16 is urged to return to the winding position.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration. Reference numeral 31 denotes a CPU constituting a control unit main body; 32, a ROM in which a program memory for controlling the CPU 31 by each unit is stored; 33, a RAM in which print data and the like are stored. It is. 34 is a timer that generates a periodic timer interrupt, and 35 is an I / F connected to external equipment.
(Interface), 36 is an I / O port. The CPU
31 and ROM32, RAM33, timer 34, I / F35 and I / O port 36
And are connected via a bus line 37.

A driver 38 is connected to the I / O port 36. The driver 38 drives the print head 1, the head shift motor 3, the paper feed motor 9, the ribbon motor 12, and the ribbon solenoid 20, respectively. .

The I / O port 36 has a cover open sensor 39 for detecting the opening of a cover provided on the housing, a home position sensor 40 for detecting a pom position detector for each color of the color film ribbon 11, and a paper 8 Outputs from a paper sensor 41 for detecting the presence / absence and a thermistor 42 for detecting a temperature state of the thermal head are directly input.

43 is a reset switch provided on the operation panel, 44
Is a rewind switch also provided on the operation panel,
These switch signals are also directly input to the I / O port 36. The reset switch 43
The switch signal of the
Like the output of the I / F 35, it is input to the CPU 31 as an interrupt signal.

FIG. 5 shows the control by the CPU 31. When the power is turned on, the initialization of the memory in the RAM 33 is performed. In this initial setting, the latest position counter and the rewind counter are both set to “0”.

Here, the latest position counter is a color film ribbon
11 counts the number of used blocks when the use is started from a completely unused state, and indicates the number of the currently used block from the beginning. The rewind counter counts the number of rewind blocks when rewinding the color film ribbon 11 already used in some blocks.

 Subsequently, the printer is initialized.

Subsequently, print data processing such as editing the print data for printing is performed.

Then, it is checked whether there is a print start command or whether the rewind switch 44 is turned on.

If there is a print start command, print processing is performed. In this printing process, one color printing is first performed while the printing paper 8 is fed and the color film ribbon 11 is wound up. When printing on the paper is completed, the paper 8 is returned to the top position to print the next color. This is repeated until the color specification is completed.

When the printing process is completed, it is checked whether the rewind counter is 0 or not. If the rewind counter is 0, it is determined that the printing is not the rewinding of the color film ribbon 11 but the normal printing, and the latest position counter is incremented by one.
If the rewind counter is not 0, it is determined that the printing is a test printing or the like by rewinding the color film ribbon 11, and the latest position counter is kept as it is.

Then, the normal rotation of the ribbon motor 12 is started, and it is checked whether the home position sensor 40 detects the home position. When the home position detecting section is detected, it is checked whether the rewind counter is 0 or not.
If the rewind counter = 0, it is determined that the return of the color film ribbon 11 from the rewind position has been completed, and the operation of the ribbon motor 12 is stopped. If the rewind counter is not "0", it is determined that the return of the color film ribbon 11 from the rewind position is not completed, and the rewind counter is decremented by one, and the home position of the ribbon 11 is detected.

When the rewind switch 44 is ON, it is checked whether the latest position counter> rewind counter. This is to count the number of blocks currently used by the latest position counter from the beginning, and the latest position counter is "0" when the block is not used at all. In such a case, the latest position counter and the rewind counter are both "0", and the relationship "latest position counter> rewind counter" does not hold. Therefore, even if the rewind switch 44 is turned on, the rewind operation is prohibited. If the latest position counter> rewind counter, the ribbon motor 12
When the sensor 40 detects the home position detection unit for the first color in one block, the operation of the ribbon motor 12 is stopped, and the rewind counter is incremented by one. When the rewind switch 44 is turned off, the process ends.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, when a color print start command is issued to the three color film ribbons 11 of yellow, magenta, and cyan by specifying three colors,
The print data is printed on the paper 8 by using the yellow color classification part according to the first yellow designation. When the yellow printing is completed, the paper feed motor 9 is rotated in the reverse direction to return the paper to the leading position and feed the ribbon 11 to the next magenta home position. In accordance with the next designation of magenta, print data is printed on the paper 8 using the magenta color classification section. When the printing of magenta is completed, the paper feed motor 9 is rotated backward to return the paper to the leading position, and the ribbon 11 is further fed to the next cyan home position. By the next designation of cyan, print data is printed on the paper 8 using the cyan color classification section.

In this way, one page of color printing is performed using three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan in one block. Then, when such color printing is performed for several pages, the latest position counter counts the number of blocks of the color film ribbon 11 already used.

And such color printing is finished on the paper,
For example, when printing is to be performed for the next print test print or layout check in a state of waiting for printing on the next paper, the rewind switch 44 is turned on.

In this state, since the relationship of the latest position counter> rewind counter is established, the ribbon solenoid 20 operates, the feed pulley 14 and the feed gear 15 are disengaged, and the rewind pulley 24 and the rewind gear 25 are engaged.
At the same time, the ribbon motor 12 performs a reverse rotation operation. Thus, the color film ribbon 11 is rewound. When the home position sensor 40 detects that the yellow color poison position detecting unit is rewound by one block and the first color is yellow, the reverse rotation of the ribbon motor 12 is stopped. Further, the ribbon solenoid 20 is turned off, the engagement between the rewind pulley 24 and the rewind gear 25 is released, and the feed pulley 14 and the feed gear 15 are engaged again.

In this state, if the rewind switch 44 is returned to the off state to start the printing process, test printing and printing for layout check can be performed using the block used once. In this printing, the printing may be blurred when it overlaps the portion used once, but there is no problem because the printing quality is not required. Rather, it is not necessary to use completely new blocks for printing for test printing or layout checking, so that the ribbon is not wasted and the ribbon can be used efficiently. When the printing process is completed, the rewind counter is incremented by 1, so that the ribbon motor 12 is rotated forward to wind and feed the color film ribbon 11 by one block, and the color film ribbon 11 before the rewinding is performed. Position and the rewind counter is set to "0".

Next, an embodiment according to claim 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a memory is provided in the RAM 33 in which the number of print dots for each block for which printing has already been completed is set.

The printing control at this time is performed based on FIG. That is, the memory is initialized. In this initial setting, the print dot number memory and the rewind counter are both set to "0". Subsequently, the printer is initialized. Further, print data processing such as editing the print data for printing is performed. In this embodiment, since the print dot number memory stores the number of print dots for each block of the color film ribbon 11 for which printing has been completed, the number of blocks of the color film ribbon 11 already used can be grasped from the storage contents of this memory. Therefore, the latest position counter becomes unnecessary.

If there is a print start command, print processing is performed. In this printing process, the number of printing dots is counted. When the printing process is completed, it is checked whether the rewind counter is 0 or not. If the rewind counter is 0, the number of print dots counted in the current printing is set in the print dot number memory of the RAM 33 for each block. If the rewind counter is not 0, the rewind counter is decremented by one.

Subsequently, the flag is checked, and if "1" is set in the flag, the ribbon motor 12 is rotated forward to wind and feed the ribbon 11 by the number of blocks counted by the rewind counter. When the winding feed of the ribbon 11 is completed, the rewind counter is set to "0" and the flag is cleared.

When the rewind switch 44 is ON, it is subsequently checked whether or not the print dot number memory = 0. If "0"
If so, it is determined that the ribbon 11 is not used at all, and the operation of the rewind switch 44 is invalidated. If there is data in the print dot number memory, it is determined that there is a block already used, and a flag is set.

Then, check whether the rewind counter = 0,
If it is "0", the block having the smallest number of print dots is searched from the memory, and the ribbon 11 is rewound to the first color of the corresponding block, that is, the yellow home position. Then, the number of rewinded blocks is set in the rewind counter.

In this embodiment, when test printing or printing for layout check is to be performed while the color film ribbon 11 is being used, the rewind switch 44 is operated.

Then the ribbon motor 12 reverses and the rewind pulley
24, the rewind gear 25 operates to rewind the ribbon 11 to the block having the smallest number of dots used for printing. Therefore, if test printing or the like is performed using this block, overlapping with a portion used once can be avoided as much as possible, and test printing and layout check printing can be performed with relatively good quality. When this printing is completed,
Since the rewind counter counts the number of rewind blocks, the ribbon motor 12 is rotated forward to wind and feed the color film ribbon 11 by the number of blocks counted by the rewind counter.
11 is returned to the position before rewinding, and the rewinding counter is set to “0”. Also in this embodiment, since printing is performed using the portion used once, it is possible to prevent the ribbon from being used without permission.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a color printer that can minimize wasteful consumption of a color film ribbon.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the internal structure, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control by the CPU, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control by the CPU in another embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... print head, 8 ... print paper, 9 ... paper feed motor, 11 ... color film ribbon, 12 ... ribbon motor, 14 ... feed pulley, 15 ... feed gear, 19 ... home position sensor , 20 ... Ribbon solenoid, 24 ... Rewind pulley, 25 ... Rewind gear, 31 ... CPU, 32 ... ROM, 33 ... RAM, 44 ... Rewind switch.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of colors are separated in a predetermined order by a length capable of printing one page of paper to form one block. The block has a large number of blocks, and a home position detecting unit is provided for each color of each block. Using a color film ribbon having the same, a home position of a corresponding color is detected by a sensor by a color designation, an unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, and the corresponding color printing is performed for one page of paper by a thermal printer. If there is a color designation, the home position of the corresponding color is detected by the sensor, the unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, the paper is returned to the printing start position, and the corresponding color printing is again performed by the thermal printer on one page of the paper. This is repeated as long as there is a color designation, and color printing of one page of paper is performed.
When printing on a page is completed, the color film ribbon is fed until the sensor detects the home position of the first color of the next block by the sensor, and the color film ribbon is wound to set an unused portion of the color film ribbon. A ribbon feed mechanism for rewinding and feeding, and a rewinding switch for rewinding and feeding the color film ribbon, and a rewinding switch for rewinding and feeding the color film ribbon. At the time of the printing operation, the color film ribbon is rewound and fed by the ribbon feed mechanism, and when the rewound switch is on, the color film ribbon is rewound and fed by the ribbon feed mechanism. First color ho A ribbon feed control unit for stopping the rewind feed when the sensor detects the system position, and after the ribbon feed control unit performs a rewind feed, the rewind switch is turned off to perform a printing operation. After the printing operation is completed, the color film ribbon is fed back by the ribbon feed mechanism, a home position is detected by the sensor, and ribbon return feed means for setting an unused portion of the color film ribbon is provided. Color printer. 2. A plurality of colors are divided in a predetermined order by a length capable of printing one page of paper to form one block. The block has a large number of blocks, and a home position detecting section is provided for each color of each block. Using a color film ribbon having the same, a home position of a corresponding color is detected by a sensor by a color designation, an unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, and the corresponding color printing is performed for one page of paper by a thermal printer. If there is a color designation, the home position of the corresponding color is detected by the sensor, the unused portion of the color film ribbon is set, the paper is returned to the printing start position, and the corresponding color printing is again performed by the thermal printer on one page of the paper. This is repeated as long as there is a color designation, and color printing of one page of paper is performed.
When printing on a page is completed, the color film ribbon is fed until the sensor detects the home position of the first color of the next block by the sensor, and the color film ribbon is wound to set an unused portion of the color film ribbon. A ribbon feed mechanism for feeding and rewinding the color film ribbon to set a used portion of the color film ribbon, a rewind switch for rewinding and feeding the color film ribbon,
A memory for storing the number of printing dots of a block used each time printing on a page is completed, and a rewind feed of the color film ribbon by the ribbon feed mechanism according to a printing operation when the rewind switch is off, and When the rewind switch is on, the color film ribbon is rewound and fed by the ribbon feed mechanism, and among the used blocks, the home position of the first color of the block having the smallest number of print dots stored in the memory is set. A ribbon feed control means for stopping the rewind feed when the sensor detects the signal; a rewind counter for counting the number of blocks on which the rewind feed has been performed by the ribbon feed control means; and a rewind feed by the ribbon feed control means. After that, set the rewind switch to When the printing operation is performed in the off state, after the printing operation is completed, the color film ribbon is wound and fed by the ribbon feed mechanism by the number of blocks counted by the rewind counter, and the home position is detected by the sensor. A color printer comprising: ribbon return feed means for setting an unused portion of a color film ribbon.