JP3298074B2 - Color printer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problem (FIG. 5) Function (FIG. 5) Example (1) Configuration of Example (FIGS. 1 to 5) (2) Effects of the embodiment (3) Other embodiments Effects of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color printer, and is suitably applied to, for example, a video printer and an image forming apparatus.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a color printer such as a video printer, a desired color image is printed by applying the principle of subtractive color mixing by sequentially transferring yellow, cyan and magenta inks as necessary. Have been made to gain.

That is, in this type of color printer device, first, yellow ink is transferred to convert a yellow image into one.
After printing the screen, a cyan image is
Print on screen. Further, in a color printer device, a magenta image is printed for one screen from the cyan image, and a portion printed in black is thereby printed.
While the yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are overlaid and transferred, the portions printed in white are yellow, cyan,
The transfer head is driven so that none of the magenta ink is transferred.

Further, for the portions displayed in red, blue, and green, magenta and yellow inks, cyan and magenta inks, and yellow and cyan inks are transferred in a superimposed manner, thereby printing a color image for one screen. It has been made to be. For this reason, in a color printer of this type, after a video signal to be printed is separated into red, blue and green color signals, the color signals are converted into complementary color signals (i.e., yellow, cyan, and cyan) through a predetermined matrix circuit. (Comprising a magenta color signal), and the ink is transferred by sequentially driving the head based on the complementary color signal.

Further, at this time, in the color printer device, since the color tone of the entire printing result approaches the color tone of the ink transferred to the surface most, when creating a complementary color signal, the change of the color tone is considered in advance. The signal level of the complementary color signal is corrected. Thus, in a color printer, a desired color image can be printed by transferring ink in the order of yellow, cyan, and magenta.

[0007]

In the meantime, there are cases where the user wants to stop the printing operation, such as when printing is performed by mistake, when printing is noticed during printing, or when the user changes his mind during printing. is there.

However, in the conventional color printer, the printing operation cannot be stopped by transferring the ink in the order of yellow, cyan, and magenta and executing a series of printing operations. It is necessary to wait for the resuming of the printing operation until the completion of the printing operation.
For this reason, in this case, in the color printer apparatus, there is a problem that the ink ribbon is wastefully consumed and a waiting time is generated until the subsequent printing.

In some cases, the user simply wants to confirm the state of printing. However, even in this case, in the conventional color printer apparatus, the ink ribbon is wastefully consumed by transferring the ink in the order of yellow, cyan, and magenta and executing a series of printing operations.

Further, when the ink ribbon is loaded into the color printer, the ink ribbon may be held at a position other than the start position of the yellow ink. In this case as well, the color printer has yellow, cyan, and magenta inks. By sequentially transferring the ink and performing a series of printing operations, the ink ribbon is eventually fed and the ink ribbon is wastefully consumed.

As a method for solving this problem, a method is considered in which printing can be performed in units of one color as needed, and when printing a color image, the order of printing is switched according to the position of the ink ribbon. Can be

That is, if printing can be performed in units of one color, for example, when the printing operation is stopped during the transfer of yellow ink, the transfer of the remaining cyan and magenta inks can be prevented. As a result, the consumption of the extra ink ribbon can be reduced, and the waiting time can be reduced. Further, if the order of printing is switched according to the position of the ink ribbon, the subsequent printing can be performed in cyan, magenta,
By restarting in the order of yellow, it is possible to prevent the ink ribbon from being idlely fed.

On the other hand, when the user simply wants to confirm the state of printing, printing using only one color or two colors according to the selection of the user can reduce the consumption of an extra ink ribbon. . Also in this case, by switching the printing order in accordance with the position of the ink ribbon, it is possible to prevent the ink ribbon from being idlely fed during the subsequent printing.

On the other hand, when the ink ribbon is held in a position other than the starting position of the yellow ink and the ink ribbon is loaded in the color printer, after the idle feeding to the head of the subsequent cyan, the cyan, magenta, yellow In this case, the ink can be transferred and printed in this order, so that wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon can be reduced accordingly.

However, if the order of printing is switched according to the position of the ink ribbon as described above, when printing is performed using an ink ribbon arranged in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, yellow, magenta,. Three types of combinations for printing in the order of “yellow, magenta, cyan”, “magenta, cyan, yellow”, “cyan, yellow, magenta” occur. In a conventional color printer, these three types of combinations are used. Accordingly, there is a problem that the color of the print result changes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a color printer capable of obtaining a printing result of a fixed color tone even when printing is started from any color. .

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, inks are sequentially arranged based on a predetermined color signal by using an ink ribbon 28 in which a plurality of colors of ink are sequentially arranged in a predetermined area unit. In the color printer device 1 for transferring and printing a color image on the paper 2, a color detecting unit 22 and a color detecting unit 26 for detecting a color printed first on the ink ribbon 28 and outputting a color detection result; After detecting the order of colors to be printed based on the color detection result, a signal level correction means 12 for correcting the signal level of the color signal based on the detection result so as to obtain a printing result held in a predetermined hue. , 20 and printing means 16, 18, 20, 40 for printing a color image on the paper 2 based on the color signals corrected by the signal level correcting means 12, 20. .

Further, in the present invention, the plurality of colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow, and the ink ribbon 28 is a heat-sensitive fusion transfer type ink ribbon in which cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are adhered to a film in predetermined area units. It becomes.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an image memory 6 for storing color signals. After storing the color signals, the image memory 6 stores the color signals in accordance with the order of colors to be printed based on the color detection result. The color signals are sequentially converted to signal level correction means 12, 2
Output to 0.

Further, in the present invention, a digital-to-analog conversion circuit 8 for converting a color signal stored in an image memory into an analog signal and outputting the same, and an encoder for converting an output signal of the digital-to-analog conversion circuit 8 to a video signal and outputting the video signal The circuit 10 is provided.

[0021]

The color printed first by the ink ribbon 28 is detected to detect the order of colors to be printed, and based on the detection result, the signal level of a color signal is corrected to print a color image. Even when the order of colors to be printed is switched in accordance with the color to be printed first on the ribbon 28, a printing result of a predetermined hue can be obtained.

[0022]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

(1) Configuration of the Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a thermal transfer type color printer as a whole, which prints a color image on a sheet 2 using a heat-sensitive fusion transfer type ink ribbon.

That is, in the color printer 1, the video signal SV is supplied to the decoder 3, where the video signal SV is converted into red, blue, and green color signals, and then converted by the analog digital conversion circuit (A / D) 4. Each color signal is converted into a digital signal (hereinafter referred to as a digital color signal). Thus, in the color printer device 1, by storing the digital color signal in the image memory 6, an image desired by the user can be captured, and the captured image can be printed as needed. I have.

Further, in the color printer 1,
The digital color signal output from the analog digital conversion circuit 4 is supplied to a digital / analog conversion circuit (D / A) 8, where it is converted into an analog signal, and then converted into a video signal by an encoder circuit 10. Thus, in the color printer 1, the video signal can be output to an external monitor to monitor the video signal SV.

Further, in the color printer 1,
The digital color signal stored in the image memory 6 can be output to the digital-to-analog conversion circuit 8 in place of the digital color signal output from the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 4, so that the captured image can be confirmed by the monitor device. It has been made like that. Thus, in the color printer 1, after a desired image is fetched into the image memory 6 while monitoring the video signal SV by the monitor device, the fetched image can be confirmed and printed as necessary. ing.

That is, in the color printer 1, when a user operates a predetermined operation element, the image memory 6 is operated.
Is output to the color conversion color correction circuit 12, where it is converted into a complementary digital color signal. The print data conversion circuit 14 drives the head 16 of the line printer configuration by sequentially accumulating and outputting digital color signals of the complementary colors which are continuous in the order of raster scanning.

When the head 16 is driven, in the color printer 1, the microcomputer 18 which is a system control circuit drives the motor 18 and the color conversion color correction circuit 12 sequentially outputs the complementary color digital color signals in units of one screen. Is switched and output, whereby inks of complementary colors are sequentially transferred to the paper 2 in units of one screen to print a color image. Further, at this time, the color printer 1 can print the image in units of one color as needed. When printing a color image, the order of printing is determined according to the ink color of the ink ribbon 28 at the start of printing. Is switched, so that wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon can be reduced.

For this reason, in the color printer 1, the reflection type optical sensors 22 and 26 use the ink ribbon 2
The color discrimination marks 30 to 34 formed on the image No. 8 are detected, whereby the color of the ink at the start of printing is detected.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink ribbon 28 is housed in a predetermined cassette while being wound on the supply spool 44 and the take-up spool 42 to form a ribbon cassette 40. In the color printer 1, the ink ribbon 28 can be replaced as necessary by holding the ribbon cassette 40 so as to be replaceable.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the ink ribbon 28, yellow, magenta, and cyan inks are sequentially and cyclically adhered to a transparent film for one screen. And color separation marks 30 to 34 are formed in the spaces between the inks.

That is, in the ink ribbon 28, a predetermined reflecting member is attached to the scanning positions of the optical sensors 22 and 26 indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 34 are formed, and yellow ink is adhered following the color discrimination mark 34. Further, on the ink ribbon 28, a color discriminating mark 32 is formed by attaching a reflecting member so as to cross only the outer scanning position following the yellow ink,
Subsequently, magenta ink is adhered, and subsequently, a reflective member is adhered so as to cross only the inner scanning position to form the color determination mark 30, and subsequent cyan ink is adhered.

Thus, in the color printer 1, both the optical sensors 22 and 26 use the ink ribbon 28.
When the reflected light from the ink ribbon 28 is detected by only the outer and inner optical sensors 22 and 26, the subsequent ink can be determined to be yellow ink when the reflected light from the ink ribbon 28 is detected. It can be determined that the inks are magenta and cyan inks, respectively.

Based on the detection results of the optical sensors 22 and 26, the microcomputer 20 controls the image memory 6, the color conversion color correction circuit 12, the print data conversion circuit 14, and the motor 18
Therefore, when the user selects printing in one color, the color printer 1 does not feed the ink ribbon 28 in an idle manner, but uses the image memory 6 with the subsequent ink.
Prints the image stored in.

At this time, the color conversion color correction circuit 12 generates a digital signal consisting of a luminance signal by adding the digital color signals, and outputs this luminance signal to the print data conversion circuit 14 in place of the complementary color digital signal. I do.
As a result, in the color printer device 1, the printing result can be easily checked if necessary, and at this time, wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon can be reduced.

Similarly, when the user selects printing of two colors, the color printer 1
The image stored in the image memory 6 is printed using two successive colors of ink without skipping the ink ribbon 8, and the printing result can be easily checked if necessary. Useless consumption can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the user selects the printing of a color image, the color printer 1 does not feed the ink ribbon 28 in an idle manner, but sequentially prints the paper 2 with the corresponding color signal for one screen from the next ink. When the transfer operation is repeated for three colors, the printing process is completed. At this time, in the microcomputer 20, when the ink ribbon is positioned in the middle of the ink attachment portion, for example, when the cassette is loaded, the motor 18 is driven to empty the ink ribbon until the subsequent color discrimination marks 30 to 34 are detected. Send.

Thus, in the color printer device 1, when printing a color image after repeating printing of one or two colors, and even when the ink ribbon 28 is not positioned correctly, It is designed to reduce wasteful consumption and improve usability.

On the other hand, when printing a color image,
When printing a color, when the user presses the print stop operation element, the microcomputer 20 immediately outputs control data to the image memory 6, the color conversion color correction circuit 12, and the print data conversion circuit 14, thereby performing printing processing. Stop control. Further, the microcomputer 20 discharges the paper 2 and simultaneously
Is driven to idle the ink ribbon until the subsequent color discrimination marks 30 to 34 are detected, thereby waiting for the subsequent printing processing.

Thus, in the color printer device 1, the printing process can be stopped in the middle of printing, and the printing can be started with a short waiting time after the stop, and at this time, wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon is prevented. Can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, the microcomputer 20
Detects the order of colors to be printed based on the detection results of the optical sensors 22 and 26 when printing a color image, and switches the operation of the color conversion color correction circuit 12 based on the detection results.

The switching of the operation of the color conversion color correction circuit 12 is executed by switching the correction of the signal level in accordance with the printing order when correcting and outputting the signal level of the generated color signal. Accordingly, in the color printer device 1, even when the order of printing changes, it is possible to prevent a change in the tint of the printing result.

That is, as shown in FIG.
In step (1), when the printing mode of the color image is selected and the operator for starting printing is pressed, the process proceeds from step SP1 to step SP2, where it is determined whether or not the ribbon cassette 40 is loaded. Here is ribbon cassette 4
When 0 is not loaded, a negative result is obtained, and the microcomputer 20 repeats step SP2. On the other hand, when the ribbon cassette 40 is loaded, the process proceeds to step SP3, and the idle feeding of the ink ribbon 28 is started. I do.

Subsequently, the microcomputer 20 proceeds to step SP4, and performs the color discrimination mark 3 using one of the optical sensors 22 and 26.
It is determined whether 0-34 has been detected, and if a negative result is obtained here, step SP4 is repeated. On the other hand, if any of the color discrimination marks 30 to 34 is detected, a positive result is obtained, and the microcomputer 20 proceeds to step S.
The process proceeds to P5, where it is determined whether the color of the subsequent ink is yellow based on the detection results of the optical sensors 22 and 26.

Here, when the optical sensors 22 and 26 detect the color discrimination mark 34, the microcomputer 20 can determine that the subsequent ink is yellow, and the microcomputer 20 subsequently proceeds to step SP6 where the yellow, magenta and cyan ( Symbol Y>M> C
), And outputs color correction data determined in the order of printing to the color conversion color correction circuit 12.
Thus, the microcomputer 20 corrects the signal level of the complementary color signal in accordance with the printing order, drives the head 16, the motor 18, and the like to transfer the ink in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and converts each color in units of one screen. After printing the image, the process proceeds to step SP7 to end the processing procedure.

On the other hand, when the optical sensors 22 and 26 detect a color discrimination mark other than the color discrimination mark 34, a negative result is obtained in step SP5 because the subsequent ink can be determined to be a color other than yellow. The microcomputer 20 proceeds to step SP8. Here, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the color of the subsequent ink is magenta based on the detection results of the optical sensors 22 and 26. In this case, when the optical sensors 22 and 26 detect the outer color discrimination mark 32, Can be determined to be magenta, the process proceeds to step SP9.

Here, the microcomputer 20 determines that printing is performed in the order of magenta, cyan, and yellow (represented by the symbol M>C> Y), and outputs color correction data determined in the printing order to the color conversion color correction circuit 12. I do. As a result, the microcomputer 20
For the complementary color signal, the signal level is corrected in accordance with the printing order, and the head 16 and the motor 18 are driven to transfer the ink in the order of magenta, cyan, and yellow, and print the image of each color in units of one screen. Then, the process proceeds to step SP7 to end the processing procedure.

On the other hand, when the optical sensors 22 and 26 detect the color discrimination marks 30 other than the color discrimination marks 34 and 32, the subsequent ink can be judged to be a color other than magenta, so that a negative result is obtained in step SP8. Then, the microcomputer 20 proceeds to step SP10. Here, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the color of the subsequent ink is cyan based on the detection results of the optical sensors 22 and 26. In this case, when the optical sensors 22 and 26 detect the inner Can be determined to be cyan, the process proceeds to step SP11.

Here, the microcomputer 20 determines that printing is performed in the order of cyan, yellow, and magenta (represented by the symbol C>Y> M), and outputs color correction data determined in the printing order to the color conversion color correction circuit 12. I do. Accordingly, even when printing is performed in order from cyan, the microcomputer 20 corrects the signal level of the complementary color signal in accordance with the printing order, sequentially transfers ink, and prints each color image in units of one screen. Then, the process proceeds to step SP7 to end the processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP10, it is considered that the optical sensors 22 and 26 detect reflected light by mistake, and the microcomputer 20 returns to step SP4 and returns to step SP4. The discrimination mark is detected.

(2) Effects of the Embodiment According to the above configuration, the colors of the ink ribbon printed first are detected by the optical sensors 22 and 26, and the signal level of the complementary color signal is corrected based on the detection result. By doing so, even when the ink is transferred in order from the color of the ink ribbon to be printed first, it is possible to obtain a print result maintained in a predetermined color.

(3) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which the color of each ink is detected by arranging a reflective color discrimination mark at the head of each ink application position. Is not limited to this, and various color discriminating means can be widely applied, for example, when using a transmissive color discriminating mark, and when discriminating the color of ink by detecting transmitted light and reflected light on the ink applied surface. can do.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the ink is sequentially and cyclically applied in the order of yellow, cyan, and magenta has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ink is sequentially circulated in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan. It can be widely applied to the case where the ink is to be applied specifically.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the video signal is converted into a color signal and stored in the image memory has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case where the video signal is stored in the form of a luminance signal and a color difference signal is described. Etc. can be widely applied.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, ink is sequentially transferred based on a predetermined color signal using an ink ribbon in which a plurality of inks are sequentially arranged in a predetermined area unit, and color ink is transferred onto paper. In a color printer device that prints an image, a color that is printed first on an ink ribbon is detected, a color detection result is output, and the order of colors to be printed is detected based on the output color detection result. After correcting the signal level of such a color signal so as to obtain a print result held in a predetermined hue based on the result, a color image is printed on paper based on the corrected color signal. Even if printing is started from any of a plurality of colors of ink on the ink ribbon, a printing result having a constant color tone can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the ribbon cassette.

FIG. 3 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the ink ribbon.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process of a color image.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Color printer device, 2 ... Paper, 6 ... Image memory, 12 ... Color conversion color correction circuit, 14 ... Print data conversion circuit, 20 ... Microcomputer, 22, 26 ... Optical sensor, 28 .... Ink ribbon, 30, 32, 34 ...
… Color identification mark.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of inks are sequentially arranged in a predetermined area unit.
Based on a predetermined color signal using
Transfer the ink sequentiallyOn paperPrinting color images
In the color printer device, detecting the color printed first with the ink ribbon,
A color detection unit that outputs a color detection result, and detects an order of colors to be printed based on the color detection result,
Based on the detection result,Prints held in a certain shade
To get the resultCorrect the signal level of the above color signal
Signal level correction means, Based on the color signal corrected by the signal level correction means
Printing means for printing the color image on the paper;
Equipped with A color printer device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow, and the ink ribbon is a heat-sensitive melt transfer type ink ribbon in which the cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are attached to a film in a predetermined area unit. The color printer device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An image memory for storing the color signal, wherein the image memory stores the color signal and then stores the color signal in accordance with the order of the colors to be printed based on the color detection result. 3. The color printer according to claim 1, wherein the color signals are sequentially output to the signal level correction unit. 4. A digital-to-analog conversion circuit for converting the color signal stored in the image memory into an analog signal and outputting the same, and an encoder circuit for converting an output signal of the digital-to-analog conversion circuit to a video signal and outputting the video signal. 4. A color printer according to claim 3, comprising: