JPH02235679A - Color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application fields] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer color printer.

[Prior Art] Japanese Patent Application No. 59-109228 discloses that the ribbon end portion of a color ink ribbon has a structure in which black and transparent portions are continuous in a stripe shape, and there is only one piece of ribbon that reads the information held by the ink ribbon. A mark sensor has been disclosed in which the ribbon end is detected by detecting the striped shape of the ribbon end portion.

[Problem 8 to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, there is a risk that the ribbon end may be erroneously detected due to the mark sensor being out of position or the sensor output chattering. In addition, in the case of the ribbon winding method, since the feeding speed of the ribbon changes depending on the change in the diameter on the winding side, there is a possibility that a mark may be erroneously recognized with the output of one sensor.

Therefore, the present invention can prevent erroneous detection of the ribbon end by detecting the ribbon end using the outputs of two mark sensors that detect marks attached to the color ink ribbon at different positions along the ribbon feeding direction. Up,
The present invention aims to provide a color printer that has excellent color positioning accuracy and can improve reliability.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, a marker area is formed on one side of a color ink ribbon coated with ink of a plurality of colors, and a black mark, for example, corresponding to each ink color marked in this marker area is placed as a first mark. 1,
A second mark sensor detects the color ink ribbon at different positions along the feeding direction, and the ink color is determined based on the outputs of the first and second mark sensors, and the color is printed by controlling the color ink ribbon transport. In a printer, a ribbon end mark is marked in at least a marker area of a ribbon end portion of a color ink ribbon, and a ribbon end mark in which a mark part, for example, black and a non-mark part, for example, a transparent part, are alternately continuous, is printed, and a first mark and a second mark are printed. The ribbon end of the color ink ribbon is detected by the sensor detecting this ribbon end mark.

[Function] With this configuration, the ribbon end mark marked on the color ink ribbon is monitored separately by two mark sensors, so even if one of the mark sensors fails, the color ink will not be removed. The ribbon end of the ribbon is reliably detected.

Furthermore, even if the ribbon feeding speed changes, the marks are detected in two stages, so there is little risk of misrecognition.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the color printer of this embodiment. The CPU, which serves as the main body of the control unit, includes ROM2 in which fixed data such as program data is set, RAM3 and I in which various memories used for data processing are formed.
/O controls the boat 4. the above! /0 boat 4 has the 1st. A second mark sensor 5, 6, a color ink ribbon ribbon feed motor 7, and a paper feed motor 8 are connected, and the detection signals from the first and second mark sensors 5, 6 are inputted, and the detection signals from the CPUI are inputted. Drive signals are output to the ribbon feed motor 7 and paper feed motor 8 in response to commands.

As shown in FIG. 2, the RAM 3 includes current level memories 31, 32, previous level memories 33.
34, check number counters 35, 36, and sensor status counters 37, 38 are formed.

The first and second mark sensors 5 and 6 are each of a U-shaped transmission type in which a light emitting part and a light receiving part are disposed facing each other, and as shown in FIG. A sensor 5 and a second mark sensor 6 are arranged side by side along one side of the color ink ribbon 9. Note that arrow A in the figure indicates the feeding direction of the color ink ribbon 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, the color ink ribbon 9 has three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan hot-melt ink applied alternately for one line each, and has a marker area 9a on one side. It is formed. In the marker area 9a, black marks MY, MM, and MC corresponding to the colors located at the rear with respect to the ribbon feeding direction A are marked.

Here, the length of the black mark is set in two ways, and the black mark MY corresponding to yellow is set longer than the gap between the first mark sensor 5 and the second mark sensor 6. , black mark M corresponding to magenta and cyan
M and MC are set shorter than the distance between the first mark sensor 5 and the second mark sensor 6. This makes it possible to detect one cycle of yellow, magenta and cyan, which can be used to locate the beginning of the ribbon. Further, in a portion corresponding to the marker basin 9a in the ribbon end portion of the color ink ribbon 9, a black mark whose length is shorter than the black marks MM and MC corresponding to magenta and cyan is approximately the length of the black mark. A plurality of ribbon end marks ME are continuously marked at the same intervals as the ribbon end marks ME, in which black marks and other transparent parts alternate.

However, the above-mentioned 1. The second mark sensors 5 and 6 are arranged so as to detect black marks marked in the marker area 9a of the color ink ribbon 9 at different positions along the ribbon feeding direction A. As a result, the first and second mark sensors 5 and 6 each output an opaque signal (for example, level "O") when they detect a black mark, and output a transparent signal (for example, level "11") for other transparent parts. ).An example of this output signal is shown by S in FIG. Furthermore, if the level of the mark sensor output does not change for a time t2 that is sufficiently longer than the time t1, it can be determined that the color ink ribbon 9 is not attached or that the mark sensor is malfunctioning.

Next, the processing of the CPU according to the present invention will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the routine in FIG.
This routine corresponds to the output of the second mark sensor 5, and the same processing as this routine is performed in parallel for the second mark sensor 6.

When the CPU starts the flowchart after a certain period of time, ■
/0 boat 4 to read the output signal of the first mark sensor 5 and write it to the current level memory 31 corresponding to the first mark sensor 5.
The check count counter 35 corresponding to is updated by "+1". Note that the initial value of the counter 35 is "0°."

Next, in ST (step) 1, the contents of the current level memory 31 and the contents of the previous level memory 33 corresponding to the first mark sensor 5 are compared. Note that the initial value of the previous level memory 33 is "0", that is, equivalent to the detection output of the transparent portion. Here, if the contents of the current level memory 31 are different from the contents of the previous level memory 33, the contents of the current level memory 31 are transferred to the previous level memory 33, the current level memory 31 is cleared, and the first mark is The sensor state counter 37 corresponding to the sensor 5 is incremented by "+1" and the process proceeds to ST2. Note that the initial value of the sensor state counter 37 is "0". On the other hand, if the contents of the current level memory 31 and the contents of the previous level memory 33 are the same, the current level memory 31
Clear and proceed to ST2.

In ST2, if the value of the check count counter 35 is smaller than the value corresponding to time t1, this routine is exited.

In ST2, the value of the check number counter 35 is at time t1.
If the value is equal to or greater than the value corresponding to , the value of the check number counter 35 is compared with the value corresponding to time t2 (>tl) in FIG. 4 in ST3.

If the value of the check count counter 35 is smaller than the value corresponding to time t2, the value of the sensor state counter 37 is checked in ST4. Then, if the value of the sensor state counter 37 is "0", this routine is exited.

If the value of the sensor state counter 37 is other than "0" in ST4, it is determined whether the value of the counter 37 is less than 4 in ST5. If it is less than 4, the color is determined as yellow, magenta, or cyan, and the transfer of the color ink ribbon 9 is controlled, and the check count counter 35 and sensor status counter 37 are initialized (cleared) to "0°". Exit the lever routine.

On the other hand, if the value of the sensor state counter 37 is 4 or more in ST4, it is determined that the ribbon end is reached at Φ when the ribbon end mark ME of the color ink ribbon 9 is detected, and the above-mentioned check number counter 35 and sensor state counter 37 is initialized (cleared) to "0" and exits from this routine.

On the other hand, if the value of the check count counter 35 becomes equal to or greater than the value corresponding to time t2 in ST3, the output signal of the first mark sensor 5 remains at the same level for the time t2, so the color ink ribbon 9 It is determined that the mark ribbon 5 is not installed or the first mark ribbon 5 is malfunctioning, and the check count counter 35 and sensor status counter 37 are set to 40#.
Initialize (clear) and exit this routine.

In this embodiment with such a configuration, ribbon end marks ME, which are alternately continuous black marks and transparent parts marked on the ribbon end portion of the color ink ribbon 9, are placed at different positions along the ribbon feeding direction A. The ribbon end is detected by at least one of the provided first and second ribbon end sensors 5 and 6. Therefore, even if one of the mark sensors fails, the ribbon end can be reliably detected and reliability can be improved.

In addition, since the color cue is detected by detecting the black mark in the marker area 9a at two different locations, even if the feed speed of the color ink ribbon 9 changes due to a change in the diameter on the ribbon winding side, the color will not change. There is little risk that recognition accuracy will deteriorate, and cueing can be performed reliably.

Further, if the output level of at least one mark sensor 5.6 does not change for a predetermined time t2 after the power is turned on, it is determined that the ribbon is not attached or the mark sensor is malfunctioning. Therefore, the color ink ribbon 9
If the transfer of the mark sensor becomes abnormal, it can be quickly determined whether it is due to a malfunction of the mark sensor or something else.

In the above embodiment, the ribbon end mark ME was marked on the ribbon end portion of the color ink ribbon 9 in a portion corresponding to the marker area 9a. It may be provided.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the ribbon end is determined by the outputs of two mark sensors that detect marks attached to a color ink ribbon at different positions along the ribbon feeding direction. By detecting this, it is possible to provide a color printer that can prevent erroneous detection of the ribbon end, has excellent color positioning accuracy, and can improve reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is an overall block diagram, Fig. 2 is a main memory configuration diagram of RAM,
FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the first and second mark sensors, FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram of the color ink ribbon, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPU according to the present invention. 1... CPU, 5.6... First and second mark sensors, 9... Color ink ribbon, 9a... Marker area, ME... Ribbon end mark. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A marker area is formed on one side of the color ink ribbon coated with ink of multiple colors, and marks corresponding to each ink color marked in this marker area are detected in the feeding direction of the color ink ribbon using first and second mark sensors. In the color printer, the ribbon end of the color ink ribbon is detected at different positions along the color ink ribbon, and the ink color is determined based on the outputs of the first and second mark sensors to control the movement of the color ink ribbon. A ribbon end mark in which a marked part and a non-marked part continue alternately is marked in at least a marker area in the part, and the first and second mark sensors detect this ribbon end mark, thereby making the ribbon of the color ink ribbon A color printer characterized by end detection.