JPH0243080A - Color discrimination method for color ink ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the detection of a marker with a simple means regardless of the fluctuation of a color ink ribbon take-up speed by discriminating a color referring to a ratio of a take-up time for a marker to be color-judged to a reference take-up time. CONSTITUTION:At the time of taking up a color ink ribbon 10, prior to a color printing action a color marker 13YA, 13MA, or 13CA of a color Y, M, or C to be discriminated is read by an optical sensor 9. At this time, by the optical sensor 9 a take-up time t0 for winding a predetermined length l0 from the start point of the color marker of the preceding color to the end point of the adjacently succeeding color is detected. Based on the take-up time detected by the optical sensor 9, the take-up time t0 is determined as a reference. Then, a ratio of a take-up time t1, t2, or t3 for the color marker 13YA, 13MA, or 13CA to the take-up time t0 is calculated to be determined as a color discrimination value. For example, an yellow Y, a magenta M, or a cyan C is discriminated so as to be cued if the color discrimination value is 1/8+ or -epsilon, 3/8+ or -epsilon, or 4/8+ or -epsilon, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for determining the color of a color ink ribbon, and more specifically, a method for determining the color of a color ink ribbon used in a color thermal transfer printer such as a personal computer system. Concerning how to detect.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Color thermal transfer printers used in personal computer systems and the like have a function of creating originals consisting of characters, graphics, etc. using a thermal transfer print head based on printer output signals from a personal computer main body.

In the above color thermal transfer printer, as shown in FIG.
3), and while winding up the color ink ribbon in the cassette (3), the thermal transfer print head (4) prints color onto the paper (6) set on the platen (5) of the printer body (1). Print. This printing operation is
This process is performed by repeatedly determining the desired color of the color ink ribbon in the cassette (3) and positioning it to the print head (4).

Here, the color ink ribbon is a translucent tape member in which a plurality of colors are periodically arranged in succession, and as mentioned above, in order to distinguish each color during printing operation, the color ink ribbon is a non-transparent tape member with different lengths between each color. Equipped with optical color discrimination markers. The color discrimination of the color ink ribbon during the above printing operation is as follows:
This is done by reading the marker with an optical sensor provided near the print head of the carriage (2). That is, while winding the color ink ribbon, the optical sensor detects the winding time from the start point to the end point of the marker, and each color is discriminated based on the winding time, which varies depending on the length of the marker. Ta.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, as described above, in the conventional color ink ribbon color discrimination method, the winding time from the start point to the end point of the marker by the optical sensor is simply read as it is and used as determination data. Therefore, the winding speed of the color ink ribbon varies depending on the winding drive voltage of the color ink ribbon, the winding state in the cassette (3), the temperature environment in which it is used, and individual variations due to differences in common models. Due to this variation, the winding time used as judgment data varies, leading to errors in color discrimination using markers, resulting in malfunctions such as color printing in a color different from the desired color.

Therefore, if we try to keep the winding speed of the color ink ribbon constant, we will be subject to various restrictions such as having to strictly adjust and control the thickness and winding radius of the color ink ribbon, which will increase costs. There was also the problem.

Therefore, the present invention was proposed in view of the above problems, and focuses on the fact that the width of the marker is constant, and its purpose is to An object of the present invention is to provide a color discrimination method for color ink ribbons that can reliably detect markers using simple means.

[Means to solve the problem]

The technical means for achieving the above object of the present invention is to periodically arrange a plurality of transparent colors in succession, and provide a non-transparent color discrimination marker between each color. A method for determining color by detecting the marker using an optical sensor while winding up the color ink ribbon, the method comprising: winding the color ink ribbon for a predetermined length that can be detected by the optical sensor when winding the color ink ribbon; In this color ink ribbon color discrimination method, the desired color is discriminated based on the ratio of the winding time of the marker length of the color to be discriminated to the winding time as a reference.

[Effect]

According to the method of the present invention, since the color is discriminated based on the ratio of the winding time of the marker to be color-discriminated to the standard winding time, the winding speed fluctuates, and this fluctuation causes variations in the winding time. Even if this occurs, the variation is canceled out by the above-mentioned end-of-life time ratio. Therefore, reliable determination data for each color can be obtained when determining the color of the color ink ribbon, and a desired color can be reliably determined regardless of the fluctuations in the winding speed.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the color discrimination method for color ink ribbons according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1(a), (b), and (c) to FIG. 4.

First, a specific structural example of a color thermal transfer printer using the color ink ribbon described above will be explained. In addition, the same parts as in FIG. 5 are given the same reference numerals. , (5) is a platen that is rotatably installed on the printer main body (1) (see Figure 5), and is used to insert paper ( 6) Wind it up and set it in a predetermined position. (2) is a substantially rectangular flat carriage mounted on the printer body (1) so as to be able to reciprocate at a constant stroke parallel to the platen (5); (4)
A thermal transfer print head is attached to the carriage (2) and is placed opposite to the platen (5) with the paper (6) interposed therebetween. (7) and (8) are ribbon winding units provided at symmetrical positions in the center of the carriage (2); (9)
1 is an optical sensor such as a photocoupler which is fixedly installed near the print head of the carriage (2), and has a light emitting part (9a) and a light receiving part (9a) facing each other. (3) is a removable cassette that is positioned and placed on the carriage (2), and stores the color ink ribbon (10) wound around winding and unwinding reels (11) and (12). The color ink ribbon (lO) in this cassette (3) is
As shown in Figure 4, yellow (Y), magenta (M),
This is a translucent tape member in which a plurality of colors of cyan (C) are arranged in series in a periodic manner. Each color above (Y) (M) (C
) has a length (it
)CI2) (is) non-transparent, for example, black color discrimination marker (13YA) (13Ys) (1
3Y^) (13Ys) (13CA) (13
CB) (hereinafter referred to as color markers) are provided. And color markers (13Ya) between adjacent colors, that is, yellow (Y) and magenta (M), magenta (M) and cyan (C), and cyan (C) and yellow (Y). (13Y^), (13Ys) and (13CA), (13CB) and (13YA) have a constant length C1o ) (7!o ) (j!o )
It is set so that Furthermore, as mentioned above, the color markers (13Y^) (13Ya), (13Y^)
(13Ys) (13CA) (13Ca) is provided at both ends of each color (Y), (M), and (C) because the cassette (3) uses both sides, A side and B side. For example, when using side A, when winding up the color ink ribbon (10) in the direction of arrow A in Figure 4, the preceding color markers (13YA) (13Y^) (13C
A), and conversely, when winding up in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 4 when using B for bloody stool, the preceding color marker (13Ya)
(13Ys) (13Ca) is detected.

When printing in color using the color thermal transfer printer, first, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cassette (3) is
is positioned on the carriage (2), and the winding and unwinding reels (11) (12) of the cassette (3) are
) into the ribbon winding parts (7) and (8) of the carriage (2).

At this time, the print head (4) and optical sensor (9) are arranged within the windows (14) (15) of the cassette (3), and the optical sensor (9) is placed between the paper (6) and the print head (4). 9)
Color ink ribbons (10) are arranged between the light emitting and receiving parts (9a) and (9b), respectively.

In this state, while winding up the color ink ribbon (10) in the cassette (3) from the ribbon winding section (8) to (7), color printing is performed on the paper (6) by the thermal transfer print head (4). During this printing operation, the cue for each color is repeatedly executed by color discrimination of the color ink ribbon (1o).

The color discrimination of the color ink ribbon (10) during the above printing operation is performed as follows, and this is shown in Fig. 1(a) (
b) Explain based on (c). In addition, Fig. 1 (a) shows yellow (Y), Fig. 1 (b) shows magenta (M), and Fig. 1 (C) shows cyan (C). The case where is detected when using the A side of the cassette (3) is shown.

When winding up the color ink ribbon (lO), the color (Y) to be determined by the optical sensor (9) prior to color printing operation,
(M) or (C) color marker (13YA), (13
Read Y^) or (13C^). At this time, the optical sensor (9) detects the preceding color (C), (Y) or (M).
color marker (13Ca), (13YB) or (13Y
From the starting point of s), the above color markers (13Ca), (1
3Ya ) or the subsequent color (Y
), (M) or (C) color marker (13YA), (1
The winding time (to) of a predetermined length (lo) to the end point of 3Y^) or (13CA) is detected. Here, the starting point of the color marker (13CB), (13YB) or (13Ys) provided between each color (Y), (M) or (C) and the color marker (13YA) (13Y^) or (
Since the length (io) from the end point of 13cA) is set constant for each color, the above winding time (t o
) is the standard. And each color (Y), (M) or (C
) color marker (13YA), (13YA) or (13
The length (j!t) from the start point to the end point of cA), (
12) Or (13) is used as the marker length to detect the winding time, that is, the winding time (tl), (t2), or (t3) at the low level (L) of the optical sensor (9).

Based on the winding time (t o) and (tl), (t2) or (t3) detected by the optical sensor (9) as described above, the winding time (t o) is used as a reference, and this Color marker (13YA) for winding time (to),
Winding time (t,) of (13YA) or (13CA)
, (t2) or (L3) is calculated and used as a color discrimination value. For example, if this color discrimination value is 1/8 ± 6, it is yellow (Y), and if this color discrimination value is 3/8 ± 6, it is magenta (M
), 4/8±ε, each color of cyan (C) is discriminated and cueing becomes possible.

However, ε is the error range. The above color discrimination values are calculated using color markers (13Ya) and (13Ca), (13YA) and (13YA), which have the dimensional relationships shown in FIGS.
YB), (13CA), and (13MB) (this is a specific example, and the setting of this color discrimination value is arbitrary).

The above color discrimination value is the color marker (13CB), (13YB) or (13MB) of the preceding color (C), (Y) or (M) when the color ink ribbon (10) is wound up.
For the winding time (to) from the start point to the end point of the adjacent color marker (13Y^), (13YA) or (13CA) of the following color (Y), (M) or (C), Winding time when the optical sensor (9) is at low level (
tl), (t2), or (t3), and is kept constant regardless of fluctuations in the winding speed of the color ink ribbon (10).

In addition, although the above explanation is about when the A side of the cassette (3) is used, when the B side is used, Figs. 1 (a) (b) (
The color ink ribbon (10) is run with the left and right sides reversed in the direction of the arrow in c), and in Fig. 1(a), cyan (C) is printed.
, yellow (Y) in Figure 1(b), and yellow (Y) in Figure 1(C).
In this case, magenta commercials) will be detected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the method of the present invention, since color discrimination is performed using the ratio of the winding time of the marker length of the color to be discriminated to the reference winding time as a color discrimination value, the winding speed of the color ink ribbon does not fluctuate. However, regardless of this, stable color discrimination values can be obtained, color discrimination of each color can be ensured, and malfunctions can be prevented from occurring. In this way, it is possible to provide a color discrimination method for color ink ribbons that is highly reliable and of great practical value without strictly adjusting and managing the color ink ribbons.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1(a)(b)(c) to FIG. 4 are for explaining an embodiment of the color discrimination method for color ink ribbons according to the present invention. c) is a diagram showing a part of the color ink ribbon and the optical sensor output at that time when each color is discriminated, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the main parts of the color thermal transfer printer before cassette setting, and Figure 3 is the color thermal transfer printer. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the main parts of the printer after setting the cassette, and FIG. 4 is a view showing the color ink ribbon of the cassette. FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing a color thermal transfer printer. (9) - Optical sensor, (10) Color ink ribbon, (13YA) (13Ya) (13YA
) (13MB) (13CA) (13CB
)--color discrimination marker, (Y)(M)(C)...color, (j!o)-predetermined length, (1K), (12), (13L-marker length, (to )(
tl), (t2), (t3) --- Winding time. Figure 1(a) (lot+te0 Figure 3)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) While winding up a color ink ribbon in which a plurality of translucent colors are periodically arranged in succession and a non-transparent color discrimination marker is provided between each color, an optical sensor detects the above. A method of detecting a marker and distinguishing a color, wherein when the color ink ribbon is wound, a predetermined length of winding time that can be detected by the optical sensor is used as a standard, and the color ink ribbon should be distinguished for this winding time. A color discrimination method for a color ink ribbon, characterized in that the desired color is discriminated based on the ratio of the color marker length to the winding time.