JPH03262680A - Thermal transfer color serial printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a difference in printing processing time without reducing the number of effective printing characters of an ink ribbon before and after a ribbon cassette is reversed by a method wherein the ink ribbon in use is coated with inks of M, Y, C and B in this order, and printing data for at least one line is stored. CONSTITUTION:Before a ribbon cassette is reversed, the colors M, Y, C and B are used as a group, and printing information signals 20 issued from a host device are transmitted to a printing control circuit 10 in a printer in the order of Y, M, C and B. The printing control circuit 10 stores a first printing information signal Y 20 in a printing data storage circuit 11 and precedes a next printing information signal M 20 for printing, thereafter outputting the stored printing information signal Y 20 for printing. After that, C and B are printed in this order. After the ribbon cassette is reversed, the colors of Y, M, B and C are used as a group. Y and M are printed. The control circuit 10 stores a printing information signal C 20 transmitted next in the printing data storage circuit 11, precedes a next printing information signal B 20 for printing, thereafter outputting the stored printing information signal C 20 for printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer color serial printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer), and particularly to a printer using a reversible ribbon cassette.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of printer is equipped with a ribbon cassette that stores a color ink ribbon (hereinafter referred to as ink ribbon) that is wider than usual and is reversible, so that the upper or lower row of ink ribbon is used first. After printing, the ribbon cassette was turned over and an unused position on the ink ribbon was printed. The color order of the ink ribbons used is yellow and magenta, as shown in Figure 4.

Cyan and black (hereinafter referred to as Y-4M-4C→B) are repeatedly applied in this order.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional printer described above, the print information signals sent from the host device are transferred to the printer in the order of Y-4M-4C->B, so the ribbon is printed in the color order of Y-M->C-B as shown in Fig. 4. If a cassette is used and the printer does not have a memory circuit for print data, if Y-+M-4C→B is printed after reversing the ribbon cassette, the ink ribbon Y,
Four sets of M, C, and B are required for one line of color printing, and the disadvantage is that the number of effective prints per unit length of the ink ribbon is reduced to one-fourth. Similarly, if a ribbon cassette with the color order of Y→M4C-B is used and the printer has a memory circuit for print data, after reversing the ribbon cassette, the ink ribbons Y, M, C, and B
As one set, it is possible to first memorize Y, print M-Y, then memorize C, and print 84C, but it takes a long time to process the print data before and after reversing the ribbon cassette. The disadvantage is that there are differences.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the present invention, during printing, a carriage carrying a print head and a ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon operates while moving horizontally in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen, and the print head is pressed against the platen to perform color printing. In the printer, the width of the ink ribbon is at least twice the printing width of the print head, and M-+Y-4C.
→The ink ribbon is coated with each color ink in the order of B and has a color identification mark at the seam of each color ink, the ribbon cassette that stores the ink ribbon and can be used by reversing it, and the print head. a detection means provided near the ink ribbon for detecting the identification mark during conveyance of the ink ribbon; and a storage means for storing at least one line of the print information signal of the print information signal transferred from the host device. and the print information signal stored in the storage means and the identification signal sent from the detection means,
The apparatus is characterized by comprising a print control means for issuing a print command to the print head in an arbitrary order of colors.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the printer of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an ink ribbon 1 is housed in a ribbon cassette 2 and mounted on a carriage (not shown). Further, a detection sensor 6 for identifying the color of the ink ribbon 1 is provided near the print head 4. and,
During printing, the print head 4 is pressed against the platen 5, the carriage operates while moving laterally in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen 5, and the ink ribbon 1 is wound up by the winding shaft 3 of the ribbon cassette 2. Furthermore, this ink ribbon 1 has a width that is more than twice the width of the heating element of the print head 4,
Once the entire upper half or lower half of the ink ribbon 1 has been printed, the ribbon cassette 2 is turned over and placed on the carriage again, and the remaining half is printed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a print control section of the printer of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a print information signal 20 sent from a host device (not shown) is transferred to a print control circuit 10, and also receives an identification signal of an ink ribbon l from a detection sensor 6 to obtain information necessary for printing. Output to print head 4. Reference numeral 11 denotes a print data storage circuit, and the print data storage circuit 11 has a storage capacity of at least one line of print information signal 20.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the order in which colors are applied to the ink ribbon of the printer of the present invention. In FIG. 3, for example, the order of applying the colors on the ink ribbon is M-+Y→C-B, and the length of the ink ribbon for each color is the maximum of one printing column.

Further, an identification mark 1a made of black ink is provided between each color to indicate a seam between the colors, and each color is identified by a detection sensor 6.

Here, before the ribbon cassette is reversed, M, Y, C, and B are set as one set, and the print information signal 20 sent from the host device is sent to the print control circuit of the printer in the order of Y→MC→B.
0, the print control circuit 10 stores the first Y print information signal 20 in the print data storage circuit 11, prints the next M print information signal 20 in advance, and then prints the next M print information signal 20. The stored Y print information signal 20 is output and printed. After that, printing is performed in the order of C-B, and thereafter, printing is repeated in sequence. Next, after reversing the ribbon cassette, Y, M, B, and C are set as one set, and Y→M is printed.
Next, the transferred C print information signal 20 is stored in the print data storage circuit 11, and the next B print information signal 20 is printed in advance, and then the stored C print information signal 20 is printed in advance. Printing is performed by outputting a printing information signal 20. After that, printing is repeated in sequence.

Although the printing order of Y and M is reversed before and after the ribbon cassette is reversed, there is no change in the color tone of the print even if the order of overlapping colors of Y and M is reversed. However, it has been confirmed that when combined with other colors, the color tone changes significantly.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the printer of the present invention, M, Y
, C, and B, and is equipped with a storage means for storing at least one line of print data, the unit length of the ink ribbon can be changed before and after reversing the ribbon cassette. There is an effect that the number of effective prints per print does not decrease at the same time, and there is no difference in print processing time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the printer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the print control section of the printer of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a color application of the ink ribbon of the printer of the present invention. A diagram showing the order. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the order of applying colors on a conventional ink ribbon. 1... Ink ribbon, 1a... Identification mark, 2...
- Ribbon cassette, 3... Winding shaft, 4... Print head, 5... Platen. 6...Detection sensor 10...Print control circuit, 11...Print data storage circuit, 20...Print information signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] During printing, a carriage carrying a print head and a ribbon cassette containing color ink ribbon moves horizontally in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen, and the print head is pressed against the platen to perform color printing. - In a serial printer, the width of the color ink ribbon is at least two times the printing width of the print head.
accommodating the color ink ribbon, which is double-sized, and has color ink applied in the order of magenta, yellow, cyan, and black, and has a color identification mark at the seam of each color ink, and the color ink ribbon; the ribbon cassette, which can be used in reverse; a detection means that is provided near the print head and detects the identification mark when the color ink ribbon is conveyed; and a print information signal transferred from a host device. a storage means for storing the print information signal for at least one line of the above, and a print information signal stored in the storage means and an identification signal sent from the detection means to print the print head in an arbitrary color order. A thermal transfer color serial printer characterized by comprising a print control means for issuing a print command.