JPH1178190A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost by identifying the type of a cartridge loaded to a cassette loading section using a cartridge detecting member, a sheet detecting sensor and a ribbon detecting sensor thereby detecting a plurality of types of cartridge using a single cartridge detecting member. SOLUTION: A recording head 20 for recording an image onto a large number of stripe recording members 16 contained in a cartridge K provided with an ink ribbon 15 is arranged at the cassette loading section of a recorder along with a platen roller 21. A sheet detecting roller S1 for detecting the recording member 16 is disposed on the right side of a carry roller 22 contiguously thereto and a ribbon sensor S2 for determining presence of the ink ribbon 15 and distinguishing the color thereof are disposed at a position where the step part of a case 11 is located when the cassette K is loaded under a small roller 23 cooperating with the carry roller 22. Furthermore, a cassette detecting member S3 is disposed in the cassette loading section at a position where the supply reel containing section 11j of the case 11 is located.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to the identification of different types of printing cartridges used in a recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image receiving tape formed of a long label sheet or the like wound up in a roll shape and an ink ribbon are mounted on the image receiving tape by using a cartridge in the same case. 2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus for producing a label that performs recording by transferring ink is widely known. This conventional cartridge and recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in the sectional view of the main part of FIG. 7, a conventional cartridge R has a side wall 1a formed around a case 1 having a substantially rectangular outer shape, and the inside of the case 1 is shielded by the side wall 1a. A head insertion portion 1b cut out in a substantially U-shape is formed on the upper right side of the case 1 in the drawing, and a tape transport port 1c is formed above a left side wall 1a forming the head insertion portion 1b and a right side wall. A tape discharge port 1d is formed at the upper part of 1a so as to open.

A right side wall 1a of the case 1 in the drawing has a ribbon positioning portion 1e having two openings at upper and lower sides.
Are formed. A substantially semicircular gear meshing window 1g is formed in the bottom plate 1f in the upper part of the case 1 shown in the figure. A small round hole 1h is formed through the bottom plate 1f on the lower right side in the figure inside the case 1. Depending on the type of the cartridge R, there are two round holes 1h, or there are no round holes 1h. On the left side of the inside of the case 1 is provided a tape supply spool 3 around which a long image-receiving tape 2 made of paper or the like is wound. On the lower surface of the tape supply spool 3, a gear plate 3a having a plurality of gears on the outer periphery is attached integrally with the tape supply spool 3. The image receiving tape 2 is pulled out from the tape outlet 1c to the head insertion section 1b, and the image receiving tape 2 on which the image is recorded by the head insertion section 1b is discharged from the tape discharge port 1d to the outside of the cartridge R. It has become.

A ribbon supply spool 5 around which an ink ribbon 4 coated with a desired color of ink is wound, and an ink supplied from the ribbon supply spool 5 are wound inside the case 1 below the head insertion portion 1b. A ribbon take-up spool 6 for winding the ribbon 4 is provided. Then, the ink ribbon 4 is pulled out from the tape outlet 1c together with the image receiving tape 2 into the head insertion portion 1d, and the ink of the ink ribbon 4 is transferred to the image receiving tape 2 by the thermal head 7 described later to record an image. It is supposed to. Then, the used ink ribbon 4 after recording is used.
Is drawn into the inside of the case 1 from the tape outlet 1d, is once drawn out to the outside by the ribbon positioning unit 1e, is drawn back into the case 1, and is taken up by the ribbon take-up spool 6. When the ink ribbon 4 is a color, the ribbon alignment unit 1e adjusts a desired color to be printed first to the ribbon alignment unit 1e, so that a desired color is set at a printing start position of the image receiving tape 2. Can be aligned. Further, in the case of using thermal paper for the image receiving tape 2, the ink ribbon 4 is not housed inside, the ribbon supply spool 5 and the ribbon take-up spool 6 are not provided, and the same type of appearance as the cartridge R is formed. A cartridge (not shown) is used. As the type of the cartridge R, a plurality of types are prepared in which the presence or absence of the ink ribbon 4 or the width of the image receiving tape 2 is different.

A plurality of types of cartridges R as described above
A recording device (not shown) for recording an image on the image receiving tape 2 by using the following will be described with reference to FIG. First, a cassette mounting section (not shown) for mounting the cartridge R is provided in the recording apparatus.
Are formed. The cassette mounting section includes a heating section 7.
a, a rotatable thermal head 7, a platen roller 8 having a rotating shaft 8a on the side of the thermal head 7 facing the heat generating portion 7a, and the gear meshing window 1g when the cartridge R is mounted. The small gear 9 having a plurality of gears formed on the outer periphery is disposed at the corresponding portions. Further, the cartridge R is provided in the cassette mounting portion.
Is mounted, a plurality of push switches P are arranged, for example, in a portion of the bottom plate 1f of the case 1 where the round hole 1h is located and in the vicinity of the round hole 1h.

The number of the push switches P to be turned on differs among the plurality of push switches P depending on the number of the round holes 1h of the case 1, so that the type of the cartridge R can be identified. For example, if the round hole 1h is of the type of one cartridge R, this cartridge R
Is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, the two push switches P are pressed by the bottom plate 1f of the case 1 to be turned on, and the remaining one push switch P is inserted into the round hole 1h so as not to be turned on. I have. When the round hole 1h is of a type of two cartridges R, the cartridge R
Is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, one push switch P is pressed by the bottom plate 1f of the case 1 to be turned on, and the other two push switches P are not turned on. In the case of the type of the cartridge R in which the round hole 1h is not clear, all three push switches P are connected to the bottom plate 1f.
To be turned on. in this way,
In the conventional recording apparatus, the type of the cartridge R can be identified by the number of times the push switch P is turned ON.

When the cartridge R is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, the thermal head 7 is positioned at the head insertion portion 1b of the cartridge R, and the small gear 9 is positioned at the gear meshing window 1g of the case 1. The small gear 9 meshes with the gear of the gear plate 3 a of the tape supply spool 3. In the conventional recording apparatus, a sheet detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the image receiving tape 2 sent between the thermal head 7 and the platen roller 8 is provided downstream of the platen roller 8. In addition, a ribbon sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of the ink ribbon 4 and the like is provided at a position of the cassette mounting portion facing the ribbon aligning portion 1e of the cartridge R.

The operation of the conventional recording apparatus having the above-described configuration is as follows. The cartridge R is mounted on a cassette mounting section (not shown), and the image receiving tape 2 and the ink ribbon 4 are overlapped as shown in FIG. In this state, the image receiving tape 2 wound around the tape supply spool 3 by the rotation of the small gear 9 is transported between the thermal head 7 and the platen roller 8. Then, the sheet detecting sensor detects the sent image receiving tape 2. Further, the ribbon sensor is used to align a desired color to be printed first with the ribbon position by the ribbon sensor, rotate the thermal head 7 to the platen roller 8 side, and connect the image receiving tape 2 and the ink ribbon 4 to the platen roller. 8, the heat receiving portion 7a of the thermal head 7 is controlled to generate heat, and the image receiving tape 2 and the ink ribbon 4 are sent to the tape discharge port 1d while rotating the platen roller 8, so that the ink of the ink ribbon 7 is transferred to the image receiving tape. 2
And a desired image is recorded on the image receiving tape 2. Such a recording device is particularly suitable for printing an elongated label or the like, and is widely used.

[0009]

However, in the conventional recording apparatus as described above, when the cartridge R is mounted on the cassette mounting section, the type of the cartridge R is identified by a plurality of push switches P. Was. Therefore, a plurality of push switches P are required, and the cost of the conventional recording apparatus is increased.

[00010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus comprising: a cartridge accommodating a recording member therein; a cassette mounting portion capable of mounting the cartridge; A cartridge detecting member for identifying the cartridge mounted on the cassette mounting portion; a recording head for performing recording on the recording member; a paper detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording member; A ribbon sensor for identifying a color is provided, and the cartridge detection member, the paper detection sensor, and the ribbon detection sensor identify the type of the cartridge mounted on the cassette mounting portion.

Further, as a second means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the cartridge detecting member is configured to detect the presence or absence of an operating portion on the cartridge to identify the type of the cartridge.

As a third means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the cartridge storing the ink ribbon, the cartridge which records on the recording member by the ink ribbon and does not store the ink ribbon is used. The recording member is configured to perform recording using thermal paper.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a cartridge K used in the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 1 which is a cross-sectional view of a main part, a cartridge 10 used in the recording apparatus of the present invention has a case 10 made of a resin material or the like formed by molding or the like. And the second case 12 are integrally formed, the outer shape is substantially rectangular, and the upper right side in the figure is formed in a step shape. A side wall 11a for shielding the inside is formed on the outer periphery of the first case 11, and a bottom plate 11b, which is a member for operating a cartridge detecting member S3 described later, is formed on the bottom. The side wall 11a is formed to project from the bottom plate 11b at a predetermined height, and the inside of the first case 11 is hollow. Also,
A substantially U-shaped head insertion portion 11c is formed at the upper right end in the drawing of the first case 11, and a ribbon transfer port 11d is formed in an open state at the upper left side of the side wall 11a forming the head insertion portion 11c in the drawing. ing.

A ribbon outlet 11e formed by the end face of the side wall 11a is formed on the upper right side of the side wall 11a forming the head insertion portion 11c. A side wall 11a on the right side of the first case 11 shown in the figure is formed with a substantially L-shaped step-like step 11f, and a ribbon winding opening 11g is open at a corner, which is the root of the step 11f. Is formed. A take-up reel housing 11h is formed on the left side of the cavity inside the first case 11, and a supply reel housing 11j is formed on the right side of the drawing. Then, the take-up reel storage unit 1
The area of 1h is wider than the area of the supply reel storage section 11j. Further, inside the first case 11 below the ribbon winding opening 11g, a ribbon guide 11k is rotatably fixed to a bottom plate 11b of the first case 11 and an upper lid (not shown).

A second case 12 is formed integrally with the first case 11 on the upper side of the drawing adjacent to the first case. Further, on the outer periphery of the second case 12, a side wall 12a for shielding the inside is provided from the bottom plate 12b.
The first side wall 11a is formed at the same height as the side wall 11a, and the inside is hollow. An upper cover (not shown) is placed over the first case 11 and the second case 12 so as to shield the inside of the cavity.
a, 12a. Also, the second case 1
2 is formed so that a lower side wall 12a on the lower right side of the drawing extends outwardly, and a paper holding member in which the recording member 16 comes into contact with an image receiving paper discharge port 12c capable of discharging a recording member 16 to be described later is formed on the lower right side of the second case 12 in FIG. A portion 12e is formed.
Also, the take-up reel storage unit 1 inside the first case 11
A take-up reel 13 is fixed to 1h, and a supply reel 14 is rotatably fixed to the inside of the first case 11 in the supply reel storage portion 11j. A bobbin hole 13a is formed through the center of rotation of the take-up reel 13.

An ink ribbon 15 having both ends wound around the take-up reel 13 and the supply reel 14, respectively, is accommodated in the cavity of the first case 11. The ink ribbon 15 is formed of a color ribbon or the like on which a plurality of types of color inks are repeatedly applied in order. Further, the transport path of the ink ribbon 15 is as follows.
The recording head 20 on the recording apparatus side of the present invention, which will be described later, is drawn out from the ribbon conveyance port 11d to the head insertion portion 11c.
When the desired print recording is performed, the ink ribbon 15 after recording is transferred to the ribbon discharge unit 11e of the head insertion unit 11c.
Guide 11f, a substantially L-shaped step portion 11f on the right outer side in the figure.
It is led to. Then, the ink ribbon 15 is rewound into the supply reel accommodating portion 11j from the ribbon take-up opening 11g formed in the corner portion of the step portion 11f, and guided by the rotatable ribbon guide 11k.
1 is guided along the inner surface of the illustrated lower side wall 11a,
It is wound around the take-up reel 13 by being drawn leftward in the figure.

Inside the cavity of the second case 12, a recording member 16 made of, for example, a horizontally long and strip-shaped paper having a size of 25 mm × 45 mm is set upright in a direction orthogonal to the bottom plate 12b. A plurality of flat cases are accommodated in a direction parallel to the side wall 12a that separates the first case 11 and the second case 12. Behind the plurality of recording members 16, a gap 12 d is provided between the second case 12 and the upper side wall 12 a in the drawing, and a spring member 17 such as a leaf spring is disposed in the gap 12 d. The recording medium 16 is always pushed from the rear of the recording member 16 toward the front of the first case 11 with a predetermined pressure. Further, a paper feed roller 24 described later for supplying the recording member 16 to the outside is inserted between the bottom plate 11b on the left side of the head insertion portion 11c of the first case 11 and the bottom plate 12b of the second case 12. The paper feed roller insertion portion 18 is formed in an open state.

If the recording member 16 has a standard size of, for example, approximately 25 mm × 45 mm as described above, it is longer than the recording member 16 of the standard size.
There is a recording member 16 ′ having a panoramic size of approximately 25 mm × 70 mm. This panoramic size recording member 16 '
As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge K ′ using the second case 12 ′ is enlarged only in accordance with the long recording member 16 ′, and the first case 11 side has the standard size recording member 1.
6 is the same size as the cartridge K that houses the cartridge 6. In the cartridge K ', a detection hole 11m is formed to penetrate a lower right corner of the bottom plate 12b of the first case 11 in the drawing. The operation shaft of the cartridge detecting member S3 described later is inserted into the detecting hole 11m, and the cartridge detecting member S3 is not turned on. You can identify it. That is, the detection hole 11m penetratingly formed in the bottom plate 11b has a configuration in which there is no operation unit for operating the cartridge detection member S3 described later. A cartridge K for accommodating such a standard size recording member 16,
The cartridge K 'that stores the panoramic size recording member 16' can be mounted on the recording apparatus of the present invention described later, and when the cartridge K 'is mounted, panoramic printing is performed on the panoramic size recording member 16'. You can do it.

The ink ribbon 1 is provided in the cartridge K.
There is also a type in which recording is performed using thermal paper for the recording member 16 without storing the recording paper 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge K in the case of using the thermal paper for the recording member 16 does not house the take-up reel 13 and the supply reel 14 in the first case 11 and takes up the roll on the bottom plate 11b. The holding hole 11n for holding the reel 13 and the supply reel 14 is visible. Also, thermal paper can be used for the panoramic size recording member 16 '. In this case, the cartridge K' is not shown in the first case 11 like the standard size cartridge K. Is not stored.

The recording apparatus of the present invention for recording an image on the recording member 16/16 'using the cartridge K / cartridge K' as described above has a key input section (see FIG. 1) for inputting a desired image. (Not shown), and a cassette mounting portion to which the cartridge K / K ′ of the present invention can be mounted. The cassette mounting section includes a recording head 20 including a thermal head having a heating section 20 a for recording a desired image on the recording member 16, and an upper side in the drawing opposite to the heating section 20 a of the recording head 20. A rotatable and cylindrical platen roller 21 is disposed at a position having a predetermined gap from the recording head 20. The recording head 20 has a recording width at least equivalent to the recording area in the longitudinal direction of the recording member 16 and is movable toward the platen roller 21. When the cartridge K is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, as shown in FIG. 3, the head insertion portion 11c of the first case 11 is located at the position where the recording head 20 is located.

A rotatable transport roller 22 is disposed on the right side of the platen roller 21 in the figure.
A small roller 2 is provided below the outer periphery of the transport roller 22 in the figure.
The small roller 23 can rotate following the rotation of the transport roller 22. Then, the recording member 1 sent to the transport roller 22
Numeral 6 is elastically held between the conveying roller 22 and the small roller 23, and conveys the recording member 16 to the downstream side when the conveying roller 22 rotates counterclockwise, and rotates the conveying roller 22 clockwise. Then, the recording member 16 can be transported to the upstream side.

A paper feed roller 24 for supplying the recording member 16 housed in the cartridge K to the recording head 20 on the downstream side protrudes from the cassette mounting surface in the cassette mounting portion, and drives a motor or the like. It is arranged rotatably by a source (not shown). The feed roller 24 has a cut surface 24 in which a part of a cylindrical outer shape is cut flat.
The recording member 1 is formed in a D-shape having a
A member made of rubber or the like having a high frictional resistance is attached to 6. When the cartridge K is mounted on the cassette mounting portion of the recording apparatus of the present invention, the paper feed roller 24 is moved to the paper feed roller insertion portion 18 of the cartridge K as shown in FIG.
, So that the cut surface 24a of the paper feed roller 24 and the recording member 16 are positioned in an opposed state. In addition, a predetermined gap 12f is formed between the cut surface 24a and the recording member 16, and the paper supply roller 24 is in a standby state where the conveyance of the recording member 16 can be started at any time.

A rotatable take-up bobbin 25 that stands upright from the cassette mounting surface is disposed on the lower left side of the paper feed roller 24 in the figure, and the take-up bobbin 25 is provided with a bobbin hole 13a of the take-up reel 13. It is designed to be inserted and engaged. The winding of the ink ribbon 15 can be performed by rotating the winding bobbin 25 in the direction of arrow B to wind the ink ribbon 15 wound on the supply reel 14.

Further, on the right side of the drawing of the transport roller 22,
A paper detection sensor S1 for detecting the sent recording member 16 is provided. Further, below the small roller 23 in the figure, at the portion where the step portion 11f of the first case 11 is located when the cassette K is mounted on the cassette mounting portion,
The presence or absence of the ink ribbon 15 and the ink ribbon 15
Is a color, a ribbon sensor S2 for identifying the color of the ink ribbon 15 is provided. These sensors S1 and S2 are composed of reflection type photo sensors.

Further, when the cartridge K is mounted on the cassette mounting section, the supply reel storage section 1 of the first case 11
A cartridge detecting member S3 is disposed in the cassette mounting portion at a position where the lower right corner of 1j is located in the drawing. The cartridge detecting member S3 is composed of a push switch or the like having an operating shaft. The operating shaft that can move up and down projects a predetermined amount from the cassette mounting portion. When K is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, the bottom plate 11b, which is an operating portion, presses the operation shaft of the cartridge detecting member S3 to turn on the cartridge detecting member S3.

The bottom plate 11b of the cartridge K 'for storing the panoramic size recording member 16' is provided with a detection hole 11m of a predetermined size.
m, the operation shaft of the cartridge detection member S3 is inserted,
The cartridge detecting member S3 is not turned on. That is, the cartridge detection member S3 can detect the presence or absence of an operating portion on the cartridge K / K 'and can identify the type of the cartridge K / K'.

Next, a description will be given of a recording operation in a case where a cartridge K of a type accommodating, for example, a standard size recording member 16 is mounted on the recording apparatus of the present invention. First, as shown in FIG. 3, when the cartridge K is mounted on the recording apparatus (not shown) of the present invention, the bottom plate 11b, which is an operating portion, presses the operation shaft of the cartridge detecting member S3, and the cartridge detecting member S3 is moved. Turn ON. In this state, when a printing start command is issued from a control unit (not shown) of the printing apparatus, the paper feed roller 24 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by a driving source (not shown) such as a motor, and D shown in FIG. The left end of the cut surface 24a contacts the foremost recording member 16 and the recording member 16
Press.

Then, the recording member 16 moves in the direction in which the rear gap 12d is narrowed by the action of the spring member 17, and the paper feed roller 24 rotates in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG. The foremost recording member 16 that is in pressure contact with the friction member on the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the paper roller 24 is separated from the other recording members 16, and is separated from the recording head 20 on the downstream side from the image receiving paper discharge port 2 c. It is conveyed between the platen roller 21. Then, the recording member 16 is transported further downstream by the rotation of the paper feed roller 24, and the leading end of the recording member 16 is elastically held between the transport roller 22 and the small roller 23.
In this state, the transport roller 22 is rotated counterclockwise to
When the leading end of the recording member 16 is transported to the paper detection sensor S1 on the downstream side, the paper detection sensor S1 detects the recording member 16 and turns ON.

Next, when the paper feed roller 24 is rotated once in the direction of arrow A, the cylindrical outer peripheral portion of the paper feed roller 24 is separated from the foremost recording member 16, and the cut surface 24 a is moved to the second case 12. The recording member 16 faces the stored recording member 16. Then, there is no pressure contact and friction between the paper feed roller 24 and the recording member 16. When the sheet detection sensor S1 detects the sent recording member 16 and turns ON, the rear end of the recording member 16 is moved to the sheet pressing portion 12e of the second case 12.
The recording roller 16 is further conveyed to the downstream side by further rotating the conveying roller 22 until the recording member 16 is released. Then, the recording member 16
When the trailing end of the sheet is disengaged from the sheet pressing section 12e, the conveying roller 22 is turned clockwise, and the recording member 16 is returned to the downstream side of the ribbon conveying port 11d until the sheet detecting sensor S1 is turned off. Then, the sheet detection sensor S1
When FF is performed, the rotation of the transport roller 22 stops.

Next, the leading end of the recording member 16 is
The take-up bobbin 25 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow B in a state where the take-up bobbin 25 is elastically held between the roller 2 and the small roller 23. When the ribbon sensor S2 detects the presence or absence of the ink ribbon 15 and the detection mark (not shown) of the ink of a desired color,
The ribbon sensor S2 is turned on, the rotation of the take-up reel 13 is stopped, and the ribbon take-up operation is temporarily stopped.

Next, when the ribbon sensor S2 is turned on, the recording head 20 is moved toward the platen roller 21, and the recording member 16 and the ink ribbon 15 are pressed and held between the recording head 20 and the platen roller 21. Then, the conveying roller 22 is rotated counterclockwise to convey the recording member 16 to the paper detection sensor S1 on the downstream side. At this time, the ink ribbon 15 fed together with the recording member is wound on the winding reel 13 by rotating the winding bobbin 25 in the direction of arrow B. Then, the sheet detection sensor S1 detects that the recording member 16
The point at which the leading end of the mark is detected and turned on is set as a printing start position, and printing from this point on the recording member 16 is started.

Next, when the recording on the recording member 16 is color, when the recording of the first color, for example, yellow, is completed, the recording head 20 is moved to separate the heat generating portion 20 a from the platen roller 21. . And the transport roller 2
Then, the recording member 16 is returned to the lower gap portion 12f on the upstream side of the second case 12 again until the sheet detection sensor S1 is turned off. Then, when the paper detection sensor S1 is turned off, the rewind bobbin 25 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, and ink is fed until the ribbon sensor S2 detects a detection mark (not shown) of the second color, for example, magenta or the like. The ribbon 15 is wound up, and the recording member 16 is moved in the same operation as the recording operation of the first color.
Is recorded with the second color of magenta superimposed on the first color recorded in. After that, the same recording operation is performed so that a third color, such as cyan, is superimposed and recorded, and a color image of a desired color is printed and recorded on the recording member 16. When the recording of the color image of the desired color is completed, the transport rollers 22
Is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and the recording member 1 after printing is rotated.
6 is ejected to the outside of the printing apparatus, and the printing operation of the printing apparatus of the present invention ends. A desired color image can be printed on the next second recording member 16 by repeating the same operation as that described above.

The cartridge K / K ′ as described above is
The type is, for example, the recording member 16 stored inside.
/ 16 '. There are two types, a cartridge K for storing a recording member 16 of a standard size and a cartridge K 'for storing a recording member 16' of a panoramic size. The two types of cartridges K / K ′ are further divided into those that house the ink ribbon 15 and those that do not. The cartridge K / K ′ that houses the ink ribbon 15 includes the ink ribbon 15. Is printed on the recording member 16/16 'using the ink cartridge 15, and in the cartridge K / K' which does not store the ink ribbon 15, print recording is performed on the recording member 16/16 'using thermal paper. That is, there are a total of four types of cartridges in the embodiment of the present invention, for example. The four types of cartridges K / K 'are provided for controlling the recording head 20 (heat generation) for each type of recording member 16/16' in order to improve the printing quality of the recording member 16/16 'housed therein. Temperature, time, etc.). Therefore, the recording apparatus needs to identify the type of the cartridge K / K ′ and control the recording head 20 for each type. For this purpose, the recording apparatus of the present invention discriminates the four types of cartridges K / K 'by using the sheet detection sensor S1.
And the ribbon sensor S2 and the cartridge detecting member S3.

The method of identifying the four types of cartridges K / K 'will be described with reference to the cartridge type identification table shown in FIG. First, the identification of the cartridge K containing the standard size recording member 16 and the ink ribbon 15 is as follows.
When the cartridge K is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, the sheet detection sensor S1, the ribbon sensor S2, and the cartridge detection member S3 are all turned on. When the sensors S1 and S2 and the detection member S3 are turned on, the control unit on the recording apparatus side can identify that the recording member is a cartridge K of a standard size and of a type containing the ink ribbon 15. ing

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge K which does not store the ink ribbon 15 as shown in FIG. 5 can be identified by mounting the cartridge K in the cassette mounting section by using a standard size thermal paper for the recording member 16. And the cartridge detection member S3 is turned on, and the ribbon sensor S2
Does not turn on. When the paper detection sensor S1 and the cartridge detection member S3 are turned on in this manner, it is possible to identify a cartridge K of a type that does not store the ink ribbon 15 by using a standard size thermal paper for the recording member 16. I have.

The identification of the cartridge K 'containing the panoramic-size recording member 16' and the ink ribbon 15 as shown in FIG. 2 is performed by mounting the cartridge K 'on the cassette mounting section. And the ribbon wire S2 are turned ON, and the cartridge detection member S3 is not turned ON because the operation shaft thereof is inserted into the detection hole 11m. When these two sensors S1 and S2 are turned on, the ink ribbon 15
And a cartridge K 'of a type containing a panoramic size recording member 16'.

Further, the recording member 1 of the panoramic size
The cartridge K '(not shown) that does not use the ink ribbon 15 can be identified by using the cartridge 6' when the cartridge K 'is mounted on the cassette mounting section. The detection member S3 is not turned on. By turning ON only the paper detection sensor S1, it is possible to identify a cartridge K 'of a type that does not store the ink ribbon 15 by using thermal paper for the panoramic size recording member 16'.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the recording member 1
Although the recording member 16/16 'has been described as a paper made of an image receiving paper or the like or a thermal paper, the recording member 16/16' may be made of a resin film such as a plastic, or may be affixed to a mount with an adhesive. The ink ribbon 15
Is not limited to color printing, and is an ink ribbon 15 coated with only one color, for example, only black ink.
But it can be recorded.

[0039]

The recording apparatus of the present invention has been used since the type of the cartridge mounted on the cassette mounting section can be identified by the cartridge detecting member, the paper detecting sensor and the ribbon detecting sensor. The type of cartridge can be detected by combining a paper detection sensor and a ribbon sensor with a cartridge detection member. Therefore, a single push switch or the like serving as a cartridge detection member can detect a plurality of types of cartridges, and a low-cost recording apparatus can be provided.

The cartridge detecting member detects the presence or absence of an operating portion on the cartridge and identifies the type of the cartridge, so that the operating portion can be used also as a bottom plate of the cartridge. In addition, since there is no operation unit, only a detection hole needs to be formed in the bottom plate, so that a low-cost recording apparatus can be provided.

In the cartridge storing the ink ribbon, recording is performed on the recording member by the ink ribbon, and in the cartridge not storing the ink ribbon, recording is performed on the recording member using thermal paper. So you can use thermal paper for the recording material,
A type of cartridge that does not store an ink ribbon therein can also be identified, and a recording device that can identify various types of cartridges can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a cartridge used in a recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of another embodiment of a cartridge used in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating the operation of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of another embodiment of the cartridge used in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a type identification table of a cartridge used in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of a cartridge used in a conventional recording apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating the operation of a conventional recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 K cartridge S1 paper detection sensor S2 ribbon cassette S3 cartridge detection member 10 case 11 first case 11a side wall 11b bottom plate 11c head insertion section 11d ribbon transfer port 11e ribbon discharge section 11f step section 11g ribbon take-up port 11h take-up reel storage section 11j supply Reel storage section 11k Ribbon guide 12 Second case 12a Side wall 12b Bottom plate 12c Image receiving paper outlet 12d Air gap 12e Paper holding 12f gap 13 Take-up reel 14 Supply reel 15 Ink ribbon 16 Recording member 17 Spring member 18 Paper feed roller insertion section 20 Recording Head 20a Heating section 21 Platen roller 22 Conveying roller 23 Small roller 24 Feed roller 24a Cut surface 25 Winding bobbin

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge accommodating a recording member therein, a cassette mounting portion in which the cartridge can be mounted, a cartridge detection member for identifying the cartridge mounted in the cassette mounting portion, and recording on the recording member. A cartridge detection member, the paper detection sensor, and the ribbon detection sensor, comprising: a recording head that performs the recording, a paper detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the recording member, and a ribbon sensor that identifies the presence or absence of the ink ribbon and the color of the ink ribbon. Wherein the type of the cartridge mounted on the cassette mounting portion is identified. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge detecting member detects the presence or absence of an operating portion on the cartridge, and identifies the type of the cartridge. 3. In the cartridge storing the ink ribbon, recording is performed on the recording member by the ink ribbon, and in the cartridge not storing the ink ribbon, recording is performed on the recording member using thermal paper. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein