JP2022035759A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a recording device configured so that an attachment state of an ink ribbon can be normalized without troubling a user.SOLUTION: A control part 4000, when determining that an ink ribbon 130 is in an improperly attached state on the basis of a detected result by an ink ribbon position sensor 121, rotates a supply shaft 102 and a winding shaft 101 in a direction in which the ink ribbon 130 is wound toward the supply shaft 102 side by driving motors MR1 and MR2; when determining that the ink ribbon 130 at the winding shaft 101 side is at a predetermined position on the basis of the detected result by the ink ribbon position sensor 121, switches a rotating direction to a direction in which the ink ribbon 130 is fed out toward the winding shaft 101 side by the driving motors MR1 and MR2, so as perform control by which the improper attachment of the ink ribbon 130 is automatically released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

The present invention relates to a recording device that records an image on a recording medium using an ink ribbon.

Conventionally, in a recording device that records an image on a recording medium using an ink ribbon, a predetermined amount of the ink ribbon is fed from a supply shaft to a take-up shaft as an initial operation, and the ink ribbon is cueed. In Patent Document 1, when the ink ribbon is not set correctly in a predetermined position, an ink ribbon feed error occurs, and it is common to urge the user to set the ink ribbon correctly.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-9437

However, in Patent Document 1, the state of the set ink ribbon is determined, notified as an error, and the error must be canceled by the user.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording device capable of normalizing the wearing state of an ink ribbon without bothering the user.

A typical configuration of the recording device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a first driving means for rotationally driving a supply shaft to which an unused ink ribbon is attached, and a supply shaft supplied from the supply shaft. A second drive means for rotationally driving the take-up shaft for winding the ink ribbon, a control means for controlling the first drive means and the second drive means, the first drive means, and the second drive means. A first detecting means for detecting the tip position of an unused portion of the ink ribbon by sending out the ink ribbon by the driving means of the above and detecting a specific color of the ink ribbon in which a plurality of colors are sequentially arranged in a plane. The control means has a second detecting means for detecting the distance from a predetermined position of the surface of the ink ribbon between the supply shaft and the take-up shaft, and the control means detects the second detecting means. When it is determined based on the result that the ink ribbon is in an erroneously mounted state, the supply shaft and the supply shaft are wound in a direction in which the ink ribbon is wound toward the supply shaft side by the first drive means and the second drive means. When the take-up shaft is rotated and it is determined that the ink ribbon on the take-up shaft side is in a predetermined position based on the detection result of the second detection means, the first drive means and the second drive means are used. By switching the rotation direction in the direction in which the ink ribbon is sent out to the take-up shaft side by the driving means, the automatic release control of the erroneous mounting of the ink ribbon is performed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to normalize the wearing state of the ink ribbon without bothering the user.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a recording apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the operation part of a recording apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part of a recording apparatus. (A) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the initial operation of the ink ribbon. (A) is a side view of the ink ribbon attached by mistake. (B) is a perspective view seen from the upper side of the misattached ink ribbon. (C) is a cross-sectional view showing a cartridge of an ink ribbon that has been erroneously attached. (A) is a side view showing the structure of the ink ribbon correctly mounted. (B) is a perspective view of the structure of the correctly mounted ink ribbon as viewed from above. (C) is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cartridge of the ink ribbon correctly mounted. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the transport portion of the ink ribbon of the comparative example. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the transport portion of the ink ribbon of the present embodiment. (A) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the initial operation when the ink ribbon of the comparative example is erroneously attached. It is a figure explaining the initial operation at the time of erroneous attachment of the ink ribbon of the comparative example. (A) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the initial operation when the ink ribbon of the present embodiment is erroneously attached. (A) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the initial operation when the ink ribbon of the present embodiment is erroneously attached. It is a figure explaining the initial operation at the time of erroneous attachment of the ink ribbon of this embodiment. (A) is a figure explaining the position detection of an ink ribbon. (B) is a diagram showing the rotation directions of the take-up shaft and the supply shaft, which are controlled according to the position of the ink ribbon. It is a flowchart explaining the control of the initial operation of an ink ribbon.

An embodiment of the recording device according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

<Recording device>
The configuration of the recording device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the recording device 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit 1000 of the recording device 100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 4000 of the recording device 100.

The recording device 100 shown in FIG. 1 records images such as facial photographs and character information on the surface of a plastic card 3 as a recording medium by thermal transfer, and magnetically or electrically records information on the plastic card 3. ..

The recording device 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a medium accommodating unit 600 for accommodating a plastic card 3 as a recording medium before recording, and a medium reversing unit 700 for reversing the plastic card 3. Further, the recording device 100 includes an information recording unit 6 for recording information on the plastic card 3 and a medium transfer unit 800 for transporting the plastic card 3 inverted by the medium inversion unit 700. Further, the recording device 100 includes an image recording unit 200 for recording an image on the plastic card 3 and a medium storage unit 900 for accommodating the recorded plastic card 3.

<Pre-recording medium storage unit>
The medium accommodating unit 600 accommodates a plurality of plastic cards 3 as recording media in an upright position, and is provided with a separation opening 7 at the tip thereof. The plastic card 3 accommodated in the medium accommodating portion 600 is urged toward the pickup roller 21 by the urging mechanism 8. By rotating the pickup roller 21 in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 1, the pickup roller 21 is fed out from the plastic card 3 in the front row, separated one by one from the separation opening 7, and supplied to the medium reversing portion 700.

<Media inversion part>
The plastic card 3 supplied from the separation opening 7 is sandwiched by the carry-in roller 22 and sent to the medium reversing section 700. The medium reversing section 700 includes a rotating frame 71 rotatably supported by a housing (not shown), and two roller pairs 23, 24 supported by the rotating frame 71. The roller pairs 23 and 24 are arranged at positions facing each other with the rotation center 71a of the rotation frame 71 interposed therebetween, and are rotatably supported by the rotation frame 71.

<Information recording section>
The information recording unit 6 includes a magnetic recording unit 42 that records magnetic information on the plastic card 3, a non-contact IC recording unit 43 that records electrical information on the plastic card 3, and a contact IC recording unit 41. It is configured to have. The magnetic recording unit 42, the non-contact IC recording unit 43, and the contact IC recording unit 41 are arranged on the outer periphery of the medium reversing unit 700. The introduction paths of the plastic card 3 are arranged in the radial direction of the rotating frame 71 about the rotation center 71a of the rotating frame 71.

When the medium reversing section 700 rotates and one of the roller pairs 23 and 24 reaches a position facing the carry-in roller 22, the rotation of the medium reversing section 700 stops. Then, the plastic card 3 sent to the medium reversing unit 700 by the carry-in roller 22 is sandwiched and supported by the rollers 23 and 24. After that, as the rotating frame 71 rotates, the plastic card 3 sandwiched by the roller pairs 23 and 24 is directed toward any of the magnetic recording unit 42, the non-contact type IC recording unit 43, and the contact type IC recording unit 41. Move to a position where it can be transported. The roller pairs 23 and 24 carry the plastic card 3 toward any of the magnetic recording unit 42, the non-contact type IC recording unit 43, and the contact type IC recording unit 41.

Data is magnetically or electrically written to the plastic card 3 carried into any of the magnetic recording unit 42, the non-contact type IC recording unit 43, and the contact type IC recording unit 41 by the roller pairs 23 and 24. .. The plastic card 3 on which the data is written is returned to the medium reversing section 700 by the roller pairs 23 and 24. After that, the medium reversing section 700 rotates to reach a position where any of the roller pairs 23 and 24 faces the transport roller 25 provided in the medium transport section 800.

At this time, the rotation of the medium reversing portion 700 is stopped, and the plastic card 3 is delivered to the transport roller 25 by the roller pairs 23 and 24. The transport rollers 25 and 27 for transporting the plastic card 3 are arranged in the medium transport section 800 for transporting the plastic card 3 from the medium reversing section 700 to the secondary transfer section 500.

<Image recording unit>
An image recording unit 200 is provided below the medium transport unit 800. The image recording unit 200 is provided with an ink ribbon cassette 300 for accommodating the ink ribbon 130, a transfer film cassette 400 for accommodating the transfer film 1, a thermal head 105 that generates heat according to image information, a heat roller 110, and the like. There is.

In the primary transfer unit 2, the transfer film 1 and the ink ribbon 130 are pressed against each other between the platen roller 107 and the thermal head 105, and the thermal head 105 transfers an ink image corresponding to the image information from the ink ribbon 130 to the transfer film 1. Will be done. After that, the ink ribbon 130 is peeled from the transfer film 1 by the peeling member 108, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 500 by the transfer roller 109 and the pinch rollers 5a and 5b.

On the other hand, the plastic card 3 is delivered from the roller pairs 23 and 24 of the medium reversing section 700 to the transport roller 25 provided in the medium transport section 800. After that, the plastic card 3 is conveyed by the transfer roller 27 and reaches the secondary transfer unit 500 composed of the platen roller 28 and the heat roller 110.

In the secondary transfer unit 500, the transfer film 1 and the plastic card 3 are pressed against each other between the platen roller 28 and the heat roller 110, and the ink image of the transfer film 1 is transferred to the plastic card 3. In this way, in the secondary transfer unit 500, the image recording unit 200 records images such as facial photographs and character data on the front and back surfaces of the plastic card 3.

Here, when the front and back surfaces of the plastic card 3 are inverted, when the medium inversion portion 700 rotates and one of the roller pairs 23 and 24 reaches the position facing the conveying roller 25, the platen roller 28 and the transfer roller 28 are conveyed. The roller 27 and the transport roller 25 are rotated in the reverse direction. Then, after the plastic card 3 on which the image is recorded on one side is returned into the medium reversing section 700 by the rollers 23 and 24, the medium reversing section 700 is rotated counterclockwise.

As a result, the front and back surfaces of the plastic card 3 are inverted. Then, the plastic card 3 is delivered to the transfer roller 25 by the roller pairs 23 and 24, and the plastic card 3 whose front and back surfaces are inverted is transferred to the secondary transfer unit 500 by the transfer roller 27. Then, in the secondary transfer unit 500, the image recording unit 200 can record an image such as a face photograph and character data on the other surface of the plastic card 3.

A decal mechanism 13 is provided between the transfer roller 29 and the transfer roller 30. The decal mechanism 13 corrects the curl generated in the plastic card 3 due to thermal transfer by the heat roller 110 by pressing the central portion of the plastic card 3 sandwiched and held by the transport roller 29 and the transport roller 30 in the transport direction. do. The decal mechanism 13 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction of FIG. 1 by rotating the cam 10.

<Post-recording medium storage unit>
The medium storage unit 900 is configured to store the plastic card 3 sent from the image recording unit 200 on the storage stacker 60. The accommodating stacker 60 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction of FIG. 1 by an elevating mechanism 61.

<Operation unit>
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording device 100 receives an operation input and an image information transfer from an operation unit 1000 including a personal computer or the like. Reference numeral 2000 is a monitor connected to the operation unit 1000. Reference numeral 3000 is an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard connected to the operation unit 1000.

The ink ribbon 130 shown in FIG. 1 is housed inside the ink ribbon cassette 300, and the transfer film 1 is housed inside the transfer film cassette 400. The primary transfer unit 2 is composed of a thermal head 105 and a platen roller 107. The control unit 4000 as the control means shown in FIG. 3 controls the heating of the thermal head 105, and records the image information received from the operation unit 1000 from the ink ribbon 130 to the transfer film 1. The control unit 4000 controls the drive motors MR1 and MR2, respectively.

In the secondary transfer in the secondary transfer unit 500, the image information on the transfer film 1 is transferred to the surface of the plastic card 3 by pressing the heat roller 110 heated and controlled by the control unit 4000 against the plastic card 3.

The ink ribbon 130 housed inside the ink ribbon cassette 300 is set on the take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102. The take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102 are driven by the rotation of the drive motors MR1 and MR2 as the drive unit, respectively. The drive motor MR1 is configured as a drive means for rotationally driving the supply shaft 102 to which the unused ink ribbon 130 is attached. Further, the drive motor MR2 is configured as a drive means for rotationally driving the take-up shaft 101 that winds up the ink ribbon 130 supplied from the supply shaft 102.

The transfer film 1 housed inside the transfer film cassette 400 is set on the supply shaft 103 and the take-up shaft 104. The supply shaft 103 and the take-up shaft 104 are driven by the rotation of the drive motors MR3 and MR4 as the drive unit, respectively.

The ink ribbon 130 is wound around two shafts, a take-up shaft 101 and a supply shaft 102, and a used ink ribbon 130 is wound around the take-up shaft 101. An unused ink ribbon 130 is wound around the supply shaft 102.

At the time of primary transfer in the primary transfer unit 2, the unused ink ribbon 130 wound around the supply shaft 102 is sent out to the thermal head 105 side by rotational driving of the drive motors MR1 and MR2, and is moved to the primary transfer position. The ink ribbon 130 for which image information has been recorded on the transfer film 1 by the thermal head 105 is wound around the take-up shaft 101 by rotational driving of the drive motors MR1 and MR2.

Reference numeral 106 is a cooling fan. Reference numeral 108 is a peeling member, which peels the ink ribbon 130 from the transfer film 1. Reference numeral 109 is a transfer roller that conveys the transfer film 1. Pinch rollers 5a and 5b are pressure-welded to the peripheral surface of the transport roller 109. The transfer film 1 is sandwiched between the transfer roller 109 and the pinch rollers 5a and 5b and is transferred with high accuracy. The supply shaft 103 and the take-up shaft 104 give an appropriate tension so that the transfer film 1 does not loosen.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams illustrating the initial operation of the ink ribbon 130. As an initial operation before the primary transfer in the primary transfer unit 2, the ink ribbon 130 is cueed. The ink ribbon 130 is sent out to the thermal head 105 side by rotationally driving the drive motors MR1 and MR2. Then, the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 as a detection means provided on the supply shaft 102 side detects the cue mark 130a of the ink ribbon 130. As a result, the cueing position of the ink ribbon 130 is detected. As a result, the control unit 4000 confirms that the ink ribbon 130 is normally fed.

The drive motors MR1 and MR2 rotate and drive the supply shaft 103 and the take-up shaft 104, respectively, to send out the ink ribbon 130. Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 detects the cue mark 130a as a specific color of the ink ribbon 130 in which the color panels 130c and 130d of a plurality of colors are arranged in a surface order. .. As a result, the position of the tip of the unused portion of the ink ribbon 130 is detected.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the ink ribbon 130 has a cue mark 130a as a ribbon panel of a specific color arranged at the head portion. Further, it has a cue mark 130a (not shown) as the ribbon panel of the next specific color, which is not shown in FIG. 4 (b). Color panels 130c and 130d of a plurality of colors are arranged in a surface-sequential manner between the cue marks 130a of both.

Then, the control unit 4000 sends out the ink ribbon 130 by the drive motors MR1 and MR2. As a result, the cue mark 130a as a ribbon panel of a specific color and the color panels 130c and 130d are sequentially sent out in a surface-sequential manner. Then, by detecting the cue mark 130a as a specific color by the ink ribbon cue sensor 120, the unused portion of the ink ribbon 130 is cueed.

FIG. 5A is a side view of the ink ribbon 130 mismounted. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the mismounted ink ribbon 130 as viewed from above. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view showing a cartridge of the ink ribbon 130 mismounted. FIG. 6A is a side view showing the configuration of the ink ribbon 130 correctly mounted. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the structure of the correctly mounted ink ribbon 130 as viewed from above. FIG. 6 (c) is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge of the ink ribbon 130 correctly mounted.

The rotation direction for winding the ink ribbon 130 or the rotation direction for rewinding the ink ribbon 130 is determined by the rotation drive control of the drive motors MR1 and MR2. Therefore, there is a correct way to wind the ink ribbon 130 around the take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102. 5 (a) to 5 (c) show a state in which the ink ribbon 130 is erroneously attached to the take-up shaft 101, and FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c) show the ink ribbon with respect to the take-up shaft 101. It shows the state that 130 is correctly attached.

For example, at the time of initial opening of the ink ribbon 130 from the package, all the ink ribbons 130 are wound around the supply shaft 102. On the other hand, on the winding shaft 101 side, a contact portion to which the end portion of the ink ribbon 130 is attached is exposed. In such a case, the user may wind the ink ribbon 130 around the take-up shaft 101 in the wrong direction as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the transport portion of the ink ribbon 130 of the comparative example. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the transport portion of the ink ribbon 130 of the present embodiment. In the comparative example shown in FIG. 7A, the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 is provided only on the supply shaft 102 side. On the other hand, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, in addition to the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 provided on the supply shaft 102 side, the ink ribbon position sensor 121 as a detection means is also provided on the take-up shaft 101 side. Has been done.

The ink ribbon position sensor 121 is an optical sensor. The ink ribbon position sensor 121 detects the distance from the predetermined position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 between the supply shaft 102 and the take-up shaft 101. Specifically, the distance between the light receiving element (not shown) provided inside the ink ribbon position sensor 121 and the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 is detected. The control unit 4000 determines the mounting state of the ink ribbon 130 by detecting the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 according to the distance between the ink ribbon 130 and the surface 130b detected by the ink ribbon position sensor 121. ..

In the initial operation, the ink ribbon 130 is conveyed from the supply shaft 102 side to the take-up shaft 101 side, and the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 detects the position of the cue mark 130a provided on the ink ribbon 130 to detect the position of the cue mark 130a. Cue out.

In the comparative example shown in FIG. 7 (a), as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c), when the ink ribbon 130 is erroneously mounted on the take-up shaft 101, the erroneously mounted state is detected. There is no way to do it. Therefore, when the ink ribbon 130 is to be conveyed from the supply shaft 102 to the take-up shaft 101 in the initial operation, the supply shaft 102 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5A, and the take-up shaft 101 is shown in FIG. 5 (a) is rotating in the direction of arrow C.

Therefore, the ink ribbon 130 is loosened between the supply shaft 102 and the take-up shaft 101, and the ink ribbon 130 is not conveyed from the supply shaft 102 toward the take-up shaft 101. Therefore, the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 cannot detect the position of the cue mark 130a of the ink ribbon 130, and a cue error occurs.

8 (a), (b) and FIG. 9 show an ink ribbon with respect to the take-up shaft 101 as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c) in the configuration of the comparative example shown in FIG. 7 (a). It is a figure explaining the initial operation when the erroneous mounting of 130 is performed. 10 (a), (b), 11 (a), (b) and 12 are as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c) in the configuration of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (b). It is a figure explaining the initial operation when the ink ribbon 130 is erroneously attached to the take-up shaft 101.

8 (a), (b) and FIG. 9 show an ink ribbon with respect to the take-up shaft 101 as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c) in the configuration of the comparative example shown in FIG. 7 (a). It shows how an error occurs in the initial operation when the 130 is erroneously mounted.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B in the normal initial operation, when the ink ribbon 130 is cueed, the take-up shaft 101 is in the direction of winding the ink ribbon 130 (a). It rotates forward in the direction of the arrow C. Further, the supply shaft 102 rotates forward in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4A, which is the direction in which the ink ribbon 130 is sent out to the thermal head 105 side.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, it is assumed that the ink ribbon 130 is erroneously attached to the take-up shaft 101. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the ink ribbon 130 wound around the take-up shaft 101 and the ink ribbon 130 wound around the supply shaft 102 are both on the thermal head 105 side. Will be sent to.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, the ink ribbon 130 is bent between the take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102, and the ink ribbon 130 is fed idle. As a result, the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 cannot detect the cue mark 130a provided on the ink ribbon 130.

Therefore, in the configuration of the comparative example shown in FIG. 7A, the initial operation cannot be completed, and the control unit 4000 notifies the error message by the notification unit 4. This prompts the user to properly attach the ink ribbon 130. Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c) and FIG. 9, the user correctly attaches the ink ribbon 130 to the take-up shaft 101.

10 (a), (b), 11 (a), (b) and 12 are as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c) in the configuration of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (b). The state of the initial operation when the ink ribbon 130 is erroneously attached to the take-up shaft 101 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 is detected by the ink ribbon position sensor 121 before the start of the initial operation. The control unit 4000 determines whether or not the ink ribbon 130 on the take-up shaft 101 side is located at an appropriate position based on the detection result of the ink ribbon position sensor 121. Then, the control unit 4000 determines whether or not the ink ribbon 130 is correctly mounted on the take-up shaft 101 based on the position detection result of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 by the ink ribbon position sensor 121.

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating the position detection of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 by the ink ribbon position sensor 121. FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the rotation directions of the take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102 controlled according to the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the ink ribbon 130 between the take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102 may be in contact with the take-up shaft 101 at the contact portion 101a. In that case, the control unit 4000 determines that the ink ribbon 130 is not positioned at an appropriate position based on the detection result of the ink ribbon position sensor 121. Then, the control unit 4000 controls to drive the rotation direction of the supply shaft 102 in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 13 (a).

The ink ribbon 130 between the take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102 may be in contact with the take-up shaft 101 at the contact portions 101b to 101d. In that case, the control unit 4000 determines that the ink ribbon 130 is positioned at an appropriate position based on the detection result of the ink ribbon position sensor 121. Then, the control unit 4000 controls to drive the rotation direction of the supply shaft 102 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow B direction in FIG. 13 (a).

As shown in FIG. 13 (a), the ink hung between the take-up shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102 according to the positions of the contact portions 101a to 101d of the ink ribbon 130 wound around the take-up shaft 101. The position of the surface 130b of the ribbon 130 also changes.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion (not shown) provided inside the ink ribbon position sensor 121 are the surfaces of the ink ribbon 130 hung between the winding shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102. It is arranged toward 130b. The ink ribbon position sensor 121 may detect the distance from the ink ribbon position sensor 121 to the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 by, for example, a distance measuring sensor using laser light.

The laser beam emitted from the light emitting portion inside the distance measuring sensor is reflected on the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 and is received by the light receiving unit inside the distance measuring sensor. The reflected laser beam is evaluated and calculated, converted into distance, and output. The time until the laser beam emitted from the light emitting part inside the distance measuring sensor is reflected on the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 and received is measured, and the calculation process is performed from the ink ribbon position sensor 121 to the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130. Convert to distance. Further, the ink ribbon position sensor 121 irradiates signal light with, for example, a diffuse reflection type sensor, detects the diffused light reflected on the ink ribbon 130, and determines the distance from the ink ribbon position sensor 121 to the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130. It may be detected.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the control unit 4000 detects the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 by the ink ribbon position sensor 121. When it is determined that the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 is not the proper position, the control unit 4000 drives and controls the drive motor MR2, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the supply shaft 102 is pointed to by the arrow A. Rotate in the opposite direction indicated by the direction. Further, the control unit 4000 drives and controls the drive motor MR1 to rotate the take-up shaft 101 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow C direction. As a result, the ink ribbon 130 wound around the take-up shaft 101 is reversely conveyed to the supply shaft 102 side.

By rotating the supply shaft 102 in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow A direction and rotating the take-up shaft 101 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow C direction, the ink ribbon 130 wound around the take-up shaft 101 is moved to the supply shaft 102 side. Keep sending. Then, the contact portion of the ink ribbon 130 wound around the take-up shaft 101 moves in the direction from the contact portion 101a in FIG. 13A toward the contact portion 101d. The control unit 4000 detects that the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 has changed from the contact portion 101a to the position of the contact portion 101b by the ink ribbon position sensor 121. At this time, the control unit 4000 drives and controls the drive motor MR2 to switch the rotation direction of the supply shaft 102 to the forward rotation indicated by the arrow B direction, as shown in FIG. 11B.

When the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 detected by the ink ribbon position sensor 121 is the position of the contact portions 101b to 101d shown in FIG. 13A, the supply shaft 102 and the take-up shaft 101 are indicated by arrows B, respectively. , Rotates in the forward direction indicated by the C direction. As a result, the ink ribbon 130 is mounted in the correct mounting state shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

The control unit 4000 detects the cue mark 130a provided on the ink ribbon 130 by the ink ribbon cue sensor 120, cue the ink ribbon 130, and confirms that the ink ribbon 130 is normally mounted. As a result, the ink ribbon 130 that was in the erroneously mounted state as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c) and 10 (a) and 10 (b) is shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c) and FIG. It is possible to make such a proper state.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating control of the initial operation of the ink ribbon 130. In step S1 of FIG. 14, the control unit 4000 detects the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 in advance by the ink ribbon position sensor 121 before performing the cueing operation of the ink ribbon 130. As a result, the control unit 4000 determines whether or not the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 needs to be corrected. That is, the control unit 4000 controls whether or not the ink ribbon 130 is correctly mounted on the supply shaft 102.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 4000 drives and controls the drive motors MR1 and MR2 based on the information from the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 and the ink ribbon position sensor 121 to supply the ink ribbon 130 to the take-up shaft 101. Controls the rotational drive of the shaft 102.

If the control unit 4000 determines in step S1 that the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 needs to be corrected, the process proceeds to step S2, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the reverse of the ink ribbon 130 is performed. Start transporting. At this time, the control unit 4000 drives the drive motor MR1 to rotate the take-up shaft 101 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow C direction, and drives the drive motor MR2 to drive the supply shaft 102 in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow A direction. Rotate.

That is, the control unit 4000 determines that the ink ribbon 130 is in the erroneously mounted state based on the detection result of the ink ribbon position sensor 121 shown in FIG. 13 (a). In that case, the control unit 4000 rotates the winding shaft 101 and the supply shaft 102 in the direction of winding the ink ribbon 130 toward the supply shaft 102 side (supply shaft side) by the drive motors MR1 and MR2.

Next, in step S3, the control unit 4000 determines whether or not the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 has changed. At this time, the control unit 4000 determines whether or not the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 has changed based on the detection result of the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 detected by the ink ribbon position sensor 121.

If the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 changes in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, and as shown in FIG. 11B, the control unit 4000 drives the drive motor MR2 to drive the supply shaft 102. Is rotated in the forward direction indicated by the arrow B direction. That is, the rotation direction of the supply shaft 102 is changed. If the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 has not changed in step S3, the process returns to step S2.

Next, in step S5, the control unit 4000 starts the sequential transfer of the ink ribbon 130. That is, as shown in FIG. 11B, the control unit 4000 drives the drive motor MR1 to rotate the take-up shaft 101 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow C direction, and drives the drive motor MR2 to drive the supply shaft 102. Is rotated in the forward direction indicated by the arrow B direction.

That is, the control unit 4000 determines that the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 on the take-up shaft 101 side (winding shaft side) is at a predetermined position based on the detection result of the ink ribbon position sensor 121 shown in FIG. 13 (a). to decide. In that case, the control unit 4000 switches the rotation direction in the direction in which the ink ribbon 130 is sent out to the take-up shaft 101 side by the drive motors MR1 and MR2. In this way, the control unit 4000 can automatically release the ink ribbon 130 by executing the control in steps S1 to S5.

Next, in step S6, the control unit 4000 determines whether or not the cue mark 130a provided on the ink ribbon 130 has been detected by the ink ribbon cue sensor 120. When the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 detects the cue mark 130a provided on the ink ribbon 130, the process ends. If the ink ribbon cue sensor 120 does not detect the cue mark 130a provided on the ink ribbon 130, the process proceeds to step S7, and the control unit 4000 notifies the error message by the notification unit 4. Here, the notification unit 4 is composed of a display unit of an operation panel and the like.

If the control unit 4000 determines in step S1 that the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 does not need to be corrected, the process proceeds to step S8 to start the forward transfer of the ink ribbon 130. At this time, the control unit 4000 drives the drive motor MR1 to rotate the take-up shaft 101 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow C direction, and drives the drive motor MR2 to drive the supply shaft 102 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow B direction. Rotate. Then, the process proceeds to step S6.

That is, the control unit 4000 determines in steps S1 and S3 that the ink ribbon 130 is in the correct mounting state based on the detection result detected by the ink ribbon position sensor 121. In that case, in step S6, the control unit 4000 detects the tip position of the unused portion of the ink ribbon 130 by the ink ribbon cue sensor 120, and controls the cueing of the ink ribbon 130.

In the comparative example shown in FIG. 7A, when the ink ribbon 130 is erroneously attached, an error is displayed because there is no means for detecting the erroneously attached state and automatically releasing the ink ribbon 130 so that the user can correctly attach the ink ribbon 130. I had to urge you. In the present embodiment, when the ink ribbon 130 is erroneously attached, the erroneously attached state is detected by determining the position of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130, and the erroneously attached state of the ink ribbon 130 without bothering the user. Can be automatically canceled and normalized. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of mounting the ink ribbon 130.

The erroneously mounted state of the ink ribbon 130 can be determined by determining the position of the surface 130b of the set ink ribbon 130. Therefore, the ink ribbon position sensor 121 measures the distance from the predetermined position where the ink ribbon position sensor 121 is provided to the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130. Then, the control unit 4000 determines whether or not the ink ribbon 130 is correctly mounted on the winding shaft 101 that winds up the ink ribbon 130 from the position information of the surface 130b of the ink ribbon 130 detected by the ink ribbon position sensor 121. to decide. Then, the rotation control of the supply shaft 102 can automatically release the erroneously attached state of the ink ribbon 130.

MR1 ... Drive motor (first drive means)
MR2 ... Drive motor (second drive means)
101 ... Take-up shaft 102 ... Supply shaft 121 ... Ink ribbon position sensor (second detection means)
130 ... Ink ribbon 4000 ... Control unit (control means)

Claims (4)

A first driving means for rotationally driving a supply shaft to which an unused ink ribbon is attached, and
A second drive means for rotationally driving the take-up shaft that winds up the ink ribbon supplied from the supply shaft, and
A control means for controlling the first drive means and the second drive means,
The ink ribbon is sent out by the first driving means and the second driving means, and by detecting a specific color of the ink ribbon in which a plurality of colors are sequentially arranged in a surface sequence, the tip position of an unused portion of the ink ribbon is detected. The first detection means to detect
A second detecting means for detecting the distance from a predetermined position on the surface of the ink ribbon between the supply shaft and the take-up shaft, and the like.
Have,
The control means is
When it is determined that the ink ribbon is in an erroneously mounted state based on the detection result of the second detection means, the ink ribbon is wound around the supply shaft side by the first drive means and the second drive means. Rotate the supply shaft and the take-up shaft in the taking direction,
When it is determined that the ink ribbon on the take-up shaft side is in a predetermined position based on the detection result of the second detection means, the ink ribbon is moved by the first drive means and the second drive means. A recording device characterized in that automatic release control of erroneous mounting of the ink ribbon is performed by switching the rotation direction in the direction of feeding to the take-up shaft side. The ink ribbon has a configuration in which color panels of a plurality of colors are sequentially arranged between a ribbon panel of a specific color arranged at a head portion and a ribbon panel of the next specific color, and the first driving means. By feeding out the ink ribbon by the second driving means, the ribbon panel of the specific color and the color panel are fed out surface-sequentially, and the specific color is detected by the first detecting means. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein an unused portion of the ink ribbon is cueed. The second detection means is an optical sensor.
The control means is characterized in that the mounting state of the ink ribbon is determined by detecting the position of the ink ribbon according to the distance between the ink ribbon and the surface detected by the second detection means. The recording device according to claim 1 or 2. If the control means determines that the ink ribbon is in the correct mounting state based on the detection result detected by the second detection means, the tip of the unused portion of the ink ribbon is determined by the first detection means. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position is detected and the cue control of the ink ribbon is performed.

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