JP3761401B2 - Line printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a line printer, particularly one Rikami feed roller by the drive motor, to a line printer of the structure for driving each of the winding bobbins of the ink ribbon.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a thermal head having a length that can face the printing range in the width direction of the recording paper is brought into contact with the platen roller via the recording paper and an ink ribbon, and in this state, the platen roller is moved by the drive motor. The recording paper is conveyed by being rotated, and a plurality of heating elements of the line thermal head are selectively driven based on recording information to generate heat while winding the ink ribbon, thereby recording a desired image or the like. Line printers that perform are known.
[0003]
In recent years, in such a line printer, an ink ribbon formed by repeatedly and continuously forming inks of each color of cyan, magenta, and yellow is used. It is now possible to print images.
[0004]
Furthermore, in recent years, in such line printers, ultra-small line printers that can perform printing on extremely small paper and are portable have been developed, and such line printers are reduced in size. For this reason, there is an apparatus in which each drive portion such as the platen roller, paper feed roller, ink ribbon take-up bobbin, and platen roller contact / separation operation is driven by a single drive motor.
[0005]
When printing on paper in the line printer, a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head are selectively selected based on printing information in a state where the platen roller is pressed against the thermal head via the paper and ink ribbon by a drive motor. In addition to generating heat, the platen roller, paper feed roller, and take-up bobbin are driven to rotate to convey the paper and ink ribbon, thereby transferring the first color ink of the ink ribbon to the paper and printing the desired image on the paper. It is supposed to print.
[0006]
Then, after printing, the paper and the ink ribbon are conveyed, and the next color marker of the ink ribbon is detected by the ribbon sensor.
[0007]
When the next color ink marker is detected by the ribbon sensor, the platen roller is separated from the thermal head, and then the paper feed roller is rotated in the reverse direction to back feed the paper by a predetermined amount. At this time, the winding operation of the ink ribbon is not performed.
[0008]
Subsequently, in the same manner as in the above operation, the platen roller is again brought into pressure contact with the thermal head via the paper and the ink ribbon, and each heating element of the thermal head is selectively heated, and the platen roller and paper feed roller In addition, the paper and the ink ribbon are transported by the take-up bobbin to perform desired printing on the paper. By performing this operation for each color ink on the ink ribbon, full color printing on the paper is performed.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional line printer, depending on the interval between the markers for identifying each color ink on the ink ribbon, after the printing of one color is finished, the paper is transported and the end of the paper is positioned at the paper feed roller portion. Sometimes, the marker of the ink ribbon is not conveyed to the position of the ribbon sensor, and the marker may not be detected by the ribbon sensor.
[0010]
In this case, when a motor for winding the ink ribbon is provided in addition to the motor for driving the paper feed roller, it can be dealt with by performing only the winding operation of the ink ribbon alone. So there is no problem. However, in the case of a single drive motor, the ink ribbon marker is detected by the ribbon sensor. In order to further wind the ink ribbon, the paper is once fed back and the paper and the ink ribbon are conveyed again. There is a problem that it is necessary to detect the marker on the ink ribbon, and the operation is troublesome and the printing time cannot be shortened.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of these points, and even when a single drive motor is used, the marker of the ink ribbon can be reliably detected by conveying the paper, and the printing time can be shortened. An object of the present invention is to provide a line printer that can be used.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a line printer according to the present invention includes a platen roller and a plurality of color ink layers which are continuously formed so that each color is repeated by a predetermined length, and between each color ink layer. An ink ribbon having a marker for identifying the color of the ink, a thermal head pressed against the platen roller via the paper and the ink ribbon, and a contact portion between the thermal head and the platen roller at the time of printing. A paper feed roller provided on the downstream side in the paper feed direction, a pressure roller in pressure contact with the paper feed roller, one drive motor, and a marker on the ink ribbon provided on the downstream side of the platen roller in the transport direction of the ink ribbon. and a ribbon sensor for detecting the said thermal head via the paper and the ink ribbon By the drive motor in a state of being pressed against the Latin roller rotates drives the paper feed roller and configured to convey the ink ribbon by rotating the winding bobbin while conveying the sheet, an image on the sheet After recording, the paper after recording is rotated until the paper feed roller is rotated so that the trailing edge of the paper is positioned at the paper feed roller portion, and the ribbon sensor detects the next color of the ink ribbon. The line printer detects the marker of the ink, and releases the pressure contact between the paper and the ink ribbon by separating the platen roller and the thermal head after detecting the marker, and the printing range of each color of the ink ribbon The length from the rear end to the next color marker and the rib from the contact portion of the platen roller and the thermal head The total dimension of the length of the ribbon travel path to the sensor, the length dimension from the rear end of the print range of the paper to the rear end of the paper, and the paper from the contact portion of the platen roller and the thermal head. It is characterized by being formed so as to be smaller than the total length dimension of the length of the paper travel path to the contact portion between the feed roller and the pressure roller.
[0013]
According to the present invention, from the rear end of the printing range by the respective colors of the ink ribbon of the ribbon travel path from the contact portion of the thermal head and the platen roller and the length of up to the marker of the next color to the ribbon sensor The total dimension of the length dimension, the length dimension from the rear end of the print range of the paper to the rear end of the paper , the contact between the platen roller and the thermal head, the paper feed roller and the pressure roller Since it is formed so as to be smaller than the total length dimension of the paper travel path to the abutting portion , the ink ribbon is surely made until the trailing edge of the paper becomes the paper feed roller portion after the printing is completed. The marker can be detected by the ribbon sensor. As a result, it is not necessary to back feed the paper and transport the ink ribbon again, and the marker can be read quickly. Can, it is possible to shorten the printing time.
[0014]
According to another aspect of the present invention, in the ink ribbon of the first aspect, at least cyan, magenta, and yellow ink layers are formed on the ink ribbon.
[0015]
According to the present invention, since at least the cyan, magenta, and yellow ink layers are formed on the ink ribbon, it is possible to reliably detect cyan, magenta, and yellow color markers.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a line printer according to the present invention, and a thermal head 2 extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the paper 1 is arranged on a frame (not shown) of the line printer. In the thermal head 2, a plurality of heating elements (not shown) are arranged. At a position facing the thermal head 2, a cylindrical platen roller 3 is disposed so as to be rotatable and to be able to contact with and separate from the thermal head 2.
[0018]
A ribbon cassette 4 is detachably mounted on the frame from the side of the frame. The ribbon cassette 4 stores a feeding core 6 and a winding core 7 around which the ink ribbon 5 is wound. A ribbon storage portion 8 and a guide portion 9 extending from one end of the ribbon storage portion 8 to the back side of the thermal head 2 are provided. A take-up bobbin (not shown) is engaged with the take-up core 7, and a guide roller 10 is rotatably disposed at the distal end portion of the guide portion 9. Then, the ink ribbon 5 wound around the delivery core 6 is taken out from one end of the ribbon storage portion 8, passes between the thermal head 2 and the platen roller 3, and is guided by the guide roller 10 to be guided. It enters the inside of the ribbon cassette 4 from the tip of the section 9 and is wound around a winding bobbin.
[0019]
Further, in the vicinity of the platen roller 3, and the paper feed roller 11 is arranged freely rotatably driven, above the paper feed roller 11, pressure roller 12 is rotatably is pressed to the paper feed roller 11 It is arranged. In this embodiment, a paper cassette containing a plurality of stacked sheets 1 is mounted on the paper feed roller 11 side, and the uppermost sheet 1 of the paper cassette is taken out one by one by a paper feed roller (not shown). Paper is fed between the paper feed roller 11 and the pressure contact roller 12. A guide plate 13 for guiding the paper 1 to be conveyed is disposed below the ribbon cassette 4 of the frame.
[0020]
In addition, an opening (not shown) through which the ink ribbon 5 is exposed is formed at the leading end portion of the guide portion 9 of the ribbon cassette 4, and an ink ribbon to be described later is provided at a position facing the opening of the frame. A ribbon sensor 14 for detecting five markers is provided.
[0021]
The frame is provided with a drive motor (not shown). The drive motor rotates and rotates the platen roller 3, the paper feed roller 11, and the paper feed roller through a transmission mechanism (not shown). In addition to rotational driving, the platen roller 3 is also driven to contact and separate. When printing on the paper 1, the platen roller 3, the paper feed roller 11, and the take-up bobbin are driven to rotate. When the paper 1 is fed backward, the platen roller 3 is separated and the take-up bobbin is It can be operated so as not to be driven to rotate.
[0022]
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the ink ribbon 5 accommodated in the ribbon cassette 4. In this embodiment, the ink ribbon 5 includes the cyan ink layer 15a, the magenta ink layer 15b, and the yellow ink. A layer 15c and an overcoat layer 15d are sequentially arranged, and a marker 16 for identifying each color is formed between each color of the ink ribbon 5. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the length dimension A and the platen roller 3 of the rear end of the print range by each color and the marker 16 of the next color ink in the ink ribbon 5 And the length dimension B of the ribbon travel path from the contact portion of the thermal head 2 to the ribbon sensor 14 (A + B) is the length dimension from the rear end of the printing range of the paper 1 to the rear end of the paper 1 The total length dimension (C + D) of C, the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 2 and the length dimension D of the sheet travel path from the contact section of the paper feed roller 11 and the press contact roller 12 to each other is smaller. Is formed.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the present invention will be described.
[0024]
When printing on the paper 1 in the present embodiment, first, the uppermost paper 1 of the paper cassette is taken out one by one by a paper feed roller (not shown) and fed between the paper feed roller 11 and the pressure roller 12. . The sheet 1 is conveyed along the guide plate 13 through the space between the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 2 toward the left in FIG. 1 while being sandwiched between the sheet feeding roller and the pressure roller 12.
[0025]
When the leading end (right end in FIG. 1) of the paper 1 is conveyed to the paper feed roller 11, the platen roller 3 is pressed against the thermal head 2 via the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 5 by the drive motor. In this state, the plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 2 are selectively heated based on the printing information, and the platen roller 3, the paper feed roller 11, and the take-up bobbin are rotationally driven to draw the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 5. By transporting the paper 1 in the right direction, the first color ink (for example, yellow) of the ink ribbon 5 is transferred to the paper 1 and a desired image is printed on the paper 1.
[0026]
Further, the ink ribbon 5 after the ink is transferred to the paper 1 is peeled off from the paper 1 by the guide roller 10 and taken up on the take-up core by the rotation of the take-up bobbin.
[0027]
On the other hand, the paper 1 after recording is conveyed by the platen roller 3 and the paper feed roller 11 until the rear end portion (left end portion in FIG. 1) of the paper 1 is positioned at the paper feed roller 11 portion, and the ribbon sensor 14 The next color marker 16 of the ink ribbon 5 is detected. In this case, in this embodiment, the length A of the trailing end of the printing range of each color of the ink ribbon 5 and the marker 16 of the ink of the next color and the contact portion of the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 2 are determined. The total dimension (A + B) of the ribbon travel path length to the ribbon sensor 14 (A + B), the length C from the rear end of the printing range of the paper 1 to the rear end of the paper 1, the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 2 Are formed so as to be smaller than the total length dimension (C + D) of the length dimension D of the paper travel path from the contact portion to the contact portion between the paper feed roller 11 and the pressure roller 12. The marker 16 of the ink ribbon 5 can be reliably detected by the ribbon sensor 14 until the trailing edge of the paper 1 is the paper feed roller 11 portion.
[0028]
After the desired image printing on the paper 1 is completed, when the ribbon sensor 14 detects the ink marker 16 of the next color, the platen roller 3 is separated from the thermal head 2, and the pressure contact between the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 5 is performed. To release. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 11 is rotated in the reverse direction to convey the paper 1 by a predetermined amount in the left direction in FIG. At this time, the take-up bobbin is not rotationally driven, and the ink ribbon 5 is not taken up.
[0029]
Subsequently, in the same manner as in the above operation, each heating element of the thermal head 2 is selectively heated while the platen roller 3 is pressed against the thermal head 2 via the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 5, and the platen roller 3 is selectively heated. The paper 1 and the ink ribbon 5 are conveyed by the roller 3, the paper feed roller 11, and the take-up bobbin, whereby desired printing is performed on the paper 1. This operation is performed for each color ink on the ink ribbon 5 and the overcoat is printed by the overcoat layer to complete the full color printing on the paper 1.
[0030]
When printing is completed by the above-described operation, the platen roller 3 is moved away, and the paper feed roller 11 is rotationally driven to perform a paper discharge operation.
[0031]
Therefore, in this embodiment, the ribbon sensor 14 is determined from the length of the trailing edge of the printing range of each color of the ink ribbon 5 and the marker 16 of the ink of the next color and the contact portion between the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 2. The total length of the ribbon travel path up to the length of the printing range of the paper 1 to the rear edge of the paper 1 and the paper feed roller from the contact portion of the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 2 11 and the length of the paper travel path to the contact portion of the pressure roller 12 are formed so as to be smaller than the total length, so that the trailing edge of the paper 1 after the printing is completed is the paper feed roller 11 portion. Until then, the marker 16 of the ink ribbon 5 can be reliably detected by the ribbon sensor 14. As a result, it is not necessary to back-feed the paper 1 and re-convey the ink ribbon 5. 16 can be quickly performed an operation of reading, it is possible to shorten the printing time.
[0032]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change can be made as needed.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, a line printer according to the present invention, from said contact portion of the length dimension from the rear end of the print range by each color to the marker of the next color the platen roller and the thermal head of the ink ribbon The total dimension of the length of the ribbon travel path to the ribbon sensor is calculated from the length dimension from the rear end of the print range of the paper to the rear end of the paper and the contact portion between the platen roller and the thermal head. Since it is formed to be smaller than the total length of the paper feed roller and the length of the travel path to the contact portion of the pressure roller, the trailing edge of the paper becomes the paper feed roller portion after printing is completed. By this, the ink ribbon marker can be reliably detected by the ribbon sensor. As a result, it is not necessary to back feed the paper and re-convey the ink ribbon. Can be carried out only up action quickly, it is possible to shorten the printing time.
[0034]
In another invention, at least cyan, magenta, and yellow ink layers are formed on the ink ribbon, so that it is possible to reliably detect cyan, magenta, and yellow color markers. Play.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a line printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing an ink ribbon used in the present invention. Explanatory diagram showing dimensional relationship with printing range of ink ribbon [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper 2 Thermal head 3 Platen roller 4 Ribbon cassette 5 Ink ribbon 11 Paper feed roller 12 Pressure roller 14 Ribbon sensor 16 Marker

Claims (2)

A platen roller and a plurality of color ink layers are continuously formed so that each color is repeated by a predetermined length, and a marker for identifying the color of each ink is formed between each color ink layer An ink ribbon , a thermal head pressed against the platen roller via the paper and the ink ribbon, a paper feed roller provided on the downstream side in the paper feed direction during printing of a contact portion between the thermal head and the platen roller, and A pressure roller that is pressed against the paper feed roller, one drive motor, and a ribbon sensor that is provided on the downstream side of the platen roller in the transport direction of the ink ribbon and detects a marker of the ink ribbon ,
In the state where the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller via the paper and the ink ribbon, the paper feeding roller is driven to rotate by the drive motor, and the take-up bobbin is rotated while the paper is transported to rotate the ink ribbon. After the image is recorded on the paper, the paper after the recording is rotated until the paper feed roller is rotated so that the rear end of the paper is positioned at the paper feed roller portion. Then, the ribbon sensor detects the marker of the next color of the ink ribbon, and after detecting the marker, the platen roller and the thermal head are separated to release the pressure contact between the paper and the ink ribbon. A printer,
The length dimension from the rear end of the printing range of each color of the ink ribbon to the marker of the next color and the length dimension of the ribbon travel path from the contact portion of the platen roller and the thermal head to the ribbon sensor The total dimension is the length from the rear end of the printing range of the paper to the rear end of the paper and the paper from the contact portion of the platen roller and the thermal head to the contact portion of the paper feed roller and the pressure roller. A line printer characterized by being formed so as to be smaller than a total length dimension with a length dimension of a travel route.   2. The line printer according to claim 1, wherein at least cyan, magenta, and yellow ink layers are formed on the ink ribbon.

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