JPH04314576A - Ink sheet and mark sensor circuit in line printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an ink sheet capable of providing a number of information items, such as the color, head position, type of image receiving paper, density, and maker of the ink sheet. CONSTITUTION:Mark areas 2 are provided between different colors of an ink sheet 1. In the mark area 2, block marks 5A, 5B consisting, marks M1-M4 representing a plurality of information items are provided in the main scanning direction of a line head 3. The block marks 5A, 5B are composed of four marks. A plurality of information items are read by the combination of the marks where a presence of mark is represented by '1' and an absence of mark is '0'.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink sheet and mark sensor circuit for a thermal transfer thermal line printer.

0002

[Prior Art] Since the ink sheet used in a thermal transfer thermal line printer is not limited to one type, conventionally,
For example, as described in JP-A No. 63-31783, a color identification mark is provided to distinguish between three-color sheets and four-color sheets, and JP-A No. 1-294084
As stated in the publication, a mark is provided and a single color,
Distinguishing between 2 colors, 3 colors, and 4 colors, as well as JP-A-56-
As described in Japanese Patent No. 13193, there is an ink ribbon cartridge in which a pin is provided to determine the type of ribbon.

[0003] Furthermore, in the conventional production of ink sheets, for example, when making a roll of 100 screens, one roll of the ink sheet is made by passing the original roll through a slitter and winding the 100 screens onto a bobbin to the required width. Here, since the original roll is not usually made with an integral multiple of 100 screens, a roll that is less than 100 screens occurs at the end of the original roll, but in such a case, the roll that is less than 100 screens is Rolls that are missing are discarded, or sheets from newer original rolls are connected with black tape from where the sheets were cut to make one roll with 100 screens.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with the spread of thermal transfer thermal line printers, the number of manufacturers supplying ink sheets has increased, and there are many types of ink sheets compatible with image receiving paper, such as sheets exclusively for overhead projectors, high-quality sheets, etc. Since density sheets and the like have been developed, the above-described conventional ink sheet type discrimination cannot discriminate between many types of ink sheets and set optimal printing conditions.

[0005] Furthermore, when producing one roll of ink sheet, if the roll that does not have the required number of screens is discarded, the entire original roll of ink sheet cannot be used, and as a result, the cost of one roll of ink sheet increases. It gets expensive. Furthermore, if you connect the ink sheets at any location, for example, as shown in Figure 11, if you connect the ink sheets at the magenta (M) position, if you print normally, the ink sheet will be connected in the middle of magenta (M). Some parts may not be printed in a strip or the density may be low.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a plurality of pieces of information are expressed in parallel to the main scanning direction of the line head for each unit length of the ink sheet. Multiple marks were set as one block. Further, in the invention of claim 2, one roll of ink sheet is constructed by leaving a part of the mark of one color on one ink sheet and connecting another ink sheet of the color immediately before that color. . Furthermore, in the invention of claim 3, the light emitting diode of the mark sensor for reading the mark can be controlled on and off.

[0007]

[Operation] In the invention of claim 1, by providing a block mark, a plurality of information such as color, leading position, type of receiving paper, density, manufacturer, etc. can be obtained. Using such an ink sheet, you can make effective use of the ink sheet by leaving a part of the mark of one color on the first ink sheet and connecting it with another ink sheet of the color one color before that color. Further, in the invention of claim 3, the light emitting diodes of the plurality of mark sensors are turned on and off.
By enabling off control, the output of each mark sensor does not meet the predetermined condition.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an ink sheet to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the mark area of the ink sheet, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a mark sensor array that detects marks on the ink sheet, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the mark sensor circuit, FIG. 6 is a detailed illustration of the mark area of an ink sheet according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a detection result of marks on the same sheet. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an ink sheet according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of the seam of the ink sheet, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of the end of the ink sheet.

The ink sheet 1 has yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) formed in a circulating order, and a mark area 2 is provided for each unit length, that is, between each color. In this mark area 2, two block marks 5 are placed in the main scanning direction of the line head 3 (in the direction of the heating resistor 4).
A and 5B are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the block marks 5A and 5B consist of four marks M1, M2, M3, and M4, and by attaching each mark M1, M2, M3, and M4, "1" can be represented. , indicates "0" by not adding it, and multiple pieces of information such as color, starting position, receiving paper type,
Mark M1, M2, M3 depending on information such as density and manufacturer
, M4, these marks M1, M2, M
3. By detecting the presence or absence of M4, a plurality of pieces of information can be read.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mark sensor array 7 that detects the block marks 5A and 5B is a mark sensor array 7 that detects the block marks 5A and 5B. Four sensors 8 are arranged in a row, a cable 10 is connected to the sensor array 7 via a connector 9, and a light reflecting plate 11 is arranged on the back of the ink sheet 1.

In this mark sensor 8, when there is no mark M on the ink sheet 1, the emitted light (infrared light) from the light emitting diode LRED passes through the ink sheet 1, as shown in FIG. 4(a). It is reflected by the reflection plate 11 and enters the phototransistor PT, so the phototransistor PT
turns on. Furthermore, when there is a mark M on the ink sheet 1, as shown in FIG.
The irradiated light (infrared light) from the RED is absorbed by the black mark M, and a part of it passes through the ink sheet 1 and reaches the light reflecting plate 11.
However, it is absorbed again by the mark M and does not enter the phototransistor PT, so the phototransistor PT is turned off. In this way, the four marks M1, M2, M3, M4 of each block mark 5A, 5B
It is possible to detect the presence or absence of Note that the light emitted from the light emitting diode has a higher S value when it enters from the ink layer side of the ink sheet because there is no reflected light on the ink surface.
/N ratio can be obtained.

[0013] With this configuration, ink sheet 1
The ink sheet 1 can have a large amount of information (256 types of information in the above example), and can respond to the diversification of the ink sheet 1. Since the ink sheet 1 itself has ink information, it is possible to use a common cassette.

Here, for example, one block mark 5
For each mark M1, M2, M3, M4 in A, mark M1, M2 has a color, that is, yellow (Y), magenta (
M), cyan (C), and black (K) (or yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C)), and the presence or absence of black (K) with mark M3, that is, whether the three colors are Mark 4 is used to set the size (A3 or A4) as well as the four colors.

[0015] When set in this way, marks M1, M
Regarding No. 2, since there is always a black mark during one cycle of the ink sheet 1, the mark sensor output changes and the mark sensor circuit can be checked. However, Mark M
3. Regarding M4, since information is set based on the presence or absence of marks, there is no change in the mark sensor output during one cycle of ink sheet 1, and it is possible to check for sensor failures or abnormalities in the sensor circuit while the printer is operating. become unable. If such a situation occurs, the printer's power supply control cannot be performed under appropriate conditions, resulting in inappropriate transfer density, or if the size information is incorrect, the mechanical operation sequence will not be normal and a mechanical error will occur. causes the effects of

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the sensor circuit of the mark sensor array 7 includes a detection circuit for each mark sensor 8 (consisting of light emitting diodes LED1-4 and phototransistors PT1-4) of the mark sensor array 7. In addition to comparison circuits CP1 to CP4 that compare outputs with reference voltages, a switch circuit consisting of a transistor 12 and resistors 13 and 14 is provided, and in this switch circuit, the transistor 12 is controlled on/off by a check signal CHKIMS, and the mark sensor array Light emitting diode LED of each mark sensor 8 of 7
1 to 4 can be forcibly turned on and off.

Using this check circuit, mark sensor 8
To detect whether there is an abnormality in the ink sheet 1, first turn on the check signal CHKIMS at a location other than the mark M on the ink sheet 1.
When set to "L", the output of each phototransistor PT1-PT4 becomes "L", and the output IM-1 to IM-1 of each comparison circuit CP1-4 becomes "L".
4 is fixed at "H", it can be determined that there is an abnormality if any of the outputs IM-1 to IM-4 of each comparison circuit CP1 to CP4 is "L". In addition, the check signal CHKIMS
When set to "H", each phototransistor PT1 to PT4
The output of each comparator circuit CP1 to CP4 is "H", and the output IM- of each comparator circuit CP1 to CP4 is "H".
Since 1 to 4 are fixed to "L", each comparison circuit CP1 to
If any output among the four outputs IM-1 to IM-4 is "H", it can be determined that there is an abnormality.

This error check is carried out by, for example, controlling the check signal CHKIMS and controlling the respective comparison circuits CP1 to CP1.
Connect the outputs IM-1 to 4 of 4 to the ports of the microcontroller,
This is done by performing a series of check operations according to a predetermined program. When an abnormality occurs, an error message is displayed and the printer operation is stopped, so that the operation can be stopped before the printer performance or operation sequence is affected.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, among the four marks M1, M2, M3, M4 constituting the block mark,
Only the mark M1 is formed longer than the other marks M2, M3, and M4 in the feeding direction of the ink sheet 1, making the shape different. With this configuration, even if the detected waveforms have different phases due to installation errors in the sensor array, as shown in FIG. 7, the detection of mark M1 is triggered and the marks M1, M2, M3, M4 By capturing the detection signals of each light-receiving element corresponding to , reliable detection becomes possible.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the mark area of the previous embodiment is eliminated and block marks 5A, 5B are
are provided directly in each color ink. In this case, the mark can be detected by the mark sensor array 7 shown in FIG. 3, but since the mark is in the ink, the ink material and mark material are limited. In other words, by using sublimable ink (using dye as the coloring material) as the ink material and melting ink (using pigment as the coloring material) as the mark material, the dye is transparent to infrared light and the pigment is opaque to infrared light. Since it is transparent, the mark can be detected.

[0021] If the ink is configured to have marks in this manner, there is no need to provide a dedicated mark area, and the ink sheet can be used effectively.

Next, an embodiment in which ink sheets are connected to form one roll will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and subsequent figures. In this embodiment, two block marks 5A and 5B are provided in parallel in the ink of the ink sheet 21. Then, the four marks M1, M2, M3 of block mark 5A
, M4 represents the type of ink sheet 21 with 4 bits,
14 types can be set, including OHP use, high concentration type, etc. However, 0H (H is hexadecimal notation) is not used because the mark cannot be detected, and FH is used as the end mark of the ink sheet 21. Thereby, optimal energization conditions can be set.

Further, 1 bit of the mark M1 of the block mark 5B sets the size of one screen of the ink sheet 21 and sets the A3/A4 type, and 2 bits of the marks M2 and M3 set each color of the ink sheet 21, for example. Yellow (Y),
Color marks for magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) (Y is "0,0", M is "1,0", C is "
0, 1'', K is ``1, 1''), and 1 bit of mark M4 represents the number of colors on the ink sheet 21, and 3 colors (Y, M
, C) Set the ink sheet and four color (Y, M, C, K) ink sheets. The above is summarized in Table 1.

[0024]

[Table 1]

When connecting the ink sheets 21, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the block mark 5B, which is part of the yellow (Y) block marks 5A and 5B, is hidden so that the block mark 5A remains. with tape width L1,
Connect the color black (K) in front of yellow (Y). At this time, the length L2 of the connected black (K) is approximately equal to the regular length of one color.

The printer operation under various printer sequence conditions when using the ink sheet 21 connected in this manner will be described. First, when the ink sheet 21 is set in the printer at the joint of the ink sheet 21, the ink sheet 21 is set and the printer operation is reset mode, and the yellow (
Y) is selected to set the print ready state, so the color information at the seam is determined to be black (K) because the bits corresponding to marks M2 and M3 of block mark 5B are both "1", and the next The ink sheet 21 is sent to Yellow (Y), where it becomes print ready.

[0027] Also, if the ink sheet is used up to black (K) before the seam and the next print is made, the printer will start from yellow (Y) unless a single color is specified, so it will be the same as in the above case. Yellow (Y) at the seam
is determined to be black (K), and the ink sheet 21 is fed to the next yellow (Y), at which point it becomes print ready.

Furthermore, if the ink sheet is used up to black (K) before the seam and black (K) single color is specified for the next print, the block mark 5B at the seam as described above is Since the bits corresponding to marks M2 and M3 are both set to "1", they are determined to be black (K), and even the black (K) at this joint is used.

In this way, even when the ink sheets 21 are connected to form one roll, a safe sequence can be realized without causing band-like missing parts in the recorded image, and even under various operating conditions of the printer.

Next, the terminal end of this ink sheet 21 is
As shown in Figure 10, the final black (K) of 100 screens
An end mark is provided on the next yellow (Y) with the same width L1 as the joint tape so as to completely cover the block mark 5A. In this manner, the end of the ink sheet 21 can be detected by completely covering the block mark 5A and setting all four bits of the marks M1 to M4 to "1". It can be distinguished from the joint of the ink sheet 21 by whether or not the data of the block mark 5A can be detected.

By doing this, yellow (Y
), the end of the ink sheet can be detected as soon as the end is detected, and the length L3 of the ink sheet after the end detection mark can be set shorter than when the end is detected by running the ink sheet a certain distance. can be used effectively.

[0032]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, a plurality of marks representing a plurality of pieces of information are printed in one unit length of the ink sheet in parallel to the main scanning direction of the line head. Since it is provided in blocks, it is possible to obtain a large amount of information such as the color of the ink sheet, the leading position, the type of receiving paper, the density, the manufacturer, etc., and it is possible to respond to the diversification of ink sheets. Furthermore, since the ink sheet itself has ink information, it is possible to use common cassettes for storing ink sheets, thereby reducing the cost of cassettes.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, by using the above ink sheet, a part of the mark of one color on the one ink sheet is left, and another ink of the color immediately before that color is applied. By connecting the sheets, the ink sheets can be used effectively without causing missing parts in the recorded image.

Furthermore, in the invention of claim 3, by enabling on/off control of the light emitting diodes of the plurality of mark sensors, it is possible to determine that the sensor is abnormal when the output of each mark sensor does not meet a predetermined condition. Therefore, it is possible to take measures such as stopping the printer operation before it affects recorded images and the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Fig. 1] An explanatory diagram of an ink sheet to which the present invention is applied

[Figure 2
】Detailed illustration of the mark area of the same ink sheet

[Figure 3]
An explanatory diagram of the mark sensor array that detects marks on the same ink sheet

[Figure 4] Diagram explaining the operation of the same mark sensor

[Figure 5] Block diagram of mark sensor circuit

FIG. 6 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a mark area of an ink sheet according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 7] Explanatory diagram of the detection results of marks on the same sheet

[Figure 8]
An explanatory diagram of an ink sheet according to yet another embodiment of the present invention

[Figure 9] Enlarged explanatory diagram of the joints of the same ink sheet

[Figure 1
0] Enlarged explanatory diagram of the end of the same ink sheet

[Fig. 11] Explanatory diagram showing an example of connecting conventional ink sheets

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 21... Ink sheet, 2... Mark area, 5A, 5
B...Block mark, 7...Mark sensor array, 8...Mark sensor, M1, M2, M3, M4...Mark.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink sheet for a thermal transfer thermal line printer, characterized in that a plurality of marks representing a plurality of pieces of information are provided in one block for each unit length in parallel to the main scanning direction of the line head. Ink sheet for line printer. 2. The ink sheet is characterized in that a part of the mark of one color on the one ink sheet is left and another ink sheet of the color immediately before that color is connected. The ink sheet for the line printer described in Item 1. 3. A mark sensor circuit for a line printer, characterized in that a light emitting diode of a sensor for reading the mark can be controlled on and off.