JPH11334168A - Code ring - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly form a bit pattern to be marked and facilitate changing of the bit pattern by forming a reflecting member beforehand to an entire circumference of a code ring, irradiating laser beams to the reflecting member and forming a non-reflection code, thereby obtaining the bit pattern. SOLUTION: A code ring 10 is subjected to aluminum hot stamping while being butted with a code ring foil over an entire circumference in a rotational direction, whereby an aluminum 24 is attached. A laser beam 25 is irradiated to the attached aluminum 24 to cut the aluminum. As a result, a bit pattern of a reflecting face and a non-reflecting face is formed. When an irradiation output of the laser beam 25 has a duty ratio of 20-30%, the formed bit pattern appears good and a part of the aluminum 24 can be cut beautifully. A size accuracy of each bit can be maintained in a level of not higher than ±0.2 mm and the bit pattern can be formed more elaborately than in case of a conventional code ring plate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a code ring, and more particularly, to a bit pattern of a code ring provided on a spool around which an ink ribbon used in a printer is wound.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional color printer is
It is used not only for terminal devices of computer devices and image processing devices, but also for devices such as output terminal devices connected to audiovisual devices (AV devices) such as television receivers and video tape recorders to output display images. ing. Further, among color printers, low-cost thermal printers that have a thermal head and are relatively easy to carry out maintenance and the like are widely used. Among these thermal printers, in recent years, a dye thermal transfer type color printer capable of printing a clear full-color image or the like has attracted attention.

In this dye thermal transfer type color printer, a dye thermal transfer receiving sheet (thermal transfer printing paper) is supplied so as to be superimposed on a dye ink ribbon, and the dye ink ribbon is controlled by a thermal head controlled based on printing information. Heat. The dye ink ribbon prints an image or the like on the thermal transfer printing paper by transferring the dye of the heated dye layer at a predetermined location to the dye layer of the thermal transfer receiving sheet by melting or sublimating the dye at a predetermined concentration.

A ring called a code ring is mounted on a spool of an ink ribbon cartridge used in the color printer. The role of the code ring is to discriminate the type of the ink ribbon cartridge mounted in the printer and to transmit information on printing conditions at the time of printing.

The detailed structure and purpose of the cord ring are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 5-162405 and 02-95875, which have been previously published. To fulfill these roles, as shown in FIG.
On the outer periphery of the cord ring 10, a cord ring foil 12, which is a strip-shaped metal piece thinly aluminum-plated 11, is made of aluminum terephthalate (PET) (thickness: about 0.1 mm). A bit pattern is formed by applying pressure to the code ring plate 13 that is pasted by stamping and engraved with a code forming a bit pattern. This bit pattern is identified by a dedicated sensor provided in the printer.

As shown in FIG. 6, a bit pattern is composed of several kinds of aluminum-plated reflective codes (for example, start bit 14 and data 0 and data 1 bits) having different dimensions, and an unplated non-reflective code. (For example, the feed 15 and the accept data 16), and the total number is about ten and several bits. The printer reads the information of all these bit patterns while rotating the code ring 10 to determine the type of the ink ribbon cartridge mounted in the printer, and performs printing in accordance with the determined and selected cartridge. Control to do.

Conventionally, in order to create a bit pattern of the code ring 10, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a dedicated code ring plate 13 is prepared for each type (for example, model 1 to model 5). A method of hot stamping and engraving a bit pattern code on the outer periphery of the code ring 10 while pressing the code ring plate 13 is adopted.

[0008]

However, in order to design the bit configuration of the code ring to be different for each type of ink ribbon cartridge, an expensive code ring version must be created every time a new type appears. There are problems that must be done and that it takes a considerable amount of time to complete the edition.

[0009] Also, with the existence of various types of models,
Because there are many code ring versions, it is difficult to manage the code ring version and it is difficult to know the type of the completed code ring itself, that is, the code ring version or the finished product of the code ring at a glance It is firstly impossible to instantly recognize what kind of product it is.

In addition, strict conditions are set for the accuracy of the code dimension between each bit of the code ring.
There is also a problem that it is very difficult to manufacture within the standard value.

Further, since a method is adopted in which a special code ring plate is used and each code is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the code ring by hot stamping, the crimping conditions slightly vary, thereby reducing the bit size of the code. There is also a problem that the length naturally varies, and the printer does not recognize and operate as a code of a different type.

Therefore, there is a problem that a bit pattern to be formed on a code ring must be solved accurately and quickly.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a code ring according to the present invention is provided at an end of a spool around which an ink ribbon is wound, and comprises a reflective code and a non-reflective code. A code ring provided with a bit pattern on an outer periphery, wherein the bit pattern forms a non-reflective code by forming a reflective member in advance on the entire circumference of the code ring and irradiating the reflective member with a laser beam. The reflecting member is aluminum,
Further, the reflection member is formed by performing an aluminum hot stamping process while bringing a code ring foil, which has been previously subjected to aluminum plating, into contact with the outer periphery of the code ring.

As described above, since the bit pattern of the code ring is processed by laser irradiation, the bit pattern to be imprinted is accurately performed, and the bit pattern can be easily changed, so that the cost can be reduced. It is possible to provide a cord ring that is stable in terms of quality and quality.

[0015]

Next, a cord ring according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the prior art will be described with the same reference numerals.

The code ring 10 used in the thermal transfer ink ribbon cartridge is formed in a cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and has a winding shaft around which the ink ribbon 21 is wound in the ink ribbon cartridge 20. The spool 22 has a structure in which the spool 22 is fitted and locked on a spool shaft 23 at an end of the spool 22. The code ring 10 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the spool 22.

The material of the cord ring 10 in this embodiment is HIPS (High Impact Polyst).
yrene; impact-resistant prestyrene), and has an outer diameter of about 25 mm.

On the other hand, the code ring foil for hot stamping the aluminum 24 on the outer periphery of the code ring 10 is made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as a base material, and its upper surface is coated by aluminum plating. The total thickness is about 0.1 mm and is wound in a roll.

The laser beam 25 in the embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, Keyence ML-900
It is a carbon dioxide laser using a 0 series laser marker, the wavelength is 10.6 micrometer, the output is 12 W, the duty is 20%, 25%, 30%, the line speed is 30 cm / sec, and the distance between works. Is 130
mm.

In order to create a bit pattern on the code ring 10 using such a laser beam 25,
First, as shown in FIG. 2, aluminum hot stamping is performed while the code ring foil is in contact with the entire circumference of the code ring 10 in the rotation direction, thereby forming the aluminum 2.
Paste 4

Next, the aluminum 24 adhered to the entire circumference of the code ring 10 is cut by irradiating the aluminum beam 24 with a laser beam 25 to form a bit pattern including a reflective surface (reflective code) and a non-reflective surface (non-reflective code). .

The bit pattern formed in this way has an irradiation output of the laser beam 25 of duty = 20%.
In the case of ~ 30% condition, aluminum 2 with no problem in appearance
Part 4 can be sharply cut. The dimensional accuracy of each bit can be maintained at a level of ± 0.2 mm or less, and it can be easily understood that the dimensional accuracy can be made more elaborate than in the case of the conventional code ring plate (see FIG. 5). Further, since an elaborate pattern can be formed, the type name of the ink ribbon cartridge 20 can be engraved in the area of the accept data as described later, and the malfunction of the printer does not occur.

The irradiation output of the laser beam 25 is duty
Under the condition of = 20% or less, there is a problem of insufficient irradiation energy for shaving the aluminum 24 of the cord ring 10, and the shaving cannot be performed well.

The irradiation output of the laser beam 25 is duty
On the other hand, under the condition of 30% or more, the irradiation energy is too strong to pass through the aluminum 24 film and destroy the surface of the code ring, so that the appearance of the surface of the code ring deteriorates.

Therefore, in view of the capability of the laser beam 25 of this embodiment, the irradiation output is good when the duty is 20% to 30%. Note that this result varies depending on the irradiation energy of the laser beam 25, and it goes without saying that the irradiation output duty changes depending on the unit that emits the laser beam 25.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the code of the bit pattern is determined in advance by its size. First, a reflective code made of aluminum 24 (Whit
e) a non-reflection code (Black) 27 formed by irradiating a laser beam 25; The reflection code 26 is a start bit (Start bit) 28
, Data 0 (Data 0) and data 1 (Data 1).
0.2 mm, data 0 is 1.75 ± 0.2 mm, and data 1 is 3.5 ± 0.2 mm. Also, the non-reflective cord 27
Indicates the feed and the exception data (Exce
pt Data) and the feed is 2 ± 0.2m
The remaining circumference of the bit pattern composed of the feed of the reflection code 26 and the non-reflection code 27 out of the circumference of the code ring 10 has the dimension m.

FIG. 4 shows a code ring having a unique identification number by combining these start bit 14, feed 15, data 0 and data 1,
In the embodiment, a unique code ring combining six data of a to f, that is, a code ring of model 1 to model 5 necessary to determine the type of the ink ribbon cartridge mounted in the printer. is there.

In addition, since the laser beam is formed by using a laser beam, it is possible to elaborate the laser beam and to easily change the bit pattern each time. Information can be written into the created and created code ring in the region of the exception data 16 to enable visual recognition. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, if the type name (Model 1 to Model 5) 28 is put in the area of the accept data 16 of the ink ribbon cartridge, the bit pattern can be mechanically detected, and the discrimination and confirmation by visual recognition can be performed. become able to. In addition, since a code ring suitable for a cartridge is formed with a laser beam, parts can be shared, and costs can be reduced.

[0029]

As described above, the code ring according to the present invention not only can reduce the cost due to the great advantage that the production of the conventional code ring plate can be omitted by forming the bit pattern by laser irradiation, but also by reducing the cost. It is possible to respond to any bit pattern instantaneously and flexibly. In addition, since there is no need to manufacture a dedicated code ring plate, parts can be shared, and if one unit for irradiating a laser beam can be used, all models can be used.

Further, since the processing by the laser beam is excellent also in fine processing, fine dimensional accuracy can be obtained.
It will also contribute greatly to quality improvement. Others
Since it is possible to engrave fine characters and the like, there is an effect that anyone can easily identify a model even with a single code ring by entering a product name into the code ring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cord ring according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the code ring according to the present invention is irradiated with a laser beam.

FIG. 3 is a list of dimensions of a bit pattern formed on a code ring.

FIG. 4 shows bit patterns formed by irradiating the code ring according to the present invention with a laser beam, and FIGS.
(E) shows examples of five types of ink ribbon cartridge models.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a bit pattern is formed using a code ring plate for a code ring in the related art.

FIG. 6 shows bit patterns provided on a code ring according to the related art, wherein (A) to (E) show examples of five types of ink ribbon cartridge models.

[Explanation of symbols]

10; code ring, 11; aluminum plating, 12; code ring foil, 13; code ring plate, 14; start bit, 15; feed, 16;
0: ink ribbon cartridge, 21: ink ribbon,
22; spool, 23; spool shaft, 24; aluminum, 25; laser beam, 26; reflection code, 27; non-reflection code, 28;

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A code ring provided at an end of a spool around which an ink ribbon is wound and having a bit pattern formed of a reflective code and a non-reflective code on an outer periphery thereof, wherein the bit pattern is A code ring, wherein a reflection member is formed on the entire circumference of the ring in advance, and the reflection member is irradiated with a laser beam to form the non-reflection code. 2. The cord ring according to claim 1, wherein said reflection member is made of aluminum. 3. The reflection member according to claim 1, wherein the reflection member is formed by subjecting a code ring foil, which has been previously subjected to aluminum plating, to an aluminum hot stamping process while making contact with an outer periphery of the code ring. Code ring.