JP3579607B2 - Thermal transfer printer and ribbon cassette detection method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer and a ribbon cassette detection method, and more particularly to a thermal transfer printer and a ribbon cassette detection method capable of automatically exchanging a plurality of ribbon cassettes and performing image recording with a plurality of color ribbon cassettes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In a general thermal transfer printer widely used as an output device of a computer, a word processor, or the like, a carriage reciprocally movable along a platen is provided, a thermal head is mounted on the carriage, and a desired internal It is configured to detachably mount a ribbon cassette containing the ink ribbons of the following colors. The carriage is moved between the platen and the thermal head by driving the thermal head based on image information while reciprocating the carriage along the platen and winding the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette. A desired image is recorded on the recording paper.
[0003]
As a recent thermal transfer printer, for example, a ribbon frame of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black is held in parallel on a printer frame, or a plurality of ribbon cassettes of the same color are held. A ribbon cassette that can be replaced by selectively mounting the ribbon cassette on a carriage according to recording information has been developed.
[0004]
As a result, the ribbon cassette of each color is automatically replaced, and a full-color image or a mono-color image can be recorded quickly and reliably.
[0005]
A ribbon cassette replacement control method in such a four-cassette type printer includes an identification mark such as a bar code indicating the color and type of an ink ribbon formed on the ribbon cassette. In advance, the ribbon cassette and the cassette holder holding the ribbon cassette are recognized in association with each other as chain information, and a desired ribbon cassette is searched based on the recorded information while referring to the chain information. The carriage was mounted on the carriage.
[0006]
In recent years, in view of the fact that the types of inks have become diverse, such as metallic inks, glossy raster inks, overprint inks, and the like, the present inventor has adopted these ink ribbons. Has proposed a two-stage holding type seven-cassette printer capable of holding a ribbon cassette. The seven-cassette printer has a configuration in which the ribbon cassette is held in two stages, an upper stage and a lower stage of each cassette holder.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a seven-cassette printer, a bar code or the like indicating the color and type of ink ribbons formed on the ribbon cassettes held in two stages on the carriage is used for controlling the exchange of the ribbon cassettes. In order to read the identification mark, a sensor such as a scanner is provided in two upper and lower stages so as to face the position of the ribbon cassette held by the carriage, so that one sensor is added compared to a normal printer. There was a problem that this would lead to an increase in cost.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even when replacing a ribbon cassette in a seven-cassette type printer, a bar code or the like indicating the color and type of an ink ribbon formed on the ribbon cassette using one sensor is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printer and a ribbon cassette detection method capable of reading the identification mark of the above and controlling the attachment and exchange of the ribbon cassette to the carriage.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is characterized in that a carriage that can reciprocate along a platen, and two ribbon cassettes that are opposed to the carriage are stacked on an upper stage and a lower stage. Cassette holder, a sensor for detecting an identification mark of a ribbon cassette held by the cassette holder, and a cassette exchange mechanism capable of exchanging a desired ribbon cassette between the carriage and the cassette holder. And a control unit for controlling the driving of the carriage, the sensor, and the cassette exchange mechanism, wherein the sensor is disposed so as to face a ribbon cassette positioned at an upper stage of the cassette holding unit. A single sensor, wherein the cassette holding section is configured to preferentially hold the ribbon cassette in an upper stage; The control unit is configured to control driving of a carriage, a sensor, and a cassette exchange mechanism so that the single sensor can detect a ribbon cassette held in an upper stage of each cassette holding unit. It is in the point.
[0010]
Further, a characteristic of the ribbon cassette detecting method according to the present invention is that the two ribbon cassettes are mounted on the carriage for each of the cassette holding units capable of holding the two ribbon cassettes in an upper stage and a lower stage so as to face the carriage . performs sensing by a single sensor, if it is the detection of the identification mark of the ribbon cassette held in the upper cassette holding section, said cassette exchange mechanism is driven to retract the ribbon cassette on the carriage The sensing is again performed on the cassette holding unit to detect the presence / absence of the ribbon cassette lifted from the lower stage to the upper stage due to the retraction of the upper ribbon cassette and the identification mark thereof, and the ribbon held in the upper stage of the cassette holding unit is detected. Two times of sensing when the identification mark of the cassette is not detected and for the cassette holding unit After the completion, the operation for shifting to the next cassette holding unit is sequentially performed, and holder information on whether or not the ribbon cassette is held and the type of the ribbon cassette are stored in advance, and a desired ribbon cassette is stored based on the holder information. And controls the attachment and replacement of the ribbon cassette to the carriage.
[0011]
By employing such a configuration, even in a seven-cassette-type thermal transfer printer, one sensor can accurately detect and replace the ribbon cassette.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a thermal transfer printer in which the ribbon cassette detecting method according to the present invention is used. In a printer frame (not shown), a flat platen 1 has a recording surface directed upward. A carriage 2 is disposed above the platen 1 along a guide shaft 3 so as to be reciprocally movable in parallel with the platen 1. A drive belt 4 wound around a pair of pulleys (not shown) is connected to the carriage 2. The drive belt 4 is driven by a drive device (not shown) such as a stepping motor via the pulleys. , The carriage 2 is reciprocated along the guide shaft 3.
[0013]
On the carriage 2, a thermal head 5 in which a plurality of heating elements (not shown) for selectively generating heat based on desired recording information are arranged to face the platen 1 and to the platen 1 is provided. The carriage 2 is provided with a ribbon ribbon 8 having a predetermined color ink ribbon 7 wound around a take-up ribbon core 6a and a delivery ribbon core 6b. A take-up bobbin 9a, which is engaged with each of the ink ribbons 7 of the ribbon cassette 8 and a delivery bobbin 9b which delivers the ink ribbon 7, is rotatably arranged.
[0014]
Next, the configuration of the cassette exchange mechanism of the printer according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0015]
In the present embodiment, a carrier 10 on which the ribbon cassette 8 is detachably mounted is detachably mounted on the upper surface of the carriage 2 in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the carriage 2 by a drive mechanism (not shown), and , Which are movably arranged in the left-right direction (the moving direction of the carriage 2). On both sides of the carrier 10, a fixed carrier arm 11 and a movable carrier arm 12 capable of swinging in the left-right direction are respectively provided upright. Are formed with holding claws 13, 13, respectively.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a holding cover 14 facing the carriage 2 is provided on the printer frame so as to be openable and closable, and the holding cover 14 is substantially the same as the moving area of the carriage 2. The length is formed.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) cassettes for holding the ribbon cassette 8 are provided at predetermined positions on a surface of the holding cover 14 facing the carriage 2. .. Are arranged in parallel, and in the present embodiment, two ribbon cassettes 8 can be held on one cassette holder plate 15 in an overlapping manner. In the vicinity of one side of each cassette holder plate 15 of the holding cover 14, fixed holding arms 16 having a length substantially the same as the thickness of the stacked ribbon cassettes 8 are formed so as to protrude, respectively. At the tip of the holding arm 16, a holding claw 17 is formed which is bent toward the cassette holder plate 15 so as to engage with the side edge of the ribbon cassette 8. The fixed holding arm 16 is formed with a stopper groove 18 extending in the longitudinal direction from the base end of the fixed holding arm 16, and a side surface of the cassette holder plate 15 on the fixed holding arm 16 side is formed on a stopper groove 18. An engagement pin 19 that is engaged with the stopper groove 18 is protruded. The position of the upper end of the stopper groove 18 is such that the engaging pin 19 of the cassette holder plate 15 is engaged with the upper end of the stopper groove 18 and the upper surface of the cassette holder plate 15 The gap with the inside of the claw 17 is formed so as to be substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the thickness of one ribbon cassette 8. This is because when the distance between the upper surface of the cassette holder plate 15 and the inside of the holding claw 17 is formed larger than the thickness of one ribbon cassette 8, the cassette holder plate 15 and the holding claw 17 of the fixed holding arm 16 are used. This is because the ribbon cassette 8 cannot be held. Moreover, if the upper surface of the cassette holder plate 15 can be moved to the vicinity of the inside of the holding claw 17, the cassette holder plate 15 needs to be urged by a large urging force, and the cassette holder plate 15 is pushed down when the ribbon cassette 8 is replaced. In this case, a large force is required, and the ribbon cassette 8 is always engaged with the holding claw 17 with a strong force, so that the durability of the case of the ribbon cassette 8 and the holding claw 17 is reduced. It is.
[0018]
A movable holding arm 20 is attached to the holding cover 14 in the vicinity of the other side of each cassette holder plate 15 so as to be swingable about a base end, and these movable holding arms 20 are not shown. It is urged to always swing toward the cassette holder plate 15 by the urging force of the urging spring. The distal end of each of the movable holding arms 20 is bent so as to contact the side edge of the ribbon cassette 8 located on the upper side.
[0019]
Two holding guides 21 and 21 are provided upright at positions corresponding to the respective cassette holder plates 15 of the holding cover 14 so as to correspond to the respective ribbon cores 6a and 6b of the ribbon cassette 8. Two through holes 22 are respectively formed in the cassette holder plate 15 at positions corresponding to the holding guides 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the through hole 22 of the through hole 22 located on the movable holding arm 20 side is formed in a concave shape so as to extend in the circumferential direction of the through hole 22. A locking surface 23 is formed on the upper side.
[0020]
The holding guide 21 positioned on the movable holding arm 20 side of the holding guide 21 is integrally formed with a holding arm 24 extending upward. Is formed with a bent engaging claw 25 on the movable holding arm 20 side. Further, a step 26 is formed at the base end of the holding arm 24 so as to be displaced so as to slightly project outward in the radial direction with respect to the holding guide 21. The engagement of 26 with the locking surface 23 of the through hole 22 of the cassette holder plate 15 restricts the upward movement of the cassette holder plate 15.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, of the holding guides 21, of the holding guides 21, the leading edge on the movable holding arm 20 side extends upward to the holding guide 21 located on the fixed holding arm 16 side. The holding guide 21 and the side surface of the extension portion 27 on the side of the movable holding arm 20 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the take-up ribbon core 6a. A first rib 29 engaged with the set rib 28 is formed to protrude. Further, a second rib 30 protruding from the side surface of the fixed holding arm 16 of the holding guide 21 and extending in the vertical direction and engaging with the rib 28 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the take-up ribbon core 6a is formed. ing.
[0022]
Further, biasing springs 31, 31 for constantly biasing the cassette holder plate 15 upward are arranged around the holding guides 21. In the normal state, the step portion 26 of the holding arm 24 engages with the engaging surface 23 of the through hole 22 of the cassette holder plate 15 by the urging force of the urging spring 31. At the same time, the engaging pin 19 is held in a state of being engaged with the upper end of the stopper groove 18, and when the downward pressing force is applied to the cassette holder plate 15, the engaging pin 19 resists the urging force of the urging spring 31. The cassette holder plate 15 is moved along the holding guides 21.
[0023]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, on the rear surface of the ribbon cassette 8, the type of the ink ribbon 7 stored in each ribbon cassette 8 is determined. Different identification marks 32 are formed for each type of ink ribbon 7, and a sensor support 33 is provided upright at an edge of the carriage 2 on the far side with respect to the platen 1. An identification mark of each of the ribbon cassettes 8 is provided at a position corresponding to the rear surface of the ribbon cassette 8 held on the upper side of the ribbon cassettes 8 held in two stages on the holding cover 14 of the sensor support 33. One optical sensor 34 is provided as a detecting device for detecting 32.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, the driving of the carriage 2, the optical sensor 34, and the cassette exchange mechanism is controlled by the control unit 35. The control of the control unit 35 will be described in detail in the operation.
[0025]
Next, a method of detecting a ribbon cassette by the thermal transfer printer will be described.
[0026]
First, before performing a predetermined recording, the ribbon cassette 8 is mounted on each cassette holder plate 15 of the holding cover 14 and held.
[0027]
This allows the ribbon cassette 8 to be inserted into each cassette holder plate 15 and the extension portion 27 to be inserted into the sending ribbon core 6 b, and that the side surface of the ribbon cassette 8 does not hit the holding claw 17 of the fixed holding arm 16. This is performed by inserting the movable holding arm 20 while swinging it against the urging force. When the ribbon cassette 8 is mounted on the upper surface of the cassette holder plate 15, the movable holding arm 20 presses the side surface of the ribbon cassette 8 by its urging force, and the upper end edge of the other side of the ribbon cassette 8 has a fixed holding arm. The engaging claw 17 of the holding arm 24 and the engaging claw 25 of the holding arm 24 engage with the peripheral edge of the delivery ribbon core 6b of the ribbon cassette 8, so that the first Is held.
[0028]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the second ribbon cassette 8 is mounted on the cassette holder plate 15 on which the first ribbon cassette 8 is mounted in the same manner as the above operation. As a result, the already loaded ribbon cassette 8 is pushed rearward (downward), so that the cassette holder plate 15 is lowered along the holding guide 21 by the urging force of the urging spring 31, and The eye ribbon cassette 8 fits in the lower stage, the upper end edge of the upper ribbon cassette 8 is engaged with the holding claws 17 of the fixed holding arm 16, and the engaging claws 25 of the holding arm 24 are sent out of the ribbon cassette 8. The ribbon cassette 8 is held in two stages by engaging with the peripheral edge of the ribbon core 6b.
[0029]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the upper ribbon cassette 8 is urged toward the fixed holding arm 16 by the movable holding arm 20, so that the inner peripheral surface of the winding ribbon core 6a of the ribbon cassette 8 is The first rib 29 of the extension 27 of the holding guide 21 is engaged between the ribs 28 formed in the holding member 21. Thereby, the winding ribbon core 6a is held so as not to rotate. When the first rib 29 directly contacts the rib 28 of the take-up ribbon core 6a depending on the rotation state of the take-up ribbon core 6a of the ribbon cassette 8, as shown in FIG. Since the ribbon core 6a is pressed, the rotation of the winding ribbon core 6a can be similarly prevented. Further, although the lower ribbon cassette 8 is not biased by the movable holding arm 20, the first rib of the holding guide 21 is held between the ribs 28 of the winding ribbon core 6a of the ribbon cassette 8, as shown in FIG. Since the second rib 29 and the second rib 30 are respectively engaged, the winding ribbon core 6a is held so as not to rotate.
[0030]
Since the rotation of the winding ribbon core 6a of the ribbon cassette 8 is prevented by the first rib 29 and the second rib 30 of the holding guide 21, the winding ribbon core is held while the ribbon cassette 8 is held. The rotation of the ink ribbon 7 due to the rotation of the ink ribbon 7 can be prevented. In addition, since the rotation of the take-up ribbon core 6a is prevented, the portion of the ink ribbon 7 on which the ink has already been transferred is not shifted to the recording portion, and the occurrence of recording defects and the like is reliably prevented. can do.
[0031]
Further, assuming that there are n cassette holder plates 15 and two ribbon cassettes 8 can be mounted on each cassette holder plate 15, 2n-1 ribbon cassettes 8 are mounted. Since there are four cassette holder plates 15, seven ribbon cassettes 8 are mounted. That is, when the ribbon cassette 8 held in the lower stage is used, a retreat portion to which one ribbon cassette 8 can be attached is provided in order to temporarily retreat the ribbon cassette 8 held in the upper stage. . In the present embodiment, two ribbon cassettes 8 are mounted on one cassette holder plate 15. For example, when three ribbon cassettes 8 are mounted, two ribbon cassettes 8 are mounted. It is sufficient to provide a retractable portion that can perform the operation. Further, when four or more ribbon cassettes 8 are mounted, a retractable portion corresponding to the number thereof may be provided.
[0032]
Next, before recording, holder information relating to whether or not the ribbon cassette 8 is held and the type of the ribbon cassette 8 is recorded in the control unit 35 (not shown) in advance.
[0033]
First, one optical sensor 34 provided on the sensor support 33 is scanned once or twice with respect to each cassette holder plate 15 while moving the carriage 2 to detect the presence / absence of the ribbon cassette 8 and the identification mark 32. Is controlled. In other words, when two ribbon cassettes are held in a state of being stacked on one cassette holder plate 15 as in the present embodiment, the ribbon cassettes 8 can be placed on the cassette holder plate at most twice. It is controlled to perform scanning for detecting presence / absence and the identification mark 32.
[0034]
Specifically, first, all the cassette holder plates 15 are scanned for detecting the identification mark 32 of the upper ribbon cassette 8.
[0035]
At this time, when the identification mark 32 is not detected, it is determined that there is no lower ribbon cassette 8 that is accommodated in the cassette holder plate 15 in a deep position. Scanning is completed once, and control is performed to move the carriage 2 only to a position facing the cassette holder plate 15 where the identification mark 32 is detected.
[0036]
In the above-described determination, when each cassette holder plate 15 is configured to hold a single ribbon cassette without fail, the cassette holder plate 15 is always preferentially held in the upper stage close to the carriage 2. If the identification mark is not detected in step (5), it can be determined that there is no ribbon cassette 8 held on the cassette holder plate 15.
[0037]
Further, when the identification mark 32 of the upper ribbon cassette 8 is detected first, the drive control of the ribbon cassette exchange mechanism is performed, and then the detection of the identification mark 32 of the next ribbon cassette 8 that may be present therebelow is detected. Try.
[0038]
First, the upper ribbon cassette 8 is retracted from the cassette holder plate 15. In the detection of the identification mark 32 of the ribbon cassette 8, when two ribbon cassettes 8 are mounted on one cassette holder plate 15 as in the present embodiment, the upper ribbon cassette 8 is placed on the carriage 2. Evacuate. That is, as shown in FIG. 14 or FIG. 19, after the carrier 10 is separated from the carriage 2 and brought close to a position where the tip of the movable carrier arm 12 contacts the upper edge of the ribbon cassette 8 held in the upper stage. As shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 15 or FIG. Accordingly, the movable carrier arm 12 is swung, and the fixed carrier arm 11 is moved to a position beyond the other surface of the ribbon cassette 8. In this state, as shown in FIG. 16 or FIG. 21, the carrier 10 is further separated and brought closer to the ribbon cassette 8, and the holding claws 13 of the fixed carrier arm 11 and the movable carrier arm 12 are positioned at the lower edge of the ribbon cassette 8. Let it. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 17 or FIG. 22, by moving the carrier 10 in the left-right direction, the holding claws 13 of the movable carrier arm 12 and the holding claws 13 of the fixed carrier arm 11 are engaged with both edges of the lower surface of the ribbon cassette 8. And hold the ribbon cassette 8. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 18 or FIG. 23, the upper ribbon cassette 8 is mounted on the carriage 2 by returning the carrier 10.
[0039]
At this time, if only one ribbon cassette 8 is originally mounted on the cassette holder plate 15, the cassette holder plate 15 becomes empty when the upper ribbon cassette 8 is retracted. Also, if two ribbon cassettes 8, 8 were originally mounted on the cassette holder plate 15, when the upper ribbon cassette 8 was retracted onto the carriage 2, it was mounted and held until then. The ribbon cassette 1 is positioned on the upper stage of the cassette holder plate 15 by the action of the biasing springs 31 that constantly bias the cassette holder plate 15 upward.
[0040]
In this state, the optical sensor 34 scans the cassette holder plate 15 for the second time, and when the ribbon cassette 8 is located at the upper stage, the identification mark 32 is detected.
[0041]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 17 or FIG. 22, after the ribbon cassette 8 is brought close to the upper surface of the cassette holder plate 15, the carrier 10 is moved in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. 16 or FIG. Thereby, the holding claws 13 of the fixed carrier arm 11 are removed from the lower edge of the ribbon cassette 8, the holding claws 13 of the movable carrier arm 12 are also removed from the lower edge of the ribbon cassette 8, and the ribbon cassette 8 is held on the cassette holder plate 15. Let it. Then, as shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 20, the carrier 10 is returned to the carriage 2 by returning the carrier 10 to the left and right directions as shown in FIG. 14 or FIG. Is moved to a position facing the next cassette holder plate 15 for which the identification mark 32 of the ribbon cassette 8 has not been detected, and the detection of the identification mark 32 of the ribbon cassette 8 mounted on the cassette holder plate 15 is continued. Perform as outlined.
[0042]
This operation is repeated, and detection information on the presence / absence and type of the ribbon cassette 8 held in each cassette holder plate 15 is stored in the control unit 35 such as a RAM.
[0043]
For example, based on image information input from a host computer, an image reader, or the like (not shown), a color necessary for recording an image is set, and a ribbon cassette 8 containing the ink ribbon 7 of that color is held. The present position is derived from the detection information stored in the control means, and the carriage 2 is stopped at a position corresponding to the ribbon cassette 8. Then, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 18 and FIGS. 19 to 23, the desired ribbon cassette 8 is held by the holding claws 13 using the movable carrier arm 12 and the fixed carrier arm 11 as described above. I do.
[0044]
Then, the carriage 2 is reciprocated and the take-up bobbin 9 is driven to rotate to drive the thermal head 5 based on the image information while taking up the ink ribbon 7. A desired color is recorded on the recording paper conveyed during the recording.
[0045]
When the recording with the ink ribbon 7 of this color is completed, the carriage 2 is stopped at a position facing the cassette holder plate 15 holding the used ribbon cassette 8.
[0046]
Then, the carrier 10 is separated from the carriage 2 from the state shown in FIG. 18 or FIG. 23, and the ribbon cassette 8 is brought close to the upper surface of the cassette holder plate 15 as shown in FIG. 17 or FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 21, the carrier 10 is moved in the left-right direction. As a result, the holding claws 13 of the fixed carrier arm 11 are detached from the lower edge of the ribbon cassette 8, and the holding claws 13 of the movable carrier arm 12 are also detached from the lower edge of the ribbon cassette 8. 15 is held. Then, as shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 20, the carrier 10 is returned to the carriage 2 by returning the carrier 10 to the left and right directions as shown in FIG. 14 or FIG.
[0047]
Such an operation is sequentially performed on the ribbon cassette 8 containing the ink ribbon 7 of a desired color, and a desired color recording is performed.
[0048]
When the ribbon cassette 8 accommodating the ink ribbon 7 of the required color is held at the lower stage of the cassette holder plate 15, the ribbon cassette 8 held at the upper stage is temporarily moved by the operation of the carrier 10. The lower ribbon cassette 8 is retracted to the retracted portion to take out the lower ribbon cassette 8.
[0049]
As described above, in the present embodiment, each cassette holder plate 15 is configured to hold the ribbon cassettes 8 by one less than the total number of ribbon cassettes 8 that can be held by each cassette holder plate 15. Therefore, even when the ribbon cassette 8 held in the lower stage of the ribbon cassettes 8 held in two stages in the cassette holder plate 15 is taken out, the ribbon cassette 8 in the upper stage can be retracted. All the held ribbon cassettes 8 can be selectively mounted on the carriage 2. Therefore, even when the ribbon cassettes 8 of various colors are held, the ribbon cassettes 8 of each color are automatically exchanged, and the full-color image can be recorded quickly and reliably.
[0050]
As described above, according to the thermal transfer printer and the ribbon cassette detecting method of the present invention, all the ribbon cassettes 8 held in two stages on the holding cover 14 with one optical sensor 34 provided on the sensor support 33 are held. The identification mark 32 can be detected, and the cost can be reduced.
[0051]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as needed.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the thermal transfer printer and the ribbon cassette detection method of the present invention, the presence / absence of the ribbon cassette and the identification mark which are held in two stages on the cassette holding plate of the holding cover can be detected by one sensor. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of components of the sensor provided in the thermal transfer printer, and to reduce the cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a holding cover portion of the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the thermal transfer printer shown in FIG. 1 in a separated state of a carrier. FIG. 5 is a front view of a part of a cassette holder plate portion of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front view in section showing a state in which one ribbon cassette of a cassette holder plate portion is held. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which two ribbon cassettes of a cassette holder plate portion in FIG. 5 are held. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the holding guide of FIG. 5; FIG. 9 is a front view of the holding guide of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a side view of the holding guide of FIG. The holding guide and upper ribbon in the state shown FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the relationship between the set and the ribbon core. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing another relationship between the holding guide in the state shown in FIG. 7 and the ribbon core of the upper ribbon cassette. FIG. 13 is a view showing the holding in the state shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the relationship between the guide for use and the ribbon core of the lower ribbon cassette. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a slightly separated state of the carrier showing the transfer operation of the upper ribbon cassette. FIG. 15 is a view showing the transfer operation of the upper ribbon cassette. FIG. 16 is an explanatory view of a state in which the carrier moves right and left shown in FIG. 16; FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of a state in which the carrier approaches the ribbon cassette showing a transfer operation of the upper ribbon cassette; FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of a state. FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of a return state of a carrier showing a transfer operation of an upper ribbon cassette. FIG. 19 is a lower ribbon. FIG. 20 is an explanatory view of a slightly separated state of a carrier showing a transfer operation of a set. FIG. 20 is an explanatory view of a horizontal movement state of a carrier showing a transfer operation of a lower ribbon cassette. FIG. 21 is a carrier showing a transfer operation of a lower ribbon cassette. FIG. 22 is an explanatory view of a state of proximity to a ribbon cassette. FIG. 22 is an explanatory view of a horizontal movement state of a carrier showing a transfer operation of a lower ribbon cassette. FIG. 23 is an explanation of a return state of a carrier showing a transfer operation of a lower ribbon cassette. Figure [Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 platen 2 carriage 5 thermal head 6 ribbon core 7 ink ribbon 8 ribbon cassette 10 carrier 11 fixed carrier arm 12 movable carrier arm 14 holding cover 15 cassette holder plate 16 fixed holding arm 20 movable holding arm 21 holding guide 29 first rib 30 2-rib 34 optical sensor 35 control unit

Claims (2)

A carriage reciprocally movable along the platen;
A cassette holding unit that can hold the two ribbon cassettes in an upper stage and a lower stage so as to be opposed to the carriage,
A sensor for detecting an identification mark of the ribbon cassette held in the cassette holding portion,
A cassette exchange mechanism that can exchange a desired ribbon cassette between the carriage and the cassette holding unit;
A thermal transfer printer having a control unit for controlling driving of the carriage, the sensor, and the cassette replacing mechanism,
The sensor is a single sensor disposed so as to face the ribbon cassette located on the upper stage of the cassette holding unit,
The cassette holding unit is configured to hold the ribbon cassette preferentially in the upper stage,
The control unit is configured to control driving of a carriage, a sensor, and a cassette exchange mechanism so that the single sensor can detect a ribbon cassette held in an upper stage of each cassette holding unit. Characteristic thermal transfer printer. Performs sensing by a single sensor mounted two ribbon cassette so as to face the upper and lower stages and the carriage for each cassette holding portion which is capable of holding superimposed on the carriage, the cassette holder When the identification mark of the ribbon cassette held in the upper stage is detected, the cassette exchanging mechanism is driven to retreat the ribbon cassette on the carriage, and the cassette holding unit is again subjected to sensing, and The ribbon cassette moved up from the lower stage to the upper stage due to the retraction of the ribbon cassette and its identification mark are detected, and the identification mark of the ribbon cassette held at the upper stage of the cassette holding portion is not detected; After completion of the two sensing operations for the holding unit, the operation to move to the next cassette holding unit The process is sequentially performed to store in advance holder information on whether or not the ribbon cassette is held and the type of the ribbon cassette, search for a desired ribbon cassette based on the holder information, and determine whether the ribbon cassette is mounted on the carriage or replaced. A method for detecting a ribbon cassette, comprising controlling.

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