JP4096609B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can be constituted by a simple mechanism, is easy to operate, can efficiently print to a plurality of points of a surface of a printing object, and enables a driving power source for the printer to be manufactured in a small scale inexpensively. <P>SOLUTION: The printer has a rotary stage 32 set at a supporting tray 5. An optical disk (a) as the printing object is placed on the rotary stage 32. The printer can print to the plurality of points of the surface of the optical disk (a) by driving and rotating the rotary stage 32. A driving means for driving the rotary stage 32 and a printing means for carrying out printing are driven alternatively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints information such as a title of data recorded on a recording medium on the surface of a recording medium such as an optical disc as a printing object.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The applicant of the present application has proposed a printing apparatus that prints the title and the like on the surface of an optical disk such as a CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable), and has filed a patent application.
The printing apparatus includes a tray that supports a disk, and a printer mechanism that performs printing on the disk supported by the tray. The tray moves to the outside of the apparatus main body by an eject operation. A thermal transfer printing is performed on an optical disk in a stationary state supported on a tray disposed at a predetermined position using an ink ribbon by a reciprocating thermal head.
[0003]
In the printer mechanism, printing is performed on the surface of the optical disc in one rectangular range corresponding to the effective print width of the thermal head and the distance that the thermal head moves and scans by a single printing operation.
[0004]
Therefore, when it is desired to print at a plurality of locations on the surface (label surface) of the optical disk by the printer mechanism, the tray is ejected once after printing at one location and pushed out of the apparatus, for example, printing in the first printing. In order to make the area opposite to the area centered on the circular hole of the disk correspond to the position of the printer mechanism, the optical disk on the tray is manually rotated and repositioned by 180 °, and then the tray is placed in the apparatus main body. Returning to the above, it is necessary to perform printing at the different portions by the second printing operation of the printer mechanism.
[0005]
In addition, as another conventional printing apparatus that performs title printing on an optical disk, an apparatus that rotates an optical disk and drives a print head that extends in the radial direction on the optical disk to perform printing. Proposed.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the former former printing apparatus, printing is performed on a predetermined area on the surface of the optical disk while the optical disk is stationary, and the area that can be printed by one printing operation is on the entire surface of the optical disk. Because of its limited size, it may be desired to further expand the print area and print at multiple locations.
[0007]
In this case, in this printing apparatus, it is necessary to eject the tray once, and repeatedly perform printing by changing the arrangement of the optical disk on the tray.
[0008]
That is, in this printing apparatus, the tray is ejected from the apparatus where the optical disk can be attached and detached each time one printing process is completed, and the optical disk is placed on the tray by hand to change the mounting position of the optical disk. This requires troublesome work such as returning the printer to the apparatus main body and restarting the printing operation, thereby reducing the efficiency of the printing operation.
[0009]
Further, in the latter latter printing apparatus, printing is performed by a print head extending in the radial direction of the optical disk, but the rotational speed is different between the position near the center on the optical disk and the position far from the center, and the position near the center. In this case, since the moving speed with respect to the print head is slow, the printing result is dark. On the other hand, the moving speed with respect to the print head is fast and the printing density is low at a position far from the center of the optical disk. It is necessary to perform specific print control so that the print density becomes uniform, and the control becomes considerably complicated.
Further, during the printing operation, it is necessary to simultaneously drive the rotation of the optical disk and the drive of the print head. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the scale of the drive power supply.
[0010]
The present invention has been made paying attention to such points, can be configured with a simple mechanism, is easy to operate, and can efficiently print at a plurality of locations on the surface of a printing object. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that does not require complicated printing control and can be manufactured at low cost by reducing the power source for driving the apparatus on a small scale.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention according to claim 1 is a support means for supporting a printing object provided with a rotatable turntable, a rotation drive means for rotating the turntable,A print head movably provided within a predetermined range on the turntable, moved while being in pressure contact with the print object placed on the turntable via an ink ribbon;Printing means for printing on a partial area on the print object;A buffer member having a shape corresponding to the predetermined range and disposed at a plurality of predetermined positions on the turntable and receiving the print object placed on the turntable, and detecting a rotation angle of the turntable Means toThe rotation driving means and the printing means;ControlControl means, the control means after operating the printing meansIn order to correspond the predetermined range and the position of the buffer member, based on the information of the means for detecting the rotation angle of the turntable,Operate the rotation driving meansRotate the turntable by a predetermined angle.Further, after that, the printing unit is operated to perform printing at a plurality of locations separated from each other on the printing object supported by the supporting unit.
[0014]
  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the support means is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis of the rotary table and to be movable in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and to support the rotary table. An urging means for urging the pedestal toward the table, wherein one of the opposing surfaces of the support table and the rotating table protrudes from the one facing surface around the rotation axis, and the rotational drive And a plurality of convex portions slidably in contact with the other facing surface facing the one facing surface during the rotating operation of the turntable by the means, and the other facing surface has the rotation around the rotation axis. A plurality of concave portions into which the convex portions are fitted when the base is rotated by the predetermined angle and the predetermined range and one of the plurality of locations of the buffer member are moved to the corresponding stop positions of the rotary base. It is characterized by providing.
[0015]
  Claim3According to the invention described in item 3, at least one of the opposing surfaces of the support base and the rotary base is provided with a member having a cushioning property and frictional property having a thickness smaller than the protruding height of the convex portion. It is said.
[0016]
  Claim4The invention described in,Either one of the opposing surfaces of the support table and the rotating table facing each other is projected from the one opposing surface to the other surface facing the one opposing surface at a location that is pressed by the print head. It is characterized by having a convex part that contacts the surface.
  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotation direction of the turntable that is rotationally driven by the rotation drive means and the print head.When printingThe moving directions are opposite to each other at the printing location.
[0017]
  Claim6In the invention described in (1), the rotation driving means includes a drive motor and a gear train including a worm gear that transmits power of the drive motor to the rotary table.
[0018]
  Claim7In the invention described in item 1, the print object is a recording medium capable of recording data.
[0019]
  Claim8The invention described in (1) comprises a rotatable turntable,Disk-shaped with a predetermined diameterWith the first print objectRectangularIt is possible to support the second printing object alternativelyAnd having a size larger than the diameter of the first print object and smaller than the length of the diagonal line of the second print object.A support means; a rotation drive means for rotationally driving the turntable; a detection means for detecting the type of print object supported by the support means; and a part of the print object supported by the support means. A printing unit that performs printing on an area; and a control unit that selectively operates the rotation driving unit and the printing unit. The control unit detects the first print object by the detection unit. When the printing unit is operated, the rotation driving unit is operated, and then the printing unit is further operated to move the printing unit away from each other on the first printing object supported by the supporting unit. Printing is performed at a plurality of locations, and when the second printing object is detected by the detection unit, the operation of the rotation driving unit is prohibited and only the printing unit is operated. .
[0020]
  The invention according to claim 9 is:The first print object is a disk-shaped recording medium having a predetermined diameter capable of recording data, and the second print object is a rectangle having a length substantially equal to the predetermined diameter on one side. The paper sheet of claim8The printing apparatus as described.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the printing apparatus, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan configuration diagrams of the main part. Each is shown.
Note that the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment can be used either vertically or horizontally, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show plan views when the printing apparatus is placed horizontally, as shown in FIG. In addition, in the case of being placed vertically, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the right side surface or the left side surface of the case 1 is the bottom surface.
[0022]
A printing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a tray mechanism that supports an optical disk, and a printer mechanism that performs printing (label printing) on the surface (label surface) of the optical disk supported by the tray mechanism. And a thermal transfer printing function for performing printing on the label surface of the optical disk using an ink ribbon.
[0023]
First, the configuration of the main body of the printing apparatus and the configuration of the tray mechanism will be described.
This printing apparatus includes a case 1 having a rectangular box shape, and an opening 1 a is formed in a front portion of the case 1. An eject switch 2 is provided on the front surface of the case 1, and a base 3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of guide rails 4 are provided on the upper surface of the base 3 so as to be spaced apart from each other and extend in parallel. A support tray 5 as a support base is slidably mounted between the guide rails 4. The support tray 5 is slidably moved between the inside and the outside of the case 1 through the opening 1a. The support tray 5 is supported so as to leave a certain space with the base 3.
[0024]
A gear train 7 including a tray drive motor 6 and a plurality of first to fourth gears 7 a to 7 d driven by the drive motor 6 is provided on one side of the upper surface of the base 3. The first gear 7a of the gear train 7 is provided with a pulley 7e on the same shaft, and the pulley 7e is connected to a pulley 6a provided on the output shaft of the drive motor 6 via a belt 8, so that the first gear 7a. On the other hand, the second gear 7b and the third gear 7c are sequentially meshed so that the rotational power of the drive motor 6 is transmitted to the third gear 7c.
[0025]
The third gear 7c and the fourth gear 7d are coupled to each other via a lug mechanism (intermittent gear mechanism), and the third gear 7c is rotated when the third gear 7c rotates in the positive direction by an angle of, for example, 135 °. The rotational power of 7c is transmitted to the fourth gear 7d, and when the third gear 7c rotates backward by an angle of 135 ° from this state, the rotational power of the third gear 7c is transmitted to the fourth gear 7d. It is like that.
[0026]
A rack 11 is provided on the inner side of the lower surface side of the support tray 5, and the fourth gear 7 d meshes with the rack 11, and the support tray 5 is moved according to forward and reverse rotation of the fourth gear 7 d by this meshing. It moves in the front-rear direction of the case 1 and is displaced to an eject position (FIG. 3) that protrudes outside the case 1 and a print position (FIG. 4) that is arranged inside the case 1.
[0027]
In the case 1, a tray position detection switch 13 is provided facing one side of the support tray 5, and this detection switch 13 has a lever 13 a, and this switch lever 13 a The lever 13a is engaged with the concave groove 14 formed along the direction and the lever 13a is moved in the front-rear direction of the support tray 5 as shown in FIG. It is displaced to the position of the close C.
In the case 1, an operating gear 17 is provided corresponding to the fourth gear 7d. The actuating gear 17 has a fan shape that pivots about a support shaft 18, and a substantially half section of the peripheral portion is a tooth section 17 a where teeth are arranged, and the other half section is a missing section 17 b where teeth are missing. Yes.
A third gear 7 c in the gear train 7 is integrally provided with a small gear 9, and a tooth portion 17 a meshes with the small gear 9 according to the rotation of the operating gear 17.
[0028]
A pin 19 is attached to the plate surface of the operating gear 17 adjacent to the missing portion 17b. A guide groove 20 extending along the front-rear direction is provided on the lower surface of the support tray 5, and the pin 19 is slidably fitted in the guide groove 20, so that the support tray 5 moves in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the pin 19 is relatively moved along the guide groove 20.
[0029]
A circuit 21 including an outward path 21a and a return path 21b is formed at the end of the guide groove 20 on the front end side, and the pin 19 rotates relatively from the guide groove 20 as the support tray 5 moves rearward. It enters into the forward path 21a of the path 21.
[0030]
A hook lever 24 that rotates about a support shaft 23 is provided at the rear side in the case 1, and the hook lever 24 has a hook-shaped hook portion 25. An operating rod 26 is provided between the end portion on the distal end side and one side surface of the operating gear 17.
[0031]
The operating rod 26 is slidably supported along the front-rear direction of the case 1 via a plurality of guide pieces 27, and an end portion on one end side of the operating rod 26 contacts one side surface of the operating gear 17. The hook lever 24 is elastically urged clockwise by a spring 28 in the figure, and the hook lever 24 is elastically abutted against the other end of the operating rod 26 by this urging force. A hook receiver 29 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the hook portion 25 is provided on the rear lower surface of the support tray 5 in correspondence with the hook portion 25.
[0032]
A circular recess 31 is formed on the upper surface of the support tray 5, and a turntable 32 is provided in the recess 31. The turntable 32 and the support tray 5 constitute support means for supporting a print object. ing.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 6, the turntable 32 integrally has a rotation shaft 33 at the center of the lower surface, and the rotation shaft 33 is rotatably inserted into a fitting hole 34 formed in the support tray 5. The gear 35 is attached to the outer periphery of the end portion on the insertion side so as not to rotate and to be slidable in the axial direction.
Further, a disc spring 36 is attached as an urging means to the end portion of the rotating shaft 33 on the lower surface side of the gear 35, and the peripheral portion of the disc spring 36 abuts elastically on the lower surface of the gear 35. Thus, the turntable 32 is elastically biased toward the lower support tray 5.
[0034]
On the lower surface of the turntable 32, a plurality of convex portions 38 project from the circumference centered on the rotation shaft 33 at equal intervals, and the support tray 5 has a plurality of through holes corresponding to the convex portions 38. The concave portions 39 are formed, and when the convex portions 38 and the concave portions 39 face each other, the convex portions 38 fall into the concave portions 39 and are fitted.
[0035]
On the lower surface of the turntable 32, a friction sheet having a small thickness made of a material having high shock-absorbing properties and frictional properties such as rubber, that is, a friction sheet thinner than the protruding height of the convex portion 38 is formed in a region outside the convex portion 38. 40, and a plurality of elastically deformable projecting pieces 41 having an arc shape in plan view as locking means for locking the object to be printed are arranged on the same circumference. The protrusions are formed so as to be evenly positioned.
[0036]
Further, on the lower surface of the turntable 32, a gear 44 having a large gear 44a and a small gear 44b coaxially and integrally, and a turntable drive motor 45 are provided. A worm gear 46 is attached to the rotary shaft 45a of the rotary table drive motor 45, the worm gear 46 meshes with the large gear 44a of the gear 44, and the small gear 44b of the gear 44 meshes with the gear 35, and the rotary table. The rotational power of the drive motor 45 is transmitted to the turntable 32 via the worm gear 46, the gear 44 and the gear 35. The worm gear 46 is provided with a disc 47 with a slit for generating pulses, and an encoder 48 for counting the number of pulses is provided on the disc 47.
[0037]
A rotation position detection switch 50 is provided outside a part of the inner periphery of the recess 31 formed on the upper surface of the support tray 5, and this detection switch 50 has an actuator 50a that protrudes elastically. It elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface of the turntable 32. On the outer peripheral surface of the turntable 32, recesses 51 are formed at four positions at intervals of 90 °. The recesses 51 face the actuator 50 a according to the rotation of the turntable 32, and the actuator 50 a is placed in the recess 51 by this facing. The rotation position of the turntable 32 is detected by being depressed.
[0038]
The upper surface of the turntable 32 serving as the mounting surface of the optical disk a is made of an elastic material having excellent cushioning and adhesion such as rubber corresponding to the printing position of the printer mechanism that receives pressure from the thermal head 58 during printing. A buffer sheet 61 is attached. In this printing apparatus, after one printing operation by the printer mechanism is completed, the turntable 32 is rotated clockwise by 90 ° or 180 ° and stopped, and printing on the optical disk a is performed at each stopped position. Therefore, the buffer sheet 61 is provided in a rectangular frame shape so as to surround the center of the turntable 32 so as to correspond to a maximum of four print areas set on the optical disc a. Then, each side constituting the square frame of the buffer sheet 61 is within the printing operation range (printable area) of the thermal head 58 of the printer mechanism when the turntable 32 is rotated by 90 ° or 180 ° and stopped. It is made to correspond. When the buffer sheet 61 is at a position corresponding to the printing operation range of the thermal head 58 of the printer mechanism, the convex portion 38 formed on the lower surface of the turntable 32 is fitted into the concave portion 39 formed on the support tray 5. It is like that.
[0039]
Next, the configuration of the printer mechanism provided in the printing apparatus will be described.
[0040]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a gate-shaped frame 54 is mounted on the base 3 in the case 1 so as to straddle the support tray 5, and a guide shaft 55 is installed inside the frame 54. A carriage 56 is attached to the guide shaft 55 so as to be able to run. A head cover 57 protrudes from the front surface of the carriage 56, a thermal head 58 as a print head is provided on the lower surface of the head cover 57, and a ribbon cartridge 59 containing an ink ribbon is detachably mounted on the front surface of the carriage 56. ing. In the carriage 56, a traveling drive mechanism for the carriage 56, a head moving mechanism for the thermal head 58, a winding mechanism for the ink ribbon, and the like are provided. A stepping motor 60 is attached to the back surface of the carriage 56.
[0041]
Further, the configuration of the printer mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.
[0042]
A ribbon cartridge 59 containing an ink ribbon 80 as a printing consumable is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting surface on the front surface of the carriage 56. The ribbon cartridge 59 includes a case 81, and a U-shaped recess 82 into which the head cover 57 is fitted is formed in the case 81.
[0043]
In this case 81, a ribbon supply core 83 and a ribbon take-up core 84 are provided. An ink ribbon 80 is wound around the ribbon supply core 83 in a roll shape, and the ink ribbon 80 fed out from the ribbon supply core 83 is provided. Is wound around the take-up core 84 via a plurality of guide pins 85, and the ink ribbon 80 is taken up on the take-up core 84 in sequence according to the normal rotation of the take-up core 84. The middle portion of the ink ribbon 80 is exposed to the outside of the case 81 and travels on the lower surface side of the recess 82 where the thermal head 58 is located.
[0044]
An output gear 86 attached to the output shaft of the stepping motor 60 is disposed in the carriage 56. A first gear 87a is engaged with the output gear 86, and a second gear is coaxially connected to the first gear 87a. The second gear 87b meshes with the third gear 87c, and the fourth gear 87d meshes with the third gear 87c.
[0045]
A ribbon take-up shaft 88 is provided on the same axis as the rotation shaft of the fourth gear 87d via a one-way clutch (not shown), and the ribbon take-up shaft 88 is moved forward from the cartridge mounting surface of the carriage 56. The winding core 84 is engaged with the ribbon winding shaft 88 in accordance with the mounting of the ribbon cartridge 59 on the cartridge mounting surface.
[0046]
The third gear 87c meshes with a rack (not shown) provided in parallel with the guide shaft 55 along the carriage traveling path, and the carriage 56 guides the mesh according to the forward / reverse rotation of the third gear 87c. It reciprocates along the shaft 55.
[0047]
A cam gear 89 is provided in the carriage 56, and an arcuate cam groove 90 that is eccentric with respect to the center of rotation is formed in the cam gear 89. A swing clutch 91 is provided between the cam gear 89 and the output gear 86. The swing clutch 91 includes a sun gear 92 meshed with the output gear 86, and a pair of planetary gears 94a meshed with the sun gear 92 and supported so as to be movable in the circumferential direction of the sun gear 92 via an arm 93. , 94b, and when the sun gear 92 rotates forward (clockwise), one planetary gear 94a meshes with the cam gear 89 and the other planetary gear 94b moves away from the cam gear 89. At the time of rotation (counterclockwise rotation), one planetary gear 94 a is separated from the cam gear 89 and the other planetary gear 94 b is engaged with the cam gear 89.
[0048]
A head arm 96 that rotates in the vertical direction about a shaft 95 is provided in the carriage 56, and this head arm 96 is elastically rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 16 by a spring 97 stretched on one end of the head arm 96. The head arm 96 is provided with a pin 98 near one end thereof, and the pin 98 is slidably inserted into the cam groove 90 of the cam gear 89. A head holder 99 is attached to the other end of the head arm 96, and the head holder 99 is disposed in a head cover 57 protruding forward of the carriage 56, and the carriage 56 extends along the head cover 57. The head base 101 is supported on the lower surface of the head holder 99 via the shaft 100, and a thermal head 58 as a print head is attached to the lower surface of the head base 101. The head cover 57 is disposed so as to face the opening on the lower surface of the head cover 57.
[0049]
The thermal head 58 is in pressure contact with the surface (label surface) of the optical disk a held stationary on the rotating table 32 in a stopped state with the ink ribbon 80 fed out from the ribbon cartridge 59 interposed therebetween. In this state, the thermal head 58 is integrated with the carriage 56. 2 moves from the right side to the left side in FIG. 2 along the guide shaft 55, and printing is performed in such a manner that a predetermined image is thermally transferred onto the surface of the optical disk a while melting the ink of the ink ribbon. A rectangular area determined by the width of the heating element array of the thermal head 58 (width in the main scanning direction) and the moving distance of the thermal head 58 (length in the sub-scanning direction) is a printing range by one printing operation.
[0050]
Next, the operation of each part of the printing apparatus will be described.
First, an operation in which the support tray 5 moves in and out of the case 1 will be described. As preparation before printing, the tray mechanism is ejected out of the apparatus by an eject operation, the optical disk a is placed on the tray, returned to the printing apparatus, and set at the printing position.
[0051]
At the start of printing, as shown in FIG. 4, the support tray 5 is inserted into the case 1, the hook receiver 29 is engaged with the hook portion 25 of the hook lever 24, and the tooth portion 17 a of the operating gear 17 is in the gear train 7. The pin 19 of the operating gear 17 is located at the top end of the circuit 21 in the support tray 5 and the lever 13a of the tray position detection switch 13 is located at the closed C position. ing.
[0052]
From this state, the eject switch 2 on the front surface of the case 1 is operated. In response to this operation, the tray drive motor 6 is activated, the rotational power is transmitted to the gear train 7 via the belt 8, and the third gear 7c rotates clockwise in FIG. At this time, since the third gear 7c and the fourth gear 7d are coupled via the lug mechanism, only the third gear 7c rotates and the fourth gear 7d does not rotate, and therefore the support tray 5 Keeps stopped.
[0053]
When the third gear 7c rotates in the clockwise direction, the operation gear 17 meshing with the small gear 9 of the third gear 7c rotates in the counterclockwise direction. At this time, the pin 19 of the operating gear 17 moves toward the guide groove 20 through the return path 21 b of the circuit 21.
[0054]
When the operating gear 17 rotates counterclockwise, the operating gear 17 causes the hook lever 24 to rotate counterclockwise against the spring 28 via the operating rod 26, and this rotation causes the hook portion 25 to rotate. The hook tray 29 comes off and the support tray 5 is unlocked. When the operating gear 17 is rotated to a certain angle, the tooth portion 17a of the operating gear 17 is disengaged from the small gear 9, so that the operating gear 17 is stopped at the position rotated to the certain angle.
[0055]
Thereafter, the rotational power of the third gear 7c is transmitted to the fourth gear 7d, and the fourth gear 7d rotates integrally with the third gear 7c in the clockwise direction. Move towards the front. At this time, the pin 19 of the operating gear 17 relatively moves along the guide groove 20 of the support tray 5. When the support tray 5 starts to move, the front side end wall of the concave groove 14 of the support tray 5 is separated from the lever 13a of the tray position detection switch 13, and accordingly, the lever 13a is moved from the closed C position to the neutral N position. Move to the position. When the support tray 5 moves forward and protrudes from the case 1 to a predetermined length, the rear side end wall of the concave groove 14 comes into contact with the lever 13a of the tray position detection switch 13, and the lever 13a is neutrally moved accordingly. It moves from the N position to the open O position, and the tray drive motor 6 is controlled to stop based on this switch signal, whereby the support tray 5 stops at a predetermined ejection position.
[0056]
Here, the optical disk a is placed on the turntable 32 in the support tray 5, and the circular hole at the center of the optical disk a is elastically fitted to the projecting piece 41 to fix the optical disk a to the turntable 32.
[0057]
Next, when the support tray 5 is moved into the apparatus, the support tray 5 is slightly pushed by the hand. By this pushing operation, the rear side end wall of the concave groove 14 is separated from the lever 13a of the tray position detection switch 13, and in response thereto, the lever 13a is moved from the open O position to the neutral N position. Based on this, the tray drive motor 6 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction. The same operation is performed when the eject switch 2 is operated instead of manually pushing the support tray 5.
[0058]
The reverse rotation power of the tray drive motor 6 is transmitted to the gear train 7 via the belt 8, and the third gear 7c rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Since the third gear 7c is coupled to the fourth gear 7d by the lug mechanism, the power is not transmitted to the fourth gear 7d at the beginning of the rotation of the third gear 7c, but the third gear 7c is constant. After rotating to an angle, the power of the third gear 7c is transmitted to the fourth gear 7d, and the fourth gear 7d rotates integrally with the third gear 7c in the counterclockwise direction. Further, since the tooth portion 17a is separated from the small gear 9 of the third gear 7c, the operating gear 17 is kept stopped regardless of the rotation of the third gear 7c. When the fourth gear 7d rotates counterclockwise, the support tray 5 is pulled into the case 1 accordingly. At this time, the pin 19 of the operating gear 17 relatively moves along the guide groove 20 of the support tray 5.
[0059]
When the support tray 5 is pulled into a predetermined position in the case 1, that is, the printing position, the front side end wall of the concave groove 14 abuts on the lever 13a of the tray position detection switch 13, and the lever 13a is accordingly moved accordingly. The position is moved from the neutral N position to the closed C position, and the tray drive motor 6 is controlled to stop based on this switch signal, whereby the support tray 5 stops at a predetermined printing position. Immediately before the support tray 5 reaches the printing position, the pin of the operating gear 17 reaches the point A of the guide groove 20 in FIG. 5 and further moves from this point A to the point B through the forward path 21a of the circuit 21. As the pin 19 moves, the operating gear 17 rotates clockwise, and the tooth portion 17a meshes with the small gear 9 of the third gear 7c. With this meshing, the operating gear 17 further rotates counterclockwise. The pin 19 reaches the point C at the top of the tip of the circuit 21.
When the actuating gear 17 rotates clockwise, the pressure on the actuating rod 26 is released. With this release, the actuating rod 26 moves to the front side of the case 1 and the hook lever 24 moves clockwise by the biasing force of the spring 28. The hook portion 25 is disposed at the engagement standby position with respect to the hook receiver 29. Thereafter, the support tray 5 moves to the printing position and stops, and immediately before this stop, the hook receiver 29 engages with the hook portion 25 of the hook lever 24, and this engagement causes the support tray 5 to move to the predetermined printing position. Is positioned stably.
[0060]
In this way, when the support tray 5 is ejected out of the case 1 by the eject operation and returned to the case 1 in the standby state before the start of printing, the rotary table 32 is moved to a predetermined position on the support tray 5. Located in the stop position. That is, one side of the square of the buffer sheet 61 provided on the upper surface of the turntable 32 is located facing the print operation range (printable area) of the thermal head 58, and each convex portion on the lower surface of the turntable 32. 38 is fitted in each recess 39 on the upper surface of the support tray 5, and the lower surface of the turntable 32 is in contact with the upper surface of the support tray 5.
[0061]
Further, in this printing apparatus, when printing at one location on the optical disc a is completed by one printing operation of the printer mechanism, printing to the next printing location on the optical disc a is stopped with the operation of the printer mechanism being stopped. In order to perform this, the turntable 32 is rotated by a predetermined angle to the next stop position. Hereinafter, the operation of the rotating mechanism will be described.
[0062]
As described above, the buffer sheet 61 is provided in a rectangular frame shape on the upper surface of the support tray 5, and the positions where each side of the square corresponds to the printing operation range of the thermal head 58 are stoppable positions. The printing area can be arbitrarily set from one place to a maximum of four places.
[0063]
When the turntable drive motor 45 is driven, the power of rotation by this drive is transmitted to the turntable 32 via the worm gear 46, the large gear 44a of the gear 44, the small gear 44b of the gear 44, and the gear 35, and the turntable is driven. 32 rotates clockwise. When the turntable 32 rotates, as shown in FIG. 6A, each convex portion 38 on the lower surface of the turntable 32 slides on the upper surface of the support tray 5, thereby reducing the friction thereof. 32 rotates smoothly.
[0064]
When printing is performed at two locations on the optical disk a, the rotary table 32 is rotated 180 ° after the first printing to perform the second printing, and when printing is performed at four locations on the optical disk a. After the first printing, the turntable 32 is rotated 90 ° to perform the second printing, and similarly, the turntable 32 is similarly rotated 90 ° to perform the third and fourth printing.
[0065]
The predetermined rotation angle at which the turntable 32 should be rotated is detected by output information from the rotation position detection switch 50 and the encoder 48. For example, when the predetermined rotation angle is 90 °, Based on the fact that the number of output pulses from the encoder 48 has reached a predetermined number after the rotational position detection switch 50 detects the concave portion 51, the rotational position detection switch 50 has a second concave portion in the case of 180 °. After 51 is detected, it is detected on the basis that the number of output pulses from the encoder 48 has reached a predetermined number. When a predetermined rotation angle is detected, the drive of the turntable drive motor 45 is stopped, the turntable 32 is stopped, and the buffer sheet 61 is disposed at a position corresponding to the printing operation area of the thermal head 58.
[0066]
Then, when the turntable 32 is rotated to a predetermined angle and the buffer sheet 61 is disposed at a position corresponding to the printing operation area of the thermal head 58, as shown in FIG. The tray 5 is fitted into the recesses 39 by the urging force of the disc spring 36. That is, the turntable 32 moves downward, and the turntable 32 comes into close contact with the support tray 5 via the friction sheet 40 by this movement, and the turntable 32 is stably supported at a predetermined rotation angle position.
[0067]
In the printing apparatus configured as described above, during the printing operation, the buffer sheet 61 is attached to the upper surface of the turntable 32 that supports the optical disk a in an area corresponding to the moving range of the thermal head 58. The size corresponds to the width of the thermal head 58 and the length of movement of the thermal head 58. Therefore, when the thermal head 58 comes into pressure contact with the surface of the optical disk a, as shown in FIG. The sheet 61 is uniformly elastically deformed and the thermal head 58 is uniformly in contact with the surface of the optical disk a, whereby good printing is performed.
[0068]
As shown in FIG. 11B, if the buffer sheet 61 is attached to the entire area of the upper surface of the support tray 5, the elastic deformation of the buffer sheet 61 is not uniform, and the thermal head 58 There is an unbalance that the press contact force at the center portion is insufficient compared to the press contact force at both ends, which adversely affects printing.
However, in this embodiment, since the buffer sheet 61 has a size corresponding to the moving range of the thermal head 58, the press contact force is uniform in each part, and good printing is performed.
[0069]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, each convex portion 38 of the turntable 32 that supports the optical disk a is fitted in each concave portion 39 of the support tray 5, and the lower surface of the turntable 32 is interposed via the friction sheet 40. And is in close contact with the upper surface of the support tray 5. The turntable 32 is configured such that the convex portion 38 provided on the lower surface slides on the upper surface of the support tray 5 in order to reduce the resistance load during the rotation operation, but at the predetermined rotation stop position of the turntable 32. There is no gap formed between the upper surface of the support tray 5 and the lower surface of the turntable 32, and the optical disk a is stably supported against the pressing of the thermal head 58. Further, inadvertent rotation of the turntable 32 when the thermal head 58 is moved is prevented.
[0070]
Further, when the turntable 32 is rotated by being driven by the turntable drive motor 45, the power is transmitted through the gear train including the worm gear 46, that is, the worm gear 46, the large gear 44a of the gear 44, and the small gear 44. The rotating table 32 is transmitted to the rotating table 32 via the gear 44b and the gear 35, and rotates in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. As will be described later, the rotating operation of the turntable 32 and the moving operation of the thermal head 58 are alternately performed and are not performed at the same time. However, the thermal head 58 operates in the frame 54 shown in FIGS. Printing is performed while moving in the right direction from the home position on the left end side of the. In this way, at the printing location on the turntable 32 that is located on the front side of the support tray 5 and the thermal head 58 moves and performs printing, the rotation direction of the turntable 32 and the printing operation of the thermal head 58 are performed. The moving direction is in the opposite direction to each other.
When the thermal head 58 and the turntable 32 are driven alternately, for example, at the printing location of the turntable 32, for example, the thermal head 58 moves from left to right during a printing operation, whereas the turntable 32 If the rotation direction of the turntable 32 and the movement direction of the thermal head 58 during the printing operation are the same direction as the rotation is counterclockwise, the back due to the tooth engagement play in the gear train Although there is a risk that the rotating table 32 slightly rotates at the start of movement of the thermal head 58 due to rush, in the present embodiment, the rotation direction of the rotating table 32 and the thermal head 58 of the print position on the rotating table 32 are Since the direction of movement during the printing operation is opposite, backlash does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to prevent fine rotation of the turntable 32 and perform good printing. That.
[0071]
More specifically, the friction between the thermal head 58 and the back surface of the ink ribbon is extremely small. On the other hand, there is a large friction between the surface of the ink ribbon opposite to the back surface where the ink is applied and the surface of the optical disk a in contact therewith. Since the friction between the thermal head 58 and the back surface of the ink ribbon is extremely small and slippage occurs between them, even if the thermal head 58 moves on the optical disk a, a force is exerted on the disk a as the thermal head 58 moves. However, if for some reason a slight friction occurs between the thermal head 58 and the back of the ink ribbon, this acts as a force that acts on the disk a in a direction corresponding to the moving direction of the thermal head 58. This acts on the support tray 5 through the rotation of the support tray 5 and is rotated by the backlash of the gear constituting the rotation drive mechanism of the support tray 5. In the present embodiment in which printing is performed while the support tray 5 is stopped during the printing operation and the disk a of the printing object placed thereon is stationary, the printing object moves during printing, and the printing result is adversely affected. You can prevent it from coming out.
[0072]
In addition, the gear train includes a worm gear 46 in which the transmission direction of power is restricted in one direction, so that the turntable 32 does not rotate inadvertently when the thermal head 58 moves. The turntable 32 is surely held in a stationary state, so that good printing is performed.
[0073]
Next, the operation of the printer mechanism will be described.
As shown in FIG. 16A, the printer mechanism at the time of printing standby is such that the head arm 96 on the carriage 56 is held in a substantially horizontal state, and the thermal head 58 is separated from the surface of the optical disk a by a certain distance. It is in a state of being placed at the standby position. The carriage 56 stops at the home position set near the left end of the moving range.
[0074]
Therefore, when printing is started, the motor 60 is driven forward and the output gear 86 rotates counterclockwise. The rotational power of the output gear 86 is transmitted to the first, second, third, and fourth gears 87a, 87b, 87c, and 87d. Then, the carriage 56 moves to the right along the guide shaft 55 by the counterclockwise rotation of the third gear 87c meshing with the rack, and the ribbon winding is integrally formed therewith by the rotation of the fourth gear 87d. The take-up shaft 88 rotates in the ribbon take-up direction, the take-up core 84 in the ribbon cartridge 59 engaged with the ribbon take-up shaft 88 rotates, and the ink ribbon 80 is sequentially taken up by the take-up rotation of the core 84. Run.
[0075]
In parallel with this operation, the sun gear 92 of the swing clutch 91 is driven and rotated by the rotation of the output gear 86, and one planetary gear 94 a approaches the cam gear 89 according to the rotation of the sun gear 92. The cam gear 89 meshes with this, and by this meshing, the rotational power of the sun gear 92 is transmitted to the cam gear 89, and the cam gear 89 rotates clockwise.
[0076]
As the cam gear 89 rotates in the clockwise direction, the pin 98 in the cam groove 90 moves upward together with the head arm 96. Then, the head arm 96 that moves integrally with the pin 98 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 95, and this rotation causes the thermal head 58 to move downward and horizontally as shown in FIG. Inclines against.
[0077]
A missing portion (not shown) is formed at a part of the periphery of the cam gear 89. When the cam gear 89 rotates by a certain angle, the planetary gear 94a falls into the missing portion and idles. The thermal head 58 maintains a predetermined tilt angle and is held at a printing position where it contacts the surface of the optical disk a with the ink ribbon 80 interposed therebetween. At this time, the thermal head 58 comes into contact with the surface of the optical disk a with a predetermined pressure by the elastic force of the spring 97. When the motor 60 is further driven to rotate forward, the planetary gear 84a is located in the missing portion, so that the carriage 56 is moved to the right while the thermal head 58 is held in the printing position, and the ink ribbon 70 is wound up. Is done.
[0078]
Simultaneously with the movement of the carriage 56 and the winding of the ink ribbon 70, the heating element of the thermal head 58 is driven to generate heat based on the print data, and the ink on the ink ribbon 80 is sequentially melted and thermally transferred to the surface of the optical disc a. Characters such as predetermined characters and symbols are printed in a predetermined printing area corresponding to the moving range of the carriage 56 (thermal head 58) on the surface of the optical disc a.
[0079]
When the printing of the thermal head 58 is completed, the motor 60 is driven in reverse and the output gear 86 rotates in the reverse direction (clockwise). The reverse rotation of the output gear 86 causes the third gear 87c to also rotate reversely in the clockwise direction, and the reverse rotation of the third gear 87c causes the carriage 56 to move in the reverse direction (leftward) along the guide shaft 55. Return to position.
[0080]
Since the fourth gear 87d is connected to the ribbon take-up shaft 88 via a one-way clutch, the reverse rotation operation of the fourth gear 87d is not transmitted to the ribbon take-up shaft 88 and the ink ribbon 80 is wound. No take is done.
[0081]
At the same time, the sun gear 92 of the swing clutch 91 is reversely rotated by the reverse rotation of the output gear 86, and the one planetary gear 94 a is separated from the cam gear 89 by the reverse rotation of the sun gear 92 and the other planetary gear 94 b is the cam gear. Engage with the gear 89, and the meshing force transmits the rotational power of the sun gear 92 to the cam gear 89. The cam gear 89 rotates counterclockwise.
[0082]
Then, by reverse rotation of the cam gear 89, the pin 98 in the cam groove 90 moves downward together with the head arm 96. Then, the head arm 96 that moves integrally with the pin 98 rotates clockwise about the shaft 95, and this rotation causes the thermal head 58 to move upward and away from the surface of the optical disk a, so that the head arm 96 is initially moved. Return to the horizontal state. A missing portion (not shown) corresponding to the planetary gear 94b is formed on a part of the peripheral edge of the cam gear 89. The cam gear 89 rotates by a certain angle and the thermal head 58 returns to the print standby position. The planetary gear 84b falls into the missing part and idles. After the planetary gear 84b is located in the missing portion, only the carriage 56 moves in the reverse direction (leftward) while the thermal head 58 is held at the print standby position by the reverse drive of the motor 60.
[0083]
FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the electric circuit of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment. The printing apparatus includes a control unit 70, and a personal computer 68 is connected to the control unit 70 via an interface (I / F) 71 via a USB cable 67.
[0084]
The control unit 70 includes a ROM 72 and a RAM 73. The ROM 72 stores program data such as a system program for controlling the operation of each unit of the printing apparatus in accordance with a print control signal from the personal computer 68. Includes a memory for storing print data transmitted from the personal computer 68.
[0085]
Further, the control unit 70 includes an eject switch 2, a detection switch 13 for detecting the moving position of the support tray 5, a detection switch 50 for detecting the rotational position of the support tray 5, a detection switch 64 for detecting the type of the print object, 65 (described in a second embodiment to be described later) and an encoder 48 are connected to each other, and each output signal thereof is supplied to the control unit 70.
[0086]
The control unit 70 includes a tray drive motor 6 via a drive circuit 75, a rotary table drive motor 45 via a drive circuit 76, a thermal head 58 via a drive circuit 77, and a drive circuit 78. A carriage drive motor 60 is connected to each other.
[0087]
Next, the printing process of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This printing process is a case where printing is performed in two areas P1 and P2 on the optical disc a as shown in FIG.
[0088]
By ejecting the support tray 5 to the outside of the printing apparatus by the eject operation, the optical disk a is set and moved into the apparatus, while data to be printed at two locations on the optical disk a are input from the keyboard of the personal computer 68. When printing is instructed from the personal computer 68, print data corresponding to the input data is created by the personal computer 68 (step S1), and the first print data is transferred to the printing apparatus (step S2). Further, a print start command is transferred from the personal computer 68 to the printing apparatus (step S3).
[0089]
In the printing apparatus, the print data of the first location received from the personal computer 68 is stored in the RAM 73 (step S4), and the print data of the first location is received in response to the print start command (step S5).
[0090]
That is, the control unit 70 of the printing apparatus drives the carriage drive motor 60 in the normal direction to move the thermal head 58 to a printing position where it abuts on the label surface of the optical disk a, and moves the carriage 56 from the home position along the movement path. The print data stored in the RAM 73 is transferred to the thermal head 58 line by line while being moved, and the thermal head 58 is driven on the basis of this print data. Perform thermal transfer printing. At the time of this printing, a buffer sheet 61 having a size corresponding to the moving range is disposed on the upper surface of the support tray 5 in an area corresponding to the moving range of the thermal head 58. For this reason, the thermal head 58 is attached to the label of the optical disk a. When the surface is pressed against the surface, the thermal head 58 is uniformly contacted with the surface of the optical disk a by the uniform elastic deformation of the buffer sheet 61, and good printing is performed. When printing of all print data by the thermal head 58 is finished, the driving of the thermal head 58 is stopped and the carriage drive motor 60 is driven in reverse to move the thermal head 58 to the non-printing position where it is separated from the label surface of the optical disk a. The carriage 56 is moved toward the home position.
[0091]
When the carriage 56 returns to the home position, the carriage drive motor 60 is stopped and the first printing operation is completed. When this first printing is completed, the printing apparatus sends a print end command to the personal computer 68 (step S6).
[0092]
In response to the print end command, the personal computer 68 then sends a rotation instruction command for the support tray 5 to the printing apparatus (step S7). Upon receiving this rotation instruction command, the printing apparatus drives the rotary table drive motor 45, and the rotational power is supplied via the worm gear 46, the large gear 44 a of the gear 44, the small gear 44 b of the gear 44, and the gear 35. The rotation table 32 is rotated in the clockwise direction. When the turntable 32 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the drive of the turntable drive motor 45 is stopped (step S8). The predetermined angle is 180 °, and as described above, the recesses 51 are formed at intervals of 90 ° on the outer periphery of the turntable 32, and the rotational position detection switch 50 detects the second recess 51. Later, since the rotation angle at which the number of output pulses from the encoder 48 becomes a predetermined number is set to 180 °, the rotation angle is detected when the rotation angle of 180 ° is detected based on the information of the rotation position detection switch 50 and the encoder 48. The drive of the table drive motor 45 is stopped.
[0093]
When the turntable 32 rotates 180 °, the buffer sheet 61 on the opposite side of the buffer sheet 61 is disposed at a position corresponding to the printing operation area of the thermal head 58. This state is a predetermined stop position of the turntable 32 where the buffer sheet 61 is located opposite to the printing operation area of the thermal head 58. At this position, the buffer sheet 61 is supported only by contact with the convex portion 38 during rotation. As described above, the lower surface of the turntable 32 floating from the tray 5 is in contact with the upper surface of the support tray 5.
[0094]
When the rotation operation of the turntable 32 is completed, the printing apparatus sends a rotation end command to the personal computer 68 (step S9).
[0095]
In response to the end of rotation of the support tray 5 from the printing device, the personal computer 68 sends the second print data to the printing device (step S10), and sends the print start command (step S11).
[0096]
In the printing apparatus, the print data at the second location received from the personal computer 68 is stored in the RAM 73 (step S12), and the print data for the second location is printed in response to the print start command (step S13). In the second printing process, the printer mechanism is applied to the optical disk a in which the second printing area is positioned by the rotation process in step S8 and held stationary on the turntable 32 in the same manner as in step S6. Perform the printing operation. When the second printing is completed, the printing apparatus sends a print end command to the personal computer 68 (step S14).
[0097]
Upon receiving the print end command, the personal computer 68 sends an eject command for ejecting the support tray 5 to the printing apparatus (step S15). Then, in the printing apparatus that receives this, the tray drive motor 6 is driven to discharge the support tray 5 out of the case 1 (step S16). As a result, it is possible to take out the optical disk a on which a desired character string is printed in the upper and lower regions sandwiching the central circular hole.
[0098]
In the printing apparatus, an end command is sent to the personal computer 68 every time the printing process or the rotation process is finished, and a start command related to the next process is received from the personal computer 68. It is also possible to receive the print data for the portion and the command to start printing, and control so that all the subsequent processing is performed only on the printing apparatus side. In addition, a keyboard, display unit, and memory for character fonts are provided in the printing device and all functions and controls are printed with functions for editing input data and creating print data without connecting to the personal computer 68. You may make it carry out by apparatus alone.
[0099]
As described above, after the first printing is performed on the label surface of the optical disk a, the turntable 32 on which the optical disk a is placed is automatically rotated by a preset angle to perform the second printing. . Therefore, when printing is performed on one location on the label surface of the optical disc a and printing is continued at other locations, the troublesome task of ejecting the support tray 5 and changing the orientation of the optical disc a each time is not necessary and easy. It is possible to efficiently print at a plurality of locations on the surface of the optical disc a.
[0100]
In this printing apparatus, when the first and second printing processes are performed in steps S5 and S13, the thermal head 58 and the carriage drive motor 60 are driven to perform the printing operation. The rotary table drive motor 45 that drives the support tray 5 stops its drive, and the support tray 5 is stationary. In step S8, the printing operation is stopped when the support tray 5 is driven to rotate. In this way, since the printing unit and the rotation driving unit are alternatively driven and are not driven at the same time, the peak power consumption of the printing apparatus can be reduced, and the printing apparatus is mounted on the printing apparatus. There is an advantage that the scale of the drive power supply can be reduced and the drive power supply circuit can be configured inexpensively and compactly.
[0101]
Next, a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described.
Although the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment is used only for label printing of the optical disk a, the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment is applied to a paper sheet together with the label printing of the optical disk a. Has the function of printing.
[0102]
In general, as shown in FIG. 9, an optical disk a such as a CD-R is stored in a transparent case b, and a paper sheet c such as a cover or a jacket is stored in the case b. The paper sheet c has a rectangular shape with a side substantially equal to the diameter of the optical disk a having a disk shape.
In the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, such an optical disk a and a paper sheet c are used as printing objects. The turntable 32 has a circular shape corresponding to the disk-shaped optical disk a, and the support tray 5 has a rectangular shape corresponding to the paper sheet c. When printing the title or the like on the optical disk a, the optical disk a is placed on the turntable 32, and when printing on the paper sheet c, the paper sheet c is placed on the support tray 5 including the turntable 32. Is placed.
[0103]
In the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, in order to enable printing on different print objects, the types of the print objects are detected and print processing corresponding to the types is possible.
[0104]
That is, a gate-shaped frame 63 is attached on the base 3 in the case 1 so as to be located on the rear side of the frame 54, and as a type detecting means for detecting the type of the printing object on the lower surface of the frame 63. A pair of first and second detection switches 64 and 65 are attached. The first and second detection switches 64 and 65 are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the case 1, and the first detection switch 64 is attached to a substantially middle portion of the frame 63, The switch 65 is attached at a position displaced toward one end of the frame 63.
[0105]
When the optical disk a is placed on the turntable 32 of the support tray 5 and the support tray 5 is pulled into the case 1 and inserted in this state, as shown in FIG. The edge of a contacts the actuator 64a of the first detection switch 64 and the first detection switch 64 is turned on, and the paper sheet c is placed on the support tray 5. In this state, the support tray 5 Is pulled into the case 1 and inserted, the edge of the paper sheet c comes into contact with the actuator 64a of the first detection switch 64, and the first detection switch 64 is turned ON. As shown in B), the edge of the paper sheet c also contacts the actuator 65a of the second detection switch 65, and the second detection switch 65 is turned on. The type of the print object is determined by the combination of the operations of the two detection switches.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing print processing of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment.
In this printing process, either the optical disk a or the paper sheet c is set as a printing object on the support tray 5. In addition, two printing locations are set in advance.
[0106]
First, the printing apparatus receives print data for two locations transferred from the personal computer 68 (step S101), stores the print data in the RAM 73 (step S102), and then issues a print start command from the personal computer 68. Receive (step S103).
[0107]
In the printing apparatus, the carriage drive motor 60 is driven to rotate forward to move the thermal head 58 to a printing position where it abuts against the label surface of the optical disk a, and the carriage 56 is stored in the RAM 73 while moving from the home position along the movement path. The first print data is transferred to the thermal head 58 line by line, and the thermal head 58 is driven based on this print data to perform thermal transfer printing on the print object via the ink ribbon. Later, the carriage drive motor 60 is driven in reverse to return the thermal head 58 to the home position (step S104).
[0108]
At the time of printing, a buffer sheet 61 having a size corresponding to the moving range is disposed on the upper surface of the support tray 5 in an area corresponding to the moving range of the thermal head 58. Good printing is performed by evenly contacting the surface of the film.
[0109]
Next, the type of the print object is determined based on the operating states of the first and second detection switches 64 and 65 (step S105). When the first detection switch 64 is ON and the second detection switch 65 is OFF, it is determined that the object to be printed is the optical disk a, and when both the first detection switch 64 and the second detection switch 65 are ON. Then, it is determined that the print object is a paper sheet c.
[0110]
If it is determined in step S105 that the object to be printed is the optical disk a, the rotating table drive motor 45 is driven to rotate the rotating table 32 clockwise in order to perform the second printing on the label surface of the optical disk a. When the rotary table 32 is rotated by 180 ° based on the signals from the rotary position detection switch 50 and the encoder 48, the drive of the rotary table drive motor 45 is stopped (step S106).
[0111]
Then, the second printing process is performed on the label surface of the optical disc a in the same manner as the first printing process (step S107). When the second printing process is completed, the tray drive motor 6 is driven to eject the support tray 5 out of the case 1 and the process is terminated (step S108, END).
[0112]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the printing object is the paper sheet c after the first printing is completed, the support tray 5 is not rotated by 180 ° by driving the turntable drive motor 45. The tray drive motor 6 is driven to eject the support tray 5 out of the apparatus (step S109).
[0113]
Therefore, the user takes out the paper sheet c from the ejected support tray 5 and manually rotates the paper sheet c 180 degrees in the horizontal plane to change the direction. Is put on the support tray 5 again, and the preparatory work for printing the second place is performed.
[0114]
After that, when a standby state for a print resumption instruction is entered, for example, when it is determined that resumption of printing has been instructed by an operation of an eject switch performed by the user (step S110), the tray drive motor 6 is driven and the support tray 5 is moved to the apparatus. The printing position is pulled into the printing position (step S111). After the support tray 5 has moved to a predetermined position in the apparatus, the second printing process is performed in the same manner as the first printing process (step S112). When the second printing process is completed, the support tray 5 is discharged out of the apparatus and the process is terminated (step S113, END).
[0115]
In the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the optical disk a is rotationally driven in the apparatus in order to set printing areas at a plurality of locations on the label surface of the optical disk a, and the printing means and the rotational driving means of the support tray 5 are provided. In that respect, the same effect as that of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0116]
Also, when printing is performed at a plurality of locations on a rectangular paper sheet c, particularly when the size of one side of the paper sheet c is a rectangle having a length substantially equal to the diameter of the optical disk a, printing at one location is performed. After the completion, when the turntable 32 is rotated in the case 1 to automatically change the direction of the paper sheet c, the rotation diameter of the rectangular paper sheet c becomes a diagonal length. Since the length is larger than the diameter of the disk-shaped optical disk a, the rotation of the paper sheet c having the square dimensions of the support tray 5 that supports the two print objects and the case 1 that houses the support tray 5 is used. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the size of the printing apparatus, which increases the size of the entire printing apparatus.
However, in the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, only in the case of the disk-shaped optical disk a, the turntable 32 is rotated in the case 1 to automatically change the direction, and in the case of a rectangular paper sheet c. Since each time printing is completed, the support tray 5 is ejected and its direction is changed manually, so that the width of the support tray 5 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the optical disk a. It is not necessary to increase the length of the diagonal line of the paper sheet c, so that the entire printing apparatus can be made compact.
Before the start of printing, the support tray 5 is ejected out of the apparatus by an eject operation in order to set the print object on the support tray 5, but the turntable 32 is set in the apparatus before the print object is set. After rotating and aligning with a predetermined stop position based on the signals from the rotational position detection switch 50 and the encoder 48, it moves outside the apparatus.
[0117]
Thereby, even if the turntable 32 is rotated by some external force and deviates from the predetermined stop position, the turntable 32 can be positioned at the predetermined stop position at the time of setting the printing object by this alignment process. it can.
[0118]
By the way, in the said embodiment, although the some convex part 38 was provided in the lower surface of the turntable 32, and the recessed part 39 corresponding to the convex part 38 was provided in the support tray 5, this is the reverse structure, ie, A plurality of concave portions may be provided on the lower surface of the turntable 32, and convex portions corresponding to the respective concave portions may be provided on the upper surface of the support tray 5.
In the embodiment, the friction sheet 40 is attached to the lower surface of the turntable 32. However, the friction sheet 40 may be attached to the upper surface of the support tray 5.
[0119]
Further, as shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of convex portions 38 may be provided on the lower surface of the turntable 32 at a portion that receives pressure by the thermal head 58. Moreover, the case where this convex part 38 is provided in the upper surface of the support tray 5 may be sufficient.
[0120]
In the above-described embodiment, the thermal transfer type printer is provided. However, the printer may be an ink jet type printer.
[0121]
In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus is connected to a personal computer, and print data of data input to the personal computer is received from the personal computer for printing. However, the printing apparatus is connected to the printing apparatus without being connected to the personal computer. A keyboard, display unit, and character font memory for inputting, editing, and printing data may be provided so that the input data can be edited and functions for creating print data can be used independently. .
[0122]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it can be configured easily and inexpensively, and printing can be efficiently performed at a plurality of locations on the surface of the printing object with a simple operation while the printing object is placed on the turntable. In addition, since the rotation driving means for driving the turntable and the printing means for printing on the printing object supported by the support means are selectively operated, the drive power of the printing apparatus is reduced. It can be manufactured at low cost by configuring it on a scale.In addition, the width of the print head and the length by which the print head moves in pressure contact with the print object at a position on the turntable where the buffer member is pressed by the print head when printing on the print object. Therefore, when the print head is pressed against the print object, the buffer member is elastically deformed more uniformly and the print head is more uniformly contacted with the surface of the print object. Therefore, better printing is performed.
[0124]
  Also,According to invention of Claim 2,When the turntable rotates during non-printing operation, the turntable slides into contact with the convex portion and rotates smoothly.At the time of printing, the convex portion is fitted into the concave portion by the urging means. It is supported stably at the position of the rotation angle.
[0125]
  Claim3According to the invention described in (2), when the convex portion is fitted into the concave portion, the turntable comes into close contact with the support table via the member having a cushioning property and a friction property, whereby the turntable has a predetermined rotation angle. It is supported stably by the position of.
[0126]
  Claim4According to the invention described in any one of the above, the one of the opposing surfaces of the support table and the rotary table facing each other protrudes from the one facing surface at a location where the print head receives pressure. Since the convex portion that abuts the other facing surface facing the facing surface is provided, the rotary table can receive the pressure of the print head stably and evenly.
[0127]
  Claim5According to the invention described above, since the rotation direction of the rotary table and the moving direction of the print head that are rotationally driven by the rotation driving means are opposite to each other at the printing location, the rotary table is rotationally driven. Backlash does not occur in the rotation driving means, and therefore fine printing of the turntable during the printing operation can be prevented and good printing can be performed.
[0128]
  Claim6According to the invention described above, since the rotation driving means includes a drive motor and a gear train including a worm gear that transmits power of the drive motor to the rotation table, the rotation table is not prepared when the print head is moved. Therefore, the rotating base is securely held in a stationary state, and therefore good printing can be performed.
[0129]
  Claim7According to the invention described in, printing can be performed on a recording medium capable of recording data as a print object.
[0130]
  Claim8According to the invention described in (1), it is possible to selectively print on the first print object and the second print object. When the first print object is selected, the first print object is selected on the turntable. It is possible to efficiently print at a plurality of locations on the surface of the first print object with a simple operation while the one print object is placed.
  Claim9According to the invention, the first print object is a disc-shaped recording medium having a predetermined diameter capable of recording data, and the second print object has a side substantially equal to the predetermined diameter. Rectangular paper sheets of equal length can be selectively printed on these recording media and paper sheets.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in use of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an internal mechanism of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the printing apparatus when the support tray protrudes.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the printing apparatus when a support tray is inserted.
FIG. 5 is a plan configuration diagram showing a circuit in the printing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a support tray and a turntable in the printing apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a tray movement position detection switch in the printing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a type detection switch that detects the type of a printing object in the printing apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an optical disk and a paper sheet as a print object.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electric circuit of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement relationship between a printing thermal head and a buffer sheet on a turntable.
FIG. 12 is a plan configuration diagram when the support tray protrudes when printing on a paper sheet.
FIG. 13 is a plan configuration diagram when a support tray is inserted when printing on a paper sheet.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating print processing of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the support tray and the turntable.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer mechanism of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating print processing of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Case
2 ... Eject switch
3 ... Base
4 ... Guide rail
5 ... Support tray
6 ... Tray drive motor
13 ... Tray position detection switch
20 ... Guide groove
21 ... patrol circuit
24 ... Hook lever
29 ... hook receiver
32 ... turntable
33 ... Rotating shaft
36 ... Belleville spring
38 ... convex part
39 ... concave
40 ... friction sheet
41 ... Projection
45 ... Turntable drive motor
46 ... Worm Gear
47 ... Disc
48 ... Encoder
50 ... Rotation position detection switch
55 ... Guide shaft
56 ... Carriage
58 ... Thermal head
59 ... Ribbon cartridge
60 ... Carriage drive motor
61 ... Buffer sheet
64, 65 ... Print object type detection switch
68 ... Personal computer
70: Control unit
72 ... ROM
73 ... RAM
80 ... ink ribbon
a ... Optical disc
c ... paper leaf

Claims (9)

A support means for supporting a printing object comprising a rotatable turntable;
Rotation drive means for rotating the turntable;
A print head provided movably within a predetermined range on the turntable, and moved while being in pressure contact with the print object placed on the turntable via an ink ribbon; Printing means for printing on the area of the copy;
A buffer member that has a shape corresponding to the predetermined range and is arranged at a plurality of predetermined positions of the turntable, and receives the printing object placed on the turntable;
Means for detecting a rotation angle of the turntable;
Control means for controlling the rotation driving means and the printing means,
The control means operates the rotation driving means based on information of a means for detecting a rotation angle of the turntable so as to make the predetermined range correspond to the position of the buffer member after operating the printing means. Then, the rotating table is rotated by a predetermined angle , and then the printing unit is operated to perform printing at a plurality of positions separated from each other on the printing object supported by the supporting unit. Printing device. The support means supports a support base that is rotatable about the rotation axis of the turntable and is movable in the axial direction of the rotation shaft, and a biasing force that biases the turntable toward the support stand. With means,
One of the opposing surfaces of the support base and the turntable is protruded from the one face around the rotation axis and is rotated during the rotation of the turntable by the rotation driving means. A plurality of convex portions that are in sliding contact with the other facing surface facing the facing surface are provided, and the rotating table is rotated around the rotation axis by the predetermined angle on the other facing surface and the predetermined range. 2. The printing according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of concave portions into which the convex portions are fitted when one of the plurality of locations of the buffer member moves to a corresponding stop position of the turntable. apparatus. 3. A member having a cushioning property and frictional property with a thickness smaller than the protruding height of the convex portion is provided on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the support base and the rotary base. Printing device. One of the opposing surfaces of the support table and the rotating table facing each other is the other surface that protrudes from the one facing surface and faces the one facing surface at a location that is pressed by the print head. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a convex portion that contacts the surface. The rotational direction of the turntable which is rotated by the rotational driving means and the moving direction at the time of printing of the print head is in the printing position, one of the four claims 1, characterized in that opposite to each other The printing apparatus as described in. The printing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the rotation drive unit includes a drive motor and a gear train including a worm gear that transmits power of the drive motor to the turntable. Said printing object, printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a recording medium capable of recording data. It is possible to selectively support a disk-shaped first print object having a predetermined diameter and a rectangular second print object, which has a rotatable turntable , and the first Support means having a size larger than the diameter of the print object and smaller than the length of the diagonal line of the second print object ;
Rotation drive means for rotating the turntable;
Detection means for detecting the type of print object supported by the support means;
Printing means for performing printing on a partial area on the print object supported by the support means;
Control means for selectively operating the rotation driving means and the printing means,
When the first printing object is detected by the detection means, the control means operates the rotation means after operating the printing means, and further operates the printing means after that to operate the printing means. Printing is performed at a plurality of locations on the first print object supported by the support means, and when the second print object is detected by the detection means, the operation of the rotation drive means is prohibited. And operating only the printing means. The first print object is a disk-shaped recording medium having a predetermined diameter capable of recording data, and the second print object is a rectangle having a length substantially equal to the predetermined diameter on one side. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the printing apparatus is a paper sheet.

Images