JPS6363388B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a printing device.

In conventional printers that perform multicolor printing using ink ribbon cassettes, the operator of the printer sets the ink ribbon cassette containing ink ribbons of desired colors into the printer to perform multicolor printing. At this time, the operator must confirm whether or not the ink ribbon cassette of the color specified in advance is set. If an ink ribbon cassette other than the specified color is set, the printer will not be able to identify it, so it will be left as is. It has the disadvantage of printing. Also, some types of ink ribbons, such as ink ribbons for thermal transfer printers, need to have different melting points, and in that case, the operator needs to check the ink ribbon and set an appropriate melting point. If the melting point is set incorrectly, clear printing cannot be achieved.

The present invention is proposed in view of the disadvantages that conventional printing devices have.

The object of the present invention is to discriminate the color information of the ink ribbon cassette provided in the ink ribbon cassette by a discriminating means, and to separate the color signal and pattern signal included in print data by a data separating means.
The comparison means compares the color signal separated by the data separation means and the discrimination result of the discrimination means, and the comparison means compares the values of both the color signal separated by the data separation means and the discrimination result of the discrimination means. If there is a corresponding relationship, a first signal is sent to the print control means to cause the print control means to print according to the pattern signal, and if both values are not in a corresponding relationship, a second signal is sent to the print control means. An object of the present invention is to propose a printing device that can guarantee printing in accordance with color information that prohibits printing by the printing control means.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1 showing a thermal transfer multicolor printing device with a replaceable ink ribbon cassette, 1 is an ink ribbon coated with heat-melting ink on one side.
When heat is applied here, the ink melts and is transferred to the paper 4. Reference numeral 2 denotes a cassette that stores the ink ribbon 1, and when changing the printing color, the ink ribbon cassette 2 is changed entirely. 3 is a thermal head which converts the pattern signal to be printed into heat and melts the ink on the ink ribbon 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a stand on which an ink ribbon cassette 2 and a thermal head 3 are mounted, and is moved by a timing belt 6 to a predetermined printing position. A timing belt 6 is placed between pulleys 7, 7, and is driven by a drive motor 8. Guides 9, 9 are formed downward from the table 5, and engage with the rod 10 to stably guide the movement of the table 5. Note that 8 is a platen.

Next, reference numeral 11 denotes a key switch for identifying a cassette attached to the stand 5, and a specific cassette can be identified by the state in which this key switch enters the recess in the lower surface of the ink ribbon cassette 2. 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes an ink ribbon drive motor for winding up the ink ribbon 1. Furthermore, the mechanism for determining the ink ribbon cassette will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2a is a diagram for explaining a means for distinguishing between different types of cassettes, and shows a state in which the ink ribbon cassette 2 is not loaded on the stand 5. At this time, there is nothing on the discrimination key switch 11, and it remains in a protruding state. If an ink ribbon cassette with a bottom surface as shown in FIG. 2 a and d is loaded on the stand 5, the key switch 11 corresponding to the recess 2c of the cassette will protrude, and the ink ribbon cassette shown in FIG. It becomes like e. Second
Figures f and g are cross-sectional views of the key switch 11 when the ink ribbon cassette 2 is loaded. 2
1 is the key top of the key switch 11, 22 is a switch terminal connected to the key top 21 via a spring, and 23 is a contact point of the switch terminal 22. Reference numeral 24 indicates the bottom surface of the ink ribbon cassette 2, and FIG. 2f shows a case where the bottom surface of the cassette has a recess 2c, and FIG. 2g shows a case where there is no recess. If there is a recess, the key top 21 is the ink ribbon cassette 2.
The discriminating switch is open, but if there is no recess, the key top 21 is pressed and the discriminating switch is closed, and the terminals 23 and 22 are electrically connected.
The type of cassette 2 (that is, the type of color of the ink ribbon 1) can be detected depending on whether or not c is present.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control circuit applied to the present invention. Reference numeral 31 denotes a data separation circuit (not shown) for separating a color signal and a pattern-related signal contained in print data sent from a host device to the printer, and the pattern signal and the separated color signal are sent to a comparison circuit. 32, the pattern signal is transferred to the print control circuit 33. The comparison circuit 32 compares the data from the decoder circuit 34 which converts the signal from the key switch 11 for ink ribbon cassette discrimination into ink ribbon color data with the color signal from the data separation circuit 31, and determines which cassette is currently loaded. If an appropriate ink ribbon cassette is loaded, a signal indicating a match is transferred to the print control circuit 33. In addition, in the case where a plurality of ink ribbon cassettes of different types can be loaded, a color instruction signal should be transferred to the print control circuit 33 so that only the cassette containing the ink ribbon of a specific color specified by the print data is selected. Bye.
If the loaded cassette does not match the color specified by the print data, the print control circuit 3
3 to prevent printing, and also sends a discrepancy signal to the host device to issue a warning. Further, the operator may also be notified of the discrepancy by lighting a lamp or buzzing.

The above-described embodiments have been described in relation to a thermal transfer printer, particularly multicolor printing performed by a thermal transfer printer using an ink ribbon of a specific color from among a plurality of color ink ribbons. However, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to thermal transfer printers, but can be applied to any printing device in which ink ribbons are replaced in cassette units. For example, it may be a wire dot printer or a typewriter. Furthermore, the application is not limited to multicolor printing; for example, in thermal transfer printers, where the temperature of the thermal head must be controlled based on the difference in melting point of the ink of the ink ribbon, the ink can be used very easily. Since the type of ribbon can be determined, instructions for temperature control of the thermal head can be issued without human intervention.

Further, the mark for identifying the type of cassette is not limited to the recess 2c described above.
For example, the presence or absence of reflected light may be detected using a photo coupler.

As explained above, according to the present invention, since the ink ribbon cassette loaded in the printing device can be mechanically determined, printing can be performed using an ink ribbon cassette that meets printing conditions.

Furthermore, since it is possible to determine the correspondence between pre-given cassette conditions and the loaded cassette, this correspondence information can be used to prevent printing errors or defective printing by canceling printing or notifying the operator. The present invention provides excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the main parts of the thermal transfer printing device, Fig. 2a is a perspective view showing a part of the stand on which the key switch is installed, Figs.
e is a diagram showing the mutual relationship between the key switch and the cassette, FIGS. 2 f and g are sectional views of the key switch and its vicinity, showing the configuration of the key switch and its operating state, respectively. FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention. This is a control circuit used for. Here, 2... ink ribbon cassette, 2c...
. . . recessed portion, 11 . . . key switch, 21 . . . key top (of key switch 11).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a printing device that prints using a removable ink ribbon cassette, a discriminating means discriminates the color information of the ink ribbon cassette provided in the ink ribbon cassette, and data separates a color signal and a pattern signal included in print data. A comparison means compares the color signal separated by the data separation means and the discrimination result of the discrimination means, and the comparison means compares the color signal separated by the data separation means and the discrimination result of the discrimination means. If both values are in a corresponding relationship, a first signal is sent to the print control means to cause the print control means to print according to the pattern signal, and if both values are not in a corresponding relationship, a first signal is sent to the print control means. A printing device characterized in that a second signal is sent to means to inhibit printing by the printing control means.