JPH0345718B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer serial printer, and sometimes relates to an ink ribbon feeding method and device in a thermal transfer serial printer in which the entire ink ribbon moves together with the printing section. .

Prior Art A serial printer is a type of printer in which the printing section moves left and right relative to the recording paper and prints by feeding the recording paper in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the printing section.

These serial printers include a type impact type that prints by hitting the recording paper with type through an ink ribbon, a thermal printer that uses thermal paper and a thermal head, and a thermal printer that presses a thermal transfer ink ribbon against the recording paper with a thermal head. There are thermal transfer printers that perform recording by melting ink on a thermal transfer ink ribbon using heat from a heating element. Among these, impact-type and thermal-type serial printers can easily perform bidirectional printing that prints not only on the outward printing path but also on the returning printing path, so many printers generally use bidirectional printing as a means of increasing speed. .

It will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B that this bidirectional printing method is more effective in improving the average printing speed than the unidirectional printing method in which printing is performed only on the outward path of the printing section.

In Figure 1, reference number 1 indicates recording paper, arrow 2
indicates the paper feeding direction, the solid arrow indicates the movement of the printing section during printing, and the dotted arrow indicates the movement path of the printing section when printing one line and moving to the next line.

If the printer is capable of printing in only one direction, as shown in FIG. 1A, after printing one line, the printing unit must be moved to the left end of the next line. On the other hand, with bidirectional printing as shown in Figure 1B, the printing section can be moved to the left or right end of the next line, whichever is closer, minimizing the time it takes to move to the next line. Can be done. Therefore, even if the moving speed of the printing section is the same, an efficient moving path of the printing section can be taken, so the average speed of printing is significantly improved when bidirectional printing is possible. This printing method is called bidirectional shortest printing.

In an impact printer, the moment when the type hits the recording paper via the ink ribbon is extremely short, and the ribbon is away from the recording paper for the rest of the time, so the ribbon can be fed during that time.

Therefore, regardless of whether the printing section is moving left or right, bidirectional printing can be easily performed because the unused ribbon portion can be fed out to the printing section by simply feeding the ribbon in one direction.

Since thermal serial printers do not use ink ribbons, bidirectional printing can be easily achieved without the limitations of ribbon feeding.

However, bidirectional printing is difficult with conventional thermal transfer serial printers. This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. There are two types of thermal transfer serial printers: as shown in Figure 2, the entire ink ribbon system moves together with the printing section, and as shown in Figure 3, the ink ribbon system does not move and only the printing section moves. be.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 21 is a thermal head;
2 is a winding ribbon on the feeding side, and 23 is a winding ribbon on the winding side.

First, the movement of the ribbon in a thermal transfer type serial printer in which the entire ink ribbon moves together with the printing section as shown in FIG. 2 will be explained.

As shown in Figure 2A, during printing, the thermal head constantly presses the ink ribbon against the recording paper, pointing at the arrow 2.
Move in the direction of. Since the frictional force between the ribbon and the recording paper is much greater than the frictional force between the ribbon and the head, no slipping occurs between the paper and the ribbon, but the head slides on the back side of the ribbon. Therefore,
The ribbon is sent out from the feed side winding ribbon 22 due to the frictional force from the recording paper, is sent in the opposite direction (arrow 25) to the head movement at the same speed as the head movement, and is wound onto the winding side winding ribbon 23. It will be done.

Arrows 26 and 27 indicate the rotation direction of the delivery side ribbon and the winding side ribbon during printing, respectively.

Outbound printing is performed from left to right as shown in Figure 2 A.
When the print reaches the right edge, when the head is removed from the recording paper along with the ribbon, the ribbon is no longer subjected to frictional force from the recording paper, so the ribbon will no longer be fed out.In this state, move the printing section in the direction of arrow 28. Return to the left end (see Figure 2B). During this time, paper is fed in the vertical direction. Therefore, no printing is performed on the return trip.

On the other hand, in a thermal transfer printer in which the ink ribbon system does not move as shown in FIG. 3, the head moves in the direction of arrow 31 while pressing the ink ribbon onto the recording paper during forward printing.
During this time, the ribbon cannot be fed (see Figure 3A).
On the return trip of the printing section, the head is separated from the recording paper, and as the head moves back to the left end (in the direction of arrow 32), it pulls out the used ink ribbon from the ink-wrapped ribbon 22 on the sending side and takes the used ink ribbon to the winding side. Wind it onto the winding ribbon 23 (Fig. 3B
reference). Therefore, in this case as well, printing cannot be performed because the head is moved away from the recording paper on the return path of printing.

Arrow 33 indicates the ribbon feeding direction, and arrows 34 and 35 indicate the rotating direction of the wound ribbon on the feeding side and winding side, respectively.

In the method shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon is fed by the movement of the head during printing on the outward pass, and in the method shown in FIG. 3, the ribbon is fed by the movement of the head during the return pass. Figure 2 above,
As explained with reference to FIG. 3, both systems have a structure that does not allow bidirectional printing.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, problems encountered when bidirectional printing is attempted in a thermal transfer serial printer having such a conventional ribbon running path will be pointed out.

Figure 4 shows the method in which the entire ribbon moves together with the printing section as shown in Figure 2, and Figure 5 shows the method in which the entire ribbon moves together with the printing section.
As shown in the figure, the movement of the printing unit and ribbon feeding are schematically depicted for the system in which the ribbon system does not move. 1 is a recording paper, 21 is a thermal head, 22 is a ribbon on the feeding side, 23 is a ribbon on the winding side, the scale on the recording paper 1 is the printed part on the recording paper, and the scale on the ribbon is the ribbon corresponding to the printed part. represents. The shaded area on the recording paper 1 indicates the portion printed on the recording paper, and the shaded area on the ribbon indicates the used ribbon corresponding to the printed portion.

As shown in Figure 4, in the case of a system in which the entire ribbon moves together with the printing section, when the forward printing is completed and the printing section has reached the right end (see Figure 4A), the length required for the return printing is completed. After feeding the unused ink ribbon from left to right (see Figure 4B), printing on the return trip must begin.

For example, if the return print is to be performed on marks 6 to 11 on the recording paper as shown in Figure 4B, then the unused ribbon necessary for this is wound onto the take-up side before the return print. There must be.

In the backward printing, the ribbon is sent in the opposite direction to that in the forward printing, so that 6 to 11 ribbons, which were previously wound on the winding ribbon 23, are sent to the head side.

FIG. 4C shows a state in which backward printing has been completed. The used ribbons 6 to 11 for backward printing on the sending-out side winding ribbon 22 must be wound onto the take-up side 23 to be in the state shown in FIG. 4D before starting forward printing.

These ribbon feedings that occur at line breaks must be carried out at high speed, but thermal transfer ink ribbons are extremely thin and are prone to problems such as breakage and clumping, so it is difficult to create a mechanism that can feed them at high speeds. involves many technical and cost difficulties. Furthermore, since the ribbon is fed in both directions during printing, the mechanism becomes complicated, and difficulties arise, such as the need to be able to feed the ribbon while maintaining appropriate ribbon tension in either direction.

On the other hand, when bidirectional printing is performed using a method in which the ink ribbon system does not move as shown in Figure 5, when the forward printing is completed and the printing section reaches the right end (see Figure 5 A), the next line is printed. After feeding out the unused ink ribbon for the length required for printing (see Figure 5B),
Return printing must be started. After completing the backward printing (see FIG. 5C), the ribbon used for the backward printing must be wound up (see FIG. 5D) before starting the outward printing. In this case, unlike the system in which the entire ink ribbon moves as shown in FIG. 4, the ribbon is fed in one direction, but it is still necessary to feed the ribbon at high speed at line feed.

As explained above, it is difficult for conventional thermal transfer serial printers to perform bidirectional printing due to the configuration of the ribbon running system.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the problems of the prior art as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon feeding method and apparatus that enable reciprocating printing in a thermal transfer serial printer.

Structure of the Invention According to the ink ribbon feeding method of the present invention, in a thermal transfer serial printer in which the entire ink ribbon moves together with the printing section, two printing positions spaced apart in the feeding direction of the recording paper are The ink ribbon is wound from the ink ribbon delivery side so that the ink ribbon can run in opposite directions in a direction that crosses the direction of the ink ribbon, and the ink layer surface of the ink ribbon faces the recording paper side at each of the two printing positions. An ink ribbon system is formed for the receiving side, and one of the two printing positions is selected for each of the outgoing and returning printing paths.

The ink ribbon feeding device of the present invention is used in a thermal transfer serial printer in which the entire ink ribbon moves together with the printing section, and includes an ink ribbon delivery side winding means, an ink ribbon take-up side winding means, and a recording paper feeding direction. The ink ribbon runs in opposite directions from the ink ribbon delivery side winding means to the ink ribbon take-up side winding means in a direction crossing the feeding direction of the recording paper through two separated printing positions. an ink ribbon guide means for guiding the ink ribbon so as to wet the ink ribbon;
The ink is supplied from the ink ribbon delivery side winding means to the ink ribbon delivery side winding means between the two printing positions and between the ink ribbon guiding means so that the ink layer surface of the ink ribbon faces the recording paper side at each of the two printing positions. The present invention is characterized by comprising an ink ribbon folding means for folding back the ink ribbon to the ribbon winding side winding means, and a selection means for selecting one of the two printing positions in each of the forward and return passes of printing.

Basic Principle of the Invention First, the basic principle of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

By devising the running path of the ribbon, the present invention enables bidirectional printing by simply feeding the ribbon through the movement of the head, without having to feed the ribbon at high speed or in both directions.

FIG. 6A shows the movement of the ink ribbon system on the outward path in feeding the ink ribbon according to the present invention, and FIG.
Figure B shows the movement of the ink ribbon system during the return journey (Figures 6A and 6B are views seen from the back side of the recording paper). The ink ribbons discharged from the supply side winding ribbon 67 can run in opposite directions to each other in a direction that crosses the recording paper feeding direction when viewed from two printing positions 601 and 602 spaced apart in the recording paper feeding direction. The ink ribbon of the ink ribbon is folded back so as to face the recording paper side and wound onto a winding-side ribbon 66. 21 is a heat sensitive head, arrows 62, 63,
Reference numeral 64 indicates the ink ribbon feeding direction, and arrows 65 and 64 indicate the rotation directions of the feeding side winding ribbon and the winding side winding ribbon, respectively.

This ink ribbon system moves together with the thermal head in the direction of arrow 68 on the forward path of printing and in the direction of arrow 69 on the return path of printing, and as the entire ink ribbon system moves up and down in the direction of arrow 603, the ribbon portion 601 It is possible to select whether the thermal head is placed on the ribbon portion 602 or the thermal head is placed on the ribbon portion 602. 601 is called an upper ribbon printing position, and 602 is called a lower ribbon printing position.

FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically show a case where bidirectional printing is performed using the ink ribbon feeding method described in connection with FIG. Reference number 1 is a recording paper. FIG. 7A shows forward printing, and the thermal head is at the upper printing position, and the ribbon is pressed against the recording paper by the thermal head, so the ribbon moves at the same speed as the thermal head moves at arrows 62, 63, 64. is running in the direction of

When the forward printing is finished and the printing section is at the right edge, remove the thermal head from the recording paper, release the ink ribbon that was sandwiched between them, and raise the entire ink ribbon system so that the thermal head is at the printing position below the ribbon. Make it. During this time, the paper is fed in the direction of arrow 2.

Thereafter, the ink ribbon is pressed against the recording paper by the thermal head to start backward printing (see FIG. 7B).

When the return printing is completed and the printing section returns to the left edge, remove the thermal head from the recording paper again, open the ink ribbon, lower the entire ink ribbon running system, and move the thermal head to the printing position above the ribbon. do. Then, the thermal head is lowered again and outward printing is started.

As can be seen from Figures 7A and 7B, the ink ribbon travels in the same direction during the forward and return passes of printing. Bidirectional printing can be performed only by feeding the ink ribbon by the movement of the thermal head, without having to feed the ink ribbon at high speed.

Instead, a mechanism for moving the entire ink ribbon system up and down is required, but this can be realized relatively easily as will be explained later in the embodiment of the ink ribbon feeding device of the present invention.

In addition, there are problems such as an increase in the number of bending points in the ink ribbon running system and an increase in running resistance due to the folding of the ink ribbon, but these can be solved by improving the bending method, guides, and rollers, as will be explained later in the examples. Solvable.

Overall, the present invention has far fewer technical difficulties and problems than the method of feeding the ink ribbon in both directions or at high speed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As explained above using FIGS. 6 and 7,
A feature of the present invention is that bidirectional printing can be realized with a simple mechanism by adding some ingenuity to the traveling path of the ink ribbon.

Next, the manner in which the ink ribbon is consumed in this method will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8D. FIG. 8 is a diagram seen from the back side of the recording paper.

FIG. 8A shows the state when forward printing is completed, and the shaded area indicates the consumed portion of the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon has been consumed up to a portion 601. At the start of the next forward printing, the thermal head starts printing from the lower ribbon printing position 602 as shown in FIG. 8B, so printing can be started from the unused portion of the ribbon.

However, when attempting to move forward printing after the return printing has been completed (see Figure 8C), the ribbon upper printing position 601 and the ink lower printing position 602
There is a used part left between.

Therefore, in order for the thermal head to start forward printing from an unused portion of the ribbon, the printing section is moved while keeping the head pressed against the recording paper by an extra length d corresponding to 601 to 602 from the actual printed portion. After sending the remaining used ribbon (see FIG. 8D), printing can be started.

A specific example of this is shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D. In Figure 9, 1 is recording paper, solid arrow XA from right to left
is the return printing, the solid arrow DY from left to right is the outward printing, the dotted arrow is the part where the head moves while pressing against the recording paper to feed the remaining used ribbon, A is the end position of the return printing, D represents the start position of the next line of printing, B represents the position from which the head is released, and C represents the position from which the head is pressed.

When A and D are at almost the same vertical position as shown in Figure 9A, the ribbon is fed by moving between A and B with the head pressed against the recording paper after the return printing is completed, and the head is released at point B. The recording paper is fed in the vertical direction, and at point C, the head is pressed again and moved between the CDs to continue feeding the used ribbon, and then from point D, forward printing is started.

At this time, AB=CD and AB+CD=d may be satisfied.

When point D is more than d to the right of point A as shown in Figure 9B, AB separates the head by keeping it at the minimum distance necessary to separate the ribbon.

At this time, AB+CD=d may be satisfied.

When point D is more than d to the left of point A as shown in FIG. 9C, AB=d.

When the return printing is followed by the return printing as shown in FIG. 9D, there is no need to send the rest of the used ribbon because the printing moves to the next line without moving the ribbon running system up or down. Therefore, after moving the minimum distance AB required to separate the ribbon, the head is released, the printing section is moved to point D, and printing of the next line is immediately started.

Embodiment of Apparatus Next, an embodiment of the ink ribbon feeding apparatus of the present invention based on the above-described principle will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 18.

FIG. 10 schematically shows an embodiment of the ink ribbon feeding device of the present invention, and this embodiment has the following features:
By bending the ribbon twice by 90 degrees using two rollers 101 and 102 with rotation axes at 45 degrees to the ribbon running direction, the ribbon running direction is reversed 180 degrees without stretching or shrinking, and the ribbon touches the head. At the upper positions 601 and 602, the same ink surface appears toward the recording paper, and the ink surfaces run in opposite directions. 66 is a side winding ribbon for winding up, and 67 is a sending out side winding ribbon. The rollers 101 and 102 have slightly concave portions where the ribbon touches in order to prevent the ribbon from slipping. The guide roller 100 moves the two printing positions 601 and 602 so that the ink ribbon moves from the feeding side winding ribbon 67 to the winding side winding ribbon 6 in a direction crossing the feeding direction of the recording paper in opposite directions.
The ink ribbon guide means is configured to guide the ink ribbon so that it can travel to the ink ribbon.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which the ribbon is bent in the same manner as in FIG. 10, but a guide plate 111 is used instead of a roller.

FIG. 12 shows the ribbon twisted and folded by rollers 121. Delivery side winding ribbon 67
After passing the ribbon lower printing position 602, the ribbon comes out counterclockwise in the running direction.
It is twisted 90 degrees and enters roller 121.

After being bent 180 degrees at 121, it is twisted 90 degrees clockwise, passes through a guide roller 122, passes through an upper printing position 601, and is wound onto a winding ribbon 66. Therefore, the upper and lower ribbons move in opposite directions with their ink surfaces facing toward the recording paper.

Reference numeral 124 denotes a mounting table on which the entire ribbon running system is placed, and by moving it up and down, it is selected whether the upper ribbon or the lower ribbon will be placed at the head position.

The reason why the lower ribbon protrudes ahead of the upper ribbon by an amount z in FIGS. 11 and 12 is to prevent the lower part of the head from coming into contact with the lower ribbon when the upper ribbon has a head. If it is acceptable for the ribbon to rub against the lower part of the head, or if a head 132 with a protruding heating element as shown in FIG. 13 is used, z=0, that is, the upper and lower ribbons may be on the same plane.

FIG. 14 is an example of a selection mechanism for moving the ribbon system up and down in the case shown in FIG. 12. 141 is a platen, and 21 is a head.

FIG. 14A shows a state in which forward printing is being performed, and the upper ribbon is at the head position. Figure 14B
indicates that the lower ribbon is at the head position during return printing.

The mounting table 124 on which the ribbon system is placed selects the upper and lower ribbon printing positions by moving in an arc at an angle θ about the point P.

In this way, the ribbon system can be moved up and down with a fairly simple mechanism.

To maintain strict parallelism between the head and ribbon during printing, do as shown in Figure 15.

151 moves horizontally with the head but is fixed vertically.

Links QR and ST are links that move in an arc around points Q and S, respectively, and the entire ribbon system moves in parallel in an arc, so the parallelism between the head and the ribbon is always maintained.

Figure 16 shows that between the upper ribbon and the lower ribbon,
By setting the angle θ, the head and ribbon are made parallel to each other during printing even if the ribbon traveling system is moved up and down in an arc within the range of the angle θ.

FIG. 17 shows the top and bottom of the ribbon system in this case. P is the center point of the arc motion.

By making the angle formed by the upper and lower ribbons the same as the angle θ of the circular arc motion of the ribbon system, the ribbon and head can be made parallel in both forward and backward printing.

Next, the case of using a thermal transfer ink ribbon that can be used multiple times will be explained using FIG. 18.
(Figure 18 is a view from the back side of the recording paper.) Since the ribbon feeding direction is always in one direction,
An endless ribbon (a ribbon with both ends connected to form a ring) as shown in the figure can be used.

If the endless ribbon is long, it is stored with slack in the portion shown at 180.

Rollers 181 and 182 sandwich the endless ribbon and are designed to rotate at the same peripheral speed as the moving speed of the head. The endless ribbon therefore circulates in the direction of arrow 183 at the same speed as the head movement.

That is, it is pulled out from the supply side outlet 184, passes through the lower printing position 602, is turned back at the part 185, passes through the upper printing position 601, and then passes through the roller 18
1,182, is recovered, passes through the storage section 180, and appears again at the supply side outlet 184. At part 186, move the endless ink ribbon around the direction of travel.
The reason for twisting 180 degrees is to make the ink layer surface of the endless ribbon face the recording paper side at each of the upper and lower printing positions corresponding to the folded portion 185.

In the case of this endless ribbon, Figures 6 to 8
The take-up side ribbon 66 and the delivery side ribbon 67 in FIGS. 10 to 12 and 16
It is thought that this was replaced with a continuous ribbon.
Therefore, the vertical mechanism of the ribbon running system is shown in Figures 14 to 1.
This is similar to that explained in FIG.

Effects of the Invention Since the ink ribbon feeding method and device of the present invention are based on the above-mentioned principle, even in a thermal transfer serial printer, it can be used in both directions with a relatively simple mechanism without losing the reliability of the ribbon feeding system. The shortest possible printing speed can be achieved, and printing speeds can be significantly improved. Further, the present invention can also be applied to an electrically conductive type thermal transfer printer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram to explain the difference between bidirectional printing and unidirectional printing, and Figure 2 shows the movement of the ribbon in a thermal transfer serial printer in which the entire ink ribbon system moves together with the printing section. A schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the ribbon in a thermal transfer type serial printer in which the ink ribbon system does not move and only the printing part moves. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the ribbon. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the movement of the printing section and ribbon feeding in the method shown in FIG. 3. FIGS. 10 to 18 are schematic diagrams showing various embodiments of the ink ribbon feeding device of the present invention. 1...Recording paper, 21...Thermal head, 66...
Winding side winding ribbon, 67...Feeding ribbon, 6
01... Upper ribbon printing position, 602... Lower ribbon printing position, 100... Guide roller, 10
1,102...roller, 111...guide plate,
121... Roller, 122, 123... Guide roller, 124... Mounting table, 141... Platen, 181, 182... Endless ribbon driving roller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a thermal transfer serial printer in which the entire ink ribbon moves together with the printing section, two printing positions separated in the recording paper feeding direction are moved in a direction transverse to the recording paper feeding direction. The ink ribbon system moves from the ink ribbon delivery side to the ink ribbon take-up side so that the ink ribbon can run in opposite directions and the ink layer surface of the ink ribbon faces the recording paper side at each of the two printing positions. , and selecting one of the two printing positions in each of the forward and backward printing paths. 2. In a thermal transfer serial printer in which the entire ink ribbon moves together with the printing section, an ink ribbon delivery side winding means, an ink ribbon take-up side winding means, and two printing positions separated in the recording paper feeding direction are arranged. , guiding the ink ribbon so that the ink ribbon can run in opposite directions from the ink ribbon delivery side winding means to the ink ribbon take-up side winding means in a direction that crosses the feeding direction of the recording paper; and an ink ribbon guiding means for distributing the ink between the two printing positions and between the ink ribbon guiding means so that the ink layer surface of the ink ribbon faces the recording paper side at each of the two printing positions. an ink ribbon folding means for folding the ink ribbon from the ribbon delivery side winding means to the ink ribbon take-up side winding means; and a selection means for selecting one of the two printing positions in each of the forward and return passes of printing. An ink ribbon feeding device comprising: 3. The ink ribbon guiding means comprises a plurality of guide rollers, and the ink ribbon folding means comprises two rollers having rotational axes at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the ribbon running direction.
The ink ribbon feeding device described in . 4. The ink ribbon feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the ink ribbon guide means comprises a plurality of guide rollers, and the ink ribbon folding means comprises a guide plate. 5. The ink ribbon guiding means comprises a plurality of guide rollers, and the ink ribbon folding means comprises one roller having a rotation axis parallel to the ink ribbon running direction at the two printing positions. The ink ribbon feeding device described in . 6. The selection means includes a mounting table on which the entire ink ribbon delivery side winding means, ink ribbon take-up side winding means, ink ribbon guide means, and ink ribbon folding means can be placed; The ink ribbon feeding device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the ink ribbon feeding device is movable so as to selectively align the two printing positions to a position facing a thermal head. 7. The ink ribbon feeding device according to claim 6, wherein the placing table is moved parallel to the thermal head. 8. The mounting table is rotatably moved relative to the thermal head, and the surface of the ink ribbon at the two printing positions forms an angle substantially equal to the angle of the rotary movement. The ink ribbon feeding device according to scope 6. 9. In a thermal transfer printer using the ink ribbon in which the entire ink ribbon moves together with the printing unit and both ends of the ink ribbon are connected, a means for feeding and collecting the ink ribbon, and a means for feeding and collecting the ink ribbon, and two parts separated in the recording paper feeding direction. An ink ribbon that guides the ink ribbon so that the ink ribbon can run in opposite directions from the sending side to the collecting side of the ink ribbon in a direction that crosses the feeding direction of the recording paper. between the guide means and the two printing positions and between the ink ribbon guide means;
an ink ribbon folding means for folding the ink ribbon to the ink ribbon recovery side so that the ink layer surface of the ink ribbon faces the recording paper side at each of the two printing positions; An ink ribbon feeding device comprising: selection means for selecting each one of the printing positions.