JP3549548B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer type printer device used for, for example, a small facsimile machine, and more particularly to the elimination of printing failure when ink runs out.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many small facsimile machines use a thermal transfer printer using an ink sheet or ink ribbon. In this printer device, an ink sheet or an ink ribbon (hereinafter, referred to as an ink sheet) and a recording sheet are separately set. When printing on recording paper, the ink sheet is conveyed to a recording section together with the recording paper for recording.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-mentioned printer device, if the recording paper or the ink sheet runs out, printing becomes impossible. To prevent this, it is necessary to know the remaining amount of recording paper and ink sheet. Since the recording paper can be set near the exterior case, a window is provided in the exterior case, or a part of the recording paper is allowed to go out of the exterior case to reduce the remaining amount. This makes it easy to visually recognize the fact that the recording paper has been replaced.
[0004]
However, the ink sheet is often set inside the apparatus mechanically, and the remaining amount can be detected relatively easily by the end detecting means at the end of the ink sheet, but the ink sheet remains. It is difficult to detect that the amount has decreased, in terms of the number of parts, accuracy, and the like.
[0005]
Therefore, when the user of the facsimile apparatus is absent or at the time of automatic reception at night, in order to avoid the loss of the ink sheet and the inability to print and disable the reception, it is necessary to open the apparatus or to perform the ink-sealing. The user had to remove the cartridge and check the remaining amount. When the remaining amount is low, the ink sheet that can be used must be replaced.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a printer device capable of continuously printing even if the ink sheet has run out and capable of clarifying that the ink sheet has run out. It is intended for that purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A printer device according to the present invention is a thermal transfer printer device using an ink sheet or an ink ribbon, wherein the ink end detecting means detects an end portion of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon, and the ink end detecting device detects the ink sheet or the ink ribbon. When the end portion is detected and the operation unit is selected to rewind the ink sheet or the ink ribbon, a rewinding unit for rewinding the ink sheet or the ink ribbon by a predetermined amount, and a history of rewinding the ink sheet or the ink ribbon are displayed. When printing is performed using the history storage unit to be stored and the ink sheet or the ink ribbon, the contents stored in the history storage unit are checked, and the history of the rewinding of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is stored in the history storage unit. Prints data that is stored and indicates reuse of the ink sheet or ink ribbon on the operation unit Doo is when it is selected, and having a print control means for printing the data to display the re-use of the ink sheet or an ink ribbon with the print image.
[0010]
[Action]
In the present invention, when the ink end or the end of the ink ribbon is detected by the ink end detecting means, the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is rewound by a predetermined amount by the rewinding means, and the ink sheet or the ink sheet is rewound. Print using the ink ribbon again.
[0011]
When the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is reused for printing, a specific mark or document is printed together with the print image to prompt the exchange of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon.
[0012]
Further, by selecting whether or not the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is to be reused by the operation unit, the print image is prevented from being lost.
[0013]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an ink sheet drive unit and a control unit of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, an ink sheet driving section 1 includes an ink sheet driving section 4 for transporting an ink sheet 3 in response to a print command from a print command section 2 and an ink end detecting section for detecting the end of the ink sheet 3. A rewind command for sending a signal for rewinding the ink sheet 3 by a predetermined amount to the ink sheet driving means 4 when the means 5 and the ink end detecting means 5 detect the end of the ink sheet 3. Means 6.
[0014]
The ink sheet 3 is housed in a roll shape in the cartridge 8, as shown in the configuration diagram of the recording unit in FIG. 2, and an opening is formed in a portion of the cartridge 8 facing the thermal head 9. Have. When a print command is sent from the print command means 2, a new portion is sent to the position of the thermal head 9 by the ink sheet driving means 4 and the recording carried by the platen roller 10 by the heat of the thermal head 9. The image information is transferred to the paper 11.
[0015]
The ink end detecting means 5 is, for example, a reflection type photosensor for detecting a tape having a reflectance different from that of the ink sheet itself attached to the end portion of the ink sheet 3 or a change in drive tension on the winding side. It consists of a tension sensor for detecting the terminal end. The rewind command means 6 sends a rewind signal to the ink sheet drive unit 1 upon receiving an end detection signal from the ink end detection means 5 when rewinding of the ink sheet 3 is selected by the operation unit 7.
[0016]
The control unit 12 of the printer device has a history storage unit 13 for storing a history of rewinding of the ink sheet 3 and a print control unit 14 for controlling the driving of the thermal head 9.
[0017]
The operation of the printer constructed as above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0018]
When there is a print request, when the end of the ink sheet 3 is detected by the ink end detection means 5, an end detection signal is sent from the ink end detection means 5 to the rewind command means 6 (steps S1 and S2). When the rewind command means 6 receives the end detection signal and the operation unit 7 has selected rewind of the ink sheet 3 (step S3), a predetermined fixed amount or a predetermined amount of the ink sheet 3 is determined. A rewind command signal to the leading end is sent to the ink sheet driving means 4. Upon receiving the rewind command signal, the ink sheet driving means 4 reversely conveys the ink sheet 3 and rewinds the ink sheet 3 by a predetermined amount (step S4). If rewinding of the ink sheet 3 is not selected in the operation section 7, printing is disabled on the display section of the operation section 7 as in the case of normal ink end, and the printing process is terminated (step S5). .
[0019]
When the rewinding of the ink sheet 3 is completed, the fact that the ink sheet 3 has been rewound is stored in the history storage means 13 (step S6). When the operation unit 7 has selected to print the data indicating the reuse of the ink sheet 3, the print control means 14 adds the reuse display data to the print data ( Steps S7 and S8). After that, while the ink sheet 3 is forwardly conveyed by the ink sheet driving means 4, print data is printed on the recording paper 11 conveyed by the platen roller 10, and reusable display data is added. At this time, the reusable display data is printed on the margin or the like (step S9). When the print data requested to be printed is printed, the printing process ends (step S10).
[0020]
Next, if there is a new print request and the ink sheet 3 has not reached the end (steps S1 and S2), the print control means 14 checks the contents stored in the history storage means 13 (step S11). If there is a history of rewinding in the ink sheet 3, the reusable display data is added to the print data and the print data requested to be printed is printed (steps S7 to S9). . If there is no rewind history in the ink sheet 3 when a printing request is made, a normal printing operation is performed.
[0021]
When the ink sheet 3 has a history of rewinding as described above, the reusable display data is added to the print data as necessary, so that the ink sheet 3 is printed again. Can be clarified.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the end portion of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is detected, the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is rewound by a predetermined amount and the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is reused. Since printing is performed in such a manner, it is possible to prevent the ink sheet from being lost at the time of automatic reception and from becoming unreceivable. Further, even when the exchanged ink sheet is not at hand, it is possible to prevent the printing from being disabled.
[0023]
When the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is reused for printing, a specific mark or document is printed together with a print image to clearly indicate that the ink sheet is reused, thereby providing the user with the ink sheet. It is possible to prompt the exchange time and to recognize that there is a possibility of missing information.
[0024]
Further, by selecting whether or not to reuse the ink sheet or the ink ribbon with the operation unit, it is possible to prevent a print image from being lost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording unit.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ink sheet drive unit 3 ink sheet 4 ink sheet drive unit 5 ink end detection unit 6 rewind command unit 7 operation unit 9 thermal head 12 control unit 13 history storage unit 14 print control unit

Claims (1)

In a thermal transfer printer using an ink sheet or an ink ribbon, an ink end detecting means for detecting an end of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon, and an operating section for detecting the end of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon by the ink end detecting means Rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet or the ink ribbon by a predetermined amount when rewinding of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is selected, a history storage means for storing a history of rewinding the ink sheet or the ink ribbon, When printing is performed using a sheet or an ink ribbon, the contents stored in the history storage unit are checked, and the history of rewinding of the ink sheet or the ink ribbon is stored in the history storage unit, and the ink sheet is stored in the operation unit. Or, when it is selected to print data indicating the reuse of the ink ribbon, Printer apparatus characterized by comprising a print control means for printing with the data print image to be displayed reuse sheet or ink ribbon.

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