EP0163285A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing device
Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corp
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Filing: 1985-05-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A thermal printer includes a thermal head (12) pressed against a paper sheet on a platen (4) directly or through an ink ribbon; a carrier (7) which holds the thermal head (12) and on which a black or color ink ribbon is detachably mounted; a first detector (71) for generating a color output signal upon detecting that the color ink ribbon cassette is mounted on the carrier (7); a second detector (76) for generating a "black" signal while detecting a black area of the ink ribbon; and a control circuit (50, 52, 54) for setting the thermal printing mode or the black or color ink printing mode in accordance with the output signals from the first and second detectors (71, 76). When the thermal printer is powered, the control circuit (50, 52, 54) sets a color ink printing mode upon detecting that the color output signal is continuously generated from the first detector (71). When the color output signal is not generated from the first detector (71), the control circuit moves the thermal heat (12) by a given distance upon pressing it against the paper sheet on the platen (4). In this case, the control circuit sets the black or color ink printing mode in accordance with the output signal from the second detector (76).
Inventors
- 👤 Keiichi Horiya
- 👤 Kazuhide Takahama
- 👤 Yasuichi Kishino
- 👤 Koichiro 1-103 Koyoosokushin-Jutaku Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:13
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41L; B41L1/00; B41J; B41J35/00; B41J35/36; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; B41J35/16; B41J35/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A printing device comprising: a platen -(4) for holding a paper sheet; a printing head (12) pressed against the paper sheet on said platen (4) through an ink ribbon in a black or color ink printing mode when said printing head (12) is set in an ON state; a carrier (7) which holds said printing head (12) and on which a black or color ink ribbon cassette is detachably mounted; carrier driver means (8) for moving said carrier (7) along said platen (4) ? -first detecting means (48; 71) for generating a color output signal upon detecting that the color ink ribbon cassette is mounted on said carrier (7); second detecting means (15; 76), arranged in an ink ribbon path, for generating a first output signal while detecting a black area of the ink ribbon and for generating a second output signal while not detecting the black area; and control means (50, 52, 54) for setting, when said printing device is powered, a color ink printing mode upon detecting that said first detecting means (48; 71) generates the color output- signal and for supplying character data to said printing head (12) while moving said printing head (12), characterized in that said control means (50, 52, 54) sets, when said thermal printer is powered, said printing head (12) in the ON state and thereafter moves said carrier (7) along said platen (4) by a given distance upon detecting that said first detecting means (48; 71) does not generate the color output signal, and respectively sets a black ink printing mode or a direct printing mode upon detecting that said second detecting means (15; 76) continuously generates the first or second output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A printing device comprising: a platen -(4) for holding a paper sheet; a printing head (12) pressed against the paper sheet on said platen (4) through an ink ribbon in a black or color ink printing mode when said printing head (12) is set in an ON state; a carrier (7) which holds said printing head (12) and on which a black or color ink ribbon cassette is detachably mounted; carrier driver means (8) for moving said carrier (7) along said platen (4) ? -first detecting means (48; 71) for generating a color output signal upon detecting that the color ink ribbon cassette is mounted on said carrier (7); second detecting means (15; 76), arranged in an ink ribbon path, for generating a first output signal while detecting a black area of the ink ribbon and for generating a second output signal while not detecting the black area; and control means (50, 52, 54) for setting, when said printing device is powered, a color ink printing mode upon detecting that said first detecting means (48; 71) generates the color output- signal and for supplying character data to said printing head (12) while moving said printing head (12), characterized in that said control means (50, 52, 54) sets, when said thermal printer is powered, said printing head (12) in the ON state and thereafter moves said carrier (7) along said platen (4) by a given distance upon detecting that said first detecting means (48; 71) does not generate the color output signal, and respectively sets a black ink printing mode or a direct printing mode upon detecting that said second detecting means (15; 76) continuously generates the first or second output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A printer according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (50, 52, 54) sets, when said thermal printer is powered, a printing operation in the color ink printing mode in response to the color output signal from said first detecting means (48; 71), thereafter, moves said carrier (7) upon setting said printing head (12) in the ON-state, and sets the printing operation in the black ink printing mode upon detecting that the first output signal is continuously generated from said second detecting means (15; 76) for a period exceeding that corresponding to the given distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ink ribbon has a plurality of alternately arranged black areas and transparent areas each having a predetermined length at an end portion thereof, and said control means (50, 52, 54) sets a ribbon end flag upon detecting the end portion of the ink ribbon in accordance with the first and second output signals from said second detecting means (15; 76).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A printer according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by further comprising third detecting means (75) for generating a paper-on signal while detecting that the paper sheet is set on said platen (4), said control means (50, 52, 54) inhibiting driving of said carrier (7) upon detecting that the paper-on signal is not generated from said third detecting means (75) when said thermal printer is powered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A printing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by further comprising rotation means (38, 39) which is detachably coupled with a ribbon take-up roll (34) of said ribbon cassette (14) and driving means (41, 42, 44) for converting linear movement of said carrier (7) into rotation movement to rotate said rotation means (38, 39) when said printing head (12) is set in the ON-state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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