Printer and consumables for use in printer

A consumable for use in a printer has a consumable section (for example, paper or ink ribbon) which is consumed during printing operation of the printer, and an RFID tag that stores the specification data of the consumable section. The printer has a printing section and a wireless receiver for data communication with the RFID tag. The printing section is controlled according to data obtained from the RFID tag through data communication.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on Japanese Priority Document P2003-90139 filed on Mar. 28, 2003, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printer and also to consumables which are consumed while a printer performs printing.

2. Description of the Background

A printer consumes various consumables during printing operation. In receipt printers incorporated into POS (Point of Sale) terminals, a typical consumable is receipt paper. In label printers, a typical consumable is label paper. In thermal printers, a typical consumable is heat-sensitive paper. In thermal transfer printers, recording paper and ink ribbon are typical consumables.

Different consumables have different physical properties. Therefore, the printing conditions of the printer must be adjusted depending on the properties of the consumable to be used. For example, in a thermal printer, the electrical energy supplied to the thermal head must be adjusted depending on the properties of the heat-sensitive paper to be used. Another example is a thermal transfer printer that adjusts the printing speed depending on the combination of recording paper and ink ribbon to be used.

However, adjusting the various printing conditions depending on the properties of various consumables is a troublesome task. Conventional printers require that printing conditions be adjusted according to the consumables to be used and therefore have the problem that these troublesome adjustments of the printing conditions are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make adjusting the various printing conditions easy for different types of consumables even in printers using different types of consumables.

A novel consumable according to the present invention is used in order to achieve the object of the present invention.

The consumable according to the present invention has a consumable section which is consumed during printing operation of a printer, and an RFID tag which stores specification data of the consumable.

The novel printer according to the present invention is used in order to achieve the object of the present invention.

The printer according to the present invention comprises: a printing section with a print head; and a holder which holds the consumable, the consumable being consumed during printing operation of the printing section and provided with an RFID tag which stores the consumable specification data, and controls the printing section based on the data obtained from the RFID tag through data communication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described next while referring toFIGS. 1 through 7. A printer according to this embodiment is a receipt printer connected with a POS (Point of Sale) terminal. The receipt printer is a thermal printer.

FIG. 1is a longitudinal sectional side view schematically showing the structure of a receipt printer1. As shown inFIG. 1, the receipt printer1has a holder6for holding a roll of receipt paper2. The receipt printer1has a platen3and a thermal head4facing the platen3with a paper path100between them. The platen3and the thermal head4make up a printing section101. The platen3is rotated by being driven by a stepping motor14(seeFIG. 3) to move the receipt paper2held by the holder6in a paper feeding direction A. The thermal head4is a print head with an array of heating resistors (not shown). The thermal head4generates heat selectively to perform thermal printing on the receipt paper2. The thermal head4has a thermistor4aas a sensor for detecting the temperature of the thermal head4(seeFIG. 3). The receipt printer1also has a cutter5that cuts the printed receipt paper2.

FIG. 2is a perspective view showing the receipt paper2(roll). The receipt paper2is consumed while the printing section101performs printing. The receipt paper2is therefore a consumable. The receipt paper2consists of a cylindrical core2aand a roll of paper2b(web) wound around the core2a. This core2aand the paper2bare consumables. The paper2bis heat-sensitive paper. An RFID tag is embedded in the core2a. Here, RFID is an abbreviation for Radio Frequency Identification. The RFID tag50is composed of a silicon chip and an antenna and is capable of sending data to a wireless receiver.

The receipt printer1receives data from the RFID tag50wirelessly (radio). This means that the receipt printer1has a wireless receiver7. The wireless receiver7is located near a holder which holds the receipt paper2. For wireless communication between the RFID tag50and the wireless receiver7, an electrostatic coupling, electromagnetic coupling, microwave or other method may be used.

FIG. 3is an electrical block diagram of the receipt printer1. The receipt printer1has a CPU (central processing unit)10which centrally controls various parts. The CPU10is connected through a system bus11with a ROM (Read Only Memory)12and a RAM (Random Access Memory)13. The ROM12is a flash memory. The ROM12stores various programs for operating the receipt printer1. The RAM13is used for example, as a work area for the programs stored in the ROM12.

The CPU10is also connected through the system bus11with the thermal head4, the cutter5, the wireless receiver7, and the stepping motor14. InFIG. 3, driver circuits for the thermal head4, cutter5and stepping motor14are not shown. The CPU10sends a drive signal to the cutter5. The cutter5operates according to the drive signal and cuts the receipt paper2in the paper path100. The stepping motor14drives the platen3according to a drive signal from the CPU10. The platen3is rotated, to feeds the receipt paper2while driven by the stepping motor14. The CPU10finds the temperature of the thermal head4according to the electrical current value of the thermistor4aarranged in the thermal head4.

FIG. 4is a graph showing color characteristics of 2-color heat-sensitive paper. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the recording density of the 2-color heat-sensitive paper and the horizontal axis represents the printing energy (mj/dot) applied to the 2-color heat-sensitive paper. In the receipt printer1, the 2-color heat-sensitive paper can be used selectively. Here, 2-color heat-sensitive paper develops two colors (for example, black and blue) through the additive color process. The 2-color heat-sensitive paper may be used as the paper2bof the receipt paper2may. One example of 2-color heat-sensitive paper is a lamination in which a black-developing layer and a blue-developing layer are sequentially laid over base paper. InFIG. 4, the broken line A expresses a “blue” characteristic and solid line B expresses a “black” characteristic. As shown inFIG. 4, blue appears with lower printing energy E1(approx. 0.20 (mj/dot)) than black.FIG. 4also shows that when printing energy E2which is larger than the blue-developing printing energy is applied (approx. 0.40 (mj/dot), then the black appears over the blue. Therefore, when the receipt printer1must print in blue, a printing energy E1(approx. 0.20 (mj/dot)) is applied to the receipt paper2. When the receipt printer must print in black, a printing energy E2(approx. 0.40 (mj/dot)) is applied to the receipt paper2. Either printing energy E1or E2is selected by controlling the pulse width of electrical energy applied to the thermal head4.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram showing a pulse width table. As shown inFIG. 5, the RFID tag50has a silicon chip which stores specification data for a consumable (receipt paper2in this embodiment). In this embodiment, the data is a pulse width table T. The pulse width table T defines the pulse width of the electrical energy for two colors (black and blue) which is supplied to the heating resistors of the thermal head4. The pulse width depends on data on the temperature of the thermal head4which is detected by the thermistor (not shown). The temperature data includes a temperature range defined for each temperature rank.

One pulse width table T is provided for each of head resistance ranks1through16. Therefore, the RFID tag50stores sixteen pulse width tables T which correspond to the head resistance ranks1through16. Head resistance ranks are determined according to the resistance values of the heating resistors of the thermal head4. The thermal head4has a jumper structure (not shown). The jumper structure determines the head resistance rank to be used.

FIG. 5shows a pulse width table T for head resistance rank1as an example. This table T defines the pulse width of electrical energy for black and that for blue in a temperature range for each of the temperature ranks0through F. The pulse widths of electrical energy defined here are in inverse proportion to the head temperatures in order to minimize uneven print density that might be caused by fluctuations in the temperature of the thermal head4.

FIG. 6is a flow chart schematically showing a printing condition adjustment process. The flow chart indicates the steps the CPU10takes according to the programs stored in the ROM12. As the receipt paper2is loaded in the holder6, the wireless receiver7starts data communication with the RFID tag50of the receipt paper2. As shown inFIG. 6, when decided that communication between the wireless receiver7and the RFID tag50is established (“Y” at step S1), the wireless receiver7reads the pulse width tables stored in the silicon chip of the RFID tag50. The pulse width tables T read by the wireless receiver7are stored in the RAM13(step S2). The CPU10controls the printing section101according to the pulse width tables T obtained from the RFID tag50through data communication.

During printing in black, the CPU10recognizes the head temperature detected by the thermistor attached to the head board of the thermal head4. The CPU10then refers to the pulse width tables T stored in the RAM13and reads the pulse width for black which matches the temperature rank including the recognized head temperature. The CPU10then sends a head strobe signal corresponding to the read pulse width to the driver circuit (not shown) of the thermal head4to control the thermal head4. The thermal head4in this way drives the heating resistors with the pulse width as defined in the corresponding pulse width table T. The characters are consequently printed in black on the receipt paper2.

At printing in blue, the CPU10recognizes the head temperature detected by the thermistor attached to the head board of the thermal head4. The CPU10then refers to the pulse width tables T stored in the RAM13and reads the pulse width for blue which matches the temperature rank including the recognized head temperature. The CPU10then sends a head strobe signal corresponding to the read pulse width to the driver circuit (not shown) of the thermal head4to control the thermal head4. The thermal head4in this way drives the heating resistors with the pulse width as specified in the corresponding pulse width table T. The characters are consequently printed in blue on the receipt paper2.

In this embodiment, the printing condition (pulse width of electrical energy in this embodiment) can therefore be automatically adjusted for a consumable (receipt paper2in this embodiment) according to the specification data for the consumable. Even when different types of receipt paper2are selectively used, making pulse width adjustments for different types of receipt paper2is easy.

FIG. 7is a schematic diagram showing another example of a pulse width table. As shown inFIG. 7, a pulse width table T′ stored in the silicon chip of the RFID tag50specifies the pulse width for each printing speed specified for each temperature range. More specifically, in the pulse width table T′, the multiple printing speeds are set for each temperature range corresponding to the temperature ranks0through F and the pulse width of electrical energy for black and that for blue at each printing speed are specified. In the pulse width table T′ shown inFIG. 7, pulse widths for blue and black are specified for each of three printing speeds: 10 (l/S), 6 (l/S) and 3 (l/S).

At printing in black, the CPU10recognizes the head temperature detected by the thermistor attached to the head board of the thermal head4. The CPU10also recognizes the speed for the printing which is to start. The CPU10then refers to the pulse width tables T′ stored in the RAM13and reads the pulse width for black which matches the temperature rank including the recognized head temperature and printing speed. The CPU10then sends a head strobe signal corresponding to the read pulse width to the driver circuit (not shown) of the thermal head4to control the thermal head4. The thermal head4therefore drives the heating resistors with the pulse width as specified in the corresponding pulse width table T′. The characters are consequently printed in black on the receipt paper2.

At printing in blue, the CPU10recognizes the head temperature detected by the thermistor attached to the head board of the thermal head4. The CPU10also recognizes the speed of the printing which is to start. The CPU10then refers to the pulse width tables T′ stored in the RAM13and reads the pulse width for blue which corresponds to the temperature rank including the recognized head temperature and printing speed. The CPU10then sends a head strobe signal corresponding to the read pulse width to the driver circuit (not shown) of the thermal head4to control the thermal head4. The thermal head4in this way drives the heating resistors with the pulse width as specified in the corresponding pulse width table T′. The characters are consequently printed in blue on the receipt paper2.

The thermal printer1can therefore make a fine adjustment of the printing energy of the thermal head4to the receipt paper2in accordance with the printing speed.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is described next while referring toFIGS. 8 through 13. The printer of this embodiment is a label printer. The label printer is a thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 8is a longitudinal sectional side view schematic showing the structure of a label printer21. As shown inFIG. 8, the label printer21has a holder26which holds a roll of label paper22. The label printer21has a platen23and a thermal head25facing the platen23with a paper path200between them. The platen23is rotated while driven by a stepping motor35(seeFIG. 11) to feed the label paper22held by the holder26in the paper feeding direction A. The thermal head25is a print head with an array of heating resistors (not shown). The thermal head25has a thermistor4aas a sensor for detecting the temperature of the thermal head25(seeFIG. 11). The thermal head25performs printing on the label paper22by a thermal transfer process by selectively driving the heating resistors. The ink ribbon24therefore lies between the thermal head25and the label paper22. The ink ribbon24is held by a ribbon holder28composed of a ribbon holding spindle24aand a ribbon rewinding spindle24b. The ink ribbon24held by the ribbon holding spindle24ais rewound by the ribbon rewinding spindle24while guided in between the thermal head25and the label paper22. The platen23, thermal head25, and ribbon holder28together comprise a printing section201.

FIG. 9is a perspective view showing the label paper22. The label paper22is consumed while the printing section201performs printing. The label paper22is therefore consumable. The label paper22comprises a cylindrical core22a, a roll of base paper22b(web) wound around the core22a, and a label22cbonded on the base paper22b. The core22a, base paper22band label22care consumables. An RFID tag51is embedded into the core22a. The RFID tag51is composed of a silicon chip and an antenna and is capable of sending data to a wireless receiver.

FIG. 10is a perspective view showing the ink ribbon24. The ink ribbon24is consumed while the printing section201performs printing. The ink ribbon24is therefore consumable. The ink ribbon24consists of a cylindrical core24aand a roll of ribbon tape22b(web type) wound around the core24a. The core24aand ribbon tape24bare consumables. An RFID tag52is embedded into the core24a. The RFID tag52is composed of a silicon chip and an antenna and is capable of sending data to a wireless receiver.

The label printer21receives data from the RFID tags51and52wirelessly. This means that the label printer21has a first wireless receiver27and a second wireless receiver29. The first wireless receiver27is located near a holder26for holding the label paper22. The second wireless receiver29is located near a ribbon holder28for holding the ink ribbon24. An electrostatic coupling, electromagnetic coupling, electromagnetic induction, microwave or other method may be used for wireless communication between the RFID tags51and52and the wireless receivers27and29.

FIG. 11is an electrical block diagram of the label printer21. The label printer21has a CPU (central processing unit)31for centrally controlling the various parts. The CPU31is connected through a system bus32with a ROM (Read Only Memory)33and a RAM (Random Access Memory)34. The ROM33consists of a flash memory. The ROM33stores various programs which operate the label printer21. The RAM34is used for example, as a work area for the programs stored in the ROM33.

The CPU31is also connected through the system bus32with the thermal head25, the first and second wireless receivers27and29, and the stepping motor35. InFIG. 11, driver circuits for the thermal head25and stepping motor35are not shown. The stepping motor35drives the platen23and the ribbon rewinding spindle24baccording to a drive signal from the CPU31. Driven by the stepping motor35, the platen23is rotated, to feed the label paper22. The CPU31recognizes the temperature of the thermal head25according to the electrical current value of the thermistor4ainstalled in the thermal head25.

FIG. 12is a schematic diagram showing a pulse width table. In the label printer21, one of different types of label paper22may be used in combination with one of different types of ink ribbon24. Types of label paper22include rough paper, wood-free paper, coated paper and PET paper. Types of ink ribbon24include the wax type, semi-resin type and resin type. Wax type ink ribbon24is used with rough paper or wood-free paper as label paper22. Semi-resin type ink ribbon24is used with rough paper, wood-free paper, coated paper or PET paper as label paper22. Resin type ink ribbon24is used with coated paper or PET paper as label paper22.

It should be noted that optimum printing conditions for the label paper22differ depending on the combination of label paper22and ink ribbon24. These printing conditions for example, are the pulse width of the electrical energy supplied to the heating resistors of the thermal head25and the printing speed. The label printer21adjusts the various printing conditions for the label paper22depending on the combination of label paper22and ink ribbon24. The label printer21uses wireless communication with the RFID tags to obtain data on the type of label paper22and the type of ink ribbon24to be used. The silicon chip of the RFID tag51of the label paper22stores data on the type of the label paper22. The data concerns the specifications for the label paper22. The silicon chip of the RFID tag52of the ink ribbon24stores data on the type of ink ribbon24. The data concerns the specifications for the ink ribbon24. The label printer21therefore obtains data on the type of label paper22to be used, through data communication between the wireless receiver27and the RFID tag51of the label paper22. The label printer21also obtains data on the type of ink ribbon24to be used through data communication between the wireless receiver29and the RFID tag52of the ink ribbon24.

In the label printer21, a pulse width table t as shown inFIG. 12is stored in the ROM33. The pulse width table t specifies the pulse width of the electrical energy supplied to the heating resistors of the thermal head25depending on the combination of label paper22and ink ribbon24. More specifically, depending on the combination of label paper22and ink ribbon24, the pulse width table1specifies pulse widths for the three printing speeds: 10 (l/S), 6 (l/S) and 3 (l/S) as shown inFIG. 12. The label printer21in this way refers to data on the type of label paper22and the type of ink ribbon24obtained through wireless communication and retrieves the pulse width corresponding to the speed of printing that is going to start, from the pulse width table t. The label printer21selectively drives the heating resistors of the thermal head25according to the retrieved pulse width. In this way, the printing conditions are adjusted depending on the combination of label paper22and ink ribbon24.

FIG. 13is a flow chart showing the printing condition adjustment process. The flow chart indicates the steps the CPU31takes according to the programs stored in the ROM33.

As the label paper roll2is loaded in the holder26, the first wireless receiver27starts data communication with the RFID tag51of the label paper roll22. As shown inFIG. 13, when decided that communication between-the-first wireless receiver27and the RFID tag51is established (“Y” at step S11), the first wireless receiver27reads the data on the type of label paper22stored in the silicon chip of the RFID tag51. The data read by the first wireless receiver27is stored in the RAM34(step S12).

The second wireless receiver29starts data communication with the RFID tag52of the ink ribbon24when the ink ribbon24is loaded in the ribbon holder28. As shown inFIG. 13, when decided that communication between the second wireless receiver29and the RFID tag52is established (“Y” at step S13), the second wireless receiver29reads the data on the type of ink ribbon24stored in the silicon chip of the RFID tag52. The data read by the second wireless receiver29is stored in the RAM34(step S14).

At step S15, a decision is made whether data on the combination of data on the type of label paper22and data on the type of ink ribbon24has been obtained. If the CPU31decides that the combination data has been obtained (Y at step S15), then preparation for printing is completed (step S16). One example of the step for completion of preparation for printing is performed by using a flag or the like to establish the status.

During the actual printing, the CPU31recognizes the speed of the printing that is going to start. The CPU31then reads the pulse width of electrical energy from the pulse width table t according to the obtained combination data of label paper22type data and ink ribbon24type data and the recognized printing speed. The CPU31controls the printing section201with the pulse width that was read. In other words, the CPU31sends a head strobe signal corresponding to the read pulse width to the driver circuit (not shown) of the thermal head25to control the thermal head25. When the printing section201is controlled in this way, the pulse width for reading from the pulse width table t is selected based on the combination data of label paper22type data and ink ribbon24type data which were respectively obtained from the RFID tag51and the RFID tag52through data communication. The CPU31in this way controls the printing section201according to data obtained from the RFID tags51and52through data communication.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the printing condition (pulse width of electrical energy in this embodiment) is automatically adjusted according to the specification data on the consumables (label paper22and ink ribbon24in this embodiment). So even when different types of label paper22and ink ribbon24are used, adjusting the pulse width for each type of label paper22and each type of ink ribbon24is easy. The label printer21can make a fine adjustment of the printing energy of the thermal head25to be applied to the label paper22and ink ribbon24in accordance with the printing speed.

As explained so far, according to the present invention, various printing conditions for consumables can be automatically adjusted according to specification data for the consumable that is stored in an RFID tag. Therefore, even when different types of consumables are used, various printing conditions for various consumables can be easily adjusted.