Patent Publication Number: US-2023150272-A1

Title: Printer device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-186904, filed on Nov. 17, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a printer device and methods related thereto. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a thermal transfer printer, printing is performed by bringing an ink ribbon into contact with printing paper by a thermal head. Also, if there is no printing data, by causing the thermal head, the ink ribbon, and the printing paper to be in a non-contact state, the running of the ink ribbon is paused to save the ink ribbon. 
     In such a printer device, the consumption amount of the ink ribbon is displayed, but the saved amount of the ink ribbon cannot be known. In order for the user to realize the effect of saving the ink ribbon, it is desirable to visualize the saved amount of the ink ribbon. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic structure of a thermal heat transfer printer according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a structure of raising and lowering a thermal head in the thermal heat transfer printer; 
         FIG.  3    is a hardware block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the thermal heat transfer printer; 
         FIG.  4    is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the thermal heat transfer printer; 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a look-ahead method of printing data which is performed by the thermal heat transfer printer; 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an example of a saved amount of an ink ribbon which is displayed by the thermal heat transfer printer; and 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of a process performed by the thermal heat transfer printer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An aspect of the embodiment is to provide a printer device that can display a saved amount of an ink ribbon. 
     In general, according to one embodiment, a printer device includes a printing data look-ahead unit, a head position control unit, an ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit, and an ink ribbon saved amount display unit. The printing data look-ahead unit looks ahead a data printing position if printing is performed. The head position control unit causes a thermal head, an ink ribbon, and printing paper to be in a contact state or a non-contact state based on a look-ahead result of the printing data look-ahead unit. The ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit calculates a saved amount of the ink ribbon based on a conveyed amount of the printing paper in the non-contact state. The ink ribbon saved amount display unit displays the saved amount calculated by the ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a label printer according to an exemplary embodiment is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Overall Configuration of Label Printer 
     By using  FIG.  1   , a schematic configuration of a thermal heat transfer printer  10  according to a present embodiment is described.  FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic structure of the thermal heat transfer printer  10  according to the embodiment. In addition, the thermal heat transfer printer  10  is an example of a printer device according to the embodiment. 
     The thermal heat transfer printer  10  performs printing while extracting a printing paper  12  from a roll paper  11  obtained by winding the printing paper  12  in a roll shape. 
     The thermal heat transfer printer  10  includes conveyance rollers  13 , a platen roller  15 , and a thermal head  23  inside a housing  20 . 
     The conveyance rollers  13  are formed with a pair of rollers that are in contact with each other, and one of the conveyance rollers  13  is rotationally driven by a driving motor  14  counterclockwise. The conveyance rollers  13  convey the printing paper  12  extracted from the roll paper  11  toward an ejection port  27  along an arrow B. 
     The platen roller  15  is rotationally driven by a driving motor  16  counterclockwise. The platen roller  15  conveys the printing paper  12  sandwiched between the platen roller  15  and the thermal head  23  toward the ejection port  27  along the arrow B. 
     In addition, the platen roller  15  conveys the printing paper  12  if the thermal head  23  and the platen roller  15  are in contact with each other. Meanwhile, the conveyance rollers  13  convey the printing paper  12  if the thermal head  23  and the platen roller  15  are not in contact with each other. 
     The thermal head  23  has a structure in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged and performs printing on the printing paper  12  sandwiched between the thermal head  23  and the platen roller  15  by causing the heating elements corresponding to the printing pattern to generate heat. In addition, the thermal head  23  moves up and down (a Z axis direction in  FIG.  1   ) by an action of a solenoid  26 . Accordingly, a state in which the thermal head  23  and the platen roller  15  are in contact with each other and a state in which the thermal head  23  are the platen roller  15  are not in contact with each other can be switched. 
     In addition, an ink ribbon  22  is inserted between the thermal head  23  and the platen roller  15 . The ink ribbon  22  forms a ribbon roll  21  wound in an unused state. The ink ribbon  22  is wound about a winding axis  24  rotationally driven by a driving motor  25 . The ink with which the ink ribbon  22  is coated is transferred to the printing paper  12  by the heated thermal head  23 . 
     The printing paper  12  on which printing is completed is discharged from the ejection port  27 . Also, the printing paper  12  on which printing is completed is cut by a cutter (not illustrated in  FIG.  1   ) included in the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . 
     Vertical Movement Mechanism of Thermal Head 
     By using  FIG.  2   , a structure in which the thermal heat transfer printer  10  raises and lowers the thermal head  23  is described.  FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating the structure of raising and lowering the thermal head  23  in the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . 
     The solenoid  26  includes a frame  28  and a plunger  29 . 
     The frame  28  includes a coil and a fixed iron core inside thereof. 
     The plunger  29  is also referred to as a moveable iron core. If electricity is conducted to a coil inside the frame  28  to generate a magnetic field, the plunger  29  is attracted to the fixed iron core of the frame  28 . 
     A link member  31  that can rotate around a first rotation shaft  30  is installed at a tip of the plunger  29 . The link member  31  is rotatably pivotally supported by a second rotation shaft  32  together with a cam  33 . 
     The cam  33  is in contact with a pin  35  inserted to a gap  36 . The pin  35  is fixed to a frame member  34  to which the thermal head  23  is attached and can move along the gap  36 . In addition, the thermal head  23 , the frame member  34 , the pin  35 , and the cam  33  are included in a housing  40 . 
     If electricity is conducted to the solenoid  26 , the plunger  29  is drawn to a negative side of an X axis and moves in a direction of an arrow Sa. Also, in conjunction with the movement of the plunger  29 , the link member  31  rotates clockwise around the second rotation shaft  32 . 
     According to the clockwise rotation of the link member  31 , the cam  33  also clockwise rotates around the second rotation shaft  32 . At this point, the cam  33  pushes up the pin  35  to the positive side of a Z axis along the gap  36 , that is, in a direction of an arrow Sb. 
     Also, according to the movement of the pin  35 , the frame member  34  to which the pin  35  is fixed is pushed up to the positive side of the Z axis. Accordingly, the thermal head  23  is pushed up in a direction of an arrow Sc so that a state in which the head is raised is obtained, and thus is separated from the platen roller  15 . 
     If the electricity to the solenoid  26  is released, the tip of the plunger  29  moves in an opposite direction to the arrow Sa. Accordingly, the link member  31  counterclockwise rotates around the second rotation shaft  32 . 
     According to the counterclockwise rotation of the link member  31 , the cam  33  also counterclockwise rotates around the second rotation shaft  32 . At this time, while maintaining the state of being in contact with the cam  33 , the pin  35  moves to the negative side of the Z axis along the gap  36 , which is in an opposite direction to the arrow Sb. 
     Also, according to the movement of the pin  35 , the frame member  34  to which the pin  35  is fixed moves to the negative side of the Z axis. Accordingly, the thermal head  23  moves in an opposite direction to the arrow Sc to become in a state in which the thermal head  23  is lowered, and thus comes into contact with the platen roller  15 . 
     Hardware Configuration of Thermal Heat Transfer Printer 
     By using  FIG.  3   , the hardware configuration of the thermal heat transfer printer  10  is described.  FIG.  3    is a hardware block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . 
     The thermal heat transfer printer  10  includes a control unit  51  for controlling each unit. The control unit  51  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  52 , a read only memory (ROM)  53 , and a random access memory (RAM)  54 . The CPU  52  is connected to the ROM  53  and the RAM  54  via an internal bus  60  such as an address bus and a data bus. The CPU  52  loads various programs stored in the ROM  53  or a storage unit  55  onto the RAM  54 . The CPU  52  controls the thermal heat transfer printer  10  by being operated according to the various programs loaded onto the RAM  54 . That is, the control unit  51  has a configuration of a general computer. 
     The control unit  51  is connected to the storage unit  55  and peripheral devices via the internal bus  60 . The peripheral devices are a display device  61 , an operation device  62 , a motor controller  63 , the solenoid  26 , and the thermal head  23 . 
     The storage unit  55  is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). In addition, the storage unit  55  may be a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory in which the storage information is stored even if the power is turned off. The storage unit  55  stores a control program Pa and look-ahead data  56 . 
     The control program Pa is a program that controls overall operations of the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . 
     Considering the position of the thermal head  23 , the look-ahead data  56  stores a result for looking ahead the position where printing data is actually present. In addition, the look-ahead data  56  is specifically described below (see  FIG.  5   ). 
     The display device  61  displays various kinds of screen information according to the thermal heat transfer printer  10 , which is generated by the control unit  51 . The display device  61  is, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel. 
     The operation device  62  is a device such as a touch panel or a physical switch that acquires various operation instructions according to the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . The operation device  62  outputs the acquired operation instruction to the control unit  51 . 
     The motor controller  63  independently controls rotation states with respect to the driving motor  14  that drives the conveyance rollers  13 , the driving motor  16  that drives the platen roller  15 , and the driving motor  25  that rotationally drives the winding axis  24 . 
     The solenoid  26  and the thermal head  23  are as described above. 
     Functional Configuration of Thermal Heat Transfer Printer 
     By using  FIG.  4   , the functional configuration of the thermal heat transfer printer  10  is described.  FIG.  4    is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . 
     The control unit  51  of the thermal heat transfer printer  10  realizes a printing data look-ahead unit  71 , a head position control unit  72 , a printing control unit  73 , an ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74 , and an ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  illustrated in  FIG.  4    as functional units by executing the control program Pa loaded onto the RAM  54 . 
     If the printing is performed, the printing data look-ahead unit  71  looks ahead a data printing position. 
     The head position control unit  72  causes the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  to be in a contact state or a non-contact state based on the look-ahead result of the printing data look-ahead unit  71 . 
     The printing control unit  73  controls the printing operation of the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . In addition, the printing control unit  73  switches the state of the ink ribbon  22  between the conveyed state and the stopped state. 
     The ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  calculates the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  based on the conveyed amount of the printing paper  12  if the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  are in the non-contact state. Specifically, the ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  calculates the number of times of rotations of the driving motor  14  that drives the conveyance rollers  13  during a period of time if the thermal head  23  is raised. Accordingly, the conveyed amount of the printing paper  12  during the period of time if the thermal head  23  is raised is calculated. Also, since it can be regarded that the conveyed amount of the printing paper  12  during the period of time if the thermal head  23  is raised and the conveyed amount of the ink ribbon  22  during the corresponding period of time are almost the same, the ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  calculates the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22 . 
     In addition, the ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  accumulates a saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  since the ribbon roll  21  obtained by winding the ink ribbon  22  is replaced with a new product. 
     The ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  displays the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  that is calculated by the ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74 . In addition, the ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  displays the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  since the ribbon roll  21  is replaced with a new product. 
     Look-Ahead Method of Printing Data 
     By using  FIG.  5   , the look-ahead method of the printing data performed by the thermal heat transfer printer  10  is described.  FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating the look-ahead method of the printing data performed by the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . 
     A horizontal axis of  FIG.  5    indicates time t. The printing data look-ahead unit  71  of the thermal heat transfer printer  10  specifies a location where the printing data is present by looking ahead the printing data before actual printing is performed. In addition, in  FIG.  5   , shaded areas indicate areas where the printing data is present. Meanwhile, the unshaded areas indicate areas where the printing data is not present. 
     In a point Q, the printing data look-ahead unit  71  detects that the printing data is present throughout a section Wa. That is, it is assumed that a time difference Da is present between the position where the look-ahead is performed and the actual position of the printing paper  12 . In addition, in a point U, the printing data look-ahead unit  71  detects that the printing data is present throughout a section Wb. The printing data look-ahead unit  71  stores the detected information as the look-ahead data  56  (see  FIG.  3   ) in the storage unit  55 . Also, the head position control unit  72  calculates back from the conveyance speed of the printing paper  12  with reference to the stored look-ahead data  56  and calculates a timing of lowering the thermal head  23  and a timing of raising the thermal head  23 . 
     The head position control unit  72  lowers the thermal head  23  immediately before time t 2  if the position corresponding to the point Q of the printing paper  12  reaches the thermal head  23 , that is, at time t 1  corresponding to a point R. Accordingly, by bringing the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  in contact with each other, a printable state is obtained. 
     At this point, at the point Q (t=0), the head position control unit  72  activates the head down timer in an amount corresponding to a time difference Dc from time  0  to the time t 1  and lowers the thermal head  23  at the point R (t=t 1 ). The timing of lowering the thermal head  23  is set to a position before a predetermined distance from the position where the actual printing starts, that is, a position before a time difference Db illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     If the thermal head  23  is lowered, the printing control unit  73  rotationally drives the driving motor  16  to convey the printing paper  12  by the platen roller  15 . In addition, the printing control unit  73  rotationally drives the driving motor  25  to wind the ink ribbon  22  around the winding axis  24 . 
     Also, if a section in which the printing data is not present continues throughout a time difference Dd at time t 4  corresponding to a point S, the head position control unit  72  activates the head up timer of the amount corresponding to a time difference Df from the time t 4  to time t 6  at the point S (t=t 4 ), the thermal head  23  is raised at a point T (t=t 6 ). Accordingly, the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  are in the non-contact state and in a state in which only the printing paper  12  is conveyed without performing printing. In addition, the timing of raising the thermal head  23  is set to a position after a predetermined distance from the position where the actual printing is completed, that is after a time difference De illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     If the thermal head  23  is raised, the printing control unit  73  stops the driving motor  25  and stops the winding of the ink ribbon  22  by the winding axis  24 . In addition, the printing control unit  73  rotationally drives the driving motor  14  to continue conveyance of the printing paper  12  by the conveyance rollers  13 . 
     In addition, if it is detected that the printing data is present at time t 7  corresponding to the point U, the head position control unit  72  activates a head down timer of the amount corresponding to the time difference Dc from the time t 7  to time t 8  at the point U (t=t 7 ) and lowers the thermal head  23  at a point V (t=t 8 ). The timing of lowering the thermal head  23  is set to a position before a predetermined distance from the position where the actual printing starts, that is the position before the time difference Db illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     Thereafter, the head position control unit  72  activates the head down timer and the head up timer at any time based on the look-ahead result by the printing data look-ahead unit  71  and control the raising and lowering of the thermal head  23 . 
     Display Example of Saved Amount of Ink Ribbon 
     By using  FIG.  6   , a display example of the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  is described.  FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an example of the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22 , which the thermal heat transfer printer  10  displays. 
     The ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  of the thermal heat transfer printer  10  displays the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  illustrated in  FIG.  6   , on the display device  61 . 
     Specifically, the ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  displays a saved amount  64  of the ink ribbon  22  and a cumulative saved amount  65  of the ink ribbon  22 , which are illustrated in  FIG.  6   . 
     The saved amount  64  indicates the length of the ink ribbon  22  that can be saved by a printing operation at this time. 
     The cumulative saved amount  65  indicates a cumulative length of the saved amounts of the ink ribbon  22  after the ink ribbon  22  (the ribbon roll  21 ) is replaced. 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  may display a saved amount  66  of the ink ribbon  22  and a cumulative saved amount  67  of the ink ribbon  22 . 
     The saved amount  66  indicates a price obtained by converting the length of the ink ribbon  22  that can be saved by the printing operation at this time into the cost of the ink ribbon  22 . 
     The cumulative saved amount  67  indicates a price obtained by converting the cumulative length of the saved amounts of the ink ribbon  22  after the ink ribbon  22  (the ribbon roll  21 ) is replaced, into the cost of the ink ribbon  22 . 
     Flow of Process Performed by Thermal Heat Transfer Printer 
     By using  FIG.  7   , a flow of a process performed by the thermal heat transfer printer  10  is described.  FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of the process performed by the thermal heat transfer printer  10 . 
     The printing control unit  73  acquires a printing instruction (ACT  11 ). 
     The printing data look-ahead unit  71  performs a look-ahead process of the printing data (ACT  12 ). The look-ahead process of the printing data is performed, for example, by the method described above (see  FIG.  5   ). 
     The head position control unit  72  refers to the look-ahead result of the printing data and determines whether there is printing data within a predetermined distance (ACT  13 ). If it is determined that there is printing data within the predetermined distance (ACT  13 : Yes), the process proceeds to ACT  14 . Meanwhile, if it is not determined that there is printing data within the predetermined distance (ACT  13 : No), the process proceeds to ACT  17 . 
     In ACT  13 , if it is determined that there is printing data within the predetermined distance, the head position control unit  72  lowers the thermal head  23  (ACT  14 ). 
     The printing control unit  73  causes the ink ribbon  22  to be in the conveyed state (ACT  15 ). 
     The printing control unit  73  performs printing (ACT  16 ). Thereafter, the process proceeds to ACT  20 . 
     Meanwhile, in ACT  13 , if it is not determined that there is printing data within the predetermined distance, the head position control unit  72  raises the thermal head  23  (ACT  17 ). 
     The printing control unit  73  stops the conveyance of the ink ribbon  22  (ACT  18 ). 
     The ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  accumulates the conveyed amount of the printing paper  12  while the thermal head  23  is raised (ACT  19 ). The conveyed amount of the printing paper  12  can be calculated, for example, by a period of time if the thermal head  23  is raised and the number of times of rotations of the conveyance rollers  13  during the period of time. 
     The printing control unit  73  determines whether the printing is completed (ACT  20 ). If it is determined that the printing is completed (ACT  20 : Yes), the process proceeds to ACT  21 . Meanwhile, if it is not determined that the printing is completed (ACT  20 : No), the process returns to ACT  13 . 
     In ACT  20 , if it is determined that the printing is completed, the printing control unit  73  raises the thermal head  23  (ACT  21 ). Here, the reason why the thermal head  23  is raised is to prevent the ink of the ink ribbon  22  warmed by the thermal head  23  from being solidified by bringing the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  in contact with each other for a long period of time and to prevent the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  from sticking to each other. 
     The ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  calculates the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  (ACT  22 ). 
     The ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  accumulates the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  after the ink ribbon  22  (the ribbon roll  21 ) is replaced (ACT  23 ). 
     The ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  displays the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  on the display device  61  (ACT  24 ). Thereafter, the thermal heat transfer printer  10  completes the process of  FIG.  7   . 
     In addition, though not illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the conveyed amounts of the printing paper  12  accumulated in ACT  19  are reset at the timing if it is determined that the printing is completed in ACT  20 . In addition, the cumulative value of the saved amounts of the ink ribbon  22  is reset if the ink ribbon  22  (the ribbon roll  21 ) is replaced. In addition, the cumulative value of the saved amounts of the ink ribbon  22  may be reset if a remaining amount sensor (not illustrated in  FIG.  1   ) that detects the remaining amount of the ink ribbon  22  detects that the remaining amount of the ink ribbon  22  is less than a predetermined value. 
     Action Effect of Embodiment 
     As described above, the thermal heat transfer printer  10  (printer device) according to the embodiment includes the printing data look-ahead unit  71  that looks ahead the data printing position if the printing is performed, the head position control unit  72  that causes the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  to be in the contact state or the non-contact state based on the look-ahead result of the printing data look-ahead unit  71 , the ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74  that calculates the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  based on the conveyed amount of the printing paper  12  in the non-contact state, and the ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  that displays the saved amount calculated by the ink ribbon saved amount calculation unit  74 . Accordingly, the user can confirm the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22 . 
     In addition, in the thermal heat transfer printer  10  (printer device) according to the embodiment, the head position control unit  72  causes the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  to be in the non-contact state in a condition that a distance between the thermal head  23  and the data printing position is equal to or more than a predetermined value and causes the thermal head  23 , the ink ribbon  22 , and the printing paper  12  to be in the contact state in a condition that the distance between the thermal head  23  and the data printing position is less than a predetermined value, based on the look-ahead result of the printing data look-ahead unit  71 . Accordingly, the timing of raising and lowering the thermal head  23  can be securely and easily determined. 
     In addition, in the thermal heat transfer printer  10  (printer device) according to the embodiment, the ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  displays the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  if the printing is completed. Therefore, whenever the printing is completed, the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  can be confirmed. 
     In addition, in the thermal heat transfer printer  10  (printer device) according to the embodiment, the ink ribbon saved amount display unit  75  further displays the cumulative value of the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  since the ink ribbon  22  (the ribbon roll  21 ) is replaced. Therefore, it is possible to confirm not only the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  in the printing at this time but also the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  since the ribbon roll  21  is replaced. 
     In addition, in the thermal heat transfer printer  10  (printer device) according to the embodiment, the cumulative value of saved amounts of the ink ribbon  22  is reset if the wound amount of the ink ribbon  22  reaches the predetermined value or if the ink ribbon  22  (the ribbon roll  21 ) is replaced. Therefore, the saved amount of the ink ribbon  22  can be reset without performing a special operation, and thus it is possible to prevent forgetting to reset. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.