Printing device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6798434
  • Patent Number
    6,798,434
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, March 25, 2003
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 28, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A facsimile machine includes a detachable ribbon cassette accommodating an ink ribbon and having an EEPROM that stores the amount of the ink ribbon consumed. In the facsimile machine, printing is performed while the ink ribbon is taken up by a take-up motor and the memory contents in the EEPROM are renewed according to the progress of printing. The facsimile machine further includes a ribbon-empty detector that detects that the facsimile machine runs out of the ink ribbon, and a CPU that resets the memory contents in the EEPROM of the ribbon cassette.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of Invention




The invention relates to a printing device such as a facsimile machine.




2. Description of Related Art




Conventionally, a facsimile machine, which performs printing by a thermal transfer method, uses ink ribbon wound in a roll.




In the above facsimile machine, a take-up shaft for the ink ribbon is linked to a take-up motor. When the take-up motor is driven, the ink ribbon is wound around the take-up shaft. In this case, the amount of the ink ribbon consumed is calculated based on the number of revolutions of the take-up motor, and stored in memory provided in a ribbon cassette accommodating the ink ribbon. When the contents stored in the memory reach a specified value, it is determined that there is no ribbon remaining, that is, the facsimile machine is out of ribbon. In addition, the facsimile machine has a display unit to show the remaining amount of the ink ribbon.




However, in the facsimile machine, the amount of the ink ribbon consumed is determined based on the number of revolutions of the take-up motor. Therefore, when the ink ribbon is actually used, the remaining amount of the ink ribbon stored in the memory may fall out of synch with that of the ink ribbon actually used. As a result, the display unit may show that the ink ribbon still remains, although it actually has run out.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention provides a printing device capable of reliably detecting that the ink ribbon has run out.




In one aspect of the invention, a printing device may include a printing device body, a ribbon cassette that accommodates an ink ribbon and is detachable from the printing device body, an ink ribbon take-up mechanism that takes up the ink ribbon, an ink ribbon usage determining device that determines an amount of the ink ribbon consumed, a recording medium that stores an amount of the ink ribbon remaining, and a ribbon-empty determining device that determines that there is no amount of the ink ribbon remaining. When the ribbon-empty determining device determines that there is no amount of the ink ribbon remaining, it resets the recording medium.




According to the printing device, when it is determined that the ink ribbon has run out, the content of the recording medium is reset. Therefore, even when the ribbon cassette is used thereafter, it is easily recognized that there is no ink ribbon remaining, thereby preventing the user from reusing such a ribbon cassette.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




An embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures wherein:





FIG. 1

shows an internal structure of a facsimile machine according to a first embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 2A

is a top view of a ribbon cassette in which ink ribbon is accommodated;





FIG. 2B

is a side view of the ribbon cassette shown in

FIG. 2A

;





FIG. 3

is an exploded view showing essential parts of the ribbon cassette when a circuit board having an on-board EEPROM chip is attached to the ribbon cassette;





FIG. 4A

is a side view of the circuit board;





FIG. 4B

is a front view of the circuit board;





FIG. 5

is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the facsimile machine shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a flowchart of a printing process;





FIG. 7A

is a side view of a circuit board according to a second embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 7B

is a front view of the circuit board shown in

FIG. 7A

;





FIG. 8

is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the facsimile machine according to the second embodiment;





FIG. 9

is a flowchart of a default setting process according to the second embodiment;





FIG. 10

is a flowchart of a process for reading a count value of ink ribbon according to the second embodiment;





FIG. 11

is a flowchart of a printing control process according to the second embodiment;





FIG. 12

is a flowchart of a ribbon-empty detection process according to the second embodiment;





FIG. 13

is a flowchart of a process for renewing the count value of the ink ribbon according to the second embodiment;





FIG. 14A

is a side view of a circuit board according to a third embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 14B

is a front view of the circuit board shown in

FIG. 14A

; and





FIG. 15

is a flowchart of a ribbon-empty detection process according to the third embodiment.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




An embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.




A facsimile machine


1


shown in

FIG. 1

is a multifunction product including the functions of thermal transfer printing, image reading (scanning), and faxing. In sending facsimile data for example, the facsimile machine


1


reads an original by the scanning function and sends the read facsimile data to a destination by the faxing function. In receiving the facsimile data, the facsimile machine


1


prints the contents of the facsimile data on a sheet by the printing function. The facsimile machine


1


can be also used as a standalone printing device or scanner, when it is connected to a personal computer. In addition, it can be used as a copier by linking the printing function together with the scanning function.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the facsimile machine


1


is provided with a machine body


2


, which includes bearings


4


,


5


for attaching a ribbon cassette


3


, and a body cover


6


over the machine body


2


. The body cover


6


is openable to protect the inside of the facsimile machine


1


. The facsimile machine


1


is also provided with a cover position detector


42


that detects whether the body cover


6


is open or closed. The cover position detector


42


is an optical sensor, and the cover


6


has a projection


6




a


. When the cover


6


is closed, the projection


6




a


cuts off a beam of the optical sensor


42


, so that the optical sensor


42


is in the off state.




The ribbon cassette


3


has a supply shaft


7


for supplying ink ribbon R and a take-up shaft


8


for taking up the ink ribbon R. The ink ribbon R is looped over the both shafts


7


,


8


. An end portion of the take-up shaft


8


is connected to a take-up motor


50


that rotates the take-up shaft


8


. One end portion of the supply shaft


7


receives a spool


10


for attaching a substantially circular plate shaped circuit board


9


, as shown in FIG.


3


. The other end portion of the supply shaft


7


is connected to a tension motor (not shown) for giving a tension to the ink ribbon R.




A ribbon-empty detector


51


that detects that the facsimile machine runs out of the ink ribbon R is provided in the machine body


2


. The ribbon-empty detector


51


extends from a lower part of the machine body


2


to the body cover


6


. When the ribbon cassette


3


is attached to the machine body


2


, the tip of the ribbon-empty detector


51


is in contact with the ink ribbon R. When there is the ink ribbon R left, the ink ribbon R is slack, and the force to press down on the tip of the ribbon-empty detector


51


is weak. When the ink ribbon R is used up, slack in the ink ribbon R is gone and the ink ribbon R becomes taut, causing the ink ribbon R to press down on the tip of the ribbon-empty detector


51


. Thereby, the ink ribbon-empty detector


51


detects that the ink ribbon R is used up.




As shown in

FIGS. 4A and 4B

, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory)


11


is mounted on the back of the circuit board


9


. The EEPROM


11


is used to store the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R. Further, the EEPROM


11


stores individual, previously, stored, information about the ink ribbon R, such as the serial number and the production date. Conductor traces


12


are formed on the front side of the circuit board


9


so as to provide continuity between each of the conductor traces


12


and the corresponding one of the terminals of the EEPROM


11


. The conductor traces


12


are formed in a ring shape and specified as a 5V-power trace


12




a


, a ground trace


12




b


, a control signal trace


12




c


, and a data signal trace


12




d


in this order from the outer edge of the circuit board


9


to the inside.




In the machine body


2


of the facsimile machine


1


, an EEPROM reading unit


41


is provided, which makes contact with the circuit board


9


for connection. The EEPROM reading unit


41


has terminals (not shown) coming into contact with the conductor traces


12


of the circuit board


9


. The terminals make contact with the conductor traces


12


.of the circuit board


9


when the ribbon cassette


3


is mounted in the machine body


2


.




As shown in

FIG. 5

, the facsimile machine


1


includes a CPU (central processing unit)


31


, a NCU (network control unit)


32


, a RAM (random-access memory)


33


, a modem


34


, a ROM (read-only memory)


35


, a NVRAM (non-volatile RAM)


36


, a gate array


37


, a Codec (coder-decoder)


38


, and a DMAC (duobinary multiplexed analogue component)


39


, which are all connected via a bus


40


. The bus


40


includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control signal line. In the facsimile machine


1


, the gate array


37


is connected to the EEPROM reading unit


41


, the cover position detector


42


, the take-up motor


50


, the ribbon-empty detector


51


, a document reading unit


43


, a recording unit


44


, an operation unit


45


, a display unit


46


, and an external connection unit


47


. The NCU


32


is connected to a dialup line


48


, and the external connection unit


47


is connected to a personal computer


49


.




The CPU


31


controls all operations of the facsimile machine


1


. The NCU


32


is connected to a public telephone line and performs network control. With the network control, both the facsimile data and individual information of the ink ribbon R can be transmitted.




The RAM


33


provides workspace for the CPU


31


and is a storage area for a count value as to the remaining amount of ink ribbon R. The modem


34


modulates or demodulates facsimile data and individual information of the facsimile machine


1


. The ROM


35


stores programs and data manipulated by the CPU


31


. The NVRAM


36


stores various data and information.




The gate array


37


functions as an interface between the CPU


31


and each unit


41


-


47


,


50


,


51


. The Codec


38


encodes and/or decodes facsimile data. The DMAC


39


writes or reads data mainly to or from the RAM


33


.




The EEPROM reading unit


41


reads the contents stored in the EEPROM


11


attached to the ribbon cassette


3


. When the terminals make contact with the conductor traces


12


on the circuit board


9


, the CPU


31


reads or writes data to or from the EEPROM


11


.




The cover position detector


42


optically detects the opening and closing of the body cover


6


, which is used to attach and detach the ribbon cassette


3


. The cover position detector


42


transmits open/close signal of the body cover


6


to the CPU


31


.




The take-up motor


50


is a stepping motor, and is connected to the take-up shaft


8


, and driven according to pulse signals from the CPU


31


.




The ribbon-empty detector


51


detects that the facsimile machine


1


has run out of the ink ribbon R in the ribbon cassette


3


. A detection signal by the ribbon-empty detector


51


is transmitted to the CPU


31


.




The document reading unit


43


includes an image sensor, an LED light source and a document feeding motor (which are not shown), and reads an image from a copy according to the control by the CPU


31


.




The recording unit


44


performs monochrome or color printing of images such as text and objects by a thermal method.




The operation unit


45


includes keys and switches including a numeric keypad, and transmits an input signal in accordance with an operation by a user to the CPU


31


.




The display unit


46


includes an LCD display, and displays various kinds of information.




The external connection unit


47


is connected to the personal computer


49


when the facsimile machine


1


is used as peripheral equipment, and exchanges data with the personal computer


49


.




The operation control of the CPU


31


of the facsimile machine


1


will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.


6


.




When the facsimile machine


1


is powered on or it is detected that the body cover


6


is closed based on the detection output by the cover position detector


42


, the CPU


31


reads the contents of the EEPROM


11


, that is, the count value as to the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R, and stores it in the RAM


33


(S


1


). In the ribbon cassette


3


, the maximum quantity of the ink ribbon R to be consumed (the maximum number of printable lines, for example, 10000 lines) is previously stored in the EEPROM


11


before factory shipment.




The number of printable lines required for printing one page of a print sheet is predetermined, and the CPU


31


determines whether the count value stored in the RAM


33


is under one page, based on the predetermined number of printable lines (S


2


). A specified count value corresponding to the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R required for printing one page is predetermined. If the actual count value is the specified value or less, the CPU


31


determines that the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R does not satisfy the amount of the ink ribbon R required for printing one page. When the count value is under one page (S


2


: Yes), printing is terminated (S


11


), and the display unit


46


displays a message informing the user that ink ribbon R has run out (S


12


).




When the count value is one page or more, and therefore high enough to perform printing (S


2


: No), printing is started, and it is determined whether the printing of one page is completed (S


3


). When printing of one page is not completed (S


3


: No), the CPU


31


reads a detection result by the ribbon-empty detector


51


(S


4


), and determines whether the ink ribbon R has run out (S


5


).




When it is determined that the ink ribbon R has not run out (S


5


: No), one line is printed and a line feed is executed (S


6


). The count value stored in the RAM


33


is decreased by 1 (S


7


), and the process returns to S


3


.




At S


3


, when printing of one page is completed (S


3


: Yes), the CPU


31


determines whether the count value is 0 or negative (S


8


). When the count value is neither 0 nor negative (S


8


: No), the count value stored in the RAM


33


is written in the EEPROM


11


of the circuit board


9


(S


9


), and a printable state is maintained.




When, at S


8


, the count value is 0 or negative (S


8


: Yes), the count value stored in the EEPROM


11


of the circuit board


9


is forced to reset to 0. When, at S


5


, it is determined that the ribbon has run out (S


5


: Yes), the count value stored in the EEPROM


11


of the circuit board


9


is forced to reset to 0 regardless of the count value stored in the RAM


33


(S


10


). Then, printing is terminated (S


11


), and the display unit


46


displays a message informing the user that the ink ribbon R has run out (S


12


).




In this manner, when it is found that the ink ribbon R has run out in the middle of printing, the memory content of the EEPROM


11


of the circuit board


9


is reset, the printing is terminated, and the display unit


46


displays that there is no ink ribbon R remaining. The user can recognize the lack of the ink ribbon R at the sight of the display unit


46


, and replace the ink ribbon R with a new one at an appropriate time.




A second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to

FIGS. 7A-13

. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by similar numerals for simplicity. As shown in

FIGS. 7A and 7B

, a substantially semicircular shaped circuit board


19


is used. Conductor traces


112


are sectorially formed on a surface of the circuit board


19


along its radius. They are a 5V-power trace


112




a


, a ground trace


112




b


, a control signal trace


112




c


, and a data signal trace


112




d


in this order from the outer edge of the circuit board


19


to the inside. In this case, the data signal trace


112




d


is regarded as a trace for detecting a contact between the conductor patterns


112


and the terminals (not shown) of the EEPROM reading unit


41


provided in the machine body


2


of the facsimile machine


100


.




According to the above structure, the take-up shaft


8


is rotated by the take-up motor


50


, and the supply shaft


7


is subsequently rotated. Accordingly, the conductor traces


112


alternately make contact with and do not make contact with the terminals of the EEPROM reading unit


41


. Hereinafter, it is to be understood that when the term “contact” is used, it applies to a contact between the conductor traces


112


and the terminals of the EEPROM reading unit


41


. A period of time in which the conductor traces


112


make contact with the terminals is hereinafter referred to as an “on time”, and a period of time in which the conductor traces


112


are out of contact with the terminals is hereinafter referred to as an “off time”. In this case, while the circuit board


19


goes into a 360-degree roll, the on time and the off time are outputted at a ratio of about 50% because the circuit board


19


is of a substantially semicircle.




As shown in

FIG. 8

, a CPU


131


includes an on counter


52


and an off counter


53


. The on counter


52


counts the number of pulses of the take-up motor


50


during the on time while the off counter


53


counts the number of pulses of the take-up motor


50


during the off time.




Other arrangements are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.





FIGS. 9

to


13


are flowcharts showing operation controls by the CPU


131


in the second embodiment. First, the CPU


131


executes default settings. When a facsimile machine


100


is powered on or it is found that the body cover


6


is closed based on a detection by the cover position detector


42


, the CPU


131


resets both the on counter


52


and the off counter


53


to 0 (S


21


). Then it goes into a process of reading the count value of the ink ribbon R (S


22


).





FIG. 10

shows a process of reading the count value of the ink ribbon R. The CPU


131


determines whether the contact is in the on state (S


31


). To read the content of the EEPROM


11


, the contact must be in the on state. When the contact is in the on state (S


31


: Yes), the CPU


131


reads the count value of the ink ribbon R stored in the EEPROM


11


of the circuit board


19


(S


32


). Then the process advances to S


23


shown in FIG.


9


.




On the other hand, when the contact is not in the on state (S


31


: No), a line feed is executed for one line (S


33


). Then, the CPU


131


decreases the count value of the ink ribbon R stored in the RAM


33


by one (S


34


), and the process returns to S


31


. That is, the line feed is repeatedly executed until the contact is in the on state.




Returning to

FIG. 9

, the CPU


131


stores the count value of the ink ribbon R read from the EEPROM


11


in the RAM


33


(S


23


). Then, the CPU


131


determines whether the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R is enough to print one page or more (S


24


). When the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R does not reach the amount for one page (S


24


: No), the display unit


46


displays a message that, for example, the ink-ribbon R will run out soon (S


25


).




When the remaining amount of the ink ribbon R is enough to print one page or more (S


24


: Yes) or the display unit


46


displays the message as such (S


25


), the CPU


131


completes the default setting.




Then, as shown in

FIG. 11

, the facsimile machine


100


executes printing based on a print instruction issued, for example, when a facsimile arrives. The CPU


131


determines whether the print instruction includes print one page (S


41


). When the print instruction includes print one page (S


41


: Yes), the CPU


131


executes a ribbon-empty detection process (S


42


).




In the ribbon-empty detection process, as shown in

FIG. 12

, the CPU


131


determines whether the contact is in the on state (S


51


). When the contact is in the on state (S


51


: Yes), the CPU


131


determines whether the value of the off counter


53


is greater than 0 (S


52


). When the value of the off counter


53


is greater than 0 (S


52


: Yes), the CPU


131


resets the off counter


53


to 0 (S


53


). When the value of the off counter


53


is 0 (S


52


: Yes) or is reset to 0 (S


53


), the CPU


131


adds one to the value of the on counter


52


(S


54


).




Then, the CPU


131


determines whether the value of the on counter


52


is greater than 10 (S


55


). When the value of the on counter


52


is not greater than 10 (S


55


: No), the CPU


131


recognizes that there is ink ribbon R remaining (S


56


). When the value of the on counter


52


is greater than 10 (S


55


: Yes), the CPU


131


recognizes that the ink ribbon R has run out (S


61


). Although the ink ribbon R is wound by the take-up motor


50


, if the supply shaft


7


is not rotated because of the shortage of the ribbon, the circuit board


19


is stopped, and the value of the on counter


52


continues to increase. When the value becomes greater than 10, it is found that the ribbon has been consumed.




When at S


51


the contact is not in the on state (S


51


: No), the CPU


131


determines whether the value of the on counter


52


is greater than zero (S


57


). When the value of the on counter


52


is greater than zero (S


57


: Yes), the CPU


131


resets the on counter


52


to zero (S


58


). When the value of the on counter


52


is zero (S


57


: No) or it is reset to zero (S


58


), the CPU


131


adds one to the value of the off counter


53


(S


59


).




Then, the CPU


131


determines whether the value of the off counter


53


is greater than 10 (S


60


). When the value of the off counter


53


is not greater than 10 (S


60


: No), the CPU


131


recognizes that there is ink ribbon R remaining (S


56


). When the value of the off counter


53


is greater than 10 (S


60


: Yes), the CPU


131


recognizes that the ribbon has run out (S


61


). Although the ribbon is wound by the take-up motor


50


, if the supply shaft


7


is not rotated because of the shortage of the ribbon, the circuit board


19


is stopped, and the value of the off counter


53


continues to increase. When the value becomes greater than 10, it is found that the ribbon has been consumed.




Returning to

FIG. 11

, when the CPU


131


determines that the ribbon has run out in the ribbon-empty detection process (S


43


: Yes), the display unit


46


displays that there is no ink ribbon R remaining (S


44


). When the CPU


131


does not determine that the ribbon has run out (S


43


: No), it determines whether the printing of one page of data is completed (S


45


).




At S


45


, when printing of one page of data is not completed (S


45


: No), one line is printed and a line feed is executed (S


46


). Then, the CPU


131


decreases the count value of the ink ribbon R stored in the RAM


33


by one (S


47


). The process returns to S


42


and the CPU


131


performs the ribbon-empty detection process again.




When printing of one page of data is completed (S


45


: Yes), the CPU


131


executes a process of renewing the count value of the ink ribbon R (S


48


). As shown in

FIG. 13

, the CPU


131


determines whether the contact is in the on state (S


71


). When the contact is in the on state (S


71


: Yes), the CPU


131


writes the count value of the ink ribbon R stored in the RAM


33


into the EEPROM


11


of the circuit board


19


(S


72


).




When, at S


71


, the contact is in the off state (S


71


: No), a line feed is executed for one line (S


73


). Then, the CPU


131


decreases the count value of the ink ribbon R stored in the RAM


33


by one (S


74


), and the process returns to S


71


. That is, the line feed is repeatedly executed until the contact is in the on state.




Because the count value of the ink ribbon R stored in the EEPROM


11


is renewed based on the presence or absence of the conductor traces


112


formed on the front side of the circuit board


19


that rotates along with the supply shaft


7


, the accurate remaining amount of ink ribbon R can be achieved.




In the second embodiment as described above, through the use of the substantially semicircular shaped circuit board


19


, the on time, where the conductor traces


112


make contact with the terminals of the EEPROM reading unit


41


, and the off time, where the conductor traces


112


make out of contact with the terminals, are generated. The on time and the off time make it possible to detect a lack of the ink ribbon R.




In a third embodiment of the invention shown in

FIG. 14

, a substantially circular shaped circuit board


29


having conductor patterns


212


formed thereon shaped in a substantially ring partly missing, is used. The third embodiment operates in the same manner as the second embodiment without the use of a substantially semicircular circuit board.




A ribbon-empty detection process according to the third embodiment shown in

FIG. 15

will be described. Steps S


81


to S


84


, S


86


to S


89


, and S


91


are the same as the steps S


51


to S


54


, S


56


to S


59


, and S


61


shown in

FIG. 12

, respectively, and the flowchart proceeds in the same manner. At S


90


, the CPU


131


determines whether the counter value of the off counter


53


is greater than 17. At S


85


, the CPU


131


determines whether the count value of the on counter


52


is greater than 3. Even though the values of the on counter


52


and the off counter


53


are set to 3 and 17 respectively, they can be changed according to the length of each of the conductor patterns


212


of the circuit board


29


.




While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, arrangements and modifications may be applied therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A printing device, comprising:a printing device body; a ribbon cassette that accommodates an ink ribbon and is detachable from the printing device body, an ink ribbon take-up mechanism that takes up the ink ribbon; an ink ribbon usage determining device that determines an amount of the ink ribbon consumed; a recording medium that stores an amount of the ink ribbon remaining; and a ribbon-empty determining device that determines that there is no amount of the ink ribbon remaining, wherein the ribbon-empty determining device resets a content of the recording medium when it determines that there is no amount of the ink ribbon remaining.
  • 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon-empty determining device determines that the ink ribbon take-up mechanism has been stopped over a specified period of time.
  • 3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the ribbon cassette has a first shaft around which the ink ribbon is wound and a second shaft that takes up the ink ribbon, and the ribbon-empty determining device determines that one of the shafts has been stopped over a specified period of time.
  • 4. The printing device according to claim 3, further comprising:a plate which is attached to the first shaft; a conductor which is disposed on the plate and formed concentric with the first shaft and has a missing part; and a contact member that makes contact with the conductor, the contact member electrically connected to the ribbon-empty determining device, wherein the ribbon-empty determining device detects a presence or absence of the conductor when the first shaft is rotated by the take-up mechanism and the plate is rotated, and determines that a detected state of the conductor has lasted over a specified period of time.
  • 5. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein the ribbon-empty determining device further comprises a counter, the ribbon-empty determining device determines that a value of the counter, which is incremented while the ribbon-empty determining device detects the conductor, reaches a first specified value, and the ribbon-empty determining device determines that a value of the counter, which is incremented while the ribbon-empty determining device detects the missing part of the conductor, reaches a second specified value.
  • 6. The printing device according to claim 5, wherein the plate is a disk.
  • 7. The printing device according to claim 6, wherein the recording medium is disposed on a surface of the plate opposite from a surface where the conductor is formed, and is electrically connected to the ink ribbon usage determining device and the ribbon-empty determining device via the conductor and the contact member.
  • 8. The printing device according to claim 5, wherein the plate is formed in a semicircle and the conductor is formed in a semicircle.
  • 9. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein the recording medium is disposed on a surface of the plate opposite from a surface where the conductor is formed, and is electrically connected to the ink ribbon usage determining device and the ribbon-empty detector via the conductor and the contact member.
  • 10. A printing device, comprising:a printing device body; a consumable item for printing detachable from the printing device body; a usage determining device that determines an amount of the consumable item consumed; a recording medium that stores an amount of the consumable item remaining; and a consumable item-empty determining device that determines that there is no amount of the consumable item remaining, wherein the consumable item-empty determining device resets a content of the recording medium when it determines that there is no amount of the consumable item remaining.
  • 11. A device that determines a usage of an ink ribbon accommodated in a ribbon cassette in which the ink ribbon is wound around a first shaft and taken up by a second shaft, the device comprising:a disk that is attached to the first shaft; a conductor that is disposed on the disk and formed concentric with the first shaft and has a missing part; a contact member that makes contact with the conductor; and an ink ribbon usage determining circuit that is electrically connected to the contact member and detects the missing part of the conductor to determine the number of rotations of the first shaft.
  • 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the ink ribbon usage determining circuit further comprises a counter, the ribbon usage determining circuit determines that a value of the counter, which is incremented while the ribbon usage determining circuit detects the conductor, reaches a first specified value, and the ribbon usage determining circuit determines that a value of the counter, which is incremented while the ribbon usage determining circuit detects the missing part of the conductor, reaches a second specified value.
  • 13. The printing device according to claim 7, wherein the printing device is a facsimile machine.
  • 14. The printing device according to claim 9, wherein the printing device is a facsimile machine.
  • 15. The printing device according to claim 10, wherein the printing device is a facsimile machine.
  • 16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device is a facsimile machine.
  • 17. The printing device according to claim 7, wherein the printing device is a combination facsimile, scanner, and printer.
  • 18. The printing device according to claim 9, wherein the printing device is a combination facsimile, scanner, and printer.
  • 19. The printing device according to claim 10, wherein the printing device is a combination facsimile, scanner, and printer.
  • 20. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device is a combination facsimile, scanner, and printer.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2002-089208 Mar 2002 JP
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
4797018 Hofmann et al. Jan 1989 A
5049898 Arthur et al. Sep 1991 A
5365312 Hillmann et al. Nov 1994 A
6428132 Kubatzki et al. Aug 2002 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
60-23090 Feb 1985 JP
03-281275 Dec 1991 JP
4-103380 Apr 1992 JP
06-067507 Mar 1994 JP