Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6798434
-
Patent Number
6,798,434
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, March 25, 200322 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 28, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 347 214
- 400 249
- 400 703
-
International Classifications
-
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 |
|
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