(19)
(11) EP 0 552 486 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.10.1993 Bulletin 1993/43

(43) Date of publication A2:
28.07.1993 Bulletin 1993/30

(21) Application number: 92121834.3

(22) Date of filing: 22.12.1992
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: B41J 35/14
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 25.12.1991 JP 343448/91

(71) Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Shinjuku-ku Tokyo-to (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Asai, Naoki
    Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken (JP)
  • Morozumi, Choji
    Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken (JP)
  • Ito, Yoshikazu
    Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken (JP)
  • Ito, Kiyoshi
    Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken (JP)
  • Koyabu, Akira
    Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken (JP)

(74) Representative: Hoffmann, Eckart, Dipl.-Ing. 
Patentanwalt, Bahnhofstrasse 103
82166 Gräfelfing
82166 Gräfelfing (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Ink ribbon shift control


    (57) A compact printer capable using any of a plurality of printing tracks or colors of an ink ribbon is disclosed in which line drive means for driving a print head (1) are also used for operating ribbon shift means in order to select a desired printing track or color. Preferably, the stroke of a reciprocating movement of the print head is divided into a printing region within which printing on a recording paper (7) is performed, and two non-printing end regions. The ribbon shift means is operated in response to the line drive means moving the print head into a non-printing end region. Moving the print head into one end region causes a track setting mechanism to set a desired printing track, whereas moving the print head into the opposite end region causes a track resetting mechanism (50) to release the track setting by the track setting mechanism. A cam member having a stepped cam face provided on a pivotally supported setting lever which is operated by engagement with the print head is used as the track setting mechanism. Also disclosed is a control method for controlling this printer such as to allow multi-color printing.






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