Printer, control method for the same, and data storage medium for recording the control method

A printer control method for a printer that prints using an ink ribbon having a plurality of print tracks, comprising:

• printing on a print medium with a print head using said ink ribbon;
• bi-directionally moving said print head in a direction across a print medium transportation direction;
• winding said ink ribbon in conjunction with print head movement;
• changing a relative position between a print track and said print head;
• after or concurrently with said changing step, determining whether a distance l is at least equal to a predetermined specific distance L,
• said distance l being a distance of print head movement to a next print start position in conjunction with ink ribbon winding;
• and
• moving said print head in a non-printing winding mode at least a distance L−l to wind said ink ribbon when said print head movement distance l is less than said specific distance L as determined in said determining step, said non-printing winding mode including moving the print head while winding the ink ribbon without driving the print head to print.

A data storage medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform a method of controlling a printer that includes a print head that moves relative to a print medium, an ink ribbon disposed in front of said print head and along a direction of movement of said print head, said ink ribbon being wound in a winding direction in conjunction with print head movement and having a plurality of ink colors arranged substantially orthogonally to said winding direction, and a switching mechanism that changes a relative position between said print head and said ink ribbon in a direction orthogonal to the ink ribbon winding direction;

• said control method comprising:
• changing a relative position between said print head said ink ribbon in a direction orthogonal to the ink ribbon winding direction;
• comparing a distance l to a specific distance L,
• said distance l being a distance of print head movement to a next print start position in conjunction with ink ribbon winding, and
• said specific distance L being a distance for correcting ink ribbon offset to said print head;
• and
• moving said print head at least a distance L−l in a non-printing winding mode if said distance l is less than specific distance L, said non-printing winding mode including moving the print head while winding the ink ribbon without driving the print head to print.

A data storage medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform a method of controlling a printer that prints using an ink ribbon having a plurality of print tracks, the control method comprising:

• printing on a print medium with a print head using said ink ribbon;
• bidirectionally moving said print head in a direction across a print medium transportation direction;
• winding said ink ribbon in conjunction with print head movement;
• changing a relative position between a print track and said print head;
• after or concurrently with said changing step, determining whether a distance l is at least equal to a predetermined specific distance L,
• said distance l being a distance of print head movement to a next print start position in conjunction with ink ribbon winding;
• and
• moving said print head in a non-printing winding mode at least a distance L−l to wind said ink ribbon when said print head movement distance l is less than said specific distance L as determined in said determining step, said non-printing winding mode including moving the print head while winding the ink ribbon without driving the print head to print.