Medicine packaging device, ink ribbon running control method, ink ribbon roll and ink ribbon cassette

A method for controlling an ink ribbon running of a medicine packaging device used for printing on a continuous packaging sheet by bringing the ink ribbon and the continuous packaging sheet into contact with one another using a print head, the device also being used for packaging medicine with the continuous packaging sheet, the method comprising the steps of:

• controlling a winding motor based on a usage amount or a remaining amount of the ink ribbon, read from a recording medium installed at a supply core or a winding core of an ink ribbon roll, so that V1>V2, where V1 is a running speed of the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon roll in the direction of winding and V2 is a feed speed of the continuous packaging sheet, the winding motor rotating a winding side support shaft that supports a winding core of the ink ribbon roll;
• and
• running the ink ribbon with a same speed as the speed V2 at the time of printing when the ink ribbon and the continuous sheet for packaging are in contact with each another by a torque transmission control unit provided in a driving force transmission path that transmits driving force of the winding motor to the winding side support shaft, wherein:
• the continuous packaging sheet comprises a roll of twofold continuous sheet,
• the twofold continuous sheet is printed when the twofold continuous sheet is detached from its roll by means of a pair of heat rollers, and
• the pressure applied by the print head against the twofold continuous sheet is released every time after printing a package is completed.