JP4151372B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing information such as a title of data recorded on a plate-like optical recording medium on the surface of a plate-like optical recording medium such as a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, or DVD-RW. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a printing apparatus for printing information such as a title on a plate-shaped recording medium such as a CD-R, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-225733.
[0003]
In this printing apparatus, a disk-shaped plate-shaped recording medium is placed on a disk-shaped rotating table on which a platen made of a rubber sheet is laid on one side, and a thermal head extending almost the entire length in the radial direction of the rotating table is provided. It presses with respect to a plate-shaped recording medium, rotates a turntable, and is comprised so that it may print on the whole disk-shaped surface of a plate-shaped recording medium.
[0004]
On the other hand, the applicant of the present application has previously developed a printing apparatus for a plate-like recording medium that can be manufactured at a low cost with a simpler structure than the conventional printing apparatus, and proposed as Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-127123.
[0005]
That is, this printing apparatus is intended to simplify the apparatus by partially printing at a plurality of locations on a plate-like recording medium using a thermal head that is reduced in size by reducing the width of the printing element array. A support means for supporting the plate-shaped recording medium with a turntable for mounting the plate-shaped recording medium; and a printing means for printing on the plate-shaped recording medium supported by the support means with a thermal head. Then, thermal transfer printing is performed on the partial area on the surface of the stationary plate-like recording medium supported by the support means using the ink ribbon by the reciprocating thermal head, and the turntable is further rotated to the position of the next printing position. After that, the printing is performed in the same manner on other partial areas of the same plate-shaped recording medium.
[0006]
In this printing apparatus, as in the case of the other printing apparatus in which the thermal head extends in the radial direction of the rotary table, if a platen is provided over the entire area of the rotary table, the thermal head with a narrow width has a Since the plate-shaped recording medium is partially bent by the press and the print head is not evenly contacted with the plate-shaped recording medium and printing becomes faint. In addition to being positioned correspondingly, it is provided with a dimensional shape corresponding to the moving scanning area of the thermal head.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-225733 A
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional printing apparatus that performs printing partially at a plurality of locations on the surface of the plate-shaped recording medium, the platen is not provided uniformly over the entire surface of the turntable, but is provided partially.
[0009]
On the other hand, the turntable is rotatably provided so as to align the plate-like recording medium with the printing means and perform printing at a plurality of positions. For this reason, if the position of the platen does not correspond to the position of the printing means (the thermal head movement scanning region) due to the displacement of the rotational position of the turntable, the pressing of the thermal head cannot be received by the platen portion, and the print result There is a problem that causes inconvenience.
[0010]
The present invention solves such a problem. When a plate-like recording medium is mounted on a turntable for printing, the turntable is held in a predetermined position so that the plate-like recording medium is held. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can perform printing on a printer.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Claim 1 The printing apparatus described in (1) includes a rotatable turntable provided with a flat platen in a plurality of predetermined areas, a recording medium attachment / detachment position on which the plate-like recording medium can be attached / detached, and the turntable. Detecting the rotational position of the rotating table, the supporting means for supporting the plate-shaped recording medium movable to the printing position for printing on the plate-shaped recording medium mounted thereon, the rotating means for rotationally driving the rotating table When the detecting means and the supporting means are in the printing position, the print head is applied to the plate-like recording medium mounted on the turntable at each position where the plurality of platens are disposed. Printing means for printing on a plurality of locations of the plate-shaped recording medium while moving the print head along the platen, and moving means for moving the support means from the printing position to the recording medium attaching / detaching position; The plate notation of the printing means Before the printing operation on the medium, the rotating unit is controlled based on information obtained from the detecting unit to rotate the rotating table to a position where the platen corresponds to the print head, and then the moving unit is controlled. And a control means for moving the support means from the printing position to the recording medium attaching / detaching position.
[0013]
Claim 2 The printing apparatus according to claim 1 1 In the printing apparatus, the control operation of the control means was performed before the printing operation on the first plate-shaped recording medium while the power supply to the apparatus main body was supplied and the apparatus main body was operable. When the information stored in the storage means is stored in the storage means for storing information indicating that, the plate-shaped recording medium performed following the first plate-shaped recording medium is stored in the storage means. The control operation is not performed before the printing operation.
[0014]
Claim 3 The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 Or 2 In this printing apparatus, the plurality of platens provided on the turntable are provided at predetermined positions around the rotation center of the turntable.
[0015]
Claim 4 The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 Or 3 In this printing apparatus, the platen has a width and a length corresponding to a width of a printing element disposed in the print head and a length that the print head moves and scans.
[0016]
Claim 5 The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 Or 4 This printing apparatus is characterized in that a rotation blocking means for blocking the rotation of the turntable when the support means moves to the recording medium attaching / detaching position is provided.
[0017]
Claim 6 The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 In the printing apparatus, the rotation preventing unit is configured by a gear train having a high reduction ratio that transmits a rotation driving force constituting the rotating unit to the rotating table.
[0018]
Claim 7 The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 In this printing apparatus, the rotation preventing means holds an excitation state when driving of a stepping motor as a rotation drive source constituting the rotation means is stopped.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an entire printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the main part of the printing apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the main part of the printing apparatus. It is a front view.
[0021]
This printing apparatus includes a case 1 as an apparatus main body, and the case 1 is formed in a vertically long box shape having a narrow front surface and a large height. Legs 2 for stabilizing the installation on the installation surface are provided on both outer side surfaces of the bottom portion of the case 1 of this printing apparatus, and the case 1 is installed vertically on the installation surface with the leg portion 2 facing down. The
[0022]
A base 3 is provided inside the case 1. A tray 21 that supports an optical disk 70 (plate-shaped recording medium) as a printing medium and a surface (label surface) of the optical disk 70 supported by the tray 21 are provided on the base 3. ) Is provided with a printer unit 35 for printing titles and the like related to data recorded on the optical disc 70.
[0023]
The tray 21 includes a plate-shaped tray main body 22 having a rectangular outer shape, and the optical disk 70 can be rotated around the rotation shaft 24 on one side of the tray main body 22 serving as a disk support surface 23 that supports the optical disk 70. A supporting turntable 25 is provided.
[0024]
The turntable 25 is formed in a circular shape corresponding to the shape of the optical disc 70, and a regular rectangular frame-shaped cushioning material sheet 26 is stuck on the surface of the turntable 25 that contacts the optical disc 70. The cushioning material sheet 26 constitutes a platen provided corresponding to the printer unit 35, and two opposite sides of the four sides of the rectangular frame shape are platen portions, and these two platens 26a and 26b are arranged. Are provided at symmetrical positions rotated by 180 ° with respect to the rotating shaft 24. The other two sides 26c and 26d are connecting portions integrally formed of the same material and thickness as the platens 26a and 26b. By providing this connecting portion, the two platens 26a and 26b are connected to each other and connected continuously. In addition to improving handling and assemblability as individual parts, the optical disk 70 can be stably received on the turntable 25 by being interposed between the platens 26a and 26b.
[0025]
The platens 26a and 26b are provided in a range where they are pressed by the thermal head of the printer unit 35 during the printing operation, and have a width W and a length L. The width W is the width of the heating element array of the thermal head of the printer unit 35. In addition, the length L is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the moving distance of the thermal head.
[0026]
A plurality of engagement claws 27 that engage with the inner edge of the circular hole 71 of the optical disk 70 are provided at the center of the turntable 25 so as to protrude from the surface of the turntable 25. The engaging claw 27 has a protruding height that does not protrude onto the label surface of the optical disc 70 when engaged with the optical disc 70, and the optical disc 70 is held on the turntable 25 by engaging with the optical disc 70.
[0027]
The tray 21 is disposed inside the vertically long case 1 with the disk support surface 23 oriented substantially vertically, and horizontally along the guide rails 4 a and 4 b provided on the base 3 at the upper and lower positions in the case 1. Guided and movably provided between a predetermined storage position (printing position) in the apparatus for printing on the optical disk 70 and a discharge position (recording medium attaching / detaching position) outside the apparatus where the optical disk 70 can be attached and detached. It has been.
[0028]
A rack 28 is provided on the lower side edge of the tray main body 22, while a drive gear 5 that meshes with the rack 28 in the case 1 and a tray movement that rotates the drive gear 5 forward and backward via a gear train 6. A motor 7 is provided.
[0029]
The tray moving motor 7 is driven to rotate forward by the operation of the tray moving button 9 provided on the front panel 8 of the case 1 so that the tray 21 located in the apparatus is opened from the opening 10 formed on the front surface of the case 1. The tray moving motor 7 is reversely driven by the operation of the tray moving button 9 so that the tray 21 located outside the apparatus is moved into the apparatus. Reference numeral 11 denotes a power switch provided on the front panel 8.
[0030]
The case 1 is provided with position detection switches SW1 and SW2 for detecting the movement positions of the recording medium attaching / detaching position and the printing position inside and outside the apparatus of the tray 21, and the detection signals of the position detection switches SW1 and SW2 are used. The drive of the tray moving motor 7 is controlled so that the tray 21 is stopped at a predetermined position inside and outside the case 1.
[0031]
The rear end of the tray body 22 is provided with a locking portion 32 that is detachably locked to the hook 13 provided in the case 1, so that the tray 21 is placed at a predetermined position in the case 1. When stored, the locking portion 32 is locked to the hook 13 and the tray 21 is fixedly held in the case 1.
[0032]
When the tray moving button 9 is operated, the solenoid 14 is driven and the plunger 15 is sucked, and the hook 13 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 16 from the position of FIG. Is released. Subsequently, the motor 7 is driven, and the tray 21 moves toward the outside of the apparatus. After the tray moving motor 7 is started, the drive of the solenoid 14 is stopped, and the hook 13 is returned to the position shown in FIG. Further, when the tray moving motor 7 is driven in the reverse direction so that the tray 21 moves toward the inside of the apparatus and the locking portion 32 hits the hook 13, the locking portion 32 and the tip of the hook 13 are inclined. The hook 13 is pushed by the stop portion 32 and rotated clockwise, and then is returned to the original position by the return spring 17 to be locked to the locking portion 32.
[0033]
The turntable 25 provided on the disk support surface 23 side of the tray 21 has a rotation shaft 24 at the center thereof, and this rotation shaft 24 is pivotally supported by the tray body 22 and is rotatable with respect to the tray body 22. It is configured. On the back side of the disc support surface 23 of the tray body 22, a rotational drive mechanism having a tray moving motor 29 made of a stepping motor and a gear train 30 with a high reduction ratio is provided. When the driving force of the motor 29 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 24 through the gear train 30, the rotating base 25 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. By interposing the gear train 30 having a high reduction ratio, a braking action is applied to the rotary shaft 24, and the position of the rotary base 25 is displaced even when an external force is applied to the rotary base 25 when the optical disk 70 is attached to or detached from the rotary base 25. To prevent that.
[0034]
The tray body 22 is provided with a rotation position detection switch SW3 for detecting the rotation position of the turntable 25 and controlling the drive of the tray rotation motor 29. This detection switch SW3 is actuated by action portions 31a and 31b for actuating the switch, each composed of a concave portion provided at two positions opposite to each other at 180 ° on the outer peripheral edge of the turntable 25. The action portions 31a and 31b for operating the switch are positioned at 160 ° and 340 ° forward in the rotation direction with respect to the detection switch SW3 provided at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 25 in the initial stop state of the turntable 25. is doing. The detection switch SW3 detects the action portions 31a and 31b so that the rotation stop position of the turntable 25 can be controlled.
[0035]
In the case 1, a printer unit 35 including a thermal transfer printer is provided on the disk support surface 23 side of the tray 21 so as to face the rotary table 25.
[0036]
The printer unit 35 includes a bridge-shaped printer frame 36. The printer frame 36 has leg portions 37a and 37b provided at both ends thereof fixed to the base 3 in the case 1 so that the space between the leg portions 37a and 37b. A vertical frame portion 37 c provided so as to extend in the vertical direction is arranged so as to be biased toward the front opening 10 side of the case 1 from the rotation center portion 24 of the turntable 25 accommodated in the printing position in the case 1. .
[0037]
The printer frame 36 supports a carriage 41 on which a thermal head 42 is mounted, and forms a traveling path for causing the carriage 41 to travel in the vertical direction along the rotary table 25. The printer frame 36 is slidably guided. The guide shaft 38 is provided in parallel with the vertical frame portion 37c, and the rack engages with the drive gear 44 provided on the carriage 41 when the carriage 41 travels along the surface of the vertical frame portion 37c facing the rotary table 25. 39 and a guide rail 40 for guiding the carriage 41 are provided.
[0038]
The carriage 41 employs a self-propelled system in which a drive gear 44 is driven by a carriage motor 43 including a stepping motor mounted thereon and reciprocates along a rack 39.
[0039]
A ribbon cartridge 61 containing an ink ribbon 62 for thermal transfer printing is mounted on the front side of the carriage 41. The ribbon cartridge 61 can be replaced by opening the printer cover 18 provided on the front surface of the case 1. .
[0040]
Next, the printer unit 35 will be further described with reference to FIG.
A thermal head 42 is provided on the front surface of the carriage 41, and a traveling drive mechanism for the carriage 41, a head moving mechanism for the thermal head 42, and a winding mechanism for the ink ribbon 62 are provided in the carriage 41. A carriage motor 43 that can rotate forward and backward as a drive source is attached to the back surface of the carriage 41.
[0041]
The ribbon cartridge 61 mounted on the front surface of the carriage 41 includes a case 63, and a concave portion 64 in which the thermal head 42 is fitted is formed in the case 63. A ribbon supply core 65 and a ribbon take-up core 66 are provided in the case 63, the ink ribbon 62 is wound around the ribbon supply core 65, and the ink ribbon 62 fed out from the ribbon supply core 65 is a plurality of guide pins 67. Is wound around the winding core 66 through a recess 64 where the thermal head 42 is positioned.
[0042]
An output gear 45 attached to the output shaft of the carriage motor 43 is disposed in the carriage 41, and a large diameter gear 46 a that is a two-stage gear meshes with the output gear 45, and a small diameter gear 46 b meshes with the rack 39. The drive gear 44 meshes with the ribbon take-up gear 47, and the ribbon take-up shaft 48 is coaxially connected to the rotary shaft of the ribbon take-up gear 47 via a one-way clutch (not shown). The ribbon winding shaft 48 projects from the front surface of the carriage 41 so that the winding core 66 of the ribbon cartridge 61 is engaged.
[0043]
A cam gear 49 is provided in the carriage 41, and an arc-shaped cam groove 50 is formed in the cam gear 49 so as to be eccentric with respect to the center of rotation. A swing clutch 51 is provided between the cam gear 49 and the output gear 45.
[0044]
The swing clutch 51 includes a sun gear 52 meshed with the output gear 45, and a pair of planetary gears 54a meshed with the sun gear 52 and supported so as to be movable in the circumferential direction of the sun gear 52 via an arm 53. 54b, and when the sun gear 52 rotates forward (clockwise), one planetary gear 54a meshes with the cam gear 49 and the other planetary gear 54b moves away from the cam gear 49. At the time of rotation (counterclockwise rotation), one planetary gear 54 a is separated from the cam gear 49 and the other planetary gear 54 b is engaged with the cam gear 49.
[0045]
A head arm 55 to which a thermal head 42 is attached is provided in the carriage 41 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 56 and is urged counterclockwise by a spring 57 stretched on one end side. The head arm 55 is provided with a pin 58 near one end thereof, and the pin 58 is slidably inserted into the cam groove 50 of the cam gear 49.
[0046]
The operation of the printer unit 35 will be described. First, when waiting for the printing operation, the carriage 41 is stopped at the home position set near the upper end of the moving range in the travel path formed in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the thermal head 42 is in a state of being placed at a print standby position separated from the surface of the optical disk 70.
[0047]
When the motor 43 is driven forward in this state, the output gear 45 rotates counterclockwise, and the carriage 41 is rotated counterclockwise by the rotation of the drive gear 44 meshing with the rack 39 so that the carriage 41 is guided to the guide shaft 38 and the guide rail. The ink ribbon 62 that travels vertically downward along the line 40, the ribbon winding shaft 48 rotates in the ribbon winding direction by the rotation of the ribbon winding gear 47, and is fed from the supply core 65 to the winding core 66 sequentially. It is wound up.
[0048]
In parallel with this operation, the sun gear 52 of the swing clutch 51 that meshes with the output gear 45 rotates, and one planetary gear 54a approaches the cam gear 49 and meshes with it, whereby the rotational power of the sun gear 52 is rotated. Is transmitted to the cam gear 49, the cam gear 49 rotates clockwise, and the head arm 55 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 56 to head down to the printing operation position as shown in FIG.
[0049]
A missing portion (not shown) is formed in a part of the periphery of the cam gear 49, and when the cam gear 49 rotates by a certain angle, the planetary gear 54a falls into the missing portion and idles. The thermal head 42 is held at the printing operation position with the head down.
[0050]
When the carriage motor 43 is further driven to rotate forward, the planetary gear 54a is positioned in the missing portion, and therefore the ink ribbon is moved while the carriage 41 moves vertically down the traveling path while the thermal head 42 is held at the printing operation position. 62 is wound.
[0051]
Simultaneously with the movement of the carriage 41 and the winding of the ink ribbon 62, the heating elements of the thermal head 42 are driven to generate heat based on the print data, and the ink on the ink ribbon 62 is sequentially melted and thermally transferred to the surface of the optical disk 70. A title or the like is printed in a predetermined print area corresponding to the moving range of the thermal head 42 on the surface of the optical disc 70.
[0052]
Note that the width and movement distance of the heating element array of the thermal head 42 correspond to the width W and length L of the platens 26a and 26b shown in FIG.
[0053]
When the carriage 41 moves to the lower end of the movement range and the printing operation is completed, the motor 43 is driven in reverse and the output gear 45 rotates in the reverse direction (clockwise). As a result, the drive gear 44 also rotates counterclockwise, and the carriage 41 starts to move along the guide shaft 38 and the guide rail 40 toward the home position in the vertical direction.
[0054]
At this time, since the ribbon take-up gear 47 is connected to the ribbon take-up shaft 48 via the one-way clutch, the rotation is not transmitted to the ribbon take-up shaft 48. At the same time, the sun gear 52 of the swing clutch 51 is reversely rotated by the reverse rotation of the output gear 45, whereby one planetary gear 54a is separated from the cam gear 49 and the other planetary gear 54b is close to the cam gear 49 and meshes. Then, by this meshing, the rotational power of the sun gear 52 is transmitted to the cam gear 49, and the cam gear 49 rotates counterclockwise.
[0055]
By the reverse rotation of the cam gear 49, the head arm 55 rotates clockwise about the shaft 56, and the head is raised to the print standby position. A missing portion (not shown) is formed on a part of the peripheral edge of the cam gear 49 corresponding to the planetary gear 54b, and the cam gear 49 rotates by a certain angle so that the thermal head 42 returns to the print standby position. The planetary gear 54b falls into the missing portion and idles. After the planetary gear 54b is located in the missing portion, only the carriage 41 moves toward the home position while the thermal head 42 is held at the print standby position by the reverse drive of the motor 43.
[0056]
This printing apparatus is connected to a computer apparatus via a communication cable, and prints on the optical disk 70 in response to transfer of print data such as a title related to data recorded on the optical disk 70 which is input and edited by the computer apparatus.
[0057]
This printing apparatus performs printing at two locations on the optical disc 70 by two printing operations. The area printed on the optical disc 70 by the first printing process is an area indicated by reference numeral A in FIG. When the carriage 41 of the printer unit 35 moves along the traveling path and the thermal head 42 is driven to perform a printing operation, the rotary table 25 of the tray 21 is in a stopped state, and the optical disk 70 is stationary on the rotary table 25. And is held.
[0058]
The second printing is performed after the tray rotation motor 29 is driven and the turntable 25 is rotated by 180 ° at the end of the first printing to stop the turntable 25. The rotational position of the turntable 25 is controlled based on a detection signal from the detection switch SW3.
[0059]
A symbol B in FIG. 1 indicates the position of the second printing area that is performed after the first printing of the symbol A. As shown in the drawing, after the first printing, the turntable 25 is rotated 180 ° and the second printing is performed, so that the printing can be performed at a position opposite to the label surface across the circular hole 71 of the optical disk 70. it can.
[0060]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit of the printing apparatus.
[0061]
The printing apparatus includes a controller 80, which is connected to a communication cable 82 via an interface (I / F) 81 and is connected to a personal computer PC.
[0062]
The controller 80 includes a ROM 83 and a RAM 84. The ROM 83 stores program data such as a system program for controlling the operation of each unit of the printing apparatus in response to a print control signal from the computer PC. The RAM 84 is provided with a print data memory for storing print data transmitted from the computer PC, and other areas such as a register, a flag, and a counter for storing data during operation are provided.
[0063]
Further, the controller 80 includes an operation signal for the power switch 11 and the tray movement button 9, movement position detection switches SW1 and SW2 that operate according to the movement of the tray, and a rotation position detection switch SW3 that operates according to the rotation of the turntable 25. The detection signal is supplied.
[0064]
The controller 80 is connected to the thermal head 42 via a driver 85, and is connected to the carriage motor 43, the tray moving motor 7, and the tray rotation motor 29 via drivers 86, 87, 88, and via a driver 89. A solenoid 14 is connected.
[0065]
In this printing apparatus, print data created and edited by the personal computer PC is received, and each part of the electronic circuit block is driven under the control of the controller 80 to print title characters on the label surface of the optical disc 70. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the printing apparatus. First, when there is a print instruction for print data received from the personal computer PC or when the tray movement button 9 is operated, the tray movement motor 7 is driven forward and the tray 21 is pulled out of the apparatus (step S1).
[0066]
When the user loads the optical disk 70 on the tray 21 and operates the tray moving button 9 with the tray 21 pulled out to the recording medium attaching / detaching position outside the apparatus, the tray moving motor 7 is driven in reverse to drive the tray 21 into the apparatus. (Step S2).
[0067]
After the tray 21 is moved into the apparatus main body, the printing operation of the printer unit 35 is performed, and the first printing is performed on the predetermined area of the optical disc 70 by the print data received from the computer PC (step S3). . For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an ABC character string is printed on the area A of the optical disc 70.
[0068]
After this printing is completed, the tray rotation motor 29 is driven and the turntable 25 rotates 180 ° (step S4). After the rotation of the turntable 25 is stopped by the rotation amount of 180 °, the printing operation of the printer unit 35 is performed, and the second printing is performed on the predetermined area of the optical disc 70 by the print data received from the computer PC. Performed (step S5). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an XYZ character string is printed on the area B of the optical disc 70. In this case, since the direction of the character strings printed in the area A and the area B is the same, in the printing of the area B, the character arrangement order of the character strings is reversed and each character is printed after being rotated by 180 °. Become. Note that the letter CD-R in FIG. 1 represents the name of a pre-printed product.
[0069]
When the second printing is completed, the tray moving motor 7 is driven to rotate forward, the tray 21 is pulled out of the apparatus, and the printed optical disk 70 can be removed from the tray 21 (step S6). Further, a message as to whether or not to continue printing on the next disk is displayed on the display screen of the computer. If printing is continued, the processing of steps S2 to S6 is repeated, otherwise the processing is terminated. (Step S7).
[0070]
Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing during the tray moving operation of the printing apparatus, and further explains steps S1 and S6 in FIG. As described above, data to be printed is generated by the computer device, and a series of printing processes are performed between the computer device and the printing device by turning on the power of the printing device.
[0071]
First, the power switch 11 of the printing apparatus is operated to determine whether the power has risen (step S11).
[0072]
When the power is turned on, necessary initial processing including initialization of the tray rotation flag F and the drive step counter P of the tray rotation motor 29 is performed (step S12). Here, the tray rotation flag F is a flag that is set when the rotation position of the turntable 25 is aligned with a predetermined position, that is, the position of the turntable 25 based on the detection information of the rotation position detection switch SW3. Rotation for alignment is performed, and the platen is set when the platen corresponds to the moving scanning position of the thermal head 42 of the printer unit 35.
[0073]
Next, it waits for generation of a tray movement command (step S13). The tray movement command is received from the computer device or is generated by the tray movement button 9 of the printing apparatus.
[0074]
If there is a tray movement command, it is determined whether or not the tray rotation flag F is set (step S14). If it is reset, the process of aligning the rotation position of the tray 21 (the turntable 25) after S15 is performed. If it is set, the process is omitted.
[0075]
When printing is performed on the first disk immediately after the power is turned on, the tray rotation flag F is reset in step S12, and thus the process proceeds to step S15 to perform the rotation alignment process of the turntable 25. It will be.
[0076]
In the rotation alignment process of the turntable 25, first, the tray rotation motor 29 is driven from the initial position state of the turntable 25 (step S15), and the rotation position detection switch SW3 is turned off at every motor drive step. (Step S16), and steps S15 and S16 are repeated until the rotational position detection switch SW3 is turned off.
[0077]
For example, the turntable 25 is rotationally driven from the initial position state shown in FIG. The rotational position detection switch SW3 is configured by a micro switch in which an actuator comes into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 25. When the actuator is positioned at the switch action portions 31a and 31b, the rotation position detection switch SW3 is turned off. The outer peripheral portion is kept on. When the turntable 25 rotates 160 ° clockwise after the tray rotation motor 29 is driven, the switch operating portion 31a reaches the rotational position detection switch SW3 and changes from the on state to the off state.
[0078]
When the rotational position detection switch SW3 is turned off, the tray rotation motor 29 is continuously driven (step S17), and the number of steps is counted by the drive step counter P (step S18), and is counted until a predetermined value N is reached (step S19). ).
[0079]
In FIG. 2, the predetermined value N is the number of drive steps of the tray rotation motor 29 corresponding to rotating the turntable 25 by an angle of 20 °. As described above, when the rotation of the turntable 25 is started, the switch operation unit 31a is at a position separated from the rotation position detection switch SW3 by a rotation angle of 160 °, and the rotation position detection switch SW3 is located at the switch operation unit 31a. Since the rotation of the rotary table 25 is further rotated by an angle of 20 ° in the processes of steps S17 to S19, the rotary table 25 rotates an angle of 180 ° by the rotational alignment of the rotary table 25 performed in steps S15 to S19. Will do. As a result, instead of the platen 26a, the platen 26b facing 180 ° is arranged corresponding to the position of the printer unit 35.
[0080]
When the rotation position adjustment of the turntable 25 is completed, the drive of the tray rotation motor 29 is stopped (step S20), and the tray rotation flag F indicating that the position adjustment of the turntable 25 is completed is set and the drive step number counter P is set. Is initialized (step S21).
[0081]
Then, the tray moving motor 7 is driven to rotate forward (step S22), and the tray 21 is pulled out of the apparatus to a recording medium attaching / detaching position where the optical disk on which the moving position detecting switch SW1 is turned on can be attached (step S23). The drive of the motor 7 is stopped (step S24).
[0082]
By setting the gear train 30 of the tray rotation drive mechanism to a high reduction ratio, even if a force is applied to the turntable 25 when the optical disk is attached or detached, the turntable has been aligned by the braking force applied by the gear train 30. 25 does not rotate carelessly. Further, after the tray rotation motor 29 is stopped in step S20, the excitation state of the tray rotation motor 29 as the stepping motor when the drive is stopped is held while the tray 21 is pulled out of the apparatus. Thereby, the rotation by the external force of the turntable 25 can be prevented more reliably.
[0083]
Further, for example, the friction member is brought into contact with the periphery of the turntable 25 in conjunction with the movement of the tray 21 to the outside of the apparatus, or the engagement member is engaged to mechanically rotate the turntable 25 when stopped. A mechanism for preventing this may be provided.
[0084]
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, in the tray drawing process in step S1, the positioning process of the turntable 25 in relation to steps S14 to S21 described with reference to FIG. 8 is performed, but in the tray drawing process in step S6 in FIG. Since the apparatus power supply has already been supplied, a negative determination is made in step S11 of FIG. 8, and the process of step S12 is not performed, and the flag F has already been set in step S21. An affirmative determination is made at step S14, and steps S15 to S21 are skipped, and the positioning of the turntable 25 is not performed again.
[0085]
Further, when the next disk is continuously printed in the step S7 in FIG. 7, the flag F is already set as in the case of the step S6. It will not be matched.
[0086]
In this way, the printing process time can be shortened by simply performing alignment first and omitting the subsequent steps. However, when printing of one optical disc is completed, the flag F is reset and the optical disc is reset. The position of the rotary table 25 may be aligned every time one sheet is printed.
[0087]
In the above-described embodiment, in steps S15 to S20 in FIG. 8, the rotary base 25 is driven to rotate and the rotational position of the rotary base 25 is set to the printer unit 35 based on the detection information of the rotational position detection switch SW3. Although the alignment is performed, it may be configured not to rotate the turntable 25. For example, when the rotary table 25 is at the initial rotation position shown in FIG. 2, that is, when the platen 26a is at a position corresponding to the printer unit 35 (the moving scanning area of the thermal head 32), one switch provided on the rotary table 25 is provided. Instead of the action part 31b, a switch action part 31c is provided on the outer periphery of the turntable 25 so as to correspond to the position of the rotation position detection switch SW3, and the rotation opposite to the switch action part 31c by 180 ° instead of the other switch action part 31a. A switch action portion 31 d is provided on the outer periphery of the base 25. Thus, at the initial rotation position of the turntable 25 before the printing operation, the rotation position detection switch SW3 detects the switch action portion 31c and is in the off state. In this state, the platen 26a on the turntable 25 is in the printer portion 35. The controller 80 determines that the rotary table 25 has a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the printer unit 35, so that normal printing is possible, and S15 to S20 in FIG. The processing steps of steps S22 to S24 in FIG. 8 are performed without rotating the turntable 25 by omitting the processing step, and the tray 22 is discharged to the recording medium attachment / detachment position outside the apparatus. In this operation example of the printing apparatus, the rotary table 25 is driven to rotate 180 ° to perform printing on two regions of one optical disk 70. Therefore, when the rotary table 25 before the printing operation is stopped, the rotary table 25 is rotated. One of the two switch operating portions 31c and 31d is detected by the position detection switch SW3. In this case, in principle, the rotating table 25 is not rotated, but the rotating table 25 is not in the normal stop position and the switch operating portions 31c and 31d cannot be detected by the rotating position detection switch SW3 before the printing operation. Then, it is determined that the turntable 25 is not at a predetermined position, and the processing of steps S15 to S20 in FIG. 8 is performed, and the turntable 25 is rotated and its position is adjusted.
[0088]
In this way, the printing processing time can be shortened by not rotating the turntable 25 when it is determined that the turntable 25 is in a predetermined position before the printing operation.
[0090]
【The invention's effect】
As mentioned above In the printing apparatus of the present invention, before the printing operation on the plate-like recording medium, the plate-like recording medium is mounted on the turntable provided on the support means and provided with a flat platen in a predetermined area. When the support means moves to the position where the plate-like recording medium can be attached and removed, the rotation position of the turntable is controlled, so that the plate-like shape is used as a reference. The desired printing location on the recording medium can be easily determined, and the position of the platen can be made to correspond to the position of the printing means, so that printing on the plate-shaped recording medium can be performed satisfactorily.
[0091]
In the printing apparatus of the present invention, information indicating that the rotational position control operation of the turntable has been performed is stored, and if the information is present while the apparatus main body is operable. By configuring so as not to perform the control operation, it is possible to shorten the time required for printing when printing is continuously performed on a plurality of plate-shaped recording media.
[0092]
Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, by providing the rotation prevention means for preventing the rotation of the turntable when the support means moves the recording medium to the detachable position, the plate-like recording medium is mounted on the turntable. When this is done, the turntable is held at a predetermined rotation position and does not rotate carelessly, and printing on a plate-shaped recording medium can be performed satisfactorily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer unit when a thermal head is disposed at a print standby position.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer unit when a thermal head is disposed at a printing position.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing of tray movement operation of the printing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Case (device body)
2 ... Leg
4a, 4b ... guide rail
5 ... Drive gear
6 ... Gear train
7 ... Tray moving motor
9 ... Tray move button
10 ... opening
11 ... Power switch
19 ... Printer cover
21 ... Tray
22 ... Tray body
23. Disc support surface
24 ... Rotating shaft
25 ... turntable
26 ... cushioning material sheet
26a, 26b ... Platen
27 ... engaging claw
28 ... Rack
29 ... Tray rotation motor
30 ... Gear train
35 ... Printer section
36 ... Printer frame
41 ... Carriage
42 ... Thermal head
43 ... Carriage motor
44 ... Drive gear
48 ... Ribbon take-up shaft
49 ... Cam gear
50 ... Cam groove
51. Swing clutch
55 ... Head arm
58 ... pin
61 ... Ribbon cartridge
62 ... Ink ribbon
64 ... recess
65 ... Ribbon supply core
66 ... Ribbon winding core
70: Optical disc (plate-shaped recording medium)
SW1 Movement position detection switch
SW2 ... Movement position detection switch
SW3: Rotation position detection switch

Claims (7)

A rotatable turntable provided with a flat platen in a plurality of predetermined areas, a plate-like recording medium attachable / detachable position on which the plate-like recording medium can be attached and detached, and a plate-like shape mounted on the turntable A support means for supporting a plate-shaped recording medium that is movable to a printing position for printing on the recording medium;
Rotating means for rotationally driving the turntable;
Detecting means for detecting the rotational position of the turntable;
When the support means is at the printing position, the print head is brought into contact with the plate-shaped recording medium mounted on the turntable at each position where the plurality of platens are disposed, and the printing is performed. Printing means for performing printing at a plurality of locations on the plate-shaped recording medium while moving the head along the platen;
Moving means for moving the support means from the printing position to the recording medium attaching / detaching position;
Before the printing operation of the printing unit on the plate-shaped recording medium, the rotating unit is controlled based on information obtained from the detecting unit to rotate the turntable to a position corresponding to the print head, Thereafter, the control means for controlling the moving means to move the support means from the printing position to the recording medium attaching / detaching position;
A printing apparatus comprising: When the control operation of the control means is performed before the printing operation for the first plate-shaped recording medium while the power to the apparatus main body is supplied and the apparatus main body is operable. Storage means for storing information indicating
The control means, when the information is stored in the storage means, does not perform the control operation before the printing operation of the plate-shaped recording medium performed following the first plate-shaped recording medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 . Wherein the plurality of platens provided on the turntable to a printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that provided at a predetermined position around the center of rotation of the turntable. The platen according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a width and a length corresponding to the length of the width and the print head of the printing elements arranged in the print head scanning movement Printing device. Wherein when the support means is moved to the recording medium detachable position, the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a rotation preventing means for preventing rotation of the turntable. The printing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the rotation prevention unit is configured by a gear train having a high reduction ratio that transmits a rotation driving force constituting the rotation unit to the turntable. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the rotation preventing unit holds an excited state when driving of a stepping motor as a rotation driving source constituting the rotating unit is stopped.

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