CN211467914U - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a printing device. A multifunction printer includes: an alignment unit that corrects skew of the processing medium; a printing unit that performs printing on a processing medium; and a control unit that controls the alignment unit and the printing unit, wherein the alignment unit includes a plurality of alignment sensors capable of detecting a rear end portion of the processing medium, the plurality of alignment sensors and the printing unit are provided in a transport path of the processing medium, and the control unit determines whether or not skew of the processing medium is present based on detection results of the plurality of alignment sensors, and controls the alignment unit to correct the skew when the skew is determined to be present.

Description

Printing device

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a printing device.

Background

Conventionally, there is known a technique of detecting a skew of a printing medium when correcting the skew of the printing medium conveyed in a conveyance path. For example, patent document 1 discloses a technique of detecting a skew of a print medium during conveyance by a first sensor provided upstream of a conveyance roller in the conveyance direction of the print medium and a second sensor mounted on a carriage provided downstream of the conveyance roller in the conveyance direction of the print medium.

However, since patent document 1 requires scanning of the carriage when skew of the print medium is detected, a large amount of time may be required for the process of correcting the skew of the print medium.

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2012-153061

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

One embodiment for solving the above problems is a printing apparatus. The printing device includes: a skew correction unit that corrects skew of the print medium; a printing unit that performs printing on the printing medium; and a control unit that controls the skew correction unit and the printing unit, wherein the skew correction unit includes a plurality of detection units capable of detecting a rear end portion of the print medium, the plurality of detection units and the printing unit are provided in a transport path of the print medium, and the control unit determines whether or not the skew is present in the print medium based on detection results of the plurality of detection units, and controls the skew correction unit to correct the skew when the skew is determined to be present.

In the printing apparatus, the control unit may determine the presence or absence of the diagonal line based on the number of the detection units that detect the rear end portion.

The printing apparatus may further include a magnetic information reading and writing unit that is provided in the transport path and reads and writes magnetic information from and to the print medium, wherein the control unit may transport the print medium to the magnetic information reading and writing unit when determining that the skew is absent, and may control the skew correcting unit to correct the skew and transport the print medium to the magnetic information reading and writing unit when determining that the skew is present.

In the above printing apparatus, the control unit may be configured to convey the printing medium to the printing unit when determining that the skew does not exist, and to control the skew correction unit to correct the skew and convey the printing medium to the printing unit when determining that the skew exists.

The printing apparatus may further include a transport unit that transports the print medium, wherein the skew correction unit includes a plurality of correction members that correct the skew in a direction intersecting a transport direction of the print medium on the transport path, wherein the transport unit transports the print medium, and wherein the skew correction unit corrects the skew by bringing a leading end portion of the print medium into contact with the correction members.

The printing apparatus may further include a magnetic information reading/writing unit that is provided in the transport path and reads/writes magnetic information with respect to the print medium, wherein the skew correction unit is provided between the printing unit and the magnetic information reading/writing unit in the transport path.

The printing apparatus may include a scanner unit that is provided in the conveyance path and scans the print medium, and the printing unit may be provided between the skew correction unit and the scanner unit in the conveyance path.

According to the present invention, the control unit can determine whether or not the print medium is skewed by using the detection unit provided in the transport path, and correct the skew of the print medium. Therefore, the control unit does not need to execute the mechanical operation of the carriage or the like provided in the printing apparatus when determining the presence or absence of the skew of the printing medium. Therefore, the control unit can shorten the time required for the process of correcting the skew of the print medium.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view showing an external appearance of the multifunction device.

Fig. 2 is an external perspective view showing a main body of the multifunction device.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the complex machine.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the multifunction device.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction device.

Fig. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the position of the processing medium in the conveyance path.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining the determination of the presence or absence of diagonal lines in the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view showing an external appearance of the multifunction device 1. The multifunction device 1 corresponds to an example of a printing apparatus. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view showing the main body 10 of the multifunction device 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the complex machine 1.

In fig. 1, 2, and 3, the X direction indicates a main scanning direction in which the carriage 18 performs scanning, and indicates a left-right direction of the multifunction device 1. The + X direction in the X direction indicates the right of the multifunction device 1, and the-X direction in the X direction indicates the left of the multifunction device 1. In fig. 1, 2, and 3, the Y direction indicates a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, a conveying direction in which the processing medium S is conveyed, and a front-rear direction of the multifunction peripheral 1. In addition, the main scanning direction corresponds to one example of a direction intersecting the conveying direction as the sub-scanning direction. The + Y direction in the Y direction indicates the front of the multifunction device 1, and the-Y direction in the Y direction indicates the rear of the multifunction device 1. In fig. 1, 2, and 3, the Z direction indicates the vertical direction of the multifunction device 1. The + Z direction in the Z direction indicates the upper side of the multifunction device 1, and the-Z direction in the Z direction indicates the lower side of the multifunction device 1.

The multifunction peripheral 1 is a device having a scanner function of optically scanning both sides of a processing medium S as a medium to be processed by the scanner unit 24. The processing medium S corresponds to one example of a print medium. The multifunction peripheral 1 has a printing function of printing on a printing surface of the processing medium S by a print head 17 of a Serial Impact Dot Matrix (SIDM) system. The multifunction peripheral 1 is a device having an MSR (Magnetic Stripe Reader) function for reading and writing information recorded in a Magnetic Stripe provided on the processing medium S. The multifunction peripheral 1 has a MICR (magnetic ink Character Recognition) function of reading characters recorded on the processing medium S with magnetic ink.

Examples of the processing medium S usable by the multifunction peripheral 1 include a single medium cut into a predetermined length and a continuous sheet formed by connecting a plurality of sheets. As the sheet medium, for example, there are a passbook, a postcard, an envelope, and the like in addition to a single sheet, a single copy sheet, and the like, and a continuous sheet includes a continuous copy sheet, a folded sheet (fanfold sheet) connected by a perforated line, and the like. In the present embodiment, as the processing medium S, a passbook issued by a financial institution or the like, a check issued by a financial institution or the like, or a bill issued by a single medium are exemplified. The passbook is in the form of a booklet formed by binding a plurality of printed sheets of paper, the inner side of the opened booklet is a printed surface, and information related to incoming money, outgoing money, transfer, and the like is printed on the printed surface. The surface of the back cover of the bankbook is provided with a magnetic strip. The check is a single sheet of paper on which MICR information such as the account number of the user and the serial number of the check is printed by magnetic ink in a part of the surface area. MICR information corresponds to one example of magnetic information.

In the following description, of the four sides of the rectangular processing medium S, the side facing the side into which the multifunction device 1 is inserted is referred to as the leading end ST of the processing medium S, and the side facing the leading end ST is referred to as the trailing end KT of the processing medium S.

As shown in fig. 1, the multifunction device 1 includes an upper cover 2, an upper case 3, and a lower case 4. A manual insertion port 5 into which the processing medium S is inserted and from which the processing medium S is discharged is formed in the front surfaces of the upper case 3 and the lower case 4. On the other hand, a discharge port 6 through which the processing medium S is discharged is formed on the back surfaces of the upper casing 3 and the lower casing 4.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the multifunction peripheral 1 includes a main body 10 covered with an upper cover 2, an upper casing 3, and a lower casing 4. The main body 10 includes a lower main body 10A and an upper main body supported by a rear end of the lower main body 10A via a shaft 10B. The upper body is not shown.

The main body 10 includes: a chassis 11; and a pair of right side frame 12A and left side frame 12B fixed to both ends of the chassis 11. The right and left side frames 12A, 12B have side frames of an upper body portion on the outer sides thereof, and a carriage guide shaft 13 is provided between the side frames. Further, a front medium guide 14 and a rear medium guide 15 having a flat shape are fixed between the right frame 12A and the left frame 12B.

The front medium guide 14 and the rear medium guide 15 form a conveying surface PA of a conveying path P on an upper surface thereof for conveying the processing medium S. In the transport path P, the magnetic information reading/writing section 23, the aligning section 22, the printing section 104, and the scanning section 24 are provided in the-Y direction in this order. These parts will be described later. The alignment portion 22 corresponds to an example of the skew correcting portion.

Between the front medium guide portion 14 and the rear medium guide portion 15, a platen 16 is provided in the conveyance path P. Above the platen 16, a print head 17 is provided at a position facing the platen 16 in the conveyance path P.

The print head 17 is mounted on a carriage 18, and the carriage 18 is slidably inserted through a carriage guide shaft 13. The carriage 18 is driven by a carriage drive motor 104A that drives the carriage 18, and is guided by the carriage guide shaft 13 to reciprocate in the main scanning direction. While moving together with the carriage 18, the print head 17 causes the needles to protrude from needle protrusions provided on a surface facing the platen 16, and causes the needles to strike the ink ribbon. As a result, the print head 17 causes ink of the ink ribbon to adhere to the printing surface of the processing medium S conveyed between the platen 16 and the print head 17, and an image including characters is printed on the printing surface of the processing medium S.

As shown in fig. 3, a medium width sensor 19 is provided behind the print head 17 so as to be positioned above the platen 16. The medium width sensor 19 is mounted on the carriage 18, moves together with the carriage 18 above the platen 16, and is used to detect the processing medium S and obtain the position of the end of the processing medium S in the main scanning direction, the width of the processing medium S, and the like.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the platen 16 is formed in a planar shape extending in the main scanning direction, and is biased toward the print head 17 by a spring 20. The spring 20 supports the needle projecting force during the printing operation of the print head 17. When the thickness of the processing medium S changes during the conveyance of the processing medium S or when processing media S having different thicknesses are fed into the main body 10, the platen 16 is pressed by the print head 17 against the biasing force of the spring 20 and moves in a direction away from the print head 17. Thereby, the interval between the print head 17 and the printing surface of the processing medium S can be kept constant regardless of the thickness of the processing medium S.

As shown in fig. 3, the main body 10 has: a conveying unit 21 that conveys the processing medium S; an alignment unit 22 that corrects skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction by abutting the leading end ST of the processing medium S conveyed by the conveyance unit 21; a magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 for reading and writing magnetic information; and a scanning unit 24 for scanning both sides of the processing medium S.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the conveying unit 21 includes: a platen 16, a first driving roller 211A, a first driven roller 211B, a second driving roller 212A, a second driven roller 212B, a third driving roller 213A, a third driven roller 213B, a front media guide 14, a rear media guide 15, a media transport motor 215, and a drive train portion 216. The first driving roller 211A corresponds to an example of a conveying roller.

The conveying section 21 forms a conveying path P for conveying the processing medium S through the rollers in the front medium guide section 14 and the rear medium guide section 15.

The first drive roller 211A and the first driven roller 211B are provided in the conveyance path P in pairs in the vertical direction at a position forward of the platen 16 and the print head 17. The second drive roller 212A and the second driven roller 212B are provided in pairs in the vertical direction at a position further rearward than the platen 16 and the print head 17 in the conveyance path P. The third driving roller 213A and the third driven roller 213B are provided in the conveyance path P in pairs in the vertical direction at a position rearward of the second driving roller 212A and the second driven roller 212B.

The first drive roller 211A, the second drive roller 212A, and the third drive roller 213A are drive rollers that are rotationally driven by the medium conveyance motor 215 and the drive pulley system 216. The first driven roller 211B, the second driven roller 212B, and the third driven roller 213B are driven rollers driven by the rotation of the corresponding drive rollers.

As shown in fig. 2, the drive wheel train portion 216 is disposed outside the right side frame 12A. The drive train portion 216 includes a motor pinion gear 216A fixed so as to rotate integrally with the drive shaft of the medium conveyance motor 215 that can rotate in the normal direction or the reverse direction. The driving force from the motor pinion 216A is transmitted to a second drive gear 216C attached to a second roller shaft 212C of the second drive roller 212A via a reduction gear 216B. Further, the driving force from the motor pinion 216A is transmitted from the second drive gear 216C to the first drive gear 216E attached to the first roller shaft 211C of the first drive roller 211A via the intermediate gear 216D. The rotational force of the second roller shaft 212C of the second driving roller 212A is transmitted to the third roller shaft 213C of the third driving roller 213A via a driving belt, not shown. Thereby, the first drive roller 211A, the second drive roller 212A, and the third drive roller 213A rotate in the same direction, and the processing medium S is conveyed inside the main body 10.

More specifically, when the medium conveyance motor 215 rotates in the normal direction, the first drive roller 211A, the second drive roller 212A, and the third drive roller 213A shown in fig. 3 convey the processing medium S in the direction indicated by the symbol a in the sub-scanning direction. In the following description, the direction indicated by the symbol a in the sub-scanning direction is referred to as "positive direction". When the medium conveyance motor 215 rotates in reverse, the first drive roller 211A, the second drive roller 212A, and the third drive roller 213A shown in fig. 3 convey the processing medium S in a direction indicated by a symbol B in the sub-scanning direction. In the following description, the direction indicated by the symbol B in the sub-scanning direction is referred to as "opposite direction".

The alignment unit 22 includes a plurality of alignment plates 221, an alignment motor 222 for driving the alignment plates 221, and a plurality of alignment sensors 25. The alignment plate 221 corresponds to one example of a member for correction. The alignment sensor 25 corresponds to an example of a detection section. The plurality of aligning plates 221 are provided between the first driving roller 211A and the first driven roller 211B, and the print head 17 and the platen 16 in parallel in the main scanning direction, and protrude into the conveying path P by driving of the aligning motor 222. The alignment section 22 drives the alignment motor 222 to project the plurality of alignment plates 221 into the conveying path P. Thus, the alignment unit 22 can adjust the inclination of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction by making the plurality of protruding alignment plates 221 abut on the leading end ST of the processing medium S to correct the skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction so as to cancel the skew.

As shown in fig. 2, the main body 10 includes a plurality of registration sensors 25 in the vicinity of the registration plate 221 in the conveyance path P, which detect the presence or absence of the processing medium S in contact with the registration plate 221. The registration sensors 25 are formed of light-transmitting sensors, and are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction. The registration sensor 25 includes a light emitting portion such as an LED and a light receiving portion such as a phototransistor that face each other with the conveyance path P therebetween. The control unit 100 determines whether the processing medium S is skewed with respect to the sub-scanning direction after or before the skew correction by the alignment unit 22 based on the number of the alignment sensors 25 that detect the processing medium S.

In the main body 10, a plurality of medium insertion sensors 26 that detect insertion of the processing medium S into the conveyance path P are provided in front of the first driving roller 211A. These medium insertion sensors 26 are light reflection type sensors each including a light emitting portion that emits light toward the conveyance path P and a light receiving portion that receives reflected light, and detect the processing medium S inserted through the manual insertion port 5. The medium insertion sensor 26 may be a light-transmitting sensor in which a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion are arranged to face each other with the conveyance path P therebetween. For example, when the state where light is received from the light receiving portions of all the medium insertion sensors 26 changes to a state where light reception is blocked by any one of the medium insertion sensors 26, the control unit 100 determines that the processing medium S is inserted into the conveying path P.

The magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 includes a magnetic head 231 for reading or writing magnetic information from or to a magnetic stripe provided on the passbook, or reading MICR information provided on the check. The magnetic head 231 scans in the main scanning direction by a magnetic head driving motor not shown, and reads or writes magnetic information, reads MICR information, and the like. The magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 further includes a medium pressing unit 232, and the medium pressing unit 232 presses the processing medium S from above to suppress floating of the processing medium S when the magnetic head 231 performs a process including reading of magnetic information.

The scanner unit 24 includes a first scanner module 241 and a second scanner module 242. The first scanner module 241 scans the upper surface of the processing medium S inserted into the multifunction peripheral 1. The second scanner module 242 is provided at a position facing the first scanner module 241 in the conveyance path P, and scans the lower surface of the processing medium S. The processing medium S is usually inserted from the manual insertion port 5 so that the printing surface on which printing is performed by the print head 17 becomes the upper surface or so that the surface on which magnetic information is printed becomes the lower surface. The first scanner module 241 and the second scanner module 242 are provided between the second driving roller 212A and the third driving roller 213A, and scan both sides of the processing medium S conveyed in the conveyance path P continuously. The first scanner module 241 and the second scanner module 242 each include a light source of R, G, B, and can perform monochromatic and full-color scanning.

The first scanner module 241 includes: a flat cover glass 241A closely attached to the processing medium S; and a main body case 241B for holding the cover glass 241A. The second scanner module 242 includes: a flat cover glass 242A that is in close contact with the processing medium S; and a main body case 242B for holding the cover glass 242A. The main body cases 241B and 242B include: an irradiation unit that irradiates light output from a light source such as an LED to the processing medium S; a plurality of light receiving units arranged in parallel in a main scanning direction; and an output unit that outputs data based on the light receiving unit to the control unit 100.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the multifunction device 1.

The multifunction peripheral 1 includes a control unit 100, a communication unit 101, an input unit 102, a display unit 103, a printing unit 104, a conveying unit 21, an alignment unit 22, a magnetic information reading/writing unit 23, a scanning unit 24, and a sensor unit 105.

The control unit 100 includes a processor 110 and a storage unit 120 for executing programs such as a CPU and an MPU, and controls each unit of the multifunction peripheral 1. The control unit 100 executes various processes in cooperation with hardware and software so that the processor 110 reads and executes the control program 120A stored in the storage unit 120.

The storage unit 120 has a storage area for storing a program executed by the processor 110 and data processed by the processor 110. The storage unit 120 stores a control program 120A and setting data 120B executed by the processor 110. The setting data 120B includes setting values related to the operation of the multifunction device 1. The storage unit 120 may store other programs and data in addition to the control program 120A and the setting data 120B. The storage unit 120 has a nonvolatile storage area for storing programs and data in a nonvolatile manner. The storage unit 120 may include a volatile storage area, and may constitute a work area for temporarily storing a program executed by the processor 110 and data to be processed.

The communication unit 101 includes hardware necessary for communication such as a connector and an interface circuit, and communicates with an external device according to a predetermined communication standard under the control of the control unit 100. The communication standard used by the communication unit 101 for communication with the external device may be any communication standard, for example, any communication standard such as a communication standard for serial communication such as USB and RS232C or a communication standard for LAN may be used. The communication standard used by the communication unit 101 for communication with an external device may be a communication standard for wireless communication or a communication standard for wired communication.

In the present embodiment, the host device 7 is exemplified as an external device that communicates with the multifunction device 1. The host device 7 is a control device for controlling the multifunction device 1, and can be, for example, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or the like.

The input unit 102 has operation switches provided in the housing of the multifunction device 1, detects an operation on the operation switches, and outputs a signal indicating the detected operation to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 executes processing corresponding to an operation in accordance with an input from the input unit 102.

The display unit 103 includes a plurality of LEDs, a display panel, and the like, and performs lighting and blinking of the LEDs in a predetermined manner, display of information on the display panel, and the like under the control of the control unit 100.

The printing unit 104 includes a print head 17, a carriage 18 on which the print head 17 is mounted, a carriage drive motor 104A for scanning the carriage 18 in the main scanning direction, and other mechanisms for printing on the processing medium S. The printing unit 104 scans the carriage 18 in the main scanning direction under the control of the control unit 100, and prints on the upper surface of the processing medium S conveyed in the conveyance path P by the print head 17.

The transport unit 21 transports the processing medium S in the forward direction through the transport path P by the first drive roller 211A, the second drive roller 212A, and the third drive roller 213A by rotating the medium transport motor 215 in the forward direction under the control of the control unit 100. The transport unit 21 transports the processing medium S in the reverse direction on the transport path P by the first drive roller 211A, the second drive roller 212A, and the third drive roller 213A by reversing the medium transport motor 215 under the control of the control unit 100.

The alignment unit 22 drives the alignment motor 222 and causes the plurality of alignment plates 221 to protrude into the conveyance path P under the control of the control unit 100, thereby correcting skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction so as to be eliminated, and adjusting the skew of the processing medium S.

The magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 reads and writes magnetic information from and to a magnetic stripe provided on a passbook, reads MICR information provided on a check, and the like by the magnetic head 231 under the control of the control unit 100.

The scanner unit 24 scans the processing medium S by the first scanner module 241 and the second scanner module 242 under the control of the control unit 100.

The sensor unit 105 includes a medium width sensor 19, a medium insertion sensor 26, and an alignment sensor 25. The medium width sensor 19, the medium insertion sensor 26, and the registration sensor 25 output detection values to the control unit 100.

Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 will be described.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction device 1.

The operation illustrated in fig. 5 is a series of operations of, when the processing medium S is inserted from the manual insertion slot 5, executing the scanning by the scanning unit 24, the processing by the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23, and the printing by the printing unit 104 for discharging the sheet with respect to the inserted processing medium S. The processing performed by the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 is reading or writing of magnetic information when the processing medium S is a passbook, or reading of MICR information when the processing medium S is a check.

Fig. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the position of the processing medium S in the conveyance path P. Fig. 6 shows a plurality of positions of the processing medium S in the series of actions illustrated in fig. 5. The X direction shown in fig. 6 is the same direction as the X direction shown in fig. 1, 2, and 3. The Y direction shown in fig. 6 is the same direction as the Y direction shown in fig. 1, 2, and 3.

For ease of understanding, fig. 6 schematically shows each part provided in the conveying path P and the arrangement of each part in the conveying path P. Therefore, the shape of each part shown in fig. 6 is not necessarily an actual shape. For example, although the magnetic information reading/writing section 23 is shown as a block diagram of a rectangle that is long in the main scanning direction in fig. 6, it is not limited to the rectangular shape. Fig. 6 shows the parts necessary for the description of the flowchart of fig. 5, and other parts are separately provided on the actual conveyance path P.

In fig. 6, a plurality of processing media S arranged in the sub-scanning direction are illustrated. This is for convenience of understanding, and shows the position of the processing medium S in the conveyance path P in a series of operations illustrated in fig. 5, and actually does not show the case where the processing medium S is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the series of operations illustrated in fig. 5.

Note that the arrow marks shown in fig. 6 superimposed on each of the processing media S do not indicate arrow marks for recording as images on the surface of the processing media S, but indicate the conveyance directions of the processing media S at respective positions on the conveyance path P.

Referring to fig. 5, the control unit 100 of the multifunction peripheral 1 determines whether or not the processing medium S is inserted into the manual insertion port 5 (step S1). As described above, in step S1, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the processing medium S is inserted into the manual insertion port 5 based on the detection value of the medium insertion sensor 26.

If it is determined that the processing medium S is not inserted into the manual insertion port 5 (no in step S1), the control unit 100 executes the process of step S1 again. On the other hand, when determining that the processing medium S is inserted into the manual insertion port 5 (yes in step S1), the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 and the alignment unit 22 to perform an alignment operation for correcting skew of the processing medium S so as to eliminate skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction (step S2).

In the aligning operation, as shown in fig. 6, the processing medium S is located at a position I1 on the conveying path P. That is, the processing medium S is located at a position I1 where the leading end ST of the leading end portion STB abuts against the alignment plate 221 protruding toward the conveyance path P.

Here, when it is determined that the skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction is eliminated based on the output value of the registration sensor 25, the control unit 100 controls the alignment unit 22 to retract all the registration plates 221 from the conveyance path P, thereby ending the registration operation.

After the alignment operation is performed by the alignment unit 22, the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 to convey the processing medium S in the forward direction from the position I1 to a detectable position where the detection of the processing medium S by the medium width sensor 19 can be performed in the conveying path P (step S3). The detectable position is position I2 in fig. 6. The amount of conveyance in the positive direction from the position I1 to the position I2 is appropriately determined in advance.

The position I2 is a position in the sub-scanning direction at which the carriage 18 is caused to scan and the media width sensor 19 can detect the end of the processing medium S in the main scanning direction. The position I2 is, for example, a position of the processing medium S where the leading end ST of the processing medium S is located on the forward downstream side of the position IA in the sub-scanning direction where the medium width sensor 19 scans. The position I2 may be the position of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction when printing is started.

When the processing medium S is conveyed to the position I2 in the forward direction, the control unit 100 controls the printing unit 104 to scan the carriage 18 and detects the processing medium S by the medium width sensor 19 to obtain the position of the end of the processing medium S in the main scanning direction and the width of the processing medium S in the main scanning direction (step S4).

After the process of step S4 is executed, the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 to convey the processing medium S to the scanning unit 24 in the forward direction on the conveying path P (step S5).

In step S5, the processing medium S is conveyed from the position I2 shown in fig. 6 to the position I3 in the conveyance path P. A position I3 shown in fig. 6 is a position in the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium S when the leading end ST of the processing medium S is located at a position where the scanning unit 24 is provided in the conveying path P.

Then, the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 and the scanning unit 24 to convey the processing medium S in the forward direction and scan the processing medium S by the first scanner module 241 and the second scanner module 242 (step S6).

Then, the control unit 100 generates image data for both sides of the processing medium S based on the output data output from the first scanner module 241 and the second scanner module 242, controls the communication unit 101, and transmits the generated image data to the host device 7 (step S7).

When image data is received from the multifunction device 1, the host device 7 executes processing based on the received image data.

For example, when the image data is image data representing an image of a passbook and the image data includes identification information of the passbook, the authentication is performed using a password input by a predetermined means, and when the authentication is successful, the host device 7 generates print data instructing printing of information relating to the received money, the paid money, and the like.

For example, when the image data is image data representing an image of a check, the host device 7 stores the image data in a predetermined storage area and generates print data for instructing printing of information representing a check.

After the scanning by the scanner unit 24, the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 to convey the processing medium S in the reverse direction, and starts the detection of the rear end KTB of the processing medium S by the registration sensor 25 (step S8).

The control unit 100 determines whether or not the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is detected by the registration sensor 25 (step S9). For example, when any one of the alignment sensors 25 detects the processing medium S, the control section 100 determines that the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is detected by the alignment sensor 25.

When the control unit 100 determines that the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is detected, the processing medium S is located at a position I4 shown in fig. 6, for example, in the conveyance path P. The position I4 is a position in the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium S in a case where the rear end KT of the processing medium S is located at a position IB where the registration sensors 25 are aligned in the main scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction.

When determining that the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is not detected by the alignment sensor 25 (no in step S9), the control unit 100 returns the process to step S8 and continues the detection of the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S by the alignment sensor 25.

On the other hand, when determining that the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is detected by the registration sensor 25 (yes in step S9), the control unit 100 determines whether or not the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction (step S10).

Step S10 is explained with reference to fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining the determination of the presence or absence of diagonal lines in the sub-scanning direction in the processing medium S. The X direction shown in fig. 7 is the same direction as the X direction shown in fig. 1, 2, and 3. The Y direction shown in fig. 7 is the same direction as the Y direction shown in fig. 1, 2, and 3.

In fig. 7, as the plurality of alignment plates 221 provided in the conveying path P, five alignment plates 221, i.e., alignment plates 221A, 221B, 221C, 221D, and 221E, are illustrated. In the process of step S10, the alignment plates 221A, 221B, 221C, 221D, and 221E do not protrude toward the conveyance path P.

In fig. 7, on the left side of the aligning plate 221A, an aligning sensor 25A is provided in the conveying path P. Further, at the left of the aligning plate 221B, an aligning sensor 25B1 is provided in the conveying path P; at the right side of the alignment plate 221B, an alignment sensor 25B2 is provided in the conveying path P. Further, an alignment sensor 25C is provided at the right of the alignment plate 221C. Further, at the left of the alignment plate 221D, an alignment sensor 25D is provided. Further, an alignment sensor 25E1 is provided at the left of the alignment plate 221E; an alignment sensor 25E2 is provided at the right of the alignment plate 221E.

Fig. 7 shows a case where the processing medium S inclined by an angle α to the-X direction with respect to the sub-scanning direction is conveyed in the reverse direction.

When the processing medium S is conveyed in the reverse direction, the alignment sensor 25 sequentially detects the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S in the order of the alignment sensors 25B1, 25B2, 25C, 25D, 25E1, and 25E2 as the conveyance advances. On the other hand, as shown in fig. 7, in a case where the processing medium S is not diagonally traveling and the rear end KT of the processing medium S is parallel to the main scanning direction, when the processing medium S is conveyed in the reverse direction, the registration sensors 25B1, 25B2, 25C, 25D, 25E1, 25E2 simultaneously detect the rear end KTB of the processing medium S.

As such, the alignment sensors 25B1, 25B2, 25C, 25D, 25E1, 25E2 may vary the number of alignment sensors 25 that simultaneously detect the processing medium S according to the degree of skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction.

Therefore, when any one of the alignment sensors 25 of all the alignment sensors 25 detects the processing medium S, the control section 100 determines the presence or absence of diagonal lines of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction based on the number of the alignment sensors 25 that simultaneously detect the processing medium S. The period considered to be detected simultaneously is determined in advance appropriately by a test, simulation, or the like in advance. When the number of registration sensors 25 that simultaneously detect the processing medium S is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control section 100 determines that the processing medium S is not diagonally running in the sub-scanning direction. On the other hand, in a case where the number of registration sensors 25 that simultaneously detect the processing medium S is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the control section 100 determines that the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction. The threshold value is appropriately determined by a test, a simulation, or the like in advance and stored in the storage section 120.

For example, in the case of fig. 7, when the rear end KTB of the processing medium S is detected, and when four or more alignment sensors 25 detect the processing medium S at the same time, the control unit 100 determines that the processing medium S is not skewed in the sub-scanning direction. On the other hand, when the rear end KTB of the processing medium S is detected, if the processing medium S is not detected by four or more alignment sensors 25 at the same time, the control section 100 determines that the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction.

In addition, referring to fig. 7, the faster the conveyance speed of the processing medium S, the shorter the time until all the registration sensors 25B1, 25B2, 25C, 25D, 25DE1, 25E2 detect the processing medium S. Therefore, even when the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction, if the conveyance speed of the processing medium S is so high that the alignment sensor 25 having a threshold value or more detects the processing medium S during a period regarded as being simultaneous, the control section 100 cannot accurately determine the presence or absence of the skew of the processing medium S. Therefore, the storage unit 120 stores a plurality of threshold values having larger values as the transport speed of the processing medium S is higher. Thus, the control unit 100 can accurately determine whether or not the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction, based on the conveyance speed of the processing medium S.

Referring to fig. 5, the control unit 100 determines whether the skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction is present or absent in step S10 (step S11).

When it is determined that the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction (step S11: "skewed"), the control unit 100 controls the transport unit 21 to transport the processing medium S to a switching position for switching the transport direction of the processing medium S to the forward direction (step S12). The switching position is position I5 in fig. 6. The amount of conveyance in the reverse direction from the position I4 to the position I5 is appropriately determined in advance.

As shown in fig. 6, the position I5 is a position in the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium S when the processing medium S is on the first driving roller 211A and the leading end ST of the processing medium S is located on the forward direction upstream side of the registration sensor 25.

When the processing medium S is conveyed to the switching position, the control unit 100 switches the conveying direction of the processing medium S to the positive direction, and controls the conveying unit 21 and the alignment unit 22 to perform an alignment operation of correcting skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction (step S13).

In the aligning operation in step S13, as shown in fig. 6, the processing medium S is located at a position I6 in the conveying path P. The position I6 is the position of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction the same as the position I1.

The control unit 100 determines whether skew in the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium S is eliminated by the alignment operation (step S14). When it is determined that skew in the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium S is not eliminated (no in step S14), the control unit 100 performs the alignment operation again. On the other hand, when it is determined that the skew with respect to the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium S is eliminated (YES in step S14), the control section 100 executes the process of step S16.

Returning to the description of step S11, if it is determined that the processing medium S is not skewed with respect to the sub-scanning direction (step S11: "no skew"), the control unit 100 controls the transport unit 21 to transport the processing medium S to the switching position for switching the transport direction of the processing medium S to the positive direction (step S15).

In step S16, the control unit 100 controls the transport unit 21 to transport the processing medium S from the switching position to the head processing position where the magnetic head 231 of the magnetic information reading unit 23 is processed in the forward direction (step S16). The head processing position is position I7 in fig. 6. The conveyance amount from the switching position to the head processing position is appropriately determined in advance.

The position I7 is a position of the processing medium S when the processing medium S is a passbook and the magnetic stripe provided on the back surface of the passbook is located at the position IC in the sub-scanning direction of the magnetic head 231 for performing scanning. The position I7 is the position of the processing medium S when the processing medium S is a check and the MICR information printed on the check is located at the position IC.

When the magnetic head is transported in the forward direction to the magnetic head processing position, the control unit 100 controls the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 to scan the magnetic head 231 and execute the processing on the processing medium S (step S17). In the case where the processing medium S is a bankbook, reading or writing of magnetic information is performed with respect to the magnetic stripe of the bankbook in step S17.

In this way, the control unit 100 determines the presence or absence of diagonal movement of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction based on the detection result of the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S by the registration sensor 25. When it is determined that skew is present, the control unit 100 controls the alignment unit 22 to correct skew of the processing medium S so as to eliminate the skew, and to convey the corrected processing medium S to the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23.

Generally, magnetic stripes provided on the processing medium S, MICR information printed on the processing medium S, and the like exist along the sub-scanning direction on the rear end KTB side of the processing medium S inserted into the multifunction device 1. The control unit 100 can determine the presence or absence of the skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction by detecting the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S, and can determine the presence or absence of the skew of the processing medium S based on the skew of the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the control unit 100 can position the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S at the position IC where the magnetic head 231 performs scanning, in a state where the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is not skewed with respect to the sub-scanning direction, regardless of whether the skew correction is performed or not after the determination. Therefore, the control unit 100 can prevent the accuracy of the processing performed by the magnetic head 231 from being lowered.

After the processing of the processing medium S by the magnetic head 231 is executed, the control unit 100 controls the transport unit 21 to transport the processing medium S in the forward direction on the transport path P and transport the processing medium S to the printing unit 104 (step S18).

In step S18, the processing medium S is conveyed from the position I7 shown in fig. 6 to the position I8. A position I8 shown in fig. 6 is a position in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the processing medium S when printing on the processing medium S is started.

When the print data is transmitted from the host device 7, the control unit 100 starts printing based on the received print data (step S19). The control unit 100 starts printing from the print start position of the print head 17 in the main scanning direction based on the position of the end of the processing medium S in the main scanning direction acquired in step S4. The control unit 100 appropriately determines the print start position of the print head 17 in the sub-scanning direction according to the type of the processing medium S and communication with the host device 7, and starts printing by the print head 17 from the print start position in the sub-scanning direction that is appropriately determined. For example, when the processing medium S is a passbook, the control unit 100 receives information indicating that printing should be performed from the several rows of the printing surface in the sub-scanning direction from the host apparatus 7, and specifies the printing start position in the sub-scanning direction based on the information.

The control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 and the printing unit 104, and performs printing on the printing surface of the processing medium S while conveying the processing medium S in the forward direction based on the print data. The control unit 100 alternately performs printing for 1 line and conveyance for 1 line. When the series of printing is completed, the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 to convey the processing medium S to the printing completion position on the conveying path P (step S20). More specifically, the processing medium S is conveyed in the forward direction until the rear end KT of the processing medium S is positioned at a position where the print head 17 is provided in the conveyance path P.

When it is determined that the skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction is present, the control unit 100 controls the alignment unit 22 to correct the skew of the processing medium S and conveys the corrected processing medium S to the printing unit 104.

Thus, when the processing medium S is skewed with respect to the sub-scanning direction, the control unit 100 can feed the processing medium S, the skew of which is corrected, to the printing unit 104, and can prevent printing from being performed on the processing medium S in a skewed state. Therefore, the control unit 100 can prevent the quality of printing performed by the printing unit 104 from being degraded.

Then, the controller 100 controls the conveying unit 21 to discharge the processing medium S from the manual insertion port 5 or the discharge port 6 (step S21), and then shifts to a standby state in which the insertion of the processing medium S is waited (step S22), and ends the present process.

As described above, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction based on the detection results of the plurality of alignment sensors 25, and corrects the skew of the processing medium S by the alignment unit 22 when the determination is made that the skew is present. Thus, the control unit 100 can determine whether or not the process medium S is skewed and correct the skew of the process medium S, using the fact that the registration sensor 25 is provided in the conveyance path P. Therefore, the control unit 100 does not need to execute the mechanical operation of the carriage 18 or the like when determining the presence or absence of the diagonal line in the sub-scanning direction of the processing medium S. Therefore, the control unit 100 can shorten the time required for the process for correcting the skew of the processing medium S.

In the multifunction peripheral 1 of the present embodiment, the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23, the alignment unit 22, the printing unit 104, and the scanning unit 24 are provided in this order in the forward direction on the transport path P. In the configuration in which the above-described respective parts are provided in the conveying path P, the conveyance may be performed in the forward direction and the reverse direction a plurality of times in the process for one processing medium S. In the case where a single processing medium S is processed through a series of operations as illustrated in fig. 5, the processing medium S is conveyed twice in each of the forward direction and the reverse direction. Therefore, when a plurality of processes are performed on one processing medium S, the conveying distance in the conveying path P becomes long, and the degree of skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction may become cumulatively large. However, since the control unit 100 can correct the skew of the processing medium S by the aligning unit 22 while the processing medium S is being conveyed on the conveyance path P, it is possible to prevent the degree of skew of the processing medium S from increasing cumulatively due to the conveyance of the processing medium S.

Further, in the configuration in which a plurality of processes are executed with respect to one processing medium S, the time required for the process with respect to one processing medium S becomes long. However, since the time required for the process of correcting the skew of the processing medium S can be shortened, even when a plurality of processes are performed on one processing medium S, the multifunction peripheral 1 can avoid a situation in which the time required for the process on one processing medium S is further increased, and can prevent a situation in which the process accuracy is lowered due to the skew of the processing medium S.

The operation of the multifunction peripheral 1 illustrated in fig. 5 is a series of operations of, when a processing medium S is inserted from the manual insertion slot 5, executing scanning by the scanning unit 24, processing by the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23, and printing by the printing unit 104 and discharging a sheet with respect to the inserted processing medium S. However, the series of operations illustrated in fig. 5 is merely an example, and the operation of the multifunction device 1 is not limited to the operation illustrated in fig. 5. For example, the multifunction device 1 may execute the scanning by the scanning unit 24, the processing by the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23, and the printing by the printing unit 104a plurality of times, may execute any operation a plurality of times, or may omit any operation. However, before the processing by the magnetic information reading/writing section 23 and the printing by the printing section 104 are executed, the control section 100 determines whether or not the processing medium S is skewed in the sub-scanning direction.

An example is listed here. A series of operations exemplified in the example is an operation of the multi-function peripheral 1 in which, when the processing medium S is inserted from the manual insertion port 5, the processing performed by the magnetic information reading unit 23 and the printing performed by the printing unit 104 are executed with respect to the inserted processing medium S, and the paper is discharged. That is, the operation of the multifunction peripheral 1 illustrated in the example is an operation in which scanning by the scanner unit 24 is omitted from the series of operations shown in fig. 5.

Referring to fig. 5, in the series of operations exemplified in the example, after the processing from step S1 to step S4 is performed, control unit 100 performs the processing of step S8 without performing the processing from step S5 to step S7. In the processing of step S8 in the series of operations exemplified in the example, the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 to convey the processing medium S in the forward direction and starts the detection of the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S by the registration sensor 25. Then, the control section 100 executes the process of step S9 to determine whether or not the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is detected by the registration sensor 25. In the process of step S9 in the series of operations exemplified in the example, when any one of the alignment sensors 25 that detect the processing medium S is in a state of detecting the processing medium S, the control unit 100 determines that the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is detected by the alignment sensor 25. Then, in step S10, the control unit 100 determines whether or not there is diagonal line in the sub-scanning direction in the processing medium S. In the processing of step S10 in the series of operations exemplified in the example, the determination is made based on the number of registration sensors 25 and the conveyance speed in a state where the processing medium S is not detected at the same time. Then, the control unit 100 controls the conveying unit 21 to switch the conveying direction from the forward direction to the reverse direction, and based on the determination result, executes the processing after step S11.

As described above, the multifunction device 1 includes: an alignment unit 22 that corrects skew of the processing medium S; a printing unit 104 that performs printing on the processing medium S; and a control unit 100 for controlling the alignment unit 22 and the printing unit 104. The alignment unit 22 includes a plurality of alignment sensors 25 capable of detecting the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S. The plurality of registration sensors 25 and the printing portion 104 are provided in the conveyance path P of the processing medium S. The control unit 100 determines whether or not the processing medium S is skewed based on the detection results of the plurality of alignment sensors 25, and if it is determined that the processing medium S is skewed, the control unit 100 controls the alignment unit 22 to correct the skew of the processing medium S.

With this configuration, the control unit 100 can determine whether or not the process medium S is skewed and correct the skew of the process medium S, using the fact that the registration sensor 25 is provided in the conveyance path P. Therefore, the control unit 100 does not need to execute the mechanical operation of the carriage 18 or the like when determining the presence or absence of the diagonal movement of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the control unit 100 can shorten the time required for the process for correcting the skew of the processing medium S.

The control unit 100 determines the presence or absence of skew based on the number of registration sensors 25 that detect the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S.

According to this configuration, since the presence or absence of the skew of the processing medium S is determined by the registration sensor 25 provided in the conveyance path P, the multifunction peripheral 1 does not need to be provided with a sensor for determination. Further, according to this configuration, since the presence or absence of the skew is determined based on the number of the registration sensors 25 that detect the processing medium S, there is no need to accompany other mechanical operations in the determination, and the presence or absence of the skew of the processing medium S can be determined accurately and easily.

The multifunction peripheral 1 includes a magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 provided in the conveyance path P and configured to read/write magnetic information from/to the processing medium S. The control unit 100 conveys the processing medium S to the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 when determining that the processing medium S is not skewed, and controls the alignment unit 22 to correct the skew of the processing medium S and convey the processing medium S to the magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 when determining that the processing medium S is skewed.

As described above, generally, the magnetic stripe provided on the processing medium S, the MICR information printed on the processing medium S, and the like exist along the sub-scanning direction on the rear end KTB side of the processing medium S inserted into the multifunction peripheral 1. Since the control unit 100 can determine the presence or absence of the skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction by detecting the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S, the control unit can determine the presence or absence of the skew of the processing medium S based on the skew of the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the control unit 100 can position the processing medium S at the position where the magnetic information reading unit 23 is provided in a state where the rear end portion KTB of the processing medium S is skewed with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and can prevent the accuracy of the processing performed by the magnetic information reading unit 23 from being lowered, regardless of whether the skew is corrected or not after the determination.

The control unit 100 conveys the processing medium S to the printing unit 104 when determining that the processing medium S is not skewed, and controls the alignment unit 22 to correct the skew and convey the processing medium S to the printing unit 104 when determining that the processing medium S is skewed.

According to this configuration, when the processing medium S is skewed with respect to the sub-scanning direction, the control unit 100 can feed the skew-corrected processing medium S to the printing unit 104, and can prevent printing from being performed on the processing medium S in a skewed state. Therefore, the control unit 100 can prevent the quality of printing performed by the printing unit 104 from being degraded.

The multifunction peripheral 1 includes a conveying unit 21 that conveys the processing medium S. The alignment unit 22 includes a plurality of alignment plates 221 for correcting skew of the processing medium S in the main scanning direction in the conveyance path P. The conveying unit 21 conveys the processing medium S. The alignment unit 22 corrects skew of the processing medium S by bringing the front end portion STB of the processing medium S into contact with the alignment plate 221.

According to this configuration, since the skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction can be corrected by the alignment plates 221 having a plurality in the main scanning direction being in contact with the front end portion STB of the processing medium S, the skew of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction can be quickly corrected without performing complicated processing.

The multifunction peripheral 1 includes a magnetic information reading/writing unit 23 provided in the conveyance path P and configured to read/write magnetic information from/to the processing medium S. The alignment section 22 is provided between the printing section 104 and the magnetic information reading/writing section 23 in the conveying path P.

In this way, in the transport path P, the alignment section 22 is provided between the printing section 104 and the magnetic information reading/writing section 23. In the configuration in which these parts are provided in the conveying path P as described above, the processing medium S may be conveyed in the forward direction and the reverse direction a plurality of times. Therefore, in such a configuration, the transport distance of the processing medium S becomes long, and the degree of skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction also becomes cumulatively large with the transport. However, the control unit 100 can correct the skew of the processing medium S by the aligning unit 22 while the processing medium S is being conveyed on the conveyance path P, and thus can prevent the degree of skew of the processing medium S from increasing cumulatively with the conveyance of the processing medium S.

The multifunction peripheral 1 includes a scanner unit 24 provided in the conveyance path P and configured to scan the processing medium S. The printing portion 104 is provided between the aligning portion 22 and the scanning portion 24 in the conveying path P.

In this way, the printing unit 104 is provided between the aligning unit 22 and the scanning unit 24 in the transport path P. In the configuration in which these parts are provided in the conveying path P as described above, the processing medium S may be conveyed in the forward direction and the reverse direction a plurality of times. Therefore, in such a configuration, the transport distance of the processing medium S becomes long, and the degree of skew of the processing medium S with respect to the sub-scanning direction also becomes cumulatively large with the transport. However, the control unit 100 can correct the skew of the processing medium S by the aligning unit 22 while the processing medium S is being conveyed on the conveyance path P, and can prevent the degree of skew of the processing medium S from increasing cumulatively with the conveyance of the processing medium S.

The above-described embodiment is only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications and applications can be arbitrarily made within the scope of the present invention.

The above-described multifunction peripheral 1 is configured to determine the presence or absence of diagonal movement of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction by the registration sensor 25. However, in addition to this configuration, the multifunction peripheral 1 may determine the presence or absence of diagonal lines based on an image obtained by scanning by the scanning unit 24 when a series of operations are accompanied by scanning. Thus, the multifunction peripheral 1 can determine the presence or absence of diagonal lines of the processing medium S in the sub-scanning direction by two methods, and can improve the determination accuracy.

For example, when the control method of the multifunction peripheral 1 corresponding to one example of the control method of the printing apparatus is realized by using a computer provided in the multifunction peripheral 1 or an external device connected to the multifunction peripheral 1, the present invention may be configured as a program executed by the computer to realize the method, a recording medium on which the program is recorded so as to be readable by the computer, or a transmission medium on which the program is transmitted.

Note that, although the case where the function of the control unit 100 is realized by one processor 110 is illustrated, the function may be realized by a plurality of processors or semiconductor chips.

For example, in order to facilitate understanding of the processing, the processing unit in fig. 5 is a unit divided according to the main processing content, and the present invention is not limited by the manner and name of dividing the processing unit. The division may be performed in such a manner that one processing unit further includes a plurality of processes, or may be performed in such a manner that the processing unit is further divided into a plurality of processing units according to the processing contents. The order of the processing may be appropriately changed within a range not to interfere with the gist of the present invention.

Each functional unit shown in fig. 4 is a functional structure, and the specific mounting method is not particularly limited thereto. That is, it is not always necessary to install hardware corresponding to each functional unit, and it is needless to say that a configuration in which the functions of a plurality of functional units are realized by executing a program by one processor may be adopted. In the above-described embodiments, a part of the functions realized by software may be realized by hardware, or a part of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software. The specific detailed configuration of other parts of the multifunction device 1 can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the multifunction peripheral 1 including the print head 17 of the SIDM method is described as an example, but the print method of the print head 17 included in the multifunction peripheral 1 may be another method such as an ink jet method or a thermal method.

Description of the symbols

1 … complex machine (printing device); 7 … host device; 14 … a front media guide; 15 … rear media guide; 16 … platen; 17 … print head; 18 … a carriage; 19 … media width sensor; 21 … conveying part; 22 … alignment part (skew correction part); 23 … a magnetic information reading/writing section; 24 … scanning part; 25. 25A, 25B1, 25B2, 25C, 25D, 25E1, 25E2 … alignment sensors (detection sections); 26 … media insertion sensor; 100 … control section; 101 … communication part; 102 … input; 103 … display part; 104 … printing part; 104a … carriage drive motor; 105 … sensor section; 110 … processor; 120 … storage section; 120A … control program; 120B … setting data; 211a … first conveyor roller; 211B … first driven roller; 212a … second drive roller; 212B … second driven roller; 213a … third drive roller; 213B … third driven roller; 215 … media transport motor; 216 … drive the drive train portion; 221. 221A, 221B, 221C, 221D, 221E … alignment plates (correction members); 222 … alignment motor; 231 … magnetic head; KTB … rear end; a P … conveyance path; s … processing a medium (printing medium); STB … top end.

Claims (7)

1. A printing apparatus is characterized by comprising:

a skew correction unit that corrects skew of the print medium;

a printing unit that performs printing on the printing medium;

a control unit that controls the skew correction unit and the printing unit,

the skew correction unit has a plurality of detection units capable of detecting a rear end portion of the print medium,

a plurality of the detection portions and the printing portion are provided in a transport path of the printing medium,

the control unit determines whether or not the skew is present in the printing medium based on the detection results of the plurality of detection units, and controls the skew correction unit to correct the skew when the skew is determined to be present.

2. Printing device according to claim 1,

the control unit determines the presence or absence of the diagonal movement based on the number of the detection units that detect the rear end portion.

3. Printing device according to claim 1 or 2,

a magnetic information reading/writing unit provided in the transport path and configured to read/write magnetic information from/to the print medium,

the control unit may control the skew correction unit to correct the skew and feed the print medium to the magnetic information read/write unit when determining that the skew is not present.

4. Printing device according to claim 1,

the control unit may control the skew correction unit to correct the skew and convey the print medium to the printing unit when the control unit determines that the skew is not present.

5. Printing device according to claim 1,

a conveying unit that conveys the print medium,

the skew correction unit includes a plurality of correction members for correcting the skew in a direction intersecting a transport direction of the printing medium in the transport path,

the transport unit transports the print medium, and the skew correction unit corrects the skew by bringing a leading end portion of the print medium into contact with the correction member.

6. Printing device according to claim 1,

a magnetic information reading/writing unit provided in the transport path and configured to read/write magnetic information from/to the print medium,

the skew correction unit is provided between the printing unit and the magnetic information reading/writing unit in the transport path.

7. Printing device according to claim 1,

a scanning unit that is provided in the conveyance path and scans the print medium,

the printing unit is provided between the skew correction unit and the scanning unit in the transport path.

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