JP2000094722A - Method and apparatus for automatically recognizing paper and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically recognize a set paper by printing on the paper set in a printing apparatus by a first or a second printing energy, judging a color of the printing, and recognizing the paper as a monochromatic paper if the color is a first color or as a multicolor paper if the color is a second color. SOLUTION: When detecting from a signal of a cover open sensor 12 that a printer cover is closed again after opened, a CPU 1 judges that a heat- sensitive roll paper 16 is exchanged. At this time, a line thermal head 6 is driven for a conduction time A with a first printing energy thereby printing by a fixed amount to a leading end part of the heat-sensitive roll paper set to a holder. Then, a print color of the printed part is judged by a photosensor 13, from the result of which a type of the heat-sensitive roll paper is recognized. In other words, the heat-sensitive roll paper is recognized to be a monochromatic heat-sensitive roll paper, a two-color heat-sensitive roll paper when the color of the printed part is judged as black, when the color is judged as blue, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic paper recognition system for automatically recognizing a single-color paper which forms a single color by applying printing energy and a multi-color paper which forms a different color due to a difference in applied printing energy. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus, and a printing apparatus using the paper automatic recognition technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, thermal paper used in thermal printers has two-stage color development temperature characteristics, and the printing color when a printing energy at a first stage is applied and the temperature of a second stage. Two-color heat-sensitive paper having a different printing color when printing energy is applied has been developed and put to practical use.

Conventional thermal printers that can use this type of two-color thermal paper have two operation modes: a single-color print mode for using a single-color thermal paper and a two-color print mode for using a two-color thermal paper. When the single-color printing mode is selected, printing is performed with the first printing energy suitable for the color-forming temperature characteristics of the single-color thermal paper, and when the two-color printing mode is selected, the two-stage color-forming temperature characteristics of the two-color thermal paper are respectively set. Printing is performed using the second printing energy and the third printing energy that are appropriate.

In this case, when there is a relationship of [second printing energy <third printing energy] between the second printing energy and the third printing energy at the time of selecting the two-color printing mode, the third printing energy is set to the third printing energy. Is approximately twice as large as the second printing energy, and the second energy is substantially equal to the first energy when the monochrome printing mode is selected. The two-color thermal paper has a print color different from the print color of the single-color thermal paper (normally black) when the second print energy is applied.

In a conventional thermal printer capable of using two-color thermal paper, the set paper is two-color thermal paper.
It was not possible to automatically recognize whether it was a color thermal paper or a monochromatic thermal paper. Therefore, when the monochrome thermal paper is used by mistake when the two-color printing mode is selected, two-stage energy of the second printing energy and the third printing energy is applied to the monochrome thermal paper in accordance with the print data. ,
The second printing energy is almost equal to the first printing energy suitable for the monochromatic thermal paper, so there is no problem. However, the third printing energy is almost twice as large as the first printing energy, so that the printing becomes dark and characters and the like become dark. It will be blurry. Conversely, if the two-color thermal paper is erroneously used when the single-color print mode is selected, the printing is performed with the first printing energy that is close to the second printing energy, and therefore the printing color differs from the printing color of the single-color thermal paper. Only color printing is obtained.

[0006]

As described above, in a conventional printing apparatus which can use a single color sheet and a multi-color sheet of two or more colors, it is determined whether the sheet to be used is a single-color sheet or a multi-color sheet. Because there was no automatic recognition function, only poor quality printing could be obtained due to incorrect paper,
In some cases, only printing in a color different from the desired color was obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a first object of the present invention is to automatically recognize whether a sheet set in a printing apparatus is a single-color sheet or a multi-color sheet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for automatically recognizing paper. A second object of the present invention is to provide a paper automatic recognition device capable of automatically recognizing whether a paper set in a printing device is a single color paper or a multicolor paper. Further, the third object is to provide a single color paper mode using monochromatic paper and a multicolor printing mode using multicolor paper as operation modes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which can ensure a sufficient printing quality even if an error is made. Further, the fourth object is to provide a single color paper mode using a single color paper and a multicolor printing mode using a multicolor paper as operation modes. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can warn in advance when a mistake is made.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monochromatic paper which develops a first color when a first printing energy is applied, and a second color paper which approximates the first printing energy. When the printing energy is applied, a color is generated in a second color different from the first color of the monochromatic paper, and when a third printing energy different from the second printing energy is applied, a second color different from the second color is applied. An automatic paper recognition method for automatically recognizing a multicolor paper that is colored in three colors, that is, a method for achieving the first object. A fixed amount of printing is performed with the printing energy of the second printing energy. Next, the printing color at that time is determined. In the case of the first color, the paper is recognized as a single color paper, and in the case of the second color, the paper is recognized as a multicolor paper.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is an automatic paper recognition apparatus for automatically recognizing the single-color paper and the multicolor paper, that is, an apparatus for achieving the second object, comprising: Quantitative printing control means for performing a fixed amount of printing on the paper set in the apparatus with the first printing energy or the second printing energy, and discriminating the printing color of the printed paper by the controlling means Color discriminating means,
The discriminating means includes a paper recognizing means for recognizing the paper as a single color paper if the printing color is the first color, and recognizing the paper as a multicolor paper if the printing color is the second color.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 of the present application has, as operation modes, a single-color print mode using the single-color paper and a multi-color print mode using the multi-color paper, and the first mode is selected when the single-color print mode is selected. In the printing apparatus that performs printing with the printing energy of the second printing energy and the second and third printing energies when the multi-color mode is selected, the first printing energy or the second printing energy is applied to the paper set in the printing apparatus.
Quantitative printing control means for performing a predetermined amount of printing with the printing energy of the color, a color determining means for determining the printing color of the paper on which the printing has been performed by the controlling means, A third object is achieved by providing mode setting means for setting the operation mode to a single-color printing mode for a color and setting the operation mode to a multi-color printing mode for a second color. It is.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in place of the mode setting means according to the third aspect of the present invention, the multi-color printing mode is selected as the operation mode, and the first mode is determined by the color determining means. By providing an abnormality notifying means for notifying an abnormality when the color is determined and when the monochrome printing mode is selected as the operation mode and the second color is determined by the color determining means, The goal is to achieve the goal. In addition, claim 3 of the present application
Alternatively, in the printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, it is preferable that the fixed-quantity printing control means is configured to automatically function according to the setting of a sheet in the printing apparatus, as in the fifth aspect of the present invention.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a printing apparatus for performing thermal printing on thermal roll paper with a line thermal head, that is, a so-called line thermal printer. First, a first embodiment except for the invention described in claim 4 of the present application will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a line thermal printer according to the present embodiment. In this printer, a CPU (Central Process) is used as a control unit main body.
singUnit) 1 is installed. Also, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 storing programs and the like, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 in which an image buffer for developing print data in dots are formed, and data transmission / reception with a host device 4 for generating print data Interface 5, a head drive control unit 7 for controlling the drive of the line thermal head 6, a motor drive control unit 9 for controlling the drive of a feed motor 8 for feeding the thermal roll paper, a paper cutter for cutting the thermal roll paper An output port 11 for outputting an operation signal to 10, a cover open sensor 12 for detecting an open / close state of a printer cover opened for paper exchange, and a signal from a photo sensor 13 for detecting a print color of paper. Input port 1 for input
4 and so on. And a CPU 1 and a ROM
2, RAM 3, communication interface 5, head drive control unit 7, motor drive control unit 9, output port 11 and input port 14 are connected by a bus line 15 such as an address bus and a data bus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a printing mechanism section of the line thermal printer. The leading end of a thermal roll paper 16 held by a holder (not shown) which is opened by opening a printer cover passes through a tension roller 17. It is guided between the line thermal head 6 and the platen roller 18. The feed motor 8 drives the platen roller 18 to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the drawing to feed the paper. The paper is then fed to the outside of the printer after passing through the mounting position of the photosensor 13 and the paper cutter 10.

The line thermal printer having such a configuration is
The operation mode includes a single-color print mode using a single-color thermal roll paper and a two-color print mode using a two-color thermal roll paper. The operation mode is switched by a command from the host device 4. ing. When the switch to the single-color print mode is instructed, the mode flag MF of the RAM 3 is reset to “0”, and when the switch to the two-color print mode is instructed, the mode flag MF is set to “1”.
It is set to.

The single-color heat-sensitive roll paper used is one that develops black color when the first printing energy suitable for its color temperature characteristic is applied. In addition, the two-color heat-sensitive roll paper develops a blue color when a second printing energy suitable for one of the two-stage color temperature characteristics is applied, and is more sufficiently than the one temperature characteristic. When a third printing energy suitable for the other high temperature characteristic is applied, a material that develops black color is used.

Here, the first printing energy and the second printing energy are almost equal, and the third printing energy is almost twice as large as the second printing energy. That is, in the line thermal printer, the head energizing time required for printing one line of black data when the mode flag is “0”, that is, when the single-color printing mode is selected, is A time as shown in FIG. Then, when the mode flag is "1", that is, when the two-color printing mode is selected, the head energizing time required for printing the blue one-line data is set to B (≒ A) time as shown in FIG. The head energizing time required for printing black one-line data is represented by C as shown in FIG.
(≒ 2 × B ≒ 2 × A) time.

Therefore, the line thermal head 6 is supplied with the head energizing time A for applying the first printing energy (or the head energizing time B for applying the second printing energy).
To print on the thermal roll paper 16,
When a single-color thermal roll paper is used, the color develops black,
When a color heat-sensitive roll is used, it develops a blue color.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a fixed amount of the first printing energy (or the second printing energy) is applied to the leading end of the thermal roll paper 16 set in the printer. Printing (part 1 shown with diagonal lines in the figure)
Perform 9). Then, the light reflectance of the printed portion 19 is detected by the reflection type photo sensor 13. At this time, when the color of the printed portion 19 is black, the reflectance is small,
The output voltage of the photosensor 13 takes a low value as indicated by the broken line, while the reflectance is large when the color of the printed portion 19 is blue, so that the output voltage of the photosensor 13 is indicated by the solid line in FIG. The output voltage takes a higher value. Therefore,
The output voltage of the photosensor 13 is compared with a preset threshold voltage L. When the output voltage is lower than the threshold voltage, the thermal roll paper 16 is recognized as a single-color thermal roll paper. Is recognized as a two-color heat-sensitive roll paper.

Specifically, when the CPU 1 detects that the printer cover has been opened based on a signal from the cover open sensor 12, the CPU 1 is program-controlled to start the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, as ST (step) 1, the signal of the cover open sensor 12 is monitored, and the process waits until the printer cover is closed. When it is detected that the printer cover is closed, it is determined that the thermal roll paper 16 has been replaced, and as a step ST2, a head energizing time A (for applying the first printing energy (or the second printing energy)) is applied. Alternatively, the line thermal head 6 is driven during the head energizing time B), and at the same time, the feed motor 8 is driven to perform a fixed amount of printing on the leading end of the thermal roll paper 16 set in the holder (quantitative printing control means).

Next, in step ST3, the signal voltage of the photosensor 13 is sampled a predetermined number of times at regular intervals, and the printing color of the printing portion 19 at the leading end is determined from the sampling result (color determining means). That is, when the signal voltage of the photo sensor 13 drops from the high value of the non-printing portion to the low value of the printing portion 19, the voltage at that time is compared with a preset threshold voltage L, Is also lowered to a low value, the printing color is determined to be black, and the threshold voltage L
If the value has dropped to a higher value, the print color is determined to be blue.

Next, in step ST4, the type of the heat-sensitive roll paper 16 is recognized from the color discrimination result of the print portion 19. That is, when the color of the printed portion 19 is determined to be black, the thermal roll paper 16 is recognized as a monochromatic thermal roll paper, and when it is determined to be blue, the thermal roll paper 16 is determined to be a two-color thermal roll paper. Recognition (paper recognition means).

If it is determined that the paper is a monochromatic thermosensitive roll paper, the operation mode is checked by checking the mode flag MF in step ST5. Here, the mode flag MF is “1”.
Is set to "2", since the two-color printing mode is selected, the mode flag MF is set to "0" in ST6.
And switch to monochrome printing mode. If the mode flag MF has been reset to "0", the monochrome printing mode has been selected, so that the process of ST6 is not performed (mode setting means).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the paper is a two-color thermal roll paper, the operation mode is checked by checking the mode flag MF in step ST7. Here, if the mode flag MF has been reset to "0", since the monochrome printing mode has been selected, the mode flag MF is set as ST8.
Is set to "1" to switch to the two-color printing mode. If the mode flag MF has been set to "1",
Since the two-color printing mode is selected, the process of ST8 is not performed (mode setting means).

Thereafter, in ST9, an operation signal of the paper cutter 10 is transmitted, and if the heat-sensitive roll paper 16 is cut in the width direction behind the printing portion 19, this processing is terminated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the printing color becomes black in the case of a single-color heat-sensitive roll paper in accordance with the setting of the heat-sensitive roll paper 16 in the line thermal printer, and in the case of a two-color heat-sensitive roll paper. Is the first printing energy (or the second printing energy) at which the printing color becomes blue
By driving the line thermal head 6 with the head energizing time A (or head energizing time B) for applying
A fixed amount of printing is performed on the leading end of the set thermal roll 16. Then, the printing color of the fixed portion of the printing portion 19 is determined based on the output voltage of the photosensor. As a result, if the printing color of the printing portion 19 is black, the thermal roll paper 16 is recognized as a monochromatic thermal roll paper, and if the printing color is blue, it is recognized as a two-color thermal roll paper. Therefore, only by setting the thermal roll paper 16 in the printer, it is possible to automatically and quickly recognize whether the thermal roll paper 16 is a monochromatic thermal roll paper or a two-color thermal roll paper.

Further, the line thermal printer of the present embodiment, when it is recognized that the set thermal roll paper 16 is a monochromatic thermal roll paper, when the two-color printing mode is selected as the operation mode, The operation mode is automatically switched to the single-color printing mode. Therefore, the head energizing time for data printing is unified to the head energizing time A during which the first printing energy suitable for the monochromatic thermal roll paper is applied, so that high quality printing can be obtained.

Similarly, if the single-color printing mode is selected as the operation mode when the set thermosensitive roll paper 16 is recognized as a two-color thermosensitive roll paper, the operation mode is automatically changed to the two-color printing mode. We are trying to switch. Therefore, the head energization time during data printing is
Since the head energization time C during which the third print energy is applied to the black print data is controlled, printing is performed in black according to the data.

As a result, even if the paper used for the operation mode is erroneously used, the printing is not made dark and the characters are not blurred, and the printing is not performed in a color other than the desired color. Printing quality can be ensured.

Further, the printed portion 19 printed on the leading end for automatically recognizing the type of paper is cut off after the recognition is completed, so that there is no hindrance to the printing result thereafter.

Next, a second embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application will be described. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is a part of the processing of the CPU 1 after the printer cover is opened, and the other parts are the same. The description is omitted by attaching reference numerals.

That is, when the CPU 1 detects that the printer cover has been opened based on the signal of the cover open sensor 12, the CPU 1 starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, at step ST1, a signal from the cover open sensor 12 is monitored to wait for the printer cover to be closed. When it is detected that the printer cover is closed,
A fixed amount of printing is performed on the leading end of the thermal roll paper 16 at the head energizing time A (or head energizing time B) for applying the first printing energy (or the second printing energy) as T2 (quantitative printing control means). . Next, in ST3, the signal voltage of the photosensor 13 is sampled a predetermined number of times at regular intervals to determine the print color of the print portion 19 (color determination means). Subsequently, in ST4, the color determination result of the print portion 19 is determined. The type of the heat-sensitive roll paper 16 is recognized (paper recognition means).

If it is determined that the paper is a single-color thermal roll paper, the operation mode is checked in step ST5. Here, if it is confirmed that the printing mode is the two-color printing mode, an error command for instructing the use of the monochromatic thermal roll paper is sent to the host device 4 in ST6 '(abnormality notification means). If it is confirmed that the printing mode is the monochrome printing mode, no error command is sent.

On the other hand, if it is recognized in ST4 that the paper is a two-color thermal roll paper, the operation mode is checked in ST7. Here, if it is confirmed that the printing mode is the monochrome printing mode,
At T8 ', an error command for instructing the use of two-color thermal roll paper is sent to the host device 4 (abnormality notification means). If it is confirmed that the printing mode is the two-color printing mode, no error command is sent.

Thereafter, if the heat-sensitive roll paper 16 is cut in the width direction behind the print portion 19 in ST9, the process is terminated. When the host device 4 receives an error command instructing the use of the monochromatic thermal roll paper, a message instructing the use of the monochromatic thermal roll paper is displayed on the display unit to warn the user. I do. Similarly, when an error command instructing to use two-color thermal roll paper is received, a message instructing to use two-color thermal roll paper is displayed on the display unit to warn the user.

By adopting such a configuration, if a single-color thermal roll paper is set by mistake when the operation mode of the printer is the two-color print mode, the two-color thermal roll is displayed on the display unit of the host device. Since the message instructing the use of the paper is automatically displayed, the user can immediately recognize the mistake of the paper and replace the paper with the correct paper (in this case, two-color thermal roll paper). Similarly, if the two-color thermal roll paper is erroneously set when the operation mode of the printer is the monochromatic print mode, a message instructing to use the monochromatic thermal roll paper is displayed on the display unit of the host device. Since the information is automatically displayed, the user can immediately recognize the mistake of the paper and replace the paper with the correct paper (in this case, a single-color thermal roll paper). Therefore, the paper suitable for the operation mode is always used, so that stable printing quality can be secured.

The present invention is not limited to a line thermal printer, but can also be applied to a serial thermal printer in which a thermal head scans in the width direction of a sheet to perform printing. Further, the applicable multicolor heat-sensitive paper is not limited to those of two colors of blue and black. For example, the present invention works in the same manner even if a paper capable of printing in two colors of red and black is used. Needless to say.

[0038]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a paper automatic recognition method capable of automatically recognizing whether a paper set in a printing apparatus is a single color paper or a multicolor paper. Can be provided. Further, according to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, it is possible to provide an automatic sheet recognition apparatus capable of automatically recognizing whether a sheet set in a printing apparatus is a single color sheet or a multicolor sheet. Further, according to the third and fifth aspects of the present invention, when the operation mode includes a single color paper mode using a single color paper and a multicolor printing mode using a multicolor paper, the operation mode is used for the operation mode. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can ensure sufficient printing quality even if the wrong paper is used. Further, according to the invention described in claims 4 and 5 of the present application,
Provides a printing device that has a single color paper mode that uses monochromatic paper and a multicolor printing mode that uses multicolor paper as the operation mode. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a line thermal printer according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a head energizing time when a single-color printing mode is selected and a head energizing time when a two-color printing mode is selected in the line thermal printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a printing mechanism in the line thermal printer.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a printing location for recognizing a paper type in the line thermal printer.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an output voltage waveform that varies depending on the paper type of a photosensor in the line thermal printer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main part of a process after detection of opening of a printer cover by a CPU in the line thermal printer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modification of the process shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU 6 ... Line thermal head 8 ... Feed motor 10 ... Paper cutter 12 ... Cover open sensor 13 ... Photosensor 16 ... Thermal roll paper

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Furuyama 570 Oni-cho, Oni-cho, Taga-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside the Tech Ohi Plant, Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C061 AQ04 AR01 AS06 AS14 KK01 KK13 KK18 KK22 KK24 KK28 KK35 2C065 AA01 AA02 AB01 DC23 DC24 DC29 DC32 2C262 AA03 AA16 AA18 AA24 AB11 AC07 FA13 GA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A monochromatic paper sheet that develops a first color when a first printing energy is applied, and a monochromatic paper sheet that emits a second color when the second printing energy that is close to the first printing energy is applied. Multicolor paper that develops in a second color different from the first color and that develops in a third color different from the second color when a third printing energy different from the second printing energy is applied A method for automatically recognizing the following: a predetermined amount of printing is performed on the paper set in the printing apparatus with the first printing energy or the second printing energy, and the printing of the printing at that time is performed. A method for automatically recognizing a paper, wherein a color is determined and if the first color, the paper is recognized as a single color paper, and if the second color, the paper is recognized as a multicolor paper. 2. A monochromatic paper sheet that develops a first color when a first printing energy is applied, and a monochromatic paper sheet that emits a first color when a second printing energy similar to the first printing energy is applied. Multicolor paper that develops in a second color different from the first color and that develops in a third color different from the second color when a third printing energy different from the second printing energy is applied An automatic paper recognizing device for automatically recognizing the following: fixed amount printing control means for performing a fixed amount of printing on the paper set in the printing device with the first printing energy or the second printing energy. A color discriminating means for discriminating a printing color of a sheet on which printing has been performed by the control means; and a discriminating means for recognizing the sheet as a monochromatic sheet if the printing color is the first color. If the color is 2, the paper Paper automatic recognition apparatus characterized by comprising a recognizing sheet recognition means as a color paper. 3. A single-color printing mode using a single-color sheet that emits a first color when a first printing energy is applied, and a second printing energy similar to the first printing energy. Is applied, a second color different from the first color of the monochromatic paper is generated, and when a third print energy different from the second print energy is applied, the color is different from the second color. A multi-color printing mode using a multi-color paper that develops a third color, and when the single-color printing mode is selected, printing is performed with the first printing energy.
In the printing device that performs printing with the second and third printing energies when the multi-color mode is selected, a fixed amount of printing is performed on the paper set in the printing device with the first printing energy or the second printing energy. And a color discriminating means for discriminating the printing color of the paper on which printing has been performed by the control means, and the operation mode if the discriminating means determines that the printing color is the first color. And a mode setting means for setting the operation mode to a multi-color printing mode for the second color. 4. An operation mode in which a single-color printing mode using a single-color paper that emits a first color when a first printing energy is applied, and a second printing energy that is similar to the first printing energy Is applied, a second color different from the first color of the monochromatic paper is generated, and when a third print energy different from the second print energy is applied, the color is different from the second color. A multi-color printing mode using a multi-color paper that develops a third color, and when the single-color printing mode is selected, printing is performed with the first printing energy.
In the printing device that performs printing with the second and third printing energies when the multi-color mode is selected, a fixed amount of printing is performed on the paper set in the printing device with the first printing energy or the second printing energy. Means for performing quantitative printing, color discriminating means for discriminating the printing color of paper on which printing has been performed by the control means, and when the multi-color printing mode is selected as the operation mode, and the color discrimination is performed. An abnormality notification unit for notifying an abnormality when the first color is determined by the unit and when a single-color printing mode is selected as the operation mode and the second color is determined by the color determination unit. And a printer. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fixed-quantity printing control means automatically functions in response to a sheet set in the printing apparatus.