JP2001088384A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent frequent generation of cutting failures or generation of a paper clogging and eliminate damage to an image-forming apparatus by giving an alarm for a replacement timing of a cutter part to a user in a cutter unit set to the apparatus, e.g. printer with a roll paper loaded. SOLUTION: The image-forming apparatus has a cutter replacement timing- detecting part 9. In order to judge a replacement timing of a cutter part when an edge of the cutter part for cutting a loaded print paper becomes dull, the detecting part compares any of a cutting time, a cumulative cutting time, the number of cutting times, a cumulative cutting distance, a load current, a temperature, etc., with a preliminarily set threshold value, thereby judging the presence/ absence of a necessity for the replacement, a degree of the necessity or the like. A display or a warning sound is informed to a user to urge the replacement, and a printer is stopped operating at a final stage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to detection of replacement timing of a print medium cutting cutter blade mounted on an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a printer for loading a wound continuous print medium, for example, roll paper (print paper), pulls out as much as necessary, forms an image on the paper surface by printing or the like, and separates it by a cutter mechanism. Out. This cutter mechanism is configured by unitizing a cutter unit and a driving unit that drives the cutter unit, and a type that pushes out a sheet using a knife-shaped fixed blade,
2. Description of the Related Art A type using a rotary blade to sandwich paper is known.

[0003] The cutter section of the rotary blade is composed of a combination of a rotary blade and a fixed blade or a combination of two rotary blades. The paper is sandwiched.

[0004] The cutter portion using such a rotary blade has advantages such as a cutting speed, a cut shape, and cutting of various types of paper, and a long life, as compared with a type using a knife-shaped fixed blade. are doing.

[0005] However, even if a cutter unit using a rotary blade is used, if the cutter unit is mounted on a large-format ink jet printer using roll paper having a large paper width, the amount of cutting is large and the load on the cutter increases. The cutter reaches the end of its life before the life of the printer body, that is, it does not cut. For this reason, replacement of the cutter section is essential.

[0006]

The above-described replacement of the cutter unit has been performed by a maintenance worker having specialized knowledge and replacement technology because the conventional cutter unit has not been designed to allow the user to replace the cutter unit. It was done. Until now, only the cutter unit could not be replaced due to structural reasons, and the entire cutter unit, including the frame on which the drive unit and the cutter unit were mounted, had to be replaced. I had to stop for a long time.

[0007] Therefore, in many cases, not only replacement by a contact from a user but also regular management and maintenance by a maintenance worker are performed in accordance with the frequency of use.

The present applicant has proposed a cutter unit in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-248264 in which a user can easily replace a cutter blade in a short time. From a structure in which the cutter part with the built-in cutter blade is attached to the moving mechanism by conventional screwing, a structure that can be inserted into and removed from the moving mechanism without using tools, etc. Has become.

[0009] However, even if the cutter unit is structured so that only the cutter part can be replaced, the user will not be able to cut at all or will frequently have defective cutting if the timing of replacement is not known when attached to the printer. It is conceivable that the cutter unit is not replaced until this time. When such a cutting failure occurs, the sheet on which the image is formed is damaged and cannot be used.
There is also a possibility that a component member such as a paper transport system may be damaged due to a defective cutting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which detects a replacement time of a cutter unit in a cutter unit mounted on the image forming apparatus and notifies the user of replacement.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a conveying means for conveying a continuous print medium wound in a roll, and a method for conveying the continuous print medium conveyed by the conveying means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit configured to form an image by a cutting unit; and a cutting unit configured to be movable in a cutting direction orthogonal to a medium conveying direction by the conveying unit, and to cut the continuous print medium. An image forming apparatus includes: a detecting unit that detects a state of a unit; and a notifying unit that notifies a replacement time of the cutting unit according to a detection result of the detecting unit.

First, the time required for one cutting of the continuous print medium is measured, and every time the cutting time exceeds a predetermined stepwise threshold value, the user is asked to replace the cutter unit and determine the necessity of the replacement. Prompt.

Second, the cutter section is cut empty, the time required for the empty cut is measured, and every time the cutting time exceeds a predetermined stepwise threshold, the user is required to replace the cutter section and to change the cutter section. Encourage the need.

Third, the cut straightness of the continuous print medium is measured, and every time the cut straightness exceeds a predetermined stepwise threshold, the user is prompted to replace the cutter unit and to determine the necessity thereof.

Fourth, a total of the number of cuts or the cutting distance of the continuous print medium is calculated, and every time the total exceeds a predetermined stepwise threshold, the user is asked to exchange the cutter unit and determine the necessity thereof. Prompt.

Fifth, the load current applied to the motor or the temperature of the motor body during continuous cutting of the print medium is measured, and the user is notified of the cutter every time the load current or the temperature exceeds a predetermined stepwise threshold value. Encourage replacement of parts and their necessity.

In the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the cutting time of the blade (rotary blade or the like) of the cutter unit for cutting the continuous print medium becomes poor, and if it is determined that it is time to replace the cutting medium, the cutting time is reduced. Using any of the cumulative cutting time, the number of cuts, the cumulative cutting distance, the load current, the temperature, etc., and comparing it with a preset threshold value to determine whether or not replacement is necessary, the degree of necessity of replacement, etc. Judge and notify user.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a system for detecting the replacement time of a cutter unit according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, for example, an example in which the image forming apparatus is a printer and the continuous print medium is roll paper (print paper) will be described.

In this system, a printer unit 1 is provided with a cutter unit 2 as cutting means described later. The cutter unit 2 is provided with a standby position sensor 5 and a cut end position sensor 6 at both ends of the frame 4 in order to limit the movement width of the cutter unit 3, and a cutter for reciprocating the cutter unit 3. Motor 20
Is provided. The cutter unit 3 in the present embodiment is configured by a combination of two rotary blades, and moves the print blade in the paper width direction while rotating the rotary blade to sandwich the print paper.

The standby position sensor 5 is a sensor for detecting that the cutter unit 3 exists at a position where the cutter unit 3 is normally set to standby when the cutter unit 3 is not used (not cut). Further, the cut end position sensor 6 is disposed at the turn-back position of the cutter unit 3 that has moved from the standby position, and switches the movement direction (for example, reverses the rotation direction of the motor 20) when the sensor detects it. This is a sensor for returning the cutter unit 3 to the standby position.

The standby position sensor 5 and the cut end position sensor 6 are detected by the blade support 3c of the cutter unit 3 by pressing the sensor switches, respectively. If the sensor switches are not mounted, the sensor switches will not be pressed. .
Utilizing this, after the replacement of the cutter unit 3 by the operator is completed, the cutter unit 3 is passed over the standby position sensor 5 and the cut end position sensor 6 to detect the mounted state of the cutter unit 3 and to determine whether the cutter unit 3 is not mounted. If there is, a warning to that effect is issued, and the cutting operation or the printing operation of the printer can be stopped.

Further, above the main body (upstream side in the paper transport direction)
Is provided with a paper feed sensor 36 for detecting that the roll paper has been pulled out and fed into the main body. Furthermore, an optical edge sensor 7 that scans in a straight line in the paper width direction is arranged to detect whether the cut end of the roll paper is cut straight by the cutter unit 3 (hereinafter, referred to as cut straightness). You. This edge sensor 7 is
Not only the one that scans one sensor,
A plurality of optical sensors may be arranged in a straight line in the paper width direction. In the present embodiment, an optical sensor is taken as an example of the non-contact type sensor.
A contact-type sensor that detects displacement of unevenness at the end of the cross section may be used.

Further, the sensor outputs of the standby position sensor 5, the cut end position sensor 6, and the edge sensor 7 are inputted, and the control unit 8 comprising a personal computer or the like is inputted.
A sensor control unit 10 for outputting to a cutter replacement time detecting unit 9 as a detecting unit, a display unit 11 for displaying a message for prompting a user to perform replacement, and a warning sound generating unit 12 including a buzzer or the like as a notifying unit. Is provided.

The control unit 8 includes a cutting time measuring unit 13, a cutting time accumulating unit 14, a cutting frequency accumulating unit 15,
A cut straightness measuring unit 16, a motor load current measuring unit 17, and a motor temperature measuring unit 18 are provided, and input / output predetermined data to / from these units, and the sensor control unit 10 and the display unit 1
1 and a determination / processing unit 19 that controls the alarm sound generation unit 12 and determines the state of the printer and the timing of replacement.

The cutting time measuring section 13 as measuring means
Is used to measure the time required for the cutter unit 3 to move from the standby position sensor 5 to the cut end position sensor 6, and to measure the time required for cutting one sheet of paper or the empty cutting of the cutter at the time of initialization (when there is no paper). (Only scanning is performed). The cutting time accumulating unit 14 is a part that accumulates the cutting time of the cutter unit 3, that is, the time that the cutter unit 3 has moved from the standby position sensor 5 to the cut end position sensor 6.

The cutting frequency / cutting distance accumulating unit 15 accumulates one cutting operation when the cutter unit 3 moves from the standby position sensor 5 to the cut end position sensor 6 instead of accumulating the cutting time. In the cutting distance,
The number of cuts is multiplied by the width of the print paper to calculate a cut distance and accumulate it. Therefore, the cutting distance is different between the case where the sheet having the largest sheet width is continuously cut and the case where the print sheets having various sheet widths are cut even if the accumulated number of cuts is the same. The value of the sheet width for calculating the cutting distance can be set by using a value directly input by the user or by using a value detected by a sheet width detecting unit (not shown).

The cut straightness measuring section 16 is a section for measuring the state (whether straight or bent) of the cut end in the width direction of the roll paper based on a sensor signal from the edge sensor 7 arranged in the printer main body 1. is there. The motor load current measuring unit 17 is a unit that measures a load current flowing when the cutter motor 20 is driven to cut a sheet. In this case, if the cutting condition of the cutter unit 3 becomes poor,
Since the current consumption increases, the load current increases. The motor temperature measuring unit 18 is a part that measures the temperature of the motor body when cutting the paper. Also in this case, if the cutting condition of the cutter unit 3 becomes poor, the load (torque) applied to the cutter motor 20 increases, so that the current consumption increases, the heat generation increases, and the temperature of the motor body increases.

In this embodiment, six detection parts are described and described. However, it is not necessary that all of them are mounted on one printer, and at least one of the detection parts is mounted. Then, any one of the detection methods described below can be implemented. It is also desirable to mount a plurality of detection sites in combination as appropriate.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image forming unit and the transport system in the printer equipped with the system for detecting the replacement time of the cutter unit according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front.

In this printer, a print paper 22 wound as roll paper 21 is disposed on the upstream side of the paper transport, and a transport roller 23 and a transport pinch roller 2 are provided.
4 and fed to the image forming unit.

The image forming section as a printing means is provided with an ink jet head (carriage 25
(Not shown) and a platen 26. The print paper 22 fed between these passes through, and at this time, an image is drawn on the paper surface by the inkjet head. The platen 26 has a number of small holes, and a platen chamber (not shown) and a fan unit (not shown) for exhausting air are provided behind the platen 26.
Is provided. At the time of printing, the fan section exhausts the inside of the platen chamber, so that the print paper 2
2 is attracted and fixed to the platen 26 side, and it is considered that printing without deviation is realized by eliminating unevenness of the sheet.

The cutter unit 2 is mounted on the paper discharge side (downstream side) of the image forming section, specifically, on the lower bottom of the platen chamber. One end 3A of the frame 4 of the cutter unit 2 is a standby position of the cutter unit 3, and the cutter unit 3 stands by when not in use such as during printing. The standby position sensor 5 is provided at the position 3A, and the cut end position sensor 6 is provided at the position of the cutter portion at the opposite end 3B. In this embodiment,
Although the cutter unit 2 is provided on the downstream side of the platen 26 in the sheet conveying direction, the cutter unit 2 may be mounted on the upstream side of the platen 26.

Further, on the downstream side of the cutter unit 2, a paper discharge sensor 37, a lower paper guide 27, a paper discharge roller 2
8 and a discharge pinch roller 29 are provided so that the cut print paper 22 is smoothly discharged. In the printer of the present embodiment, a drive system such as a paper discharge roller is provided to discharge printed paper, but the paper discharge roller or the like is not necessarily provided.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a specific configuration example of the cutter unit. The cutter unit 2 includes a frame 4 fixed to a platen chamber, a cutter unit 3 for cutting by sandwiching two rotating blades (not shown),
A slide base 31 for locking the cutter unit 3 and a pulley 32 for reciprocating the slide base 31
a, 32b and a cutter driving unit 33 including the motor 20.

The slide base 31 includes a pulley 32
It is attached to a wire 35 hung between a and 32b, and reciprocates with the movement of the wire 35.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the cutter portion 3 has a locking claw 3b for pinching and locking from both sides of the slide base 31, and the locking claw 3b has a fork-shaped portion engaged with each other. As shown in FIG. 3, by pressing the pressing portion 3 a configured to perform the above operation, the slide base 31 can be opened from both sides and can be easily removed from the slide base 31. The rotating blades of the cutter unit 3 are respectively connected to rollers (not shown) that come into contact with the frame 4, and are rotated by the rollers that rotate as the cutter unit 3 moves.

A method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter unit 3 in the printer having the above configuration will be described.

By setting, for example, the cutter unit replacement timing detection mode in the control unit 8, the replacement timing is detected by a method described below for each certain period or every certain number of processed sheets.

The first method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section [first
As a detection method, a method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter unit 3 using the cutting time measurement unit 12 will be described.

First, for example, when the print paper 22 is cut by the new cutter unit 3 when the print paper 22 is replaced, the print paper 22 is moved from the standby position sensor 5 to the cut end position sensor 6, and the time required for cutting (hereinafter referred to as cutting time). Is measured). The cutting time at this time is stored in the storage unit in the control unit 8 as the cutting reference time. Alternatively, at the time of manufacturing in a factory, for a recommended print medium, a reference time for cutting one sheet (or a threshold value described later) may be set in a table or the like in advance and used.

In the detection method described below including this detection method, the cutting reference time is not directly compared with the cutting time measured during use, but based on this cutting reference time, the cutter section based on experience is used. Is set and used. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the threshold value indicates one of the cutting time, the cumulative cutting time, the number of cuts, the cumulative cutting distance, the load current, the temperature, and the like.

The threshold value may be, for example, a first threshold value for prompting the user to prepare for replacement, a second threshold value for prompting replacement, a third threshold value for preventing the paper from being cut cleanly when used any more,
If used more than this, there is a risk that paper jams, breakage of the cutter blade, and damage to the transport mechanism may occur. . This is because if there is only one threshold, the user may suddenly stop the printer when it is still necessary to use it, and the usability will be poor. The process from recommendation to replacement warning is performed, and finally the printer is stopped to prevent the printer from being damaged.

When this detection method is applied, the measurement may be compared after cutting each time. However, the time required for cutting one print sheet 22 after a predetermined use time elapses or every predetermined use time may be calculated. Measured by the measuring unit 13,
The determination / processing unit 19 compares the threshold value with the threshold value, displays a message from the recommendation of replacement along with the threshold value to a warning of replacement on the display unit 11 and generates a corresponding warning sound by the warning sound generation unit 12. And inform the user.

The first method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section described above is applied to the case where the cutting time exceeds the threshold value at least once. On the other hand, the counter counts the number of times the cutting time exceeds the threshold value. , The count value of which is 1
It is set to be applied at the time of the number of times or more. May be set, and the count threshold may be flexibly set and applied so as to be compared with the count threshold.

Next, a method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter unit 3 using the cutting time measuring unit 13 will be described as a second cutter unit replacement time detection method [second detection method].

In the first detection method described above, the time when the print paper was actually cut was measured. However, in this detection method, the cutter section 3 was cut off empty (scanning of the cutter section 3 without paper was performed). Do) is used.

This is because, when the use time of the cutter unit 3 is prolonged, the blades are spilled or dulled on the two rotary blades, resulting in poor engagement. However, it takes advantage of the fact that the time required is long.

Upon application, initialization is performed in each component at the time of startup when the power of the printer is turned on. At that time, the cutter unit 3 reciprocates on the frame 4 in an empty cutting state. The time required for the movement is measured by the cutting time measuring unit 13, and the time required for the movement is compared with a preset threshold value (a value based on the time required for the movement by the new cutter unit 3). When the number exceeds the limit, replacement of the cutter unit 3 is urged.

Next, as a third method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section [third detection method], a method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section 3 using the cutting time measuring section 13 will be described. In this detection method, the replacement time of the cutter unit is detected by using the time required for cutting the print paper by the first detection method and the time required for the empty cutting in the second detection method.

This is because the rotary blade is chipped or dulled as the cutter unit 3 is used. However, the time required for empty cutting does not increase significantly even when the use time is prolonged, but the time required for cutting increases in the paper cutting time. Therefore, the difference increases as the cutter unit 3 is used, and the replacement time is detected by comparing the difference with a threshold value.

At the time of application, the idle cutting time and the cutting time in the new cutter unit are measured by using the cutting time measuring unit 13, and the result of comparing the two is stored in the storage unit of the control unit 8. As this comparison operation, for example, a difference in time required for each is calculated. Thereafter, during the use of the cutter unit 3, for example, during the above-described initialization, the idle cutting time and the cutting time in the cutter unit 3 are measured using the cutting time measuring unit 13. A comparison operation based on these measurement results is performed, and compared with the previously stored operation result in the determination / processing unit 19, the operation result measured this time is larger than the stored operation result, and a predetermined threshold value is set. When the number exceeds the limit, replacement of the cutter unit 3 is urged.
In this method, the comparison target is the difference between the idle cutting time and the cutting time, but may be a ratio.

Next, as a fourth method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section [fourth detection method], a method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section 3 using the cumulative cutting time section 14 will be described. In this detection method, if the size of the roll paper used for printing is one, the replacement time of the cutter unit 3 is detected by comparing the mere accumulated cutting time with a threshold value based on an empirical cumulative time. be able to.

Next, as a fifth cutter section replacement time detection method [fifth detection method], a method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section 3 based on the number of cuts using the number of cuts / cut distance measuring section 15 will be described. I do.

As described above, this detection method is based on the fact that the cutter unit 3 is moved from the standby position sensor 5 to the cut end position sensor 6.
Is regarded as one cutting operation, the number of times is accumulated, and when the number of times exceeds a predetermined threshold (predetermined number of times),
The exchange of the cutter part 3 is prompted.

Therefore, by setting this threshold value in stages, from the recommendation of replacement of the cutter unit to the warning is issued.

Next, as a sixth cutter section replacement time detection method [sixth detection method], a method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter section based on the cutting distance using the number of cuts / cut distance measuring section 15 will be described. .

The cutting distance used in this detection method is calculated by multiplying the number of cuts by the width of the loaded printing paper, and the results are accumulated. If the total cutting distance exceeds a preset threshold (a value based on the cutting distance),
The exchange of the cutter part 3 is prompted.

Next, referring to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4 and the diagrams showing the state of the edge of the print paper (roll paper) and the sensor position shown in FIGS. As a “seventh detection method”, a method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter unit based on the straightness of the cut will be described.

In this detection method, when the roll paper is loaded into the printer, one of the top surfaces, which may be stained or torn,
At this time, the straightness of the leading end of the print paper is measured by using the edge sensor 7 and the cut straightness measuring unit 16 arranged in the printer main body 1 described above. This is for determining the replacement of the cutter unit 3.

In general, when the cutter unit 3 becomes poorly cut, the end of the roll paper is pushed by the cutter unit 3 when cutting is started, and cutting starts in an inclined state. It bends, and the cutting start part becomes longer than the cutting end part. This bent leading edge is measured by a straight line in the paper width direction, and when the threshold value is exceeded, replacement of the cutter unit 3 is urged.

Specifically, first, power is turned on or
Upon detecting the release of the interlock (the cover attached to the printer is closed and returned to the original position) (step S
1) Perform various initialization operations (step S)
2).

At this time, the print paper is pulled out of the roll paper by the transport mechanism (step S3), and after the paper discharge sensor 37 provided near the paper discharge port is turned on (step S3).
4) Pull out a predetermined length (for example, 600 mm) exceeding one turn from the leading end of the roll paper 21 (step S5),
The sheet is cut and discharged by the cutter unit 3 (step S).
6).

After this cutting, the print paper 22 is rewound toward the roll paper 21 by the transport mechanism (step S).
7) The cut edge of the print paper 22 is detected by the edge sensor 7 (step S8). Then, if the leading end of the print sheet 22 is detected (YES), as shown in FIG. 5A, the edge sensor 7 extends a predetermined length from the leading end of the print sheet 22 to a position slightly covering the sheet (for example, 1 mm) (step S9), the edge sensor 7 scans (step S10), and the presence or absence of the leading end of the print paper 22 is detected. Next, FIG.
As shown in (5), the edge sensor 7 is rewound by a predetermined length (for example, 2 mm) to a position where the edge sensor 7 does not touch the leading end of the print paper 22 (step S11), and the edge sensor 7 is scanned (step S12). The presence or absence of the tip is detected.

After that, the printing paper 22 is transported by the transport mechanism.
Is rewound toward the roll paper 21 (step S1).
3) It is detected whether or not the paper feed sensor 36 has been turned off (step S14). In this detection, if the paper feed sensor sounds OFF (YES), rewinding is stopped,
The result of the cut straightness obtained by two scans of the edge sensor 7 is displayed on the display unit 11 (step S15).

Based on the cut straightness result, it is determined whether or not the cutter section should be replaced by comparing it with a predetermined threshold value (step S16). If the cutter section needs to be replaced (YES),
Notification that the cutter unit 3 is to be replaced is made (step S).
17). If no replacement is necessary, the process ends. Further, a display indicating that there is no need for replacement may be performed.

The leading end of the printing paper 22 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B shows a state where the cutting straightness is good, and the cutter unit 3 does not need to be replaced. However, FIG.
The state of the leading end of the print paper 22 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is cut diagonally, and in FIG.
Originally, it should detect the presence of the print paper in the entire scanning width.
2 is detected. Also, in FIG. 6B, although it should be originally detected that the print paper does not exist in the entire scanning width, it is detected that the print paper 22 exists in the n portion.

Therefore, the state of the leading end of the printing paper 22 shown in FIGS.
Although the replacement of the cutter unit 3 is not necessary, the state of the leading end of the print paper 22 shown in FIGS. Incidentally, these good and bad are shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the moving range k is determined based on the leading end of the printing paper 22. That is,
The larger the moving range k, the looser the standard of good / bad, and the narrower the moving range k, the stricter the standard.

Next, as an eighth method for detecting the replacement time of the cutter section [eighth detection method], the motor load current measuring section 17 is described.
The method of detecting the replacement time of the cutter unit based on the load current flowing through the cutter motor 20 at the time of cutting will be described with reference to FIG.

Normally, when the degree of cutting by the cutter unit becomes poor, the load (torque) required for cutting the print paper 22 is reduced.
Tends to be large. Therefore, the driving current (load current) flowing to the cutter motor using the DC motor also increases.

Therefore, a threshold value is set based on the load current flowing through the cutter motor 20 when the printing paper 22 is cut by the new cutter unit 3. Then, when a new roll paper is loaded due to paper shortage, and one roll is cut from the leading end of the roll paper and discharged, the straightness of the cut is measured and the cutting condition of the cutter unit 3 is checked. The measurement result is compared with a threshold value to determine whether or not the cutter unit 3 needs to be replaced.

In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the straightness of the cut is measured when the roll paper is loaded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the straightness may be measured during the use of the roll paper. By using the edge sensor 7, it is possible to easily measure and determine whether or not to replace the cutter unit.

Next, as a ninth cutter section replacement timing detection method [ninth detection method], a method of detecting the replacement timing of the cutter section based on the temperature of the cutter motor 20 at the time of cutting using the motor temperature measurement section 18 will be described. explain.

When the cutting condition of the cutter part becomes poor,
The load (torque) required to cut the print paper 22 increases, and the drive current (load current) flowing through the cutter motor
Will also increase. As a result, the amount of heat generated by the motor body increases with an increase in the load current, and the temperature of the motor increases.

Then, a new cutter unit 3 is attached, and the cutter motor 2 when cutting the print paper 22 is cut.
A temperature of 0 is measured, and a threshold value is set based on the measured temperature. In such a case, the threshold value needs to be set in consideration of the ambient temperature of the motor, the case where cutting is continuously performed, and the like. When the measured temperature exceeds the threshold, the user is prompted to replace the cutter unit 3.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the cutting time of the blade (rotary blade or the like) of the cutter portion becomes poor, and when it is determined that it is time to replace the cutting portion, the cutting time,
Using any one of the cumulative cutting time, the number of cuts, the cumulative cutting distance, the load current, the temperature, etc., compare with a preset threshold value to determine whether or not replacement is necessary, the degree of necessity of replacement, etc. The user is notified by a display or a warning sound, and in the final stage, the operation of the printer is stopped until the cutter unit is replaced in order to prevent damage to the components of the printer.

As described above, the setting of the threshold value is as follows.
Since the user is notified of the necessity of the replacement step by step from the step of simply encouraging the user to replace the cutter section, it is possible to prepare without stocking a new cutter section for replacement.

The threshold value is set so that the replacement time can be determined as appropriate for each type (sheet width, material) of the sheet member loaded in the printer. Further, these threshold values are prepared in a table in the control unit, stored in a rewritable manner, and by selecting a corresponding sheet member, the previous data can be effectively used.

If it is determined that the operation of the printer is to be stopped based on a comparison with a threshold value at which there is a possibility that the paper cutting failure or damage to the components of the printer may occur unless the cutter unit is replaced. The cover (for example,
Just opening the front cover) automatically moves the cutter to a position where it can be reached and replaced. In addition to this, when it is determined that the cutter unit needs to be replaced, and the user replaces the cutter unit with a new cutter unit, the user operates the operation panel to move the cutter unit to a position where the cutter unit can be easily accessed. May be provided.

In the printer, when cutting is not recommended, for example, when a sheet member (media) such as an adhesive seal is repeatedly cut, the rotating blade may be damaged or impurities such as glue may adhere to the rotating blade. May shorten the life. When cutting such a sheet member, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the cutter unit as early as possible by determining the replacement time of the cutter unit according to each of the above-described embodiments. Can be prevented.

In particular, a medium for which cutting is not recommended takes longer cutting time than a recommended normal medium. When a medium that is not recommended to be cut is repeatedly cut, the cutting time differs depending on the medium. However, if the cut is empty, the cutting state of the cutter unit can be detected regardless of the type of the medium.

[0082]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which detects a replacement time of a cutter unit in a cutter unit mounted on the image forming apparatus and notifies the user of replacement. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system for detecting a cutter unit replacement time according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit and a transport system in a printer equipped with a system for detecting a cutter unit replacement time according to the embodiment, as viewed from the front;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a cutter unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining detection of a cutter unit replacement time based on cut straightness;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of a leading end portion of a properly cut print sheet (roll sheet) and a sensor position in detection of a cutter section replacement time based on cut straightness;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a leading end portion of improperly cut print paper (roll paper) and a sensor position in detection of a cutter unit replacement time based on cut straightness; To explain about

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of an image forming unit, a transport system, and a cutter unit of the printer according to the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer main body 2 ... Cutter unit 3 ... Cutter part 4 ... Frame 5 ... Stand-by position sensor 6 ... Cut end position sensor 7 ... Edge sensor 8 ... Control part 9 ... Cutter replacement time detection part 10 ... Sensor control part 11 ... Display part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Warning sound generating part 13 ... Cutting time measuring part 14 ... Cutting time accumulating part 15 ... Cutting number totaling part 16 ... Cut straightness measuring part 17 ... Motor load current measuring part 18 ... Motor temperature measuring part 19 ... Judgment and processing part 20: cutter motor 36: paper feed sensor 37: paper discharge sensor

Claims (9)

[Claims] A transport unit configured to transport a continuous print medium wound in a roll; a printing unit configured to form an image on the continuous print medium transported by the transport unit; and a media transport by the transport unit The image forming apparatus is movable along a cutting direction orthogonal to the direction, and has a cutting unit for cutting the continuous print medium; a detecting unit for detecting a state of the cutting unit; An informing means for informing of a replacement time of the cutting means according to a detection result. 2. The measuring means for measuring a time required for the cutting means to move a distance for cutting the continuous print medium; and a measurement result of the measuring means and a preset initial value. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a comparing unit that compares the set threshold value. 3. The measuring means for measuring a time required for the cutting means to move a distance for cutting the continuous print medium, and a measurement result of the measuring means and a preset initial value. A first comparing means for comparing a set time threshold value, a counter for counting the number of times when the measurement result is large in a comparison result by the comparing means, a count value of the counter and a preset initial set number of times 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second comparing unit that compares the threshold value. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit includes an optical sensor that optically detects a straightness of a front end of the continuous print medium in a conveying direction over the cutting direction.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is configured to move the cutting unit by a predetermined distance along the cutting direction for cutting the continuous print medium without moving the continuous print medium. Measuring means for measuring the time required to perform the measurement, calculating means for calculating a ratio or difference between the two measuring times measured by the measuring means, and a calculation result calculated by the calculating means and a preset initial value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a comparing unit configured to compare the set threshold value. 6. The cutting means comprises a cutter part movable along the cutting direction, and a motor for moving the cutter part in the cutting direction, and the detecting means comprises a current applied to the motor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a current value detecting unit that detects a value; and a comparing unit that compares a value detected by the current value detecting unit with a preset initial threshold value. 7. The detecting means includes a counter for counting the number of times of cutting of the medium by the cutting means, and a comparing means for comparing a count value counted by the counter with an initial setting threshold. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 8. The detecting means includes measuring means for measuring a medium cutting distance of the cutting means, calculating means for sequentially adding the cutting distances measured by the measuring means, calculation results of the calculating means and initial setting. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a comparing unit configured to compare with a threshold value. 9. The cutting means comprises a cutter unit movable along the cutting direction, and a motor for moving the cutter unit in the cutting direction, wherein the detecting means detects a temperature of the motor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a temperature detecting unit that performs the operation; and a comparing unit that compares a value detected by the temperature detecting unit with an initial setting value.