JP2001287861A - Printer, control method and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely neatly stop the tip position of a recording medium in a prescribed reference position in the input of a power source even if the power source is cut during the operation by a failure or wrong operation. SOLUTION: When a position regulating signal to be outputted in the input of the power source is received, the detection state of a sheet detector is confirmed, and the tip position of the recording medium is moved to the prescribed reference position based on the position of the sheet detector by a position regulating operation according to the detection state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer used for an automatic teller machine (ATM), an automatic teller machine (CD), a point-of-sale system (POS system), a KIOSK terminal device, and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a printer for initially adjusting the position of a recording medium when power is turned on, and to an initial adjustment method therefor. In such a printer, in addition to characters, figures,
Although pictures, photographs, etc. can be printed, the term “printing” is used in this specification (including the claims), including not only printing of characters and symbols but also printing of figures, etc.
A printer that can print figures and the like is also referred to as a “printing device”.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art ATMs, CDs, POSs, and the like have a built-in printer for issuing usage statements, receipts, and the like to users. In addition, recently, terminals (KIOSK terminals) for reserving various entertainment-related events, issuing tickets, and the like have been placed in convenience stores and the like.
Such a KIOSK terminal has a built-in printer used for issuing reservation specifications and the like. Such a printer usually contains a continuous band of unused printing paper, and prints necessary items on the unused printing paper in response to a request from a control unit (host) such as an ATM or POS. . When the printing is completed, the printed portion is cut off by a cutter device or the like and issued to the outside as a usage statement or a receipt.

Printing is performed by transferring or ejecting ink onto printing paper by a print head based on data received from a computer or the like (host) controlling an ATM or the like. When heat-sensitive paper or pressure-sensitive paper (registered trademark) is used, printing is performed by applying heat or pressure to the paper by a print head to develop color. The print head is provided with a plurality of print elements, and by selectively driving these necessary elements, printing of character figures and the like is performed. As the printing element, a heating element, an ink ejection device, a pressure wire, and the like are used, but the configuration of the printing element and transmission and reception of print data are not so important for understanding the present invention.
No further explanation is given.

Conventionally, in these printers, when printing is completed, a print-completed portion of the printing paper is cut off by a cutter device or the like, and the cut-out portion is issued outside as a usage statement or a receipt. On the other hand, the unused portion of the printing paper is stopped at the cut position, and waits for the next printing command.

[0005] When the printer receives the print command, the printer starts printing after transferring the printing paper so that the print start position is aligned below the print head. In order to print accurately at a predetermined position such as a usage statement or a receipt, the leading end of the unused printing paper must be accurately stopped at a predetermined position (referred to as a reference position). is important. This is because the print start position of a receipt or the like is calculated based on the distance from the reference position to the print head, and the transfer distance of the print paper is controlled.

If the leading end of the printing paper is not at the reference position, the printing start position is shifted, resulting in a wide blank at the upper end of the receipt, or the printing of the first line is not separated from the printing paper and is not printed. For example, a printing error occurs due to a shift in the printing start position. Therefore, the leading end of the unused printing paper must be accurately stopped at the reference position.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a conventional printing paper transport mechanism. The printing paper is transported by a driving roller provided in a predetermined transport path. The driving roller is usually driven by a step motor in order to accurately convey the printing paper.

[0008]

However, there is a case where the power supply is shut off due to some abnormality during the operation, or an erroneous operation such as an accidental power-off is performed. In such a case, the printing paper is not operated. Because it has stopped halfway,
Adjustment of the position of the printing paper is required. In addition, if the operator performs an operation for equipment maintenance or the like while the power is turned off, the leading end position of the printing paper is shifted from a predetermined reference position when the power is turned on. In addition, the play of the transmission mechanism may cause a positional shift of the printing paper. That is, a plurality of gears or toothed belts are used to transmit the rotational motion from the motor to the drive roller. However, the leading edge of the printing paper may be displaced due to play of the meshing portion of the gears. In any case, the misalignment of the printing paper causes the above-described printing abnormality.

Further, when the power is cut off or the operation is stopped during printing due to an operation error or failure, printing may be performed again, or the immediately preceding printing may be stopped and completely different printing may be performed. . In this case, it is not desirable that the print immediately before the suspension is left on the printing paper, and some processing is required. However, if the receipt is simply cut, there is a possibility that a piece of printing paper having a length shorter than the interval between the transport rollers may be formed. Since such a short printing paper piece cannot be transported, it causes a paper jam. Therefore, careless cutting of the printing paper may not always be preferable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus or method for initially adjusting the displacement of the leading edge of a printing sheet when power is turned on or by using a predetermined adjustment signal. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing control method for performing initial adjustment by cutting a recording medium after conveying by a predetermined length when a printed portion is present at the time of initial adjustment. The purpose is to provide.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, a printing control method according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
(A) A recording medium detector provided between a predetermined reference position in a recording medium transport path and a recording medium discharge port based on a position adjustment signal instructing position adjustment of a recording medium held in the printing apparatus. (B) confirming the detection state, and (b) transporting the recording medium so that the leading end of the recording medium is aligned with the reference position by the first adjustment operation when the recording medium detector is in the non-detection state. c) transporting the recording medium so that the leading end of the recording medium is aligned with the reference position by a second adjustment operation different from the first adjustment operation when the recording medium detector is in the detection state. And

According to this aspect, it is possible to readjust the position of the recording medium to the reference position in accordance with the position adjustment signal and the detection state of the recording medium detector.

Further, in the printing control method according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first adjusting operation, the recording medium is moved in the direction (forward direction) of the recording medium detector until the recording medium detector detects the recording medium. And a reverse feed in which after the recording medium detector detects the recording medium, the recording medium is conveyed in the opposite direction (reverse direction) to the recording medium detector to stop the leading end of the recording medium at the reference position. The second adjusting operation includes a step of cutting the recording medium after transporting the recording medium in the forward direction by a predetermined distance, and a discharging step in which only the cut recording medium is transported in the forward direction and discharged from the recording medium discharge port. And a process.

According to this aspect, when the recording medium detector is in the non-detection state, the recording medium is once sent out to detect the leading edge of the sheet by detecting the leading edge of the sheet, and then reliably transported to the reference position. It is possible to do. Further, when the recording medium detector is in the detection state, the recording medium is conveyed forward by a predetermined amount and then cut, so that the leading end of the sheet is aligned with the reference position while preventing a short recording medium section from being created. It became possible. As means for stopping the recording medium at the reference position by reverse feeding,
Use various means such as a method of performing position control by providing another detector near the reference position, or a method of calculating the distance from the position stopped in the forward feed to the reference position and sending it backward by that distance Is possible.

[0015] In a printing control method according to a third aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is conveyed in a reverse direction by a predetermined distance corresponding to the length from the position detected by the recording medium detector to the reference position. The leading edge of the sheet is stopped at a reference position. According to this aspect, it is possible to accurately stop the recording medium at the reference position even with one detector.

In a printing control method according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the reverse feed step in the first adjusting operation is performed by recording a length corresponding to a distance slightly exceeding the distance from the recording medium detector to the reference position. The method includes a step of transporting the medium in the reverse direction and stopping, and a step of subsequently transporting the recording medium slightly in the forward direction and stopping the leading end of the recording medium at the reference position.

According to this aspect, it is possible to adjust the amount of play accompanying the switching of the transport direction and to accurately stop at the reference position.

In a printing control method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a recording medium is transported by a step motor, and the transport amount of the recording medium is controlled by the number of steps generated as the step motor rotates. It is characterized by the following.

A printing control method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the position adjustment signal is output each time the power to the printing apparatus is turned on.

According to this aspect, even if the power is cut off during operation due to an error or failure, the position of the leading end of the recording medium is automatically adjusted when the power is turned on, so that correct printing can be performed. It becomes possible.

A printing control method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a printing control method comprising: upon receiving a position adjustment signal, confirming whether or not the recording medium can be transported before the first adjustment operation; A step of stopping the first and second adjustment operations when the sheet cannot be transported.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a position adjustment signal for instructing position adjustment of a recording medium; A first recording medium detector provided between the first recording medium detector and the recording medium discharge port, and a second recording medium provided between the first recording medium detector and the recording medium discharge port and near the recording medium discharge port Confirming the detection state of each of the detectors, and (b) referencing the leading end of the recording medium held in the printing apparatus when both the first and second recording medium detectors are in the non-detection state. (C) performing a first adjustment operation by transporting the recording medium so as to match the position, and (c) a second operation different from the first adjustment operation when the first recording medium detector is in a detection state. Convey the recording medium so that the leading end of the recording medium is aligned with the reference position based on (D) when the first recording medium detector is in the non-detection state and the second recording medium detector is in the detection state, a third operation different from the first and second adjustment operations is performed. The method is characterized in that the method includes a step of transporting the recording medium so as to align the leading end of the recording medium with the reference position based on the adjustment operation and performing the adjustment.

[0023] In a printing control method according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the first adjusting operation is performed by the first recording medium detector until the first recording medium detector detects the recording medium. A forward feeding step of transporting in the direction (forward direction), and, after the first recording medium detector detects the recording medium, transporting the recording medium in a direction opposite to the first recording medium detector (reverse direction) and recording. A reverse feeding step of stopping the leading end of the medium at the reference position, wherein the second adjusting operation includes a cutting step of cutting the recording medium after transporting the recording medium by a predetermined distance in the forward direction, and a step of sequentially cutting only the cut recording medium. A first discharging step of transporting the recording medium in the direction and discharging the recording medium from the recording medium discharge port, wherein the third adjusting operation is such that the second recording medium detector detects the recording medium detected by the second recording medium detector. The second discharge, which is carried in the forward direction and discharged from the discharge port until the detection state is reached. Characterized in that it comprises a step, it and continue step of performing a first adjusting operation.

In a printing control method according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the reverse feed step of the first adjusting operation is performed by the recording medium having a length corresponding to a distance from the first recording medium detector to a reference position. Is transported in the reverse direction and stopped.

In the printing control method according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the reverse feed step of the first adjusting operation corresponds to a distance slightly exceeding a distance from the first recording medium detector to a reference position. The method includes a step of transporting the recording medium in the reverse direction by the length and stopping the recording medium, and a step of transporting the recording medium slightly in the forward direction and stopping the leading end of the recording medium at the reference position.

In a printing control method according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is transported by a step motor in each step, and the transport amount of the recording medium in each step is generated in accordance with the rotation of the step motor. It is characterized by being controlled by a number.

A printing control method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a position adjustment signal is output each time the power to the printing apparatus is turned on.

The print control method according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is further characterized in that the print control method for the recording medium further checks whether or not the recording medium can be transported when the position adjustment signal is received, If, the step of stopping the first, second, and third adjustment operations is provided.

The state in which the recording medium cannot be conveyed is caused by, for example, a state in which the recording medium is not present, a state in which the recording medium is not set in a state in which the recording medium can be conveyed (auto-load defect), and the like. In such a case, the initial adjustment operation cannot be performed because the recording medium cannot be conveyed, so that the initial operation is not performed.

A printing apparatus according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention comprises: (a) a recording medium conveying means for conveying a recording medium held in the printing apparatus in a predetermined conveying path;
(B) a sheet cutting unit provided near a predetermined reference position in the conveyance path and cutting the recording medium; and (c) between the reference position and the recording medium discharge port at the end of the conveyance path. (D) connected to the recording medium detector, the recording medium transporting means, and the recording medium cutting unit, and arranged to receive the position adjustment signal. In some cases, the apparatus further includes a position adjustment control unit that controls the recording medium transport unit and the sheet cutting unit in accordance with the detection state of the connected recording medium detector to control a position adjustment operation of the recording medium.

In the printing apparatus according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when the position adjustment control means detects the recording medium detector, (f) records the recording medium until the recording medium detector detects the recording medium. A position where the recording medium is conveyed in the direction of the medium detector (forward direction), and then the recording medium is conveyed in the reverse direction (reverse direction) to the direction opposite to the recording medium detector (reverse direction) to align the leading end of the recording medium with the reference position. A first adjusting operation for controlling the recording medium conveying means to stop the recording medium is performed. When the recording medium detector is in the non-detection state, (g) the recording medium is conveyed by a predetermined distance in the forward direction and then cut. A second adjustment operation for controlling the recording medium conveying means and the sheet cutting section so that only the cut recording medium is conveyed in the forward direction and discharged from the recording medium discharge port is performed. The position adjustment control means conveys the recording medium in the reverse direction by a length corresponding to a distance slightly exceeding the distance from the recording medium detector to the sub-position in the reverse feed conveyance of the first adjustment operation, and stops the recording medium. Thereafter, the recording medium conveying means is controlled so as to slightly convey the recording medium in the forward direction, align the recording medium with the reference position, and stop the leading end of the recording medium.

[0032] In a printing apparatus according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus comprises a first recording medium detector, and a recording medium disposed between the first recording medium detector and the recording medium discharge port. A second recording medium detector provided near the medium discharge port, and the position adjustment control means includes first and second recording medium detectors.
The first adjustment operation is performed when any of the recording medium detectors is in the non-detection state, and the second adjustment operation is performed when the first recording medium detector is in the detection state. When only the detector is in the detection state, the third adjustment operation is performed.

[0033] In the printing apparatus according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the third adjustment operation is performed such that only the recording medium being detected by the second recording medium detector is in a non-detection state by the second recording medium detector. The recording medium is conveyed in the forward direction until the recording medium is conveyed, and then the recording medium conveying means is controlled to execute the first adjustment operation.

A printing apparatus according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the recording medium transport means includes a transport roller and a step motor for driving the transport roller.

A printing apparatus according to a twentieth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the operation selecting means receives a position adjustment signal every time power is supplied to the printing apparatus.

A printing apparatus according to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention is arranged between a recording medium cutting section and a recording medium discharge port, and conveys the recording medium cut by the recording medium cutting section to the recording medium discharge port. It has a presenter unit, and the recording medium detector is arranged in the presenter. Therefore, according to this aspect, there is an effect that it is not necessary to newly provide a recording medium detector dedicated for initial adjustment.

[0037]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of the configuration of a printer (printing apparatus) to which the present invention is applied. Printing is performed from a printing paper storage unit storing a printing paper roll 34 as an example of a recording medium. The printing paper transport path 2 up to the paper outlet 28 is shown in a simplified manner.

In this embodiment, an example of a printing apparatus having the presenter 26 is shown. The presenter 26 is a mechanism for controlling conveyance of the printing paper 30 so that the printing paper 30 does not go out of the printing apparatus from the discharge port 28 during printing. As a result, the printing paper 30 is forcibly pulled out from the outside during printing, and the print head or the like may be damaged.
Prevents accurate printing from becoming impossible. Normally, the presenter 26 has a paper detector as one example of one or more recording medium detectors, and in this embodiment, the initial adjustment of the position of the printing paper 30 is performed by using the paper detector of the presenter 26. Is performed. In the present embodiment, the presenter 26 has two paper detectors 40 and 44, and has two pairs of the first transport roller 10 and the second transport roller 14.

In the drawing, reference numeral 34 denotes a printing paper roll, which is formed by winding a printing paper 30 continuous in a belt shape into a roll shape. The printing paper 30 is set in a state where it is pulled out of the printing paper roll 34 to a position where the printing paper leading end 32 passes under the printing head 20 in an initial setting state. The printing paper 30 is conveyed in the direction of the presenter 26 by the platen roller 8 below the printing head 20. In the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, the transport rollers are not provided up to the transport rollers 10 and 14 of the presenter 26,
If necessary, for example, for accurate conveyance of the printing paper 30, a conveyance roller can be provided between them.

The transport roller 1 provided on the presenter 26
0 and 14, a first driven roller 12 and a second driven roller 16 are provided at opposing positions, respectively.
The printing paper 30 is conveyed by rotating while holding the zero.

The plantain roller 8 and the transport roller 10,
Reference numeral 14 is rotated by a motor. It is preferable that a stepping motor (also referred to as a stepping motor) be used as the driving motor for accurate conveyance of the printing paper 30. In this embodiment, the platen roller 8 is driven by the drive first motor 4, and the transport rollers 10 and 14 are driven by the drive motor 6 for the presenter 26 (hereinafter referred to as the drive second motor 6). In this embodiment, since the presenter 26 is used, two drive motors 4 and 6 are used. However, all the platen rollers 8, the transport rollers 10, 14 and the like are driven by one drive motor. Alternatively, three or more motors may be used as necessary.

The motors 4 and 6 are rotatable in both forward and reverse directions. The platen roller 8 and the transport rollers 10 and 1 move the printing paper 30 in both the left and right directions in FIG.
4 can be driven to rotate. Drive motors 4, 6
The operation of is controlled by the transport control means 3.

On the left side of the conveying rollers 10 and 14 of the presenter 26, a paper detector 4 for detecting the presence of the printing paper 30 is provided.
0 and 44 are provided. The paper detectors 40 and 44 are
For example, optical sensors may be used, and light sources (e.g., emitting diodes) 42 and 46 are provided corresponding to each optical sensor. Printing paper 3
0 is the light sources 42 and 46 and their corresponding paper detectors 4
If it exists between 0 and 44, the light from the light source is blocked, so that the paper detectors 40 and 44 can detect the presence of the printing paper 30. The signals from the paper detectors 40 and 44 are sent to the transport control means 3 and, based on this, the printing paper 30
Is carried out.

Printing on the print paper 30 is performed by the print head 20 based on the print control unit 18. When the predetermined printing is completed, the printing paper 30 is cut by the cutter 24, and the cut printed recording paper is transported toward the discharge port 28 by the transport rollers 10, 14, and the like.

With reference to FIG. 2, how the printing paper 30 is usually transferred during printing and after printing is described.

Before printing, the printing paper 3 is placed at the position shown in FIG.
The zero point 32 is stopped. In this embodiment, the position where the printing paper 30 is cut will be described as a reference position.
A position shifted by a predetermined amount from the position where the printing paper 30 is cut in preparation for the next printing start operation can be set as the reference position.

When the printing apparatus receives data accompanying a printing operation such as a printing command and starts execution, first, the transport control unit transports the printing paper 30 to the printing start position, and prints under the control of the printing control unit 18. Printing is started by the head 20. As shown in FIG. 2A, each time printing of each line is completed, the transport control means 3 drives the drive motors 4 and 6 to move the printing paper 30 to the left.

The leading end 32 of the printing paper 30 is
When 0 is detected, the second motor 6 stops and the transport roller 1
The transfer of the printing paper 30 by 0 is stopped. On the other hand, the printing is continued until the predetermined printing is completed, and the printing paper 30 is transported to the left by the platen roller 8.
As shown in (b), the print paper 30 is pushed out between the print head assembly 48 and the presenter 26 and protrudes upward due to the rigidity of the print paper 30. Hereinafter, this state is referred to as a stock state.

When the printing is completed, the driving motor 4 is stopped and the printing paper 30 is cut by the cutter 24, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2D, only the second motor 6 is driven to transfer the cut print sheet 3031 with print to the sheet discharge port 28. When the paper detector 40 is in the non-detection state, the second motor 6 stops. In this state, as shown in FIG. 2 (e), the printed printing paper 31 (such as a receipt) is
And the second driven roller 16 is held in a state where it is held waiting to be taken out from the outside.

As can be understood from the above description, it is very important that the leading edge 32 of the printing paper is stopped at a predetermined reference position before printing starts, in order to perform accurate printing. The transport control means 3 controls the transport of the printing paper 30 so that the printing start position is positioned immediately below the printing head 20 on the premise that the leading end 32 of the printing paper 30 is stopped at the reference position. Therefore, when the leading end 32 of the printing paper 30 is not at the predetermined reference position 33, the printing start position is shifted, and the first printing line is not correctly printed at the predetermined position. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the printing position is shifted and printing is performed because the printing paper leading end 32 has not stopped at the reference position. If the position of the printing paper is shifted, printing is performed above or below the original printing start position 36 of the receipt 31 as indicated by reference numeral 37 or 38.

The cause of the deviation of the leading end 32 of the printing paper 30 from the predetermined reference position as described above is that if the power is cut off during the operation due to some cause (such as a failure or an operation error), the operation is interrupted due to the occurrence of an error. It may be considered that the operation stops due to the operation. According to the present invention, in order to correct such a shift of the printing paper leading end portion 32, the printing paper position is initialized such that the leading end portion 32 of the printing paper 30 stops at a predetermined reference position at power-on or by a reset signal. It is to adjust.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a description will be given of a basic operation of the present invention for performing initial adjustment of the position of the printing paper 30 when the power is turned on. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the initial adjustment according to one embodiment of the present invention.
(A)-(e) is a figure for demonstrating the specific movement. Now, it is assumed that the power is turned off in a state where the leading end portion 32 of the printing paper 30 is displaced from the reference position 33 as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the initial adjustment of the printing paper position is always performed when the power is turned on regardless of whether the position of the printing paper 30 is shifted or not.

When the power is turned on in this state (step 50 in FIG. 4), it is first confirmed whether or not the paper detector 40 has detected the printing paper 30 (step 51). Printing paper 30
Is detected, the flow branches to and the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed.

In the state shown in FIG. 5A, since the paper detector 40 has not detected the print paper 30, the next processing step 52
Then, it is confirmed whether or not the paper detector 44 detects the printing paper 30. If the printing paper 30 is detected, the process of FIG. 7 is performed from the branch. Now, paper detector 4
4 also did not detect the printing paper 30, so in the next step,
The transport control means 3 drives the motors 4 and 6 to rotate counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 5B, and transports the printing paper 30 in the forward feed direction (the direction of the paper discharge port 28) (step 5).
3).

When the printing paper 30 is transported in the forward direction (left direction in FIG. 5), the paper detector 40
It is checked whether or not the leading end 32 has been detected (step 54), and the forward feeding is continued until the paper detector 40 detects the printing paper 30 (steps 53 and 54). When the paper detector 40 detects the printing paper 30, the motors 4 and 6 are stopped as shown in FIG. Next, the motors 4 and 6
Is rotated in the opposite direction (clockwise rotation) and the printing paper 30 is rotated.
Is moved in the reverse feed direction (the direction of the print head) (step 55). The transfer state is shown in FIG.

The motors 4 and 6 are driven to rotate clockwise until the printing paper 30 moves a predetermined distance from the paper detector 40 (steps 55 and 56). The operation is stopped (steps 56 and 57). The moving distance of the printing paper 30 at this time can be calculated based on the rotation amount of the first motor 4 (the number of steps of the first motor 4 and the like) after the paper detector 40 detects the printing paper 30. Thereafter, the first motor 4 is slightly rotated in the forward direction (counterclockwise) to stop at the predetermined reference position (steps 58 and 59).

Finally, the first motor 4 is driven in the forward direction because the first motor 4 is slightly driven in the forward direction so that the first motor 4 generated when the rotation direction is switched to the forward direction is changed. This is to eliminate play of the transmission gear between the transmission gear and the platen roller 8. Thereby, when the motor is rotated to convey the printing paper 30 in the forward direction at the time of printing, a slight shift of the transfer caused by the play of the transmission gear can be eliminated. If the transfer of the printing paper 30 is shifted due to slight play of the transmission gear, the first print dot line and the second dot line may be partially overlapped and printed, which may result in unclear printing. Is prevented.

As described above, the operation performed when only the paper detector 40 is detecting the printing paper 30, that is, “the printing paper 30 is sequentially fed until the paper detector 40 detects the printing paper 30, In the present invention, the "initial adjustment operation for reversely feeding the printing paper 30 and stopping the printing paper leading end 31 at the reference position" is referred to as "paper leading end detecting operation".

Next, a case where the paper detector 40 detects the printing paper 30 when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9. FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the initial adjustment operation process when the paper detector 40 detects the printing paper 30 when the power is turned on. FIG. 7 shows that both the paper detectors 40 and 44 detect the printing paper 30. FIG. 5 shows the process of branching from step 52 in FIG. FIG. 8 shows various positions of the printing paper 30 when the paper detector 40 is detecting the printing paper 30. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the printing paper 30 when performing the processing based on the flowchart of FIG.

If the paper detector 40 detects the printing paper 30 in the step 51 of FIG. 4, the processing of FIG. 6 is performed from the branch. A typical example in which the printing paper 30 is detected by the paper detector 40 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
(A) to (d) show a state in which the printing paper 30 is detected by the paper detector 40 when the power is cut off for some reason during the operation of the printer or because the operation is stopped due to an abnormal state. Various cases are shown.

FIG. 8A shows a state in which printing paper 30
2 shows a state immediately after the leading end 32 of the sheet is detected by the sheet detector 40. FIG. 8B shows a stock state of the printing paper 30 in which printing is continued after the leading end 32 of the printing paper 30 is detected by the paper detector 40.

FIGS. 8C and 8D show that the printed receipt 30 is cut after the printing is completed and the printed receipt 31 is cut.
, The receipt 31 having been printed is stopped in the direction of the discharge port 28 during transfer.

In FIGS. 8A to 8D, since the paper detector 40 detects the print paper 30 in all cases, the conveyance control means 3 branches to step 52 in FIG. Is performed. In FIG. 6, first, the motors 4 and 6 are driven to rotate in the forward direction (step 61).

The transport control means 3 cannot determine whether the printing paper 30 has already been cut or has not yet been cut, based only on the detection information of the paper detector 40. Therefore, in any case shown in FIG. 8, the printing paper 30 is first conveyed by a predetermined amount in the forward feed direction. As a result, if the printing paper 30 being detected by the paper detector 40 has already been cut, the printing paper 30 will be discharged, but if it has not been cut yet, it will be printed in a continuous state. The paper is sent out from the paper discharge port 28 to the outside of the apparatus.

This operation is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.
FIG. 9A shows a case where the printing paper 30 has not been cut yet, that is, a case where the printing paper 30 is in the state of FIGS. 8A and 8B. Therefore, the printing paper 30 transported in the forward direction
Is not cut, and the discharge port 28 remains continuous.
Has been transported in the direction of When the printing paper 30 is in a stock state as shown in FIG. 8B, the platen roller 8 and the transport rollers 10, 14 rotate in the forward direction in synchronization with each other. So, presenter 26
The printing paper 30 is transported in a forward direction in a warped state (stock state) between the print head assembly 48 and the print head assembly 48.

When the printing paper 30 is cut as shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, the printed receipt section 31 is discharged as shown in FIG. The paper 30 is transported in the forward direction. The motors 4 and 6 are driven in the forward direction until the printing paper 30 is transported by a predetermined amount (distance), and is stopped after being transported by the predetermined amount (step 63).
Whether the sheet has been conveyed by a predetermined amount can be determined by counting the number of steps of the motor 4 or 6, but the amount of conveyance may be determined based on the rotation time of the motor. In this case, it is desirable that the predetermined transport amount to be transported in the forward direction is set to an amount equal to or larger than the maximum length of a normally issued receipt.

After the predetermined amount of forward conveyance is completed and the motors 4 and 6 are stopped (step 63), the cutter 24 is driven to cut the printing paper 30 (step 64). This state is shown in FIG.

After cutting the printing paper 30, only the second motor 6 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, and the printing paper 3035 cut by the transport rollers 10 and 14 is sequentially rotated as shown in FIG. (Step 65). The cut printing paper 3035 is transported in the forward direction and its end 3
When the sheet detector 9 is disengaged from the sheet detector 44 and becomes the state shown in FIG. 9E, and the sheet detector 44 changes from the detection state to the non-detection state (step 66), the initial adjustment processing ends. That is, in this state, the printing paper leading end 31 is stopped at the cut position (reference position), and the rotation direction immediately before the stop of the first motor 4 is the forward feed direction. Therefore, there is no need to switch the rotation direction of the motor 4, and thus it is not necessary to adjust the play of the transmission gear.

Only such paper detection 40 is used for printing paper 3
0 is detected, that is, "the printing paper 30 is sequentially fed by a predetermined length, and then the printing paper 30
In the present invention, the "initial adjustment operation for cutting the print paper 30 to be cut and further discharging the print paper 30 to be cut" is referred to as "forward feeding + cut + discharge operation".

Next, when branching to step 52 in FIG. 4, that is, the paper detector 40 is turned off (paper is not detected).
The case where the paper detector 44 is ON (paper detection state) will be described with reference to FIG. This state is shown in FIG.
As shown in (e), the issued receipt 31 has not yet been taken out, or the end of the receipt 31 has stopped at a position between the paper detectors 40 and 41. In this case, the motors 4 and 6 are sequentially driven until the paper detector 44 no longer detects the print paper 30, and the receipt 31 is discharged (steps 67 and 68). The processing operation when only the paper detector 44 detects the printing paper 30 in this manner is referred to as “ejection operation” in the present invention.

When the “discharge operation” is completed, the process branches from FIG.
Returning to step 53, the same "sheet leading edge detection operation" processing as described above is performed, and the initial adjustment operation ends (steps 53 to 59 in FIG. 4). The reason why the "paper leading edge detection operation" is performed after the paper is ejected is that even if the leading edge portion 31 of the printing paper 30 is stopped at the reference position when the power is turned off, it moves from the reference position when the power is turned off. Or the first at power-on
This is because the motor 4 may rotate to a position where the phase is stabilized.

As apparent from the above description, according to the first embodiment, the printing apparatus performs the initial adjustment of the printing paper position each time the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, the leading end 32 of the printing paper 30
Is adjusted to stop exactly at the reference position. Therefore, accurate printing can be performed immediately after the power is turned on. Also,
If the power is turned off during printing, the print paper 30 is cut after feeding the paper for a predetermined length, and the printed portion is discharged. Therefore, the next print is performed over the printed portion. I will not be told.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the "sheet leading edge detection operation" of FIG.
The processing steps 55 to 59 (dotted frame portion 60), which are a part of the above, are modified. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which the process of the portion 60 surrounded by a dotted frame in FIG. 4 is changed. The second embodiment is a partial modification of the first embodiment, and performs the same processing as the first embodiment except for the changed part.

The "sheet leading edge detecting operation" of the second embodiment will be described. When the power is turned on, the leading end 32 of the printing paper is detected by the paper detector 4 in accordance with the processing procedures of processing steps 50 to 54 in FIG.
0 is detected. When the leading edge 32 of the printing paper is detected, the motors 4 and 6 are reversely rotated in step 70 of FIG. Thereby, the printing paper 30 is transported in the direction of the reference position. Next, it is checked whether the motors 4 and 6 have rotated by a first predetermined number of steps (step 71),
When the motor rotates a predetermined number of steps (first number of steps), the motors 4 and 6 are stopped (step 72).

Here, the first number of steps in the step 71 is to move the leading end 32 of the printing paper 30 to a position where the leading end 32 of the printing paper 30 is separated from the first transport roller 10. It is set in advance based on 10 distances. Therefore, at this stage, the printing paper 30 is not on the transport rollers 10 and 14 and can be transported only by the platen roller 8.

In this embodiment, a stepping motor is used for the motors 4 and 6, and the number of steps to be generated for controlling the rotation of the motor is counted so that the printing paper 30 can be printed.
Has been determined, but as is apparent to those skilled in the art,
It is possible to adopt either control based on the driving time of the motors 4 and 6 or control using a sensor by providing a sensor at a predetermined position (this point will be described in the description of the present specification. The same applies to any of the processing steps for determining.)

Next, the transport control means 3 determines that the reference position to which the leading end 31 of the printing paper 30 is to be transported is
It is checked whether the position is the same as the cut position or the position moved by a predetermined distance from the cut position (step 73).

Whether or not to provide such a confirmation step in the second embodiment is optional, but this step is provided for the following reason. The position of the print head 20 and the position of the cutter 24 differ depending on the type of printing device. Depending on the printing device, the printing paper 30 when the printing paper 30 is cut
May not match the position of the print head. In such a printing apparatus, a position where the printing paper 30 is moved by a predetermined amount from the cutting position to the printing start position may be set as a reference position. In this case, since the cut position is different from the reference position, it is necessary to correct the difference between the cut position and the reference position. For this purpose, the type of the printing apparatus is confirmed in this step, and the printing paper 30 is transported to a correct reference position corresponding to the type of the printing apparatus.

If the reference position is the same as the cut position, the first motor 4 is driven to rotate by the second number of steps to convey the print paper leading end 32 to the reference position (step 7).
3, 74, 75). Then, after the first motor 4 is stopped, the first motor 4 is slightly rotated in the forward feed direction so as to eliminate the play of the gear accompanying the switching of the rotation direction.

The second number of steps in the step 75 is such that the printing paper 30 stops at the processing step 72 and the second stop number in the processing step 76 so that the printing paper leading end 32 accurately stops at the cut position (reference position). One motor 4 is determined in consideration of the forward drive amount and the like.

When the reference position is different from the cut position,
The processing proceeds from the processing step 73 to the processing step 77, and the type of setting of the reference position is confirmed. In this embodiment, there are two types of settings.
In the case of the setting A, the first motor 4 is driven by the third number of steps to convey the printing paper 30 in the reference position direction (steps 77, 78, 79). If the setting is not A, the first motor 4 is driven by the fourth number of steps to convey the printing paper 30 in the reference position direction (steps 77, 80, 81).

When the transport of the printing paper 30 corresponding to the predetermined number of steps has been completed, the first adjusting motor 4 is driven to rotate slightly in the forward direction after the first motor 4 is stopped, and the initial adjustment processing is completed, as described above. Steps 76 and 82).

In the second embodiment, if it is determined whether or not the reference position is set at a place other than the cut position, after the "forward feed + cut + discharge operation" shown in FIG. It is necessary to perform a “paper leading edge detection operation” corresponding to the position. Therefore, after the processing of step 66 in FIG. 6 is completed, the processing after step 73 in FIG. 10 is further performed from the branch, and the initial adjustment ends.

Although the second embodiment shows a case where there are three types of reference positions, more types can be selected according to the types of reference positions.

As is apparent from the above description, in the second embodiment, the motors 4 and 6 are rotated by the first number of steps and stopped, and thereafter the printing paper 30 is rotated only by the first motor 4. By transporting, not only the driving power of the motor can be suppressed, but also the motor driving noise can be suppressed, and the unnecessary operation can be suppressed, whereby the consumption of related parts can be suppressed. Also, according to the type of the printing device, the printing paper 3 can be accurately positioned at a predetermined reference position.
0 can be stopped.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the control means of the first and second embodiments using a central control unit (CPU) 85 and a RAM.
FIG. 88 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration in the case of being realized by a ROM 87;

The print head 20, the motors 4, 6 and the plungers 91, and the printing mechanism driving circuit 89 for driving them include a printing mechanism 90 which involves physical operations such as conveyance, printing, and cutting of the printing paper 30. Make up. The print mechanism 90 includes various detectors such as a carriage detector 92, a home position detector 93, an automatic cutter detector 94, paper detectors 40 and 44, and a cover detector 95. (CPU) 85. These detectors detect an error state such as the position of the printing paper 30, a cutter error, and a cover open.

The ROM 87 stores program codes and data for implementing the above-described functions.
The above-described various functions are realized by the PU 85 reading this.

In the above description, in both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, an example is shown in which the paper detector of the presenter is used as the paper detector as the paper detector, but the present invention is not provided. It may be a printing device. In that case, another paper detection is required instead of the paper detector of the presenter. Alternatively, two types of initial adjustment operations may be performed according to the detection state with one sheet detection. For example, when the paper detector is in the detection state, it is pulled back to the reference position after the leading edge detection operation, and in the non-detection state, the paper is cut and only the two types of processing of discharging the cut paper are performed. It is also possible.

Further, only one type of initial adjustment operation may be performed at power-on and at reset. For example, when the power is turned on, only the leading edge detection operation and the pull-back operation may be performed, or when the power is turned on, it may be conveyed by a predetermined length in the forward direction and cut.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention, the position of the printing paper can be initially adjusted by a predetermined initial adjustment signal, so that the initial adjustment can be always performed, for example, when the power is turned on. This makes it possible to print at the correct position even if the power is turned on again during the printing operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a configuration of a printer (printing device) to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating how the printing paper 30 is normally transferred during printing and after printing is completed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a printing position is shifted and printing is performed because the leading edge of the printing paper has not stopped at a reference position.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of an initial adjustment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a specific operation of the flowchart of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an initial adjustment operation process when the paper detector 40 detects the print paper 30;

FIG. 7 shows a state in which both the paper detectors 40 and 44 are the printing paper 30.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of branching from step 52 in FIG. 4 when detecting is performed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing various positions of the printing paper 30 when the paper detector 40 is detecting the printing paper 30;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the printing paper 30 when performing processing based on the flowchart of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process according to another embodiment corresponding to steps 55 to 59 (dotted line section 60) in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control unit according to the first and second embodiments.
It is a functional block diagram which shows the schematic structure at the time of implement | achieving by M87.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Print paper transport path 3 Transport control means 4 First motor 5 Print paper position adjusting means 6 Second motor 8 Platen roller 10 First transport roller 12 First driven roller 14, Second transport roller 16 Second Driven roller 18 print control unit 20 print head 24 cutter 26 presenter 28 discharge port 30 print paper 31 printed print paper (receipt) 32 print paper leading end 34 print paper roll 35 cut print paper 40 first paper detector 42, 46 light source 48 print head assembly

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C058 AB06 AC06 AE04 AE10 AF06 AF51 LA03 LA23 LB06 LB17 LB35 LC11 2C061 AQ04 AQ05 AS06 HJ02 HK06 3F105 AA02 AB04 BA16 CA11 CB04 DA02 DB11 DC12

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A printing control method comprising the following steps. (A) When a position adjustment signal for starting the position adjustment operation is received, a detection state of a recording medium detector provided between a predetermined reference position in the recording medium transport path and the recording medium discharge port is confirmed. (B) moving the recording medium by a first position adjustment operation to align the leading end thereof with a reference position when the recording medium detector is in a non-detection state; and (c).
A step of moving the recording medium by a second adjusting operation to align the leading end thereof with the reference position when the recording medium detector is in a detection state. 2. A first adjusting operation includes: a forward feeding step of transporting the recording medium in a direction (forward direction) of the recording medium detector until the recording medium detector detects the recording medium;
After the recording medium detector detects the recording medium, the recording medium is moved in the opposite direction (reverse direction) to the recording medium detector.
A reverse feed step of transporting the recording medium to the leading end of the recording medium at the reference position, and the second adjustment operation includes:
A step of cutting the recording medium after transporting the recording medium in the forward direction by a predetermined distance, and a discharging step of transporting only the cut recording medium in the forward direction and discharging the recording medium from the recording medium discharge port. And a print control method. 3. The reverse feeding step of the first adjusting operation includes moving the recording medium in the reverse direction by a predetermined distance corresponding to a length from a position detected by the recording medium detector to the reference position. 3. The printing control method according to claim 2, wherein the recording medium is stopped at the reference position by conveying the recording medium. 4. The reverse feeding step in the first adjustment operation includes transporting the recording medium in a reverse direction by a length corresponding to a distance slightly exceeding a distance from the recording medium detector to the reference position. 3. The print control method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of: stopping the recording medium at the reference position by slightly transporting the recording medium in the forward direction; and stopping the leading end of the recording medium at the reference position. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in each of the steps, the recording medium is conveyed by a step motor, and the amount of conveyance of the recording medium in each step is controlled by the number of steps generated as the step motor rotates. Claim 1
5. The printing control method according to any one of items 1 to 4. 6. The print control method according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment signal is output each time the power to the printing apparatus is turned on. 7. The printing control method further comprises: upon receiving the position adjustment signal, confirming whether or not the recording medium can be transported before the first adjustment operation. 7. The print control method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of stopping the first and second adjustment operations. 8. A printing control method for a printing apparatus, comprising the following steps. (A) a first recording medium detector provided between a predetermined reference position in a recording medium transport path and a recording medium discharge port when a position adjustment signal instructing the position adjustment of the recording medium is received; Confirming a detection state of each of the second recording medium detectors provided between the first recording medium detector and the recording medium outlet and near the recording medium outlet, (B) when both the first and second recording medium detectors are in the non-detection state, the recording medium is adjusted so that the leading end of the recording medium held in the printing apparatus is aligned with the reference position. Carrying out the first adjustment operation by transporting
(D) when the first recording medium detector is in the detection state,
Transporting the recording medium to adjust the leading end of the recording medium to the reference position based on a second operation different from the first adjustment operation; and (e) adjusting the first recording medium When the detector is in the non-detection state and the second recording medium detector is in the detection state, the leading end of the recording medium is set to the reference based on a third adjustment operation different from the first and second adjustment operations. Transporting and adjusting the recording medium so as to be aligned with the position. 9. The first adjusting operation includes transporting the recording medium in the direction (forward direction) of the first recording medium detector until the first recording medium detector detects the recording medium. A forward feeding step, and after the first recording medium detector detects the recording medium, the recording medium is conveyed in a direction opposite to the first recording medium detector (reverse direction), and the leading end of the recording medium is A reverse feeding step of stopping the unit at the reference position, wherein the second adjusting operation is a cutting step of cutting the recording medium after transporting the recording medium by a predetermined distance in the forward direction, and only the cut recording medium. A first discharging step of transporting the recording medium in the forward direction and discharging the recording medium from the recording medium discharge port, wherein the third adjusting operation includes the second recording medium detector detecting the recording medium detected by the second recording medium detector. Forward until the recording medium detector of Second discharge step and, it continues the first comprising first and performing an adjustment operation, the printing control method according to claim 8, wherein the discharging conveyance to from the discharge port. 10. The reverse feeding step of the first adjusting operation includes stopping the recording medium by transporting the recording medium in a reverse direction by a length corresponding to a distance from the first recording medium detector to the reference position. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of performing printing. 11. The reverse feeding step of the first adjusting operation includes: moving the recording medium in a reverse direction by a length corresponding to a distance slightly exceeding a distance from the first recording medium detector to the reference position. 10. The print control according to claim 9, further comprising: a step of transporting the recording medium to a stop position; and a step of slightly transporting the recording medium in the forward direction to stop the leading end of the recording medium at the reference position. Method. 12. The recording medium is conveyed by a step motor in each of the steps, and the amount of conveyance of the recording medium in each step is controlled by the number of steps generated as the step motor rotates. The printing control method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein 13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the position adjustment signal is output each time the power to the printing apparatus is turned on.
13. The printing control method according to claim 12. 14. The printing control method further comprising: determining whether the recording medium is conveyable when receiving the position adjustment signal, and determining whether the first, second, and third recording media are conveyable when the recording medium is not conveyable. 14. The print control method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of stopping the adjusting operation. 15. A computer-readable program recording medium on which a program having the steps of the print control method according to claim 1 is recorded. 16. A printing device comprising the following elements. (A) recording medium transport means for transporting a recording medium held in a printing apparatus in a predetermined transport path; and (b) provided near a predetermined reference position in the transport path, A recording medium cutting section for cutting the recording medium; (c)
At least one recording medium detector disposed between the reference position and the recording medium discharge port at the end of the transport path to detect the presence of the recording medium; and (d) the recording medium detector. It is connected to the recording medium transporting means, and the recording medium cutting unit, and receives a position adjustment signal,
Position adjustment control means for controlling the position adjustment operation of the recording medium by controlling the recording medium transport means and the recording medium cutting section in accordance with the detection state of the connected recording medium detector. 17. The position adjustment control means, when the recording medium detector is in a detection state, (f) moving the recording medium toward the recording medium detector until the recording medium detector detects the recording medium. (Forward direction), and then transports the recording medium in a direction opposite to the recording medium detector (reverse direction).
A first adjustment operation is performed to control the recording medium conveying means so as to stop the leading end of the recording medium at a position matching the reference position by performing reverse conveyance to convey the recording medium. In the detection state, (g) the recording medium is conveyed in the forward direction by a predetermined distance and then cut, and only the cut recording medium is conveyed in the forward direction and discharged from the recording medium discharge port. 17. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a second adjustment operation for controlling the recording medium transport unit and the recording medium cutting unit is performed. 18. The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the position adjustment control unit is configured to control the recording medium by a length corresponding to a distance slightly exceeding a distance from the recording medium detector to the reference position in the reverse feeding of the first adjusting operation. Transport in the opposite direction and stop,
2. The recording medium conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is conveyed slightly in the forward direction, adjusted to the reference position, and the leading end of the recording medium is stopped.
7. The printing device according to 7. 19. The printing apparatus, comprising: a first recording medium detector; and a first recording medium detector provided between the first recording medium detector and the recording medium outlet and near the recording medium outlet. Wherein the position adjustment control means performs the first adjustment operation when none of the first and second recording medium detectors is in the non-detection state. The second adjustment operation is performed when the first recording medium detector is in the detection state, and the third adjustment operation is performed when only the second recording medium detector is in the detection state. The printing device according to any one of claims 16 to 18. 20. The third adjusting operation, wherein only the recording medium being detected by the second recording medium detector is transported in a forward direction until the second recording medium detector is in a non-detection state, 20. The printing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said printing medium transport means is controlled to execute said first adjusting operation thereafter. 21. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording medium conveying means includes a conveying roller and a step motor for driving said conveying roller. 22. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said operation selecting means receives said position adjustment signal each time power is supplied to said printing apparatus. 23. A recording apparatus, comprising: a presenter section disposed between the recording medium cutting section and the recording medium discharge port, for conveying the recording medium cut by the recording medium cutting section to the recording medium discharge port, The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the recording medium detector is arranged on the presenter.