JP2001293918A - Printer and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a printer for printing on a continuous form in which a sheet can be taken out from a feed roller by turning the feed roller reversely at the time of replacing the sheet before the end of sheet. SOLUTION: The controlling method for a printer printing on a continuous form r comprises a step for waiting a sheet replacement command from a host computer, and a step for turning a feed roller 14 reversely by a number of rotational steps corresponding at least to the distance L from the feed roller 14 to the end of sheet upon receiving a sheet replacement command.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for performing printing on continuous paper and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a printer characterized by control of paper exchange of continuous paper and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a printer built in an ATM device or the like for outputting a receipt or the like, a printer in which roll paper or other continuous paper is mounted and which is appropriately cut and separated by an automatic cutter mechanism is widely known. . Since this type of printer is often installed in a place where its manager or technician is not resident, it is an important issue to minimize the obstacles associated with its use.

In this type of printer, it is necessary to avoid running out of paper when the user is using the apparatus, and therefore it is necessary to replace the paper as soon as possible before the paper is completely exhausted. . However, at this time, the paper was sandwiched between the feed rollers, and the administrator had to release the paper from being nipped by the feed rollers and take out the paper.

[0004]

However, the operation of opening the feed roller is troublesome, and depending on the administrator, it may be possible to forcibly pull out the paper. In such a case,
If the paper tears and remains in the paper transport path, there is a problem that causes a paper jam or the like during subsequent printing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer control method which solves the above-mentioned conventional problem by rotating a feed roller in a reverse direction prior to paper exchange.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a printer which conveys continuous paper by a feed roller and prints on the continuous paper, and waits for a paper exchange command from a host computer. And a step of, when receiving the paper exchange command, reversely rotating the feed roller by at least the number of rotation steps corresponding to the distance from the feed roller to the paper end.

The printer further comprises a cutter for cutting continuous paper downstream of the feed roller, and a distance from the feed roller to a paper edge is determined based on a distance from the feed roller to the cutter. It can be.

Further, the distance from the feed roller to the paper edge may be determined based on the number of rotation steps of the roller after cutting the continuous paper by the cutter.

In addition, prior to the step of reversely rotating the feed roller, the method may further include a step of operating the cutter.

Further, prior to the step of operating the cutter, the method further comprises the step of judging whether or not the feed roller continuously feeds the end of the continuous paper by the feed roller after the immediately preceding operation of the cutter. Only, the step of operating the cutter can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the printer further includes a sensor for detecting a paper edge downstream of the feed roller, and a distance from the feed roller to the paper edge is determined based on a distance from the feed roller to the sensor. May be determined.

Further, the method may further include a step of notifying the host computer of a paper edge when the sensor does not detect a paper edge after the execution of the step of reversely rotating the feed roller is started.

Further, the present invention may further comprise, after the step of rotating the feed roller in the reverse direction, a step of notifying the host computer that the paper is ready to be replaced.

Further, a second sensor for detecting a paper edge is provided upstream of the feed roller, and after the step of notifying the host computer that the paper exchange is ready, the paper edge of a new continuous paper is detected. When it is detected, the method may further include a step of sequentially rotating the feed roller to draw a paper end between the feed rollers.

The present invention also relates to a printer for performing printing on continuous paper. A printer according to the present invention includes a feed roller that feeds continuous paper, a print head that prints on continuous paper that is fed by the feed roller, and control means that controls the drive of the feed roller. When receiving a paper exchange command, the paper feed roller is rotated in reverse by at least the number of rotation steps corresponding to the distance from the paper feed roller to the paper edge.

Further, the printer according to the present invention further comprises a cutter for cutting the continuous paper downstream of the feed roller, wherein the control means adjusts a distance from the feed roller to a paper end from the feed roller to the cutter. Is preferably determined on the basis of the distance.

Further, the control means may be configured to determine a distance from the feed roller to a paper edge based on the number of rotation steps of the roller after the continuous paper is cut by the cutter.

Further, the control means may be configured to have a function of operating the cutter prior to the control of reversely rotating the feed roller.

Further, prior to the control for operating the cutter, the control means determines whether or not the feed roller continuously feeds the end of the continuous paper by the feed roller after the immediately preceding operation of the cutter, and the forward feed is performed. It can be configured to have a function of operating the cutter only in such a case.

The printer according to the present invention further includes a sensor for detecting a paper edge downstream of the feed roller, and the control means determines a distance between the feed roller and the paper edge from the feed roller to the sensor. It can be configured to be determined based on the distance.

Further, the control means may have a function of notifying the host computer when a paper edge is not detected by the sensor after the execution of the control for reversely rotating the feed roller is started. it can.

Further, the control means may have a function of notifying the host computer that the preparation for paper exchange is ready after the control of reversely rotating the feed roller.

Further, the printer according to the present invention includes a second sensor for detecting a paper end on the upstream side of the feed roller, and the control unit notifies the host computer that the preparation for the paper exchange is completed. When the end of a new continuous sheet is detected after the control, the feed roller may be rotated in the forward direction to draw the end of the sheet between the feed rollers.

A printer according to the present invention includes a thermal head, a platen disposed opposite to the thermal head, and a roll paper which is held and printed by the thermal head and the platen. In, receiving means for receiving a reverse discharge command from a host computer, when the receiving means receives the reverse discharge command, rotating the platen in a direction opposite to the printing direction, the thermal head and the thermal head Control means for controlling the roll paper held by the platen to move upstream until the holding is released.

According to this configuration, the roll paper held between the thermal head and the platen is moved in the opposite direction to release the roll paper, so that the roll paper can be easily replaced. it can.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the internal structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 10 is a printer for printing a receipt mounted on an ATM or the like, and stores the roll paper R therein. A print head 12, a paper cutting mechanism 13, a feed-side transport roller (hereinafter, referred to as a “feed roller”) 14, and a discharge-side transport roller (hereinafter, referred to as a “feed roller”) are provided on a paper path that communicates the roll paper discharge port 11 from the roll paper R storage section. , Discharge rollers) 15 and 16 are provided. According to a print command from a host (not shown),
These transport rollers are appropriately driven, and the roll paper R is sequentially pulled out from the roll portion. With the feed of the roll paper R by the feed roller 14, the print head 12 is operated to print desired characters and symbols on the roll paper R. The printed area of the roll paper R is further conveyed toward the discharge port 11, and when the rear end reaches the position of the paper cutting mechanism 13, the printed area is cut and separated by this.
Is supplied to the user as a single receipt.

The discharge rollers 15 and 16 receive the leading end of the roll paper R fed by the feed roller 14, and
Guide to outlet 11. The leading end portion (hereinafter referred to as a sheet r) of the sheet separated from the upstream side of the roll sheet R by the sheet cutting mechanism 13 is connected to the discharge rollers 15 and 1.
6, and the whole area is almost completely discharged 1
It is sent out from 1. The discharge roller 16 on the downstream side in the transport direction holds the sheet r with a weaker pressing force than the discharge roller 15 on the upstream side. The trailing end of the cut sheet r is finally held by the downstream discharge roller 16 so that the user can pull it out.

The printer 10 further includes paper sensors 17 and 18 between the two pairs of discharge rollers 15 and 16 and downstream of the discharge rollers 16. The paper sensor 17 detects when the roll paper R has been inserted by the administrator and the leading end of the paper has passed the discharge roller 15 on the upstream side. The paper sensor 17 also detects when the trailing end of the cut paper r exceeds this. On the other hand, the paper sensor 18 detects when the paper r is completely discharged from the discharge port 11. Various controls are executed based on detection signals from the paper sensors 17 and 18.

The printer 10 further includes a paper sensor 19 on the upstream side of the feed roller 14. The paper sensor 19 is
When the roll paper R is conveyed from the upstream and the leading end of the roll paper R exceeds this position, this is detected. In connection with the present invention, the detection of the paper edge by the paper sensor 19 is used for controlling the rotation of the feed roller 14 for transporting the replaced new paper to a printable state at the time of paper replacement.

The printer 10 includes a receipt collecting device 20 for cut and separated receipts. When the receipt is left in the discharge port 11 for a predetermined time, the discharge rollers 15 and 16 reversely feed the receipt based on a command from the host and draw the receipt into the printer 10. The pulled-in receipt is carried into the collection path 21 and is sequentially collected in the collection tray 22.

The printer 10 includes a control CP (not shown).
Implement U and RAM. C mounted on the printer 10
The PU reads out a control command and a control program from the host computer onto the RAM, and controls each of the above-described mechanical parts of the printer 10 according to these instructions. In connection with the present invention, the CPU incorporated in the printer 10 includes a feed roller 14, discharge rollers 15 and 16, a paper cutting mechanism 13.
Is controlled to realize a predetermined sheet discharging operation.

In connection with the present invention, the paper cutting mechanism 13
It is located at a distance L from the position of the feed roller 14. The amount of reverse feeding of the sheet based on the sheet replacement command described later is determined based on the distance L.
That is, the feed roller 1 for feeding the sheet backward by the distance L
The number of steps of 4 is obtained in advance, and this ensures that the leading edge of the sheet after the reverse feed is separated from the feed roller 14.

FIGS. 2A to 4H are side views of the vicinity of the discharge section showing each stage of the control for changing the roll paper R in the printer 10 according to the present invention, and FIGS. It is a flowchart of a control. Referring to these figures,
The paper exchange control in the printer 10 will be described. In this example, it is assumed that a command to exchange paper from the host computer is received in the state of FIG. 2A, that is, in a state where a predetermined amount of paper has been fed after cutting the paper.

When the printer 10 receives the data from the host computer, it temporarily stores the data in a receiving buffer, and interprets the contents by an interpreting unit realized by the CPU in order. If the interpreted data is a paper exchange command (step 501 in FIG. 5), the CPU determines whether or not the paper has been sequentially fed after the previous paper cutting by the paper cutting mechanism 13 (step 502). If so, the paper is cut (step 503 in FIG. 2B). C
The PU rotates the feed roller 14 in the reverse direction until the paper exceeds a predetermined number of rotation steps corresponding to the distance L from the feed roller 14 to the paper cutting mechanism 13 shown in FIG. (FIG. 2C, steps 504 and 50)
5) When the rotation number exceeds the predetermined number of rotation steps, the feed roller 14 is stopped, and the host computer informs the host computer of paper replacement.
K and take the printer 10 off-line (step 50
6). At this point, the sheet has been taken out of the feed roller 14 in the form shown in FIG.
Indicates that there is a sheet (step 601 in FIG. 6).

Here, when the manager takes out the roll paper R, the paper is completely removed as shown in FIG. 3E, and the paper sensor 19 detects that there is no paper, and the process proceeds to step 601.
To 602. When the administrator attaches a new roll paper R and passes the end of the paper through the paper sensor 19 as shown in FIG. 3F, the paper sensor 19 detects the presence of the paper and shifts from step 602 to step 603. Feed roller 14
Is rotated in the forward direction to feed the paper sequentially ((G) in FIG. 4). After the sheet has been sequentially fed to a predetermined number of rotation steps (step 604), the feed roller 14 is stopped and the sheet is cut (FIG. 4).
(H), Step 605), the host computer is notified of online, and the printer 10 is set online (Step 60).
6), the printer 10 is ready for printing again.

(Other Embodiments) Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the internal structure of a printer 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The printer 10 further includes a paper sensor 70 downstream of the feed roller 14 and upstream of the paper cutting mechanism 13 in addition to the configuration of the above-described embodiment. The paper sensor 70 detects the roll paper R
Is conveyed from the upstream, and this is detected when its tip exceeds this. In this embodiment, the paper sensor 70 is provided at a position at a distance L from the feed roller 14. In connection with the present invention, the detection of the paper edge by the paper sensor 70 controls the reverse rotation of the feed roller 14 for taking out the paper prior to the paper replacement, and makes the printer 10 ready for printing after the paper replacement. Used for control. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. (A) to (F) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are side views of the vicinity of a discharge unit showing each stage of the control of replacing the roll paper R in the printer 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 11 is a flowchart of the control. However, a configuration and a control method that are not particularly described are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. The paper exchange control in the printer 10 will be described with reference to these drawings. In this example, it is assumed that a command to exchange paper from the host computer is received in the state of FIG.

When the printer 10 receives the sheet exchange command (step 1001 in FIG. 10), the feed roller 14 is rotated in the reverse direction until the sheet sensor 70 detects the end of the sheet, and the sheet is fed backward (step 1002). And 1003). However, even if the number of rotation steps is exceeded, the paper sensor 70
If the printer cannot detect the paper end (step 1004), it stops the feed roller 14 (step 1005) and notifies the host computer of a paper replacement error (step 1006).

When the paper sensor 70 detects the end of the paper during the reverse feeding of the paper, a predetermined number of rotation steps corresponding to the distance L from the feed roller 14 to the paper sensor 70 shown in FIG. , The feed roller 14 is rotated in the reverse direction to reversely feed the sheet (FIG. 8B, step 1).
007). When the number of rotation steps exceeds the predetermined number of rotation steps, the feed roller 14 is stopped, and the host computer is notified that paper exchange preparation is OK, and the printer 10 is taken offline (step 1008). At this point, the sheet has been taken out of the feed roller 14 in the form shown in FIG. 8C, and the sheet sensor 19 has detected the presence of the sheet (step 110 in FIG. 11).
1).

Here, when the administrator takes out the roll paper R, the paper is completely removed as shown in FIG. 9D, and the paper sensor 19 detects the absence of the paper and returns to step 110.
1 to step 1102.

When the administrator attaches a new roll paper R and passes the end of the paper through the paper sensor 19 as shown in FIG. 8E, the paper sensor 19 detects the presence of the paper and returns to step 1102.
Then, the process proceeds to step 1103, and the paper is sequentially fed by rotating the feed roller 14 in the forward direction (FIG. 9E). If the paper sensor 70 does not detect the paper end even if the paper is fed up to the predetermined number of rotation steps (steps 1104 and 1105), the feed roller 14 is stopped and a paper load error is notified to the host computer (step 1106).

If the paper sensor 70 detects the paper end during the sequential feeding to the predetermined number of rotation steps, the feed roller 1
4 is stopped (FIG. 9F, step 1107). And
Notify the host computer of online status and print
Is set online (step 1108), and the printer 10 is again set to a printable state.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the matters described in the above embodiment, and the claims and the detailed description of the invention, and The range in which those skilled in the art can make changes and applications based on well-known techniques is included. In the above-described embodiment, the sheet may be reliably taken out from the feed roller by taking into account the number of steps having a margin more than the predetermined number of rotation steps corresponding to the distance. In the above embodiment, the example in which the paper sensor 70 is installed on the downstream side of the feed roller 14 and on the upstream side of the paper cutting mechanism 13 has been described, but this position is not limited to this. Downstream. In this case, instead of using the paper sensor 70, the paper sensor 17 may be used instead for detecting the leading edge of the paper.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the paper is replaced early before the paper is completely exhausted, the feed roller is rotated in the reverse direction prior to the paper replacement, so that the paper is pinched by the feed roller. Paper can be taken out of the feed roller without human intervention. As a result, the administrator does not need to open the feed roller unit,
It is possible to prevent a problem such as a paper jam caused by tearing of the paper, which may be caused by forcibly pulling out the paper.

Further, the printer notifies the host computer of each sheet exchange, so that the status of the printer can be always grasped, and thus the printer can be reliably operated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an internal structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views of the vicinity of a discharge unit showing each stage of roll paper exchange control in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vicinity of a discharge unit showing each method and stages of roll paper exchange control in a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the vicinity of a discharge unit showing each method and stages of roll paper exchange control in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of roll paper exchange control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of roll paper exchange control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing an internal structure of a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the vicinity of a discharge unit showing each method and stages of roll paper exchange control in a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the vicinity of a discharge unit showing each method and stages of roll paper exchange control in a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of roll paper exchange control according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of roll paper exchange control according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 printer 11 discharge port 12 print head 13 paper cutting mechanism 14 feed roller 15, 16 discharge roller 17, 18, 19 paper sensor 20 recovery device 21 recovery path 22 recovery tray 70 paper sensor R roll paper r paper L distance

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B41J 29/48 B41J 29/48 B B65H 35/04 B65H 35/04 F term (Reference) 2C058 AB16 AC06 AE04 AF31 AF51 GA11 GB03 GB06 GB15 GB30 GB52 LA03 LB09 LB17 LB35 LC11 2C060 BC02 BC04 BC12 BC15 BC84 2C061 AQ04 AS05 HJ03 HN17 HP00 LL04 LL09

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling a printer that conveys continuous paper by a feed roller and prints on the continuous paper, comprising: a step of waiting for a paper exchange command from a host computer; Reversely rotating the feed roller by a number of rotation steps corresponding to the distance from the feed roller to the paper edge. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a cutter for cutting continuous paper downstream of the feed roller, wherein a distance from the feed roller to a paper edge is determined based on a distance from the feed roller to the cutter. The method for controlling a printer according to claim 1, wherein 3. The distance from the feed roller to the paper edge is:
The printer control method according to claim 2, wherein the control method is determined based on the number of rotation steps of the roller after cutting the continuous paper with the cutter. 4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of operating the cutter before the step of rotating the feed roller in the reverse direction. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to the step of operating the cutter, determining whether or not the continuous end of the continuous paper has been sequentially fed by the feed roller after the immediately preceding operation of the cutter. The printer control method according to claim 4, wherein the step of operating the cutter is performed only for the printer. 6. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting a paper edge downstream of the feed roller, wherein a distance from the feed roller to the paper edge is determined based on a distance from the feed roller to the sensor. The method for controlling a printer according to claim 1, wherein 7. The control of the printer according to claim 6, further comprising a step of notifying the host computer of a paper end when the sensor detects no paper end after the execution of the step of reversely rotating the feed roller is started. Method. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising, after the step of rotating the feed roller in the reverse direction, a step of notifying the host computer that preparation for sheet replacement is completed.
3. A method for controlling a printer according to the first aspect. 9. A printer according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor for detecting a paper end upstream of said feed roller, wherein after a step of notifying a host computer that said paper exchange is ready, a new continuous paper end is detected. 9. The printer control method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of, when detected, rotating the feed roller in order to draw a paper end between the feed rollers. 10. A feed roller for transporting continuous paper, a print head for printing on continuous paper transported by the feed roller, and control means for controlling the drive of the feed roller, wherein a paper from a host computer is provided. A reverse rotation of the feed roller by at least the number of rotation steps corresponding to the distance from the feed roller to the paper edge when receiving a replacement command. 11. A cutter for cutting continuous paper downstream of the feed roller, wherein the control means determines a distance from the feed roller to a paper edge based on a distance from the feed roller to the cutter. The printer according to claim 10, wherein 12. The printer according to claim 11, wherein the control unit determines a distance from the feed roller to a paper edge based on the number of rotation steps of the roller after cutting the continuous paper with the cutter. 13. The printer according to claim 11, wherein said control means has a function of operating said cutter prior to control to reversely rotate said feed roller. 14. The control device according to claim 1, wherein prior to the control of operating the cutter, the control unit determines whether or not the feed roller continuously feeds the end of the continuous paper by the feed roller after the immediately preceding operation of the cutter, and the forward feed is performed. 14. The printer according to claim 13, having a function of operating the cutter only in a case. 15. A sensor for detecting a paper edge downstream of the feed roller, wherein the control means determines a distance from the feed roller to the paper edge based on a distance from the feed roller to the sensor. 11. The printer according to claim 10, which determines. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means has a function of notifying said host computer of a paper end when said sensor does not detect a paper edge after execution of control for rotating said feed roller in reverse is started. Printer. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means has a function of notifying said host computer that preparation for paper exchange is completed after control to reversely rotate said feed roller.
The printer according to any one of 0 to 16. 18. A printer according to claim 18, further comprising a second sensor upstream of said feed roller for detecting a paper edge, wherein said control means performs a new control after notifying a host computer that said paper exchange is ready. 2. A function having a function of rotating the feed roller in a forward direction when the paper end of the continuous paper is detected to draw the paper end between the feed rollers.
8. The printer according to 7. 19. A printer, comprising: a thermal head; a platen arranged to face the thermal head; and roll paper sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen for printing. Receiving means for receiving a direction discharge command, when the receiving means receives the reverse direction discharge command, the platen is rotated in a direction opposite to the printing direction, and is held between the thermal head and the platen. A control unit for controlling the roll paper to move upstream until the gripping is released.